Pathfinder - Autumn 2010 by Scouts Scotland

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CONTENTS Scottish Headquarters News

WELCOME

Welcome to the autumn 2010 issue of Pathfinder, the magazine of The Scottish Council The Scout Association. We hope you all enjoyed the summer and were able to put to good use some of the ideas for outdoor activities covered in our last issue. The main focus of this issue of Pathfinder is on communications – looking at both our communications within the Movement and how we promote Scouting externally. At Scottish Headquarters, we have made quite a few changes over the last few years in the way that we communicate with our membership, the introduction of this magazine being an obvious example! We also now make greater use of e-communications to engage with our members, particularly through our two monthly e-bulletins. We are also always keen to hear from our members across Scotland with their queries, suggestions or their recent Scouting adventures. But this issue will also consider not only the communications between Scottish Headquarters and our members, but also the wider issue of how all of us in Scottish Scouting - at every level, young and old - can communicate more successfully with each other. While striving to improve the communication between us all within Scouting, we also need to be mindful of the importance of the image of Scouting we present to external audiences – potential volunteers, the media, supporters and the general public. While SHQ and the Assistant Regional Commissioners (Communications) are able to provide support for both of these types of communication, we all have a role to play in ensuring that we communicate well within Scouting and also portray a positive image to those outside of the Movement to make them aware of the Adventure and Challenge that Scouting offers. As well as input from our SHQ Team, as usual we have some interesting input in this issue from those on the outside looking in. Firstly, ex-Scotland rugby internationalist (and ex- Scout) turned marketing and events consultant Scott Hastings, and secondly Martin Raymond, Director of Cloudline PR, who in 2007 was named as one of the most influential marketers of the last 21 years. We hope that this issue gives you all a few ideas to help communicate our Scouting adventure even more effectively in future. The Editor

A round-up of all the latest news, policy updates and developments from Scottish Scout Headquarters.

FEATURE

Communications

Youth Summit2 - Preparing for the Journey

Graeme Luke, SHQ Programme and Development Executive, discusses the progress of our Youth Engagement agenda and the recent Youth Summit, attended by over 100 young people from across Scotland.

Scouting for Profile

An outsider’s view of Scout PR. Martin Raymond, Director of Cloudline PR, gives us his thoughts on the importance of communications to Scouting and the role we all have to play in creating good PR for our Movement.

It’s All in the Words

In our main article of this autumn issue, SHQ Commissioner (Communications) Graeme Robertson considers some of the challenges we face in Scouting when communicating within the Movement and to external audiences, and how we can use both new and traditional media to communicate effectively with both of these groups.

…As Ithers See Us

Explorer Scouts Alan Borland and Abigail Goldfarb quiz ex-Scout and Scottish Rugby Internationalist Scott Hastings on his time in the 9th Edinburgh (Morningside) Scout Group, as well as finding out his thoughts on some of the key issues facing Scouting today.

Developing Scouting

Are you in need of funds to support Scouting in your area? We take a look at the funding on offer through the Scottish Development Fund and the CashBack for Communities Small Grants Scheme and how this can help local Scouting across Scotland.

Nobody Told Me!

Ann Fotheringham, SHQ Commissioner (Adult Training), looks at how good communications can contribute to improved adult training and provides details of MAD Twenty Ten – a weekend workshop in October, aimed at everyone involved in Adult Training.

Events Diary

Keep up to date with Scouting events for young people and adult volunteers across Scotland.

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CONTENTS Scottish Headquarters News

WELCOME

A round-up of all the latest news, policy updates and developments from Scottish Scout Headquarters.

FEATURE

Communications

Youth Summit2 - Preparing for the Journey

Graeme Luke, SHQ Programme and Development Executive, discusses the progress of our Youth Engagement agenda and the recent Youth Summit, attended by over 100 young people from across Scotland.

Scouting for Profile

It’s All in the Words

…As Ithers See Us

Developing Scouting

Nobody Told Me!

Events Diary

Keep up to date with Scouting events for young people and adult volunteers across Scotland.

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SCOTTISH

HEADQUARTERS NEWS - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - - ----Axis 2010

(incorporating the 100th AGM of the Scottish Council)

wishing to become a DofE Expedition Assessor. The Introduction to the DofE Award training which will be held on Sunday 10th October is for anyone wishing to get involved in the scheme and who is looking for more information. This course is not compulsory but does give a good base from which to launch the award in your local Unit.

2010 is the 800th Anniversary of the City of Perth , the city that is known across Scotland as ‘The Perfect Centre’ and a superb setting for the 100th meeting of The Scottish Scout Council.

Each course lasts all day and tea and coffee will be provided, there will be a small fee of £5.00 per day for lunch. Camping at Fordell Firs is available to anyone wishing to stay for the weekend at a cost of £3.00 per night. Please note that if you do camp this will be on a self-catering basis.

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Axis 2010 will take place on Saturday 6th November 2010 at the North Inch Community Campus, Gowans Terrace, Perth. The event will include a review of the past year, the Annual General Meeting and an afternoon of topical information including a presentation of the Scottish Scouts Youth Manifesto which was created by over 100 young people from across Scotland at the recent Youth Summit (see pp. 4 – 5 for more information on the Youth Summit). Further information and a booking form for Axis 2010 are included in this magazine. Places are limited so please book today.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Training 2010 - - --------- -- - - - Scottish Headquarters will be hosting two Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training days in October this year in the conference room at Scottish Headquarters. This training is targeted at any adults within Scouting who are involved or would like to be involved in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme as part of their Balanced Programme. The DofE Expedition Assessor training will be run on Saturday 9th October and is compulsory for anyone

If you are interested in either course please contact Andrew Aldous at SHQ on 01383 419073 or email andrew@scouts-scotland.org.uk. Places are limited so please get in touch as soon as possible.

November launch for PVG Scheme - - ------ --- --- - - The Scottish Government has announced that the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme will commence on 30th November 2010. From that date any adult taking up a role in Scouting that currently requires an Enhanced Disclosure Check will be required to become a member of the new scheme. Scheme membership is for life (unless an individual wishes to leave the scheme) and will be portable, putting an end to the requirement to have multiple Disclosures for multiple roles. Once all the practicalities are ironed out we will issue information on how the new scheme will be implemented within Scouting. Factsheets will be available as soon as possible to explain the application process, which will not be too dissimilar to that which is currently operated for Disclosure checks. Later in

2011, electronic processing will be introduced which will streamline Scheme administration and further speed up the checking process. In order to avoid the backlog that was experienced when Disclosure checking was introduced by the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act, transition arrangements have been outlined by Government that should help smooth the process. Once fully clarified for Scouting purposes, information on this will be sent to District and Region Appointments Secretaries and will be more widely available on www.scouts-scotland.org.uk. In the meantime, existing Disclosure check arrangements remain in place as part of our adult appointment and vetting procedures. Current information and guidance on the PVG Scheme is available from the recently published Scottish Government PVG Special Update www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1141/0100847.pdf. Further information is available from the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk and from www.infoscotland.com/pvgscheme.

Trailing Around - - ----- ---- -- - - The Programme and Development Staff at Scottish Headquarters have been out and about across the country over the Summer with the Scottish Scouting Promotional Trailer. Ably supported by local Scouters, we have been piloting some different locations to try to increase the volunteering opportunities in communities. Among the venues have been a number of shopping centres and high footfall events in both East Region and Forth Region where many adults took the time to find out more about Scouting. We are also supporting a number of local community events with a focus on adult recruitment. The trailer comes complete with TV/ DVD Player, banners and informative leaflets and ready to hitch on to the back of your vehicle. It truly is an excellent way to promote Scouting and is available by contacting Terry O’Neill at Scottish Headquarters on 01383 419 073 / terry@scouts-scotland.org.uk or by completing the booking form on www.scouts-scotland.org.uk/trailer.

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Hampden Roar - - ------ --- --- - The National Football Stadium was the setting for the 2010 Scottish Awards Ceremony in June. The event was attended by the Recipients of St George’s Day Awards, Explorer Belts and the coveted Queen’s Scout Award. The theme for the event was ‘Reaching the Top’ and the young people and adults in attendance were applauded by the 400 strong audience for their achievement and exceptional service to Scouting in Scotland. The event started with a traditional rendition of The Flower of Scotland and had a football flavour throughout. We were delighted to welcome Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, who presented the Royal Certificates to the recipients of the Queen’s Scout Award and, after a short address, presented two young people from the 77th Fife (Kelty Church) Scout Group with the first Start-up grant of £1,000 from the recently launched CashBack for Communities Small Grants Scheme.

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SCOTTISH

HEADQUARTERS NEWS - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - - ----Axis 2010

(incorporating the 100th AGM of the Scottish Council)

2010 is the 800th Anniversary of the City of Perth , the city that is known across Scotland as ‘The Perfect Centre’ and a superb setting for the 100th meeting of The Scottish Scout Council.

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If you are interested in either course please contact Andrew Aldous at SHQ on 01383 419073 or email andrew@scouts-scotland.org.uk. Places are limited so please get in touch as soon as possible.

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Youth Summit2 -

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Over 100 young people from 34 Districts across the length and breadth of Scotland descended on the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan in June for the second Scottish Youth Summit. Their mission was to ensure that Scouting in Scotland is relevant for the young people of today and tomorrow, to challenge some of the priorities that the Scottish Board has set for the coming three years as well as considering the UK vision towards 2018.

Young people were selected to attend the event following extensive recruitment through District Commissioners, DESCs, and DSNLs and then more recently by direct requests to the young people themselves. The young people, from all different types of communities across the country, were drawn from three distinct groups:

- - ----- ------- - - ----- --- - - Youth Participation Youth Participation is about young people having a say in decisions that affect their lives, organisