West Sussex Scouts County Newsletter June 2011

A Grand setting for the Queen’s Scouts Awards Six young people from Bognor, Crawley and Petworth & Pulborough Districts gathered together with family, District Commissioners and Network Leaders on the evening of May 28th at the beautiful 17th century mansion Petworth House to receive the highest award in Scouting, ‘The Queens Scouts Award’.

Pictured: Guest Speaker Mrs Lilian Holdsworth, MBE JP DL and Chairman of Duke of Edinburgh County Committee. With Queen’s Scouts: Matthew Farrant, Felicity Staplyton, Alice Cannon, Matthew Pike, Jason Graves and Elizabeth Stroud.

Jason Graves, from Crawley summed up his experience as ‘invaluable, by gaining personal confidence and self esteem.

Leaving the comfort zone of home to be with strangers in Wales and helping with conservation is something I thought I’d never be able to do.’

Congratulations to you all.

NEXT ISSUE Submit your pictures and stories to countyoffice@westsusexscouts.org.uk by 15th July 2011

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The West Sussex Adventure June 2011

IN BRIEF!

ADULT TRAINING DATES

Managers Day, 9th July - Bookings Still Open!

The booking deadline for the Managers Day on the 9th July has been extended to the 10th June.

Full details can be found at: www.westsussexscouts.org.uk/ws/managerday2011

Various Modules at Lodge Hill • 8/9 October 2011 • 26/27 November 2011 • 11/12 January 2012 • 31 March/1 April 2012 • 13/14 October 2012 • 24/25 November 2012 Module 38 - Skills for Residential Experiences • 14/15 May 2011 • 24/25 September 2011

Or contact Mark Guy - 07500 963 36

New leadership team for South East England Richard Woolsey and Chris Doll have been appointed to lead Scouting in the South East of England. Their appointments as Regional Commissioner and Deputy Regional Commissioner, respectively, will take effect from 1 June 2011.

Modules 28 & 29 - Facilitating & Presenting at Lodge Hill • 29/30 October 2011 Contact your Training Adviser/ Manager for further details and to book your place.

New Groups and Sections Scouting continues to grow in West Sussex.

Three new Groups have been established: • Lavant Valley, Chichester • 12th Horsham, Horsham West • Bolnore Village, Mid Sussex and 3rd Shoreham, Adur Valley has open a second Beaver Colony.

We welcome them all to Scouting and the ADVENTURE!

IN A PICTURE

Save our Hut In the autumn of 2010, during a survey ahead of building works to fit Billingshurst Scouts and Guides HQ with new toilet facilities and storage cupboards; asbestos was found in the ceiling and walls of the building. Asbestos requires specialist attention, so the bill of works escalated to include the removal of this material plus a previously un-intended new ceiling and replacement of all of the equipment that was stored in the loft. Leaders and young people alike are now fundraising like crazy to raise the money to get their headquarters back in service.

Billingshurst Scouts celebrates it's 100th birthday this year. The hut is used every week by Explorers, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

For more information you can visit www.1stbillingshurst.org.uk

Cub Kart Grand Prix, 15th May, Tangmere Congratulations to 5th Chichester Cub Pack which won the overall competition.

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The West Sussex Adventure June 2011

From John, County Commissioner In early 2007 I set a target of us achieving 2012 more members by the year 2012. After a tremendous effort by everyone and indeed Mark Guy working tirelessly we are well on the way to achieving this goal. (Total Membership at January 2011 Census: 10,398). With figures in mind we will be undertaking once again a mid term census, by doing this we will achieve a true figure of where we stand.

Adult recruitment will once again be our main focus at our South of England Show stand at Ardingly in June. Every year with our colleagues from East Sussex we show the public what Scouting is all about and encourage would be volunteers to join us. Drop in and say ‘hello’ if you are visiting the show.

Many congratulations to Anthony Smith, Chris Arkle, Colin Fraser, Stuart Thorne and Malcolm Strudwick who were all awarded the Silver Acorn in the St Georges Day Awards.

Recently at Petworth House more congratulations were in order, we were there to recognise the achievements of this years Queen’s Scouts. Matthew Farrant, Elizabeth Stroud, Alice Cannon, Jason Graves, Felicity Stapylton, Matthew Pike, Thomas Kilpatrick and Emily Cook all had their certificates present by Mrs Lillian Holdsworth MBE JP DL. More congratulations: to some Groups this time. With support from Mark Guy and Mike Wakeling we have a new Beaver Colony at 3rd Shoreham and new Groups in Bolnore Village and West Dean.

