! T S A E H T R NO ty of n u o C t u o c r the S o f r e t t e l s 2014 w y l u J r o f The Ne t s orth Ea N n o d n o L r Greate
E: U S S I S I H T T! INSIDE S E B S ’ T I T A W O H S G • GAN cout st Romford S • 21 gardening go p Grou G N I S I A R D N U F E E R O B • JAM @GLNEScouts
CONTENTS County AGM - Page 2 Gang Show at it’s Best! - Page 3 CC Message - Page 4 Scouts Go Gardening - Page 6 Scouting Goes Small - Page 7
County AGM 2014 The 49th Annual General Meeting of the Scout County of Greater London North East was held in Sir James Hawkey Hall on Wednesday 16th June 2014. Presentations were made by the County Commissioner to well deserved members of the County on their awards this was followed by an excellent talk by Bryony Balen on her trip to the South Pole. At the time of her trip, Bryony was the youngest person to have reached the South Pole which is a remarkable achievement.
GLNE County Camp - Page 8 25th Newham East - Page 9 Jamboree Fundraising - Page 10 Jamboree Events - Page 13 Bookbridge - Page 13
The County congratulates The Following on their awards Chief Scouts Commendations Squirrels Heath District Mrs Dawn Clarke - ADC Beavers  Mr Trevor Cottis - ASL 6th Squirrels Heath
Hornchurch District Ms Sharon Adkins - ACSL 3rd Rainham Miss Wendy Clark ACSL 1st Rainham Mrs Corinne Dutch - CSL 2nd Cranham
2nd Chadwell Heath Scout Group A Big Thank You to everyone who came and helped us collect a brilliant 106 bags in aid of Age UK London. We also collected 10 boxes of books for Bookbridge UK Appeal. Another Thank You to our County Commissioner Paul Trayler for coming down and showing his support!!!
GAngSHow at it’s best! The four ‘nearly sold out’ performances at Chingford Assembly Hall in May were the culmination of months of dedication and hard work by young people and Leaders who unselfishly gave their time to put on a show. 92 young people from Waltham Forest and London Over the Border Guides area took to the stage to have fun and showcase their talents. Not one of them had to audition for inclusion in the show – everyone had a part because of their positive and energetic outlook on life, and that ethos entitled them, unequivocally, to ‘tread the boards’, showing the people of this area that, in their hands, the future is bright. The show was not the product of a stage school or even a local amateur dramatic company – it was exactly ‘what it says on the tin’: Scouts and Guides testing new skills, in keeping with important traditions, and making friends. It was also a valuable exercise in learning to work as a team, and helping one another as part of training towards the next badge or the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. The entire production was very fast paced. The musical medleys were interspersed with comedy sketches which allowed for scenery, projection and wardrobe changes (which consisted of 600 costumes, all made by our wonderful sewing team.) It was a production which from the very outset was extremely impressive: the lighting, sound, projection, band and staging all reflected the four months of hard work and rehearsal that the dedicated teams had put in, proving that the Guide and Scout movements are flourishing. The show was celebrating its 40th birthday, and it is always inspiring to be part of a production which relies on the goodwill of the volunteers who support the groups. There was much enthusiasm from the young people, many of whom experienced their first encounter of appearing on stage. Within a group of this size it is obvious that some will be more at home on stage than others, but the support that the whole team give each other allows them to flourish and reach moments that the individuals will cherish. Since the show started in 1970, it is estimated that over the 40 productions: 3,600 young people and Leaders have appeared as members of the cast, 2,400 volunteers have worked front and back stage, 9,344 ice creams have been consumed, and 58,400 people have been in the audience. Not bad for two voluntary organisations! As planning for the 41st production gets into motion, details for the 2015 show (16th, 17, and 18th April – the last week of the Easter school holiday) will be available via the web site or email. Further information will also be available soon from: michaelhayward15@ hotmail.com Next year, it’s your turn to join in – watch this space!
