The Newsletter for the Scout County of Greater London North East For March 2014
The Southern 50 Competition 2014 On the Friday 14th February, Romford District Explorers headed for the Chiltern Hills, the home of the 35th Southern 50 competition. Four teams of four entered the competition on the Saturday which saw the explorers walk 30 kilometres in the quickest time possible. Upon arrival to Tring School, the teams had to book themselves and their teams in. this was the moment they found out their fantastic team names; Romford Tinky-Winky, Romford Dipsey, Romford LaLa, and Romford Po. The teams were up at 6am for a cooked breakfast and enough time to pack their bags for a strict kit inspection. The teams were each sent off in a mini bus to their start location which was a village hall where all of the 30k participants had to wait for their kit check. Once the kit check was completed by an official, the teams were called up to another official. They was handed a piece of paper that read all of their co-ordinates for their checkpoints. They had 2 minutes to devise the first part of their route then were sent on their way at a start time between 09.00am and 10.30am. The first teams were sent out at approximately 8am. Once they set off, they were left completely to their own devices, relying on their navigation, teamwork, physical and mental ability to move themselves between checkpoints. The checkpoints were manned bases where the explorers were handed food, hot drinks, soups, cakes to keep their energy levels topped up. Weather conditions were very lucky as there were growing concerns surrounding the event, so much so that the organisers cancelled the 50 Mile event for the first time in its 35 year history. However, on the day, although the ground underfoot was wet and quite boggy in places due to previous bad weather, the rain held off all day making walking conditions a lot more endurable. The wind remained forceful but if anything helped to cool the participants down. Later that evening, participants started to return back to Tring School, the finishing point for the route, looking tired, but proud to have completed. Out of our 4 teams, 3 completed the full route. All four teams gave feedback that they enjoyed the event and all of them said that they wished to return to the event the following year to beat their time. The results finished as follows: Romford Tinky-Winky: walked 8.9Km in 6hrs 28mins Romford Dipsey: walked 30Km in 7hrs 9mins placing 9th overall Romford LaLa: walked 30Km in 8hrs 13mins placing 18th overall Romford Po: walked 30Km in 9hrs 9mins placing 26th overall. A Huge well done to everyone that took part. You should feel proud of your achievements. Adam Vale. - Unit A Explorer Leader.
Consult, Consider, Communicate….. And then Deliver! I am really pleased to announce that I have been able to recruit and appoint a consultative team that will help review the County and help us decide on the way to continue to keep our County growing, developing and achieving great things for young people across North East London. The Team along with myself will consist of the following: Jackie Geary – Training Jackie will work across all elements of training and learning and will be looking to develop the following areas: Review the provision of learning and training across the County. Review the current Training Team to ensure it is sustainable and robust for the future. Re-introduce Local Training Manager meetings and consider ways to improve communication. Work with Local Training Managers to support Training Advisers, to achieve greater consistency in validation, to Ensure the award of Wood Badges across the County. Provide more Training Advisers Revamp training delivery on multi-module days, taking the module objectives and creating a blended learning approach to these days. Look at how to improve Young Leader training both support and delivery across the County. Jackie is no stranger to the County having previously been ACC (Cubs Scouts), Deputy CC (Programme) and Deputy County Training Manager. Paul Fix - Programme Delivery Paul will concentrate on reviewing four main aspects of the County and helping to assess the way forward in the following areas: Quality of Programme - What does quality look like, how do Section Leaders assess quality of programme Youth Awards - Review the provision for youth awards, including the resources to help achieve them, the process to attain them and the way that they are issued and celebrated. Section Support - Work with DCs to understand what they see as the role of an ADC (Section) and what support they would like from the County and ACC (Sections). Media Development – Create a plan for how we can improve communications within the County and raise our online presence both internally and externally Paul has a wealth of experience from a number of local roles at Group, District and County levels as well holding a number of HQ roles in the past. Julie Leeper – District Support Julie will be working closely with me to review support for District Commissioners and Districts. Julie will be looking at the following areas: The County support required by Districts A review of local governance A review of membership, youth and Leader, to ensure we can grow the County Programme support in Districts, including awards, camps, events, competitions etc. Julie has previously been involved in training across the County. The team has a six month remit to develop the way forward within the County. The team will be speaking to a large number of members of the County and working with other people to help identify outcomes and shape recommendations for the County. Following the review the structure of the County Team and the provision of the services that the County delivers will be revised to ensure they are meeting the needs of GLNE now and in the future. I will shortly be organising a development day to involve District Commissioners in this process followed by other key stakeholders. I hope you will give the consultative team your full support and honest feedback. Paul Trayler County Commissioner
The County Congratulates the following on their Awards
You are invited to the Annual General Meeting of The Scout County of Greater London North East
30 years Service Awards Pauline Elkin Epping Forest South Pamela Franklin Chingford Corinna Rackowiak Squirrels Heath
25 Years Service Awards Trevor Cottis Alan Hall OBE Melanie Alicoon Ilford Northwest Geraldine Hayes – Epping Forest South David Parker Ilford Northwest
Award for Merit Mrs Maryanne Fleming – Group Secretary 2nd Ilford North Ilford Northwest
Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service Jonathan Ellison – SL 21st Poplar – East London Mrs Samantha Fenton – CSL 4th Poplar East London Carl Greenslade – GSL 9th Tower Hamlets East London
Wednesday 18th June 2014 in Sir Hawkey Hall, Broomfield Road, Woodford Green, IG8 0BG 7pm onwards Speaker is Bryony Balen On her Expedition to the South Pole
New Cub Pack at the 19th Ilford North ! On Thursday 13th Feb, the 19th Cub Pack officially opened when 6 Cubs and 4 Leaders were officially invested. With another 5 Cubs attending and expecting to get invested soon the Pack has started well. The Cubs have already been having fun with new games and activities (marshmallow/ spaghetti towers, fruit carving, and the Artist Badge). Welcome to all the Cubs, and Ian, Julia, Ola and Ridhima, the new Leaders there. Cliff Everitt District Commissioner, Ilford N.W. Scouts
Chief Scout Awards Application Cards and envelopes are available from the County Print Team : email: scoutingglne@gmail.com or ring 01735 857041
This year we are proud to celebrate 40 years and Gang Show 2014 will show you why! Let our cast of 70 talented young Scouts and LOB Guides together with a further 27 Beavers, Cubs and Brownies take you on an action packed journey of song, dance and laughter. We guarantee a grand slamming time from Movies to Space, Theatre to Celebrations, Imagination to Accapella and much much more. So raise your eyebrows with excitement and put your hands together because once again the Gang is back.
8th, 9th and 10th May at Chingford Assembly Hall Station Road, Chingford E4 Show starts at 7.30pm with a Matinee Saturday at 2.30pm and (Performance lasts around 2.5 hours including a 20m minute interval)
Special rate for uniformed Groups £5 at any performance. For every ‘TEN’ seats booked – one adult leader ticket free
Tickets Available Now 07538 314415 To down load a ticket booking form and for further details please go to www.waltham-forestgs.co.uk Cheques made payable to ‘Waltham Forest Gang Show’ Postal orders to: Gang Show 15 Evanston Avenue, Chingford E4 9JS Tickets reserved by telephone will be held for seven days
Ilford Northwest goes to a Scooter Rally 7 Cubs from across our District took part in the 1st County Cub Scooter Rally held at Crow Camp on Sunday 16th February. We was lucky with the weather and the ground was quite firm, although I do not think the Cubs would have minded a bit of mud. They all got to race in a standard track race and an obstacle race, where they had to get off their scooter and climb over some logs or tyres. And most of the team got a chance to scoot round as part of a relay race, or just a straight fun race. The Cubs thought that the scooting around would be quite easy and were surprised how challenging they found going round a dirt course with small hills in it, and they all said they were tired out from their races. At the end of the day our team came 4th which can be seen as a great achievement, and we are looking forward to doing this event again next year. Colin Wreyford, ADC Cubs Ilford NW
County Cub Scooter Rally held at Crow Camp, Romford The winning team 23rd Chingford
Young Manager Training weekend Last weekend 24 Ilford NW Young Leaders took part in a full programme of activities along with the rest of GLNE. The Ilford NW YLs, from 4 units / 6 Groups, had an Ice Breaker - bowling on the Friday night, and then completing 2 days training at Hargreaves, learning about how to be a good leader, running games, and safeguarding. Alex Rout from the Knights Explorer Scout Unit said “it was exciting and stressful, but really worth it!� Jack Palmer, an Explorer Young Leader helping at the 2nd Ilford North Beavers said 'Being a Young Leader means so much more to me than just being a leader. This weekend has helped me to understand that being a Young Leader is about meeting new people, learning and most importantly, having fun!' Also from the Knights these two said: "The YL training was very useful, it helped me develop my skills and realise how things I do could be done in a better way" Ciara Eivers. "It was really fun. I learnt lot and improved my leadership skills" Ashley Isbitt Cliff Everitt - District Commissioner, Ilford N.W. Scouts
