Welcome back to Gilwell Reunion
It was to thunderous applause that Matt Hyde officially welcomed everyone to Reunion 2022 tonight, expressing how much of an honour it was for Reunion to be back at Gilwell once more. Welcoming participants both new and old, his speech quickly fell by the wayside in favour of finding out just who had attended Reunion the most. But following Matt’s introduction was Sam Morris, Chief Volunteering Officer and our new Camp Chief, following Ross Maloney’s departure to The Ramblers.AsCamp Chief he reported that he was awarded six wooden beads, just as Baden Powell presented Sir Percy Everett a set of 6 Woodbeads to match his own. But he stressed that Reunion was not about himself, rather that it’s about the participants, making friends and “learning something new along theNextway”.totake the stage was Carl Hankinson, our UK Chief Commissioner, with a heartfelt thank you for the exceptional work everyone has put in over the last couple of years. “We know that when we come together and get to know each other, that’s the magic of Scouting. That’s where it really works for us – that’s where it fuels the flames of Scouting.” Last but not least we were joined by Ollie Wood, UK Youth Commissioner (for the next few hours) with an encouragement to make the most of what Reunion has to offer. “Whether that’s in the bar or the workshops, we want you to get as much out of this weekend as possible.”
As scouts we all love the outside and can’t resist an adventure. How many of us have had that conversation of “I’d like to walk the coast”, which bit? “All of it!” Not many of us then? Didn’t think so. Meet Chris Howard otherwise known as Chris the Coast Walker. Chris is no stranger to adventures having rowed the Atlantic, cycled across Europe and walked Northern India, to name but a few, however this latest adventure came when none us could adventure – Lockdown 2020.“I’ve always been an adventurer and at that time I could do little else.” At the end of July 2020 Chris left
An Epic Adventure: Getting to knowWalkerCoasttheChris
and there is so much to see, but it was the people. As restrictions lifted and people heard about the walk they started meeting me on the beach, offering me food, places to stay or even a night In a hotel with a meal”. Scout Groups, youth clubs, schools and individuals would meet Chris and either spend time litter picking or walking with him for part of the day.
Chris’ adventures started in Scouts. “I am where I am now because of Scouts. The impact you as volunteers on young people is incredible and you need to know how important you are. Never underestimate the experience you are giving and the impact you have on the young people you interact with”. To date Chris has raised £42,500 for Children in Need but his “greatest achievement to date” is the The Conservation Award. This Occasional Badge is supported by DevonTheScouts.badge encourages young people to explore and adopt both “blue” and “green” spaces in their area and work to improve them. You can find out more about the badge through the Devon Scouts
his wife and family and headed off on his epic adventure. It would take 450 days of places,hasenvironmentpassionSharingwithoutAprilbetweeninteractmoreastherestrictionsofinasforjourneyadventure.toMarchfinallylockdown,dueofwalking,consecutivewithabreakalmostfourmonthstotheWelshseeingChrisofficiallyhomeinofthisyear.Hiswalkwasn’tjustgetoutandhaveanChrisusedhistosharehispassiontheenvironmentaswellraisemoneyforChildrenNeed.Theearlymonthstravelling,withCovid-19stillinplacemeantwalkwasoftenisolated,restrictionsliftedtherewereopportunitiestoseeandwithpeople.Inthefourmonthbreak,Christmas2020and2021,Chrisreachedandmademorecontactsscoutandyouthgroups.hisexperienceandforourcoastandwithonlinetalks.“Thewholeexperiencebecomelessabouttheourcoastisstunning
IfWebsite.youwant to find our more about Chris, his adventures and his talks check out his https://thecoastwalker.com/website:
Scouts, or someone who might have been feeling a bit down – you can say just one thing that gives them some encouragement and you never quite know where that will lead to. But the
It you’vesoundscertainlylikeachieved a lot! So, now that the handover is complete, any final words of wisdom to pass along? Never underestimate the impact you can have just through one conversation with somebody, because whether that’s a young person who didn’t realise how big the world was beyond what they were used to in
Ollie, now that you’ve finished your time as UK Youth Commissioner, what would you say you are most proud of achieving in your role? Probably three things. What we’ve done to support Youth Commissioners – I know that that’s made a difference to them. That we’ve created an indication and support system that’s worked really well. It’s been challenging but now it’s a great time for Ayesha to come in as everyone’s still resurging out. Second is the YouShape award as that was one of my early ideas. Previously we had YouShape month but we didn’t want people to think that Youth Shaped Scouting was just for February, but that it was something you do every month of every year. And so, to have an award that basically for all YouShape things for all sections in one place with a different sectionspecific award… it felt like a really good idea. We did some consultations and everyone supported it and eventually it launched last October and more than 100,000 people have taken part already! Finally, we created this national role pool as, when I first started, people kept coming up to me saying “Congratulations! By the way I need someone for this committee.” and I thought “I don’t know enough people, I only know a few people from my county!”Wehave this thing called the UK Rep Pool for international trips, for young people to represent UK Scouts, so I thought “Let’s create one of those for national roles” and so now we’ve had about 40 young people in national roles. Three of four of the last elected youth great!pool,throughtrusteesmemberhavecometheroleit’spretty
Branching out with the new
We had a chance to catch up with Ayesha Karim, the new UK Youth Commissioner, and Ollie Wood, her predecessor, after the handover on Saturday at Gilwell Reunion.
more you meet people and the more you can expose yourself to difference places, the more impact you can have. And also, just enjoy it –it’s just a bit surreal sometimes when you stand in places like this and you meet all sorts of people and you’ve got to enjoy it along the way. It’s hard sometimes to just step back and take everything in. Ayesha, first of all congratulations on your new role. But tell us, what inspired you to apply for this role, especially given you weren’t a Youth Commissioner before? Yeah, so, I come from an area where we don’t have a district or county Youth Commissioner and like I’ve said before I came from a Muslim Scout group and Muslim Scouting is massive – there’s 8000 Muslim Scouts in the country in Muslim Scout groups – and none of those young people are Youth Commissioners! So even though in the communities where there are Youth Commissioners its had a massive impact, it hasn’t really translated over [to Muslim Scouting] and so until I was sent the information for this role by my Explorer Scout leader, I hadn’t even heard of a Youth Commissioner.Myleader said “you’ve got to decide whether you want to apply for this by midnight” and I was like “ok, you know what, lets just go for it” and I sent it through within a couple of days and next thing I know I’ve got an email from Carl [Hankinson] saying to come to an interview and next thing I know I’m standing here! So it was a really whirlwind journey, but its been so much fun because even though Scouting has been such a big part of my life, I never realised just how much of it I wasn’t aware of and I think in a way being so fresh faced with this I will have a very different perspective which I think will be very impactful. Now that you’re here, what are your plans? What do you hope to achieve as the new UK Youth Commissioner? I mean, first of all I want to build upon the foundations that Ollie has already put in place. The YouShape award and its roll-out has been incredible. I don’t want to make any massive changes to the award yet as it’s still very much still rolling out nationally. Later down the line there will be chances for development but at the moment making sure that Youth Commissioners are rolling out the YouShape award because I think that the aim should be that every single member of Scouting should have it.I think that sometimes people think that Youth Shaped Scouting comes at the expense of something else like a certain badge. No, it’s the undercurrent through which all of Scouting should be run. Every single young person should be in charge of the programme in some way. Youth Commissioners –the work they do is incredible.
new Youth Commissioner
And they do have a lot of support available to them but not all of them know how to access that support. And also the distribution of Youth Commissioners is not evenly spread across the country – I think those are the immediate goals at the moment. Is there anything you’re most looking forward to in this role?
Ollie: I would say for anyone who is thinking about
something you can take on. Just always keep an eye out for those opportunities and don’t be afraid to take them on.I think meeting a lot of new people. I’ve only just started branching out into national/ international Scouting since the latter half of Explorers and, I’m only 19 so I’ve only done a few years of that, and so I’m still constantly meeting new people in scouting and this is the kind of role where I’m going to be doing that constantly.
I think meeting a lot of new people. I’ve only just started branching out into national/ international Scouting since the latter half of Explorers and, I’m only 19 so I’ve only done a few years of that, and so I’m still constantly meeting new people in scouting and this is the kind of role where I’m ging to be doing that constantly. And finally, do either of you have any advice for young people wanting to get involved?
taking on a local commissioner role – or even joining Ayesha’s team – you should do it. You only regret the things you didn’t do, not the things that you tried and sometimes it can feel a little bit daunting at first, that it’s a different environment to anything you’re used to but actually I think that the different challenges you’re exposed to, the different environments you encounter, they really go on to help you develop skills. So I think it’s an awesome role and it helps give us future leaders in Scouts. Ayesha: I would just say Scouting has had an impact to so many people and I would say to every young person: remember the impact its had on you and think okay, this has been my relationship with Scouts my whole life. I am in a new chapter of my life now, my needs are going to be changing, my capacities are going to be changing, so what can I do to stay involved in Scouts? You might have moved out for uni or got a new job, but there is always
Saturday at Reunion isn’t complete without the traditional campfire, hosted as always in the Large Campfire Circle. We were fortunate enough to be joined by Anarella Prime, Greatgranddaughter of Robert Baden Powell, as well as thousands of friends and family via Facebook Live. Following a cheerful attempt at a rendition of “It’s a long way to Tipperary” (we got there in the end), the circle was quickly filled with laughter as the crowd desperately tried to keep up with the ‘proper speed’ of the songs – thankfully there was a lack of hand-meets-nose related injuries…Channelling our inner Squirrels, nursery rhymes proved to be a recurring theme, as was the laughteroutafterhangingtoflamesoccasionalcows,aeclairs,involvingharmedharesalthoughunfortunately)–variousappropriatedecidedly-not-Squirrel-violencetowardsobjects(potatoes,bananasnobodyhadanymangoesandcreatures,wepromisethatnooryellow-billedbirdswerethisevening!Afterabasicmathslessonapackofchocolatewewereeventreatedtoplethoraofanimalsincludingfairiesandeventhepterodactyl.Withspiritshighandburninglow,itwastimesaythankyoutoGlenn,whoisuphiscampfireblanketnineyears,beforemarching–cheekshurtingfrom–andintothebar.
Goodbye lonesome feeling
Camp chiefs through time
Gilwell Reunion has a long history, for over 100 years leaders have been gathering and learning at Gilwell Park. Initially as part of structured Wood Badge training courses, now our much loved Reunion is an opportunity to catch up with friends as much as it is an chance to Duringlearn.last nights opening address this history of the Camp Chiefs wood badge was mentioned and we thought we’d add to it. The role or title of Camp Chief has always been held by a paid member of staff. Initially the Camp Chief was in charge of all Leader training, in 1923 this extended to being in charge of all Gilwell based activity.Officially the job of Camp Chief ended with John Thurman in the late 1960’s when it became an honoury title linked to the senior member of staff in charge of leader Intraining.the1920’s Baden Powell awarded his Deputy Chief Scout, Sir Percy Everett with this own set of 6 wood beads to match the Chief Scouts own. The beads were from the original necklace of Chief Dinizulu. In 1949 Everett gave his set of 6 wood beads to the then Camp Chief John Thurman to be passed to his successor in time. The original woodbeads were retired to the Scout Heritage Collection in 2015 and now a replica set of 6 beads is worn by the Camp Chief of the Whilstday.inthe UK we are used to being awarded two beads when we complete our training, the Camp Chief’s set of six hold particular importance to our international brothers and sisters, who often still use 2, 3 and event 4 beads to identify their roles. You can find out more about the History of the Woodbadge on the Scouts Heritage Website. With thanks to the Scouts Heritage Service
In recent years there has been a lot of pressure in the wider world to make everything inclusive and accessible.Weknow that Scouting has long met this challenge, offering a safe space for every member and volunteer to meet their potential and be engaged with theThemovement.BrunchReception
on the Buffalo Lawn was hosted by the UK Inclusion Team with FLAGS SASU as their guest of FLAGShonour.notonly offers a fellowship group for members of the LGBTQ community and allies but also encourages education on LGBTQ related issues. Offering support on inclusion and resources to share with youth sections.
FLAGS has also been the catalyst behind The Scouts attending Pride marches up and down the country.
Inclusive Brunch with FLAGS
Jake Orros, National Inclusion Team Manager, spoke to us about the reception. “It was amazing, we had over 100 people to Brunch this morning. It made it a really special celebration. I thanked everyone for coming and shared something of the journey FLAGS and The Scouts have been on. We attended our first pride in 2009 and year on year that has grown.This year we will attend 17 different pride events. We don’t just march, we run activity zones and family areas too.”