Mike Hayward Show Co-ordinator
www.glne-scouts.org.uk/News
County Commissioner News As I come to the end of my first six months as County Commissioner, I thought it is time to give you an update of where we are and where we are going, expand a little on my speech at the AGM and acknowledge the contribution made by others over the last year. I remember one of the comments made by a DC who said that in the five years he has been in position there have been five County Commissioners, so my first objective this year is to guide the County onwards and still be in post in time for the next AGM! I would firstly like to acknowledge the contribution put in by members of the County Team before I took the post including Alan Hands as Acting CC and Lynne Peck as DCC in keeping a steady hand on the tiller, guiding GLNE through last year and taking on the responsibility of the County during the changeover from the previous County Commissioner.
Consult, Consider, Communicate One of my key roles initially has been spending time with each District Team and working closely with the District Commissioner to understand the different needs and strengths of each District and equally importantly what the Districts need in terms of support from the County. As part of this process one of the most important jobs that someone in my position has is to recruit the right people to a wide number of varying roles required across the County once the need have been properly identified. I would like to thank my consultative team Paul Fix, Jackie Geary and Julie Leeper that have been helping me with the project over the last six months reviewing the structure of the County, working with the DCs and their teams reviewing and appraising the feedback and working towards a structure that will be the basis of the County plan over the next five years. This will hopefully start to see fruition by September 2014. The good news is that as part of the development of the County we have secured funding to employ a Development Officer who sole aim will be to help GLNE grow its membership across the County. This is fantastic news for the County, where we have already seen the success of recently localised funding. All of our Districts have already identified key areas they would like to stimulate growth and I see this is a fundamental bedrock to our development within the County. As a County we see this as a minimum three year plan and have funding agreed with a contribution from the County for the first year, with the County’s long term aim being to secure funding for forthcoming years. As part of our development strategy we have to embrace technology which has got faster and more immediate, which you would think would make it easier for us to communicate with one another and the general public, but similarly our and their expectations have increased accordingly and it is no longer acceptable to communicate in the ways we did 10 or 20 years ago. Parents are starting to expect programmes to be published on line, leaders’ contact details to be available and up to date, activities to be properly planned and marketed to members well in advance. Our new look website is being developed at the moment and will look to incorporate feedback from the County on what is required. Taking this into consideration we have invested in technology and Barbara Westcott has a new computer, she tells me she is now completely IT Savvy and will be Facebooking and Snap Chatting everyone shortly!
Young people have changed too. The way they communicate, the way they learn, the way they dress and eat have all changed considerably in the last 10 years and we need to ensure that Scouting changes too. And in many ways it has, with its focus on “adventure” in the widest sense, for the widest age range, its emphasis on diversity and inclusion, its focus on flexible volunteering. So development is not just about increasing numbers. It is about improving the quality of the programmes we offer, the care we demonstrate and the speed and quality of our communications that mean that Scouting will continue to be attractive to young people and their parents and thereby increase in membership. One of the great successes this year was the Bear in the Air County Activity Weekend apart for all the obvious PR of Bear Grylls dropping into Thriftwood and the excitement of the young people (actually I think some of the Leaders were more excited!) it was the buzz and vibe that carried on for weeks after the event with Facebook and Twitter going into overload with all the positive comments being made about the weekend. A comment that has been made by several people was the Camp was a great way to bring together Scouters from all over the County and the celebrity drop in was just the icing on a great weekend. As a County we will be focusing on big events which can replicate this event and bringing project teams together to run then efficiently and for the benefit of the whole County. I should just like to thank my colleagues in the County Team for all their encouragement and enthusiasm during the last six months, to the County Executive for their support and guidance, and to the DCs and their teams for their contribution to make GLNE what it is today and allow us to focus where we will be going in the future. I would like to especially thank you as members of the County for your contribution to Scouting, and to acknowledge the supreme effort put in to encourage and develop the young people of GLNE Paul Trayler—County Commissioner GLNE
Remembering these who gave their lives in the two great wars. By donating to the Scouting National Memorial
To make a donation go to www.tsmp.org.uk
Scouts earn badges bringing new life to historic garden Thirteen Romford Scouts are bringing new life to a previously derelict historic walled kitchen garden as part of a badge activity. The Scouts, from the 21st Romford troop in the London Borough of Havering, have joined forces for the first time with the Friends of Bedfords Park. Restoration of the historic walled kitchen garden is a project run as a partnership between the charity Clear Village, The Friends of Bedfords Park and the London Borough of Havering. Lois Amos, one of the founders of the project and the secretary of the Friends of Bedfords Park, said: “The Scouts are doing their Smallholder activity badge and are growing potatoes, sweetcorn, courgettes and marigolds, as well as sowing seeds. “We are trying to keep a golden theme running in tune with the RHS golden celebration of 50 years of Britain in Bloom by growing vegetables with a yellow or golden colour, or connection, such as Gold Rush courgettes.” Lois added that they grow without the use of chemicals and as organically as possible. The garden, set in a 215-acre large urban park, dates back to 1786 and once produced all the vegetables, fruit and flowers for the family and staff of Bedfords Mansion, the English home of a West Indies plantation owner, John Clairmonte Abrams. The 13 Scouts involved in the garden are cultivating and maintaining the plot over six months from seed to harvest, working under the supervision of Scout Leader Paul Young, Cub Scout Leader Greg Pidgeon and the Walled Kitchen Garden gardener Paul King. Added Lois: “I am a retired horticultural lecturer and have a passion for all things horticultural, and the natural world. “Scouts from around the world came here in 2007 for the World Scout Jamboree to work on the Starburst Project under the leadership of Paul Brighouse (Salford). “We had 800 Scouts here for eight days and they helped clear approximately one quarter of the garden, which was abandoned, derelict and overgrown. They were our pioneers and, although sadly the garden then remained closed for a further four years, they helped start the project. This latest involvement will help further the gardening and horticultural link with the Scouts. “I have campaigned for 15 years to start the resurrection of the garden and that Starbust event was one of the most fantastic weeks of my life and changed the course of the garden.” It is only the second year that the garden has been growing and extensive repairs are being carried out to the walls while a run of 70m of new glasshouses is being installed together with a vinery to replace what was once along the north wall. “We are also reinstating a fernery and pinery as part of the latest works in the garden,” said Lois. The project has been funded by a number of grants since 2012. Reprinted from the London in Bloom Newsletter.
www.glne-scouts.org.uk/News
The largest Scout Group in Chingford just got a lot smaller The 32nd Chingford Scout Group executive after some lively debate released a small fortune of hard earned money to enable an all section photo shot in Lego. Each Beaver, Cub, Scout, leader and uniformed helper, over a hundred souls, designed their own little avatar and with the help of “minifigure me” have created the following collection of their little selves. Plans are in hand to produce a YouTube video before selling the little characters on to their owners at cost. Each figure is £13, however they are highly desirable and almost everybody wishes to own theirs. With a smidgen of luck the project will end up expenditure neutral. What ever happens It would be interesting to find a larger Lego Scout Group.
ROMFORD EXPLORERS MEET PAUL HANNAFORD Unit E Explorers were very lucky to have a visit from Paul Hannaford; a local anti-drugs/gang violence campaigner. Paul is an ex-criminal / drug addict / gang member who was brought up & committed a lot of crime in Havering when he was younger. He has turned his life around and has one of the most inspirational stories to tell about his experiences on the wrong side of the law and being addicted to drugs. He now is completely clean and law abiding and spends his time voluntarily visiting schools and youth groups to tell his story, in the hope of stopping other young people following the same path he did. His talk covered; drugs, alcohol, knife crime, gangs, guns, bullying, prison life. The subject matter was shocking but the Explorers, visitors and leaders all agree it was a fantastic visit. Unfortunately drugs are increasingly more accessible to Explorer aged young people. Some just don’t understand the dangers of drugs; something that all those who attended Paul’s visit fully understands now. One Explorer summed up the evening very well: “An incredible man with an incredible story!” If anyone would like more information or to arrange a visit you can speak with me directly Uniteexplorers@hotmail.co.uk or visit his website directly www.paulhannaford.com Jonathan Webb— ESL
GLNE County Camp Ilford North West took over 130 to the County Camp and had a great time. Central catering proved a challenge, a laugh and a fantastic team effort engendering a great team working spirit amongst the 30+ leaders and Network, and 91 Cubs and Scouts. 3 full dining shelters for meals tested our logistics, superbly organised by Louise Taylor, Liz Gardner, and Jennie and Phil Coombs. Activities available were too many to mention, and enhanced by the visit from Chief Scout Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall. One Scout, Abigail Hancox, was at the top of the climbing tower when he suddenly appeared there also. Abigail said “Bear asked if he could go first so he took my turn. I didn’t know what to say to him except - I didn’t mind !” Ilford NW send their thanks to Andy Mann and the team for organising a great weekend.
Service of Remembrance in the presence of HM the Queen and other members of the Royal family The County Commissioner, District Explorer Scout Commissioner for Romford, 7 Explorer Scouts and 1 Assistant Scout Leader from Romford attended a Solemn Drumhead Service of Remembrance for the First World War at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in the presence of HM the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday. The young people were a credit to Romford and GLNE. They escorted dignitaries, Mayors, Military and VIP’s. to their seats, and with other youth organizations helped out with the smooth running of the event, The Royal Family and the families of those being remembered. Andy Mann—DESC Romford
News from the 25th Newham East Running through torrential rain and leap-frogging trees would best describe last weekend, 10/11th May, when Scouts and Explorers from the 25th Newham East came together for an expedition training weekend. Originally opened to all Explorer units in Newham it was then extended to our County as it was a great opportunity to get the training completed for the expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It seems there was so much going on last weekend, which resulted in only one group attending, nevertheless it was a fantastic weekend preparing our Explorers for their upcoming Gold expedition to the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire. A huge thank you to Peter Banks for getting the information out to so many and to the wonderful team at Hargreaves for hosting us. I’ll keep you all posted as to our next venture.
A copy of the front page of the County Newsletter of 1967
Published by the Scout County of Greater London North East
Editor: Ted Rose 62 Kipling Avenue Tilbury, Essex. RM18 8JF Tel: 01375 857041 Email: scoutingglne@gmail.com www.glne-scouts.org.uk
Jamboree fundraising efforts outstanding! Hello Greater London North East! With the Jamboree less than 400 days away fundraising across the County has been in full swing with contingent members and an army of supporters working incredibly hard to raise money for Japan. Here’s an update on all the crazy things we’ve been up to over the last 6 months as well as a heads up about some events heading your way in the near future, enjoy! Bag packing has seen Scouts all over the County taking to the tills in their local supermarkets to shout about the Jamboree. The public have proven to be interested and very generous at these events. Back at the Groups there’s no lack of excitement with shouts and laughter from Quiz Nights, Race Nights and Bingo filling the air in several districts! Jack Franklin (Waltham Forest South) says: “I especially enjoyed calling the numbers with my ‘Bingo Lingo!’ at our hilarious bingo event which was well supported by the local community”
The Jamboree will be a rollercoaster of new cultural experiences and several Districts have been keen to add a Japanese flare to their events. In Chingford the Super Sushi Experience provided a range of foods for people to try and in Waltham Forest South Beavers & Cubs have been treated to an international evening all about Japan. Groups and Districts have shown their support for Unit members by allowing them to fundraise as part of larger events. Examples include Sumo Suit hire used at County Camp (enjoyed by Bear Grylls & Steve Backshall, Right), and stalls at local Scout events selling everything from Krispy Kreme’s to Books and Paracord Survival Bracelets. This kind of support is much appreciated so many thanks!
www.glne-scouts.org.uk/WSJ-2015
A penny for your thoughts... We pitched two questions to some of our Unit members and asked them for their thoughts: 1) What has been the best bit about the Fundraising Experience so far? 2) What has been the most challenging part of the Fundraising Experience so far? Harry Kilbride (Romford) says: 1) “The best bit about fundraising has been the way I’ve really gotten to know the people I’m going with. I already knew a few quite well but due to being in different schools and groups there were others I really didn’t know. Spending the weekend bag-packing with them, or a few hours putting up tables has really helped me to get to know them.” 2) “The biggest challenges in my eyes are raising enough money between all of us to cut the cost down and getting up before ten on a Sunday.” Zoe Rogers (Waltham Forest South) says: 1) “So far fundraising has been going ok, overall I have enjoyed organising sweep stakes the most.” 2) “With so many people from our group going you don’t raise much money each per event, it seems never ending. I think the most challenging aspect of the fundraising is that you’re constantly asking the same people for money.” If you have any questions you would like to pitch to our unit members about their Jamboree experience so far or their thoughts about the adventure to come please send them to Alex at wsj2015-comms@glne-scouts.org.uk Alex Peatfield
UNIT BADGES ARE HERE!!! At long last you can feast your eyes on our Unit 2 Jamboree Contingent Badges! It’s been a long time in the making but I’m sure you’ll agree, it was worth the wait. There are 5 badges in the set, one in each of the Patrol colours and a black supporters/IST badge. These will be available from any Unit Member or Unit Leader as cloth badges and a metal pin badge very soon. WATCH THIS SPACE!!
www.glne-scouts.org.uk/WSJ-2015
Matthew Foakes (Squirrels Heath) says: “My fundraising wouldn’t have been possible without the support of 3rd Squirrels Heath, Zenith Explorers, my leader Neville and the generosity of local businesses.” Special days in the calendar provide an excellent opportunity for fundraising and 2nd Romford took full advantage with a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea for over 100 people served by Scouts/Explorers (who were very happy to dispose of any leftover cakes! Left). The District also held a large scale Easter Egg Hunt with sessions for Under 8’s and Over 8’s. Everyone loves the chance to win a prize and several Districts have had grand draws for prizes including a stay at a top golfing resort and Chingford’s ‘100 Club’ offering cash prizes! Victoria Green (Hornchurch) Says: “I’ve done a lot of Car Boot sales, asking friends & family for things to sell then at 4:30am every Sunday dragging my parents out of bed and down to Dunton!” Adventure is at the heart of what we do, combining it with a sponsored challenge can be a great way to raise funds and advertise all the fun we have by being part of Scouting. Examples so far include a Sponsored Cycle at the Redbridge Centre, Co-authoring a Book and the following: Sami Arouche (Ilford East) says: “I climbed Mt. Snowdon and got up and down in 4 1/2 hours by practically running the route raising £600 in the process!! Thanks for all the support guys! ” Jessie Cotton (Chingford) says: “My individual challenge involves abseiling over-ground & underground (in caves) to descend around 519 feet which is the height of the Gherkin!” The easyfundraising toolbar many of you have kindly installed has raised over £500 for the Unit already! Every little helps so thank you to all who continue to use it .
www.glne-scouts.org.uk/WSJ-2015
JAMBOREE EVENTS Here are some of the upcoming Jamboree Fundraising events happening around the County within the next couple of months, if you wish to advertise your Jamboree event in the GLNE Newsletter please send info to Ted Rose (Editor) scoutingglne@ gmail.com or Alex Peatfield wsj2015-comms@glne-scouts.org.uk
Chingford District have Sumo Suits for hire to raise money for Japan. Perfect for parties, themed evenings and budding sumo of all ages. Visit www.simplysumo.com to find out more! (Left) Tickets can be purchased via Andy Mann at andyjmann@hotmail.com or any of the Romford contingent members!
We have now collected over 30,000 books for the children and young people in Cambodia and Mongolia. A BIG thank you for this wonderful effort. This Saturday (26/07/14) we are sorting the books into categories before shipping them out east. We need adult volunteers to help us between 9am to 5pm. If you can spare a few hours (or the whole day) it would be good to see you. The sorting event is being held at Hargreaves Scout Camp site. Follow us on facebook Bookbridge UK.