July 9th at Fontwell Racecourse we are hosting a Managers Day aimed primarily at District Commissioners and Group Scout Leaders, our guest being Wayne Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner. If you haven’t already registered it’s not too late! More information can be obtained from Mark Guy. With camps and summer events now looming upon us please may I ask if you wish any of the County Team to attend any event or presentation that you are holding please give us plenty of time as diaries get very full very quickly.

Events in mind it is now just a couple of months before our two units head off to Sweden for the World Scout Jamboree. They have been team building for many months and I am sure they can’t wait to undertake the experience of a life time.

We have just had a couple of Gang Shows take place, one in Worthing and one in Crawley, both being excellent entertainment. I attended the one in Crawley provided by 2nd Ifield Group at the Ifield Barn. It was a great show in a great setting. Well done to all participants in both shows you certainly know how to entertain.

Have Fun John

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The West Sussex Adventure June 2011

Celebrating 50 Years of 2nd Durrington In 1961, leaders from 8th Worthing Sea Scouts formed a new Scout Group – 2nd Durrington.

This year 2nd Durrington celebrates the 50th anniversary of their formation.

The Group now has two Beaver Colonies (Freshwater and Riverbank), two Cub Packs (Gloucester and Lynx), a Scout Troop, and a link with Blake Explorer Scout Unit. In total there are over 150 boys and girls actively involved in Scouting activities.

In 1963 the Group applied to the Royal Navy for recognition within the RN Sea Scout Scheme.

After some considerable work, which included inspections by serving officers, they were granted such a warrant and became RN Unit 61.

An inspection takes place every 18 months, at which the sections display to the inspecting Naval officer a range of activities depending on the time of year covering basic scouting skills like knots and first aid, to more advanced skills like building an assault course or building and flying model rockets. During the summer months inspections take place on the water! At each of these inspections the level of skill and the enthusiasm of the team, together with the quality of the programme, the condition of the headquarters and kit, and the badgework of the Scouts & Explorers is judged and recorded. So far we have passed each inspection with flying colours!

To commemorate this success over such a time, the Group is having a celebration on 18th June and invite all previous members of the Group to join them in a day of festivities. This will consist of a parade and colours in the afternoon, with games for the younger members, followed by an evening celebration to meet and talk to those who have been involved in the Group over the years.

Anyone wishing to join us for the evening celebration should contact an existing leader, or Group Chairman, Mr M Lane, 81 Poulters lane, Worthing, BN14 7SX or e-mail scouts@2nddurrington.co.uk

Calling All Cub Pirates Captain Grimwood summons all Cub Pirates to his island!

For ‘Pirates of Cub Island’ County Camp, 18th – 20th May 2012 More details at: www.westsussexscouts.org.uk/ws/cubcamp2012 Booking Form and Deposit due 1st June 2011

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The West Sussex Adventure June 2011

News from Rampions WSJ Unit: Our January meeting...

It was a lovely sunny Saturday when we all met up at Arundel HQ for a post-Christmas Jamboree meeting. Everyone was in good spirits and the orange squash and chocolate biscuits were flowing freely!

We started off by wishing each other a Happy New Year and dividing everyone up into their new patrols. We played a quick game to blow away the cobwebs and then got started with the afternoon’s activities.

Two patrols were sent out on a Scavenger Hunt around Arundel. They were given an hour and a half to answer thirty questions as well as they could... this included counting trees on a roundabout, taking a group photo of a ‘Jamboree pose’ and also making the best human pyramid (photo evidence was required).

Meanwhile, the remaining two patrols were busy working on other tasks. One patrol was with our visitor Sue Dawson, looking at the relationships that could be formed at the Jamboree and how to approach these maturely and safely. And the other patrol was given a brief to ‘design their own international Scout’ and also to brainstorm West Sussex culture...

Everyone was reunited for a tea-break where we had an interesting talk from Mike Parkes (UK Contingent Leader) about what to expect at the Jamboree and a chance to ask questions about various things such as food at the Jamboree, being able to call home and what currency we would need.

Then the other two patrols went out Scavenging and the others stayed to complete the tasks at the hall.

We ended up with some very interesting international Scouts and faced some international stereotypes head-on.

Each international Scout was drawn (life size) and stuck on the walls of the HQ with a personality description beside them. We later looked at these as a group and discussed what pre-conceptions we had about Scouts from other countries. We also discussed how we might communicate with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as us.

As for West Sussex culture, we had some good brainstorms by the end with at least some ideas of what to talk about if people at the Jamboree ask us about our area.

The day finished with a group discussion about possible performance pieces and plans for our March camp at Broadstone Warren, in the heart of the Ashdown Forest. Everyone left in good spirits with a positive vibe about the Jamboree which is drawing ever closer.....

For further news visit: www.westsussexrampions.org.uk

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The West Sussex Adventure June 2011