Craig Turpie, our Deputy UK Chief (Transformation)Commissionerwas greeted to the stage to talk about belief. “Understanding our beliefs is one part of discovering our own identities […] Scouts is a safe place to be while we make these discoveries. It’s a place to belong; no judgement, no pressure and all the help we need to find our place in the world.” Last but not least we Marina Kruger, another Scout Adventures volunteer, spoke about cooperation. “When we cooperate, we make a really positive difference. We make friends, and that’s all Scouts is about, right?
Gee, an Scout Adventures volunteer at Gilwell Park, reflected on Respect. “Listening to each other is the best way to show respect. Just by listening to each other, you care about what they’re saying and you show them that they are welcome wherever they are. “ Next, we heard from CJ, about caring. “When we each all show care and kindness, something trulyhappens:remarkableeveryone around us feels better. Wewelcome,likefeelwe’re that we’re safe and we belong.”
Our Values, Our Scarf Scout’s Own. A moment of calm, a time to reflect on everything we’ve done together over the last weekend. Why we belong to this great movement, what binds us all together, what we have inThesecommon.were Ayesha’s themes for Scouts Own this year, inspired by the late MP Jo Cox in her maiden speech to parliament: “we have more in common than that which dividesThereus.” are three things we all have in common as Scouts: our values, our promise and our scarf. Scarf. Necker. Neckie. So many different patterns and designs, it shows we belong to one family. Every scarf has a story, a reason for its being, and we heard five such stories today. From the tartans of Scotland to the wildlife of Brazil, every necker has a story to tell, a reason for being unique.Scouts are also connected by our values – the very fundamentals of Scouting. Each speaker this afternoon explored a allowingvalue,different us to importance.uponreflectits Our first speaker Andrew Sharkey, Chief Commissioner of Scotland, spoke on Integrity. “When we act with integrity, we inspire other people to the same. We are all role models for our young people and for each other.”
ourScoutsFinally,Teamwork.”ofcourse,areconnectedbypromise,acelebration of the values we follow. As is traditional, attendees were given the chance to renew their promise, before bidding farewell to their friends and embarking on their journeys home.
UK Adults #DreamWild initiative, the team is creating pre-planned sessions, which are posted online every few weeks.The team are also planning an event called Dream:LIVE on the 6th August 2023 – an online event being run straight from Korea. This can be done individually or with groups, so be sure to follow the UK Contingent on social media for more information!
The UK Contingent were delighted at the turnout of their reception yesterday afternoon, with over 200 unit leaders, IST and even alumni from the 1991 Korean World Scout Jamboree attending. It was a great opportunity for attendees to meet up, helping to form a strong team to attend the jamboree a mere 333 days later. As UK contingent leader Liz Walker said, “whether you’re alumni, IST, unit leaders… whatever your part in all this, we are a team. And I think at each step of this journey we can work hand in hand to deliver our dream, but more importantly their dreams. As after all, dreams only come true when we come together.”Oneofthe big themes for the meeting was facilitating the “unique opportunities that the jamboree has for young people” especially for those who aren’t able to attend the event in person.“We want to make sure that this isn’t just about people going to globalaboutjamboree,theit’saddingaflavourto their Scouting.” As a part of this
Reporters: Sarah Paget and Alex Reid - Photographers: Tina Wing, Steve Way and Matthew Woolley - Video: Brian Robinson and Peter Hopton - Content Editor: James Hage After two years of virtual Reunions, it has been wonderful to see everyone back together in person for Gilwell Reunion 2022. During the two years of virtual events Reunion Express joined in and maintained an online presence.With everyone back together we thought we would follow Scout Adventures sustainable approach and limit our printing by continuing with our online output, but this time as a blog. This was a new and different approach and we hope you have enjoyed it. If you would like to read the blog in full, please www.scoutcontent.org.uk/gilwell-visit:reunion-2022/
We also know how much you love a proper newspaper so we hope you enjoy this summary paper of this yearsWeevent.would love to know your thoughts so we can improve for next year. Please do share your feedbackgilwell.reunion@scouts.org.ukwith:
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