DINOSNORES One great thing about being in the Cub Scouts is that you get to go on so many exciting trips and explore so much more! In early December we took part in an event at the Natural History Museum called DINO SNORES. Dino: because it was mainly about dinosaurs and Snores: because you have a sleepover there, at the Natural History Museum. The fun began on when we were all squashed up in the Bancroft’s minibus. Everyone was thrilled when we got there. Our first activity of the night was a show about Sea-life. It was in a showroom which had lots of screens and shiny white benches like a small stadium. The show was run by 2 people, a male scientist who worked in the Sea-life department and who knew all about Sea-life and a woman who kind of interviewed him. Personally the show was my favourite. I loved seeing all the displays of the Sea-life, they were dead of course! And also learning some new gruesome facts. Our second activity was in a part of the museum which was all about dinosaurs. We were put into groups and given a colour. Before we entered we were given torches as the activity was in the dark. We had to run around the area and find our colour clue, then take its letter and rubbing before the time was up. At the end we should have had a name of a dinosaur and a rubbing of that dinosaur. Our final activity of the night was making t-shirts. We had templates to help us draw the dinosaur of our choice with their name on the top, then we could personalise any way we wanted to. Afterwards we had our packed dinner; we were all exhausted and relieved to eat something. Next we were headed to bed which was in the big hall. We slept on a thin mattress provided by them with our own sleeping bags. Fortunately the bottom floor of the hall was full so we could sleep in the top part which had a better atmosphere! The next morning we woke up having had a few hours of sleep nevertheless still full of energy. We had a quick breakfast provided by them and then went to see Animal Man, who has come to Bancroft’s a numerous amount of times. Sadly after that it was time to pack up all our stuff as the event had unfortunately finished. I really enjoyed it and I’m sure everyone else did too. Aria Bapna - Epping Forest South
London Raiders Ice Hockey Team. As you may or may not be aware, the London Raiders play at Lee Valley Ice Centre and are a semi professional team playing in the National Ice Hockey League Division 1. I am writing to you to offer a "kids for a quid" offer for your Scout /Brownie/Guide groups for any of our remaining home games this season. Adult prices will be ÂŁ10. We have already had a Scout Group 7th Chingford attend a game this season, and they thoroughly enjoyed it! They presented man of the match on the ice and had their photo taken with the team. This is something we could arrange for your group. Ice hockey is a relatively unknown sport in the UK and it is a great chance to take your groups to something they haven't seen before! Our remaining fixtures are: Sunday 23rd Feb - 7:30pm vs Streatham Redskins Saturday 15th March - 5:30pm vs Bracknell Hornets Sunday 23rd March - 7:30pm vs Chelmsford Chieftains Sunday 30th March - 7:30pm vs Bracknell Hornets (Doors open around 45mins before the game starts) To redeem this offer, please produce this email ++at the entrance desk for home games and we ask that all Scouts /Brownies/Guides wear their uniforms so we can identify them and organise the man of the match presentation. If you intend to use this offer please also respond to this email and let me know so I can let the ladies on the desk now to expect you. Please could I ask you to forward this on to all of your groups? I hope to see you at one of our games very soon!
7th Chingford Cubs and Scouts
The 7th Chingford Cubs and Scouts who visited Lee Valley Ice Centre to watch a game of Ice Hockey featuring the Lee Valley Lions. The Group were made to feel very welcome and Cub Scout Leader Matthew Udall was even asked to present the man of the match award at the end of the game. Perhaps a programme idea for other Groups. Chris Harrison - DC Chingford
Many thanks. Mel (London Raiders IHC) ++to obtain a copy of the email, apply to Chris Harrison at chingfordchris.aol.com
Published by the Scout County of Greater London North East. Editor: Ted Rose
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GLNE Basic Climbing Wall Course. Ref WC1 (Single Pitch Top Rope Climbing) 10th & 11th May and 17th & 18th May 2014 A 4 day climbing wall course for 2014 is being run leading to you being authorised to take youth members climbing on walls and other man-made structures, this then can lead on to climbing on rock if you so wish. The training location is, Hargreaves Activity Centre, Hainault Road, Little Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 5SR. Cost, £60 (Instruction only, based on a minimum of 6 people booking the course). If you need assessment only for the renewal of your permit, this will take place on the 18 th a fee of £5 will be charged. Some Districts may consider financial support please contact your local training manger. Apply for the course through County Training Administrator, Maryanne Fleming on cta@glne-scouts.org.uk Explorers wishing to attend please email specialist.training@glnescouts.org.uk for more information. Chris Geary: Deputy Warden Hargreaves Activity Centre
( a youth facility run by Ilford East Scouts) Join the adventure online at www.glne-scouts.org.uk
Scouts celebrate New Year hiking 3 Scouts from the 4th Ilford North completed a 16 mile hike, and their Expedition Challenge, starting in glorious sunshine on the Wanstead Flats, and finishing in Epping, stopping overnight at Fairmead, with the New Year barely started. They luckily picked the only 36 hours when it didn’t rain to finish the walk, carrying all their overnight kit. A rest was taken when they visited the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Chingford, where they learned how the forest had changed. Ajanthan Jejakumar, a Patrol Leader at the 4th Ilford North, commented that he learned a lot about the Tudors and hunting at the Lodge. He was thrilled at completing the hike and said “I nearly made it dry but I slipped in the River Ching (normally a trickling stream) up to my knees. We eventually got to the campsite where Praveen and I cooked the pasta while Santhujan chopped the meat”. Scout Leader Cliff Everitt said “It is great to see young people using part of their Christmas holiday doing something active and worthwhile. The Scouts learned skills such as navigating, cooking, teamwork, and appreciating the weather!” Cliff Everitt - 4th Ilford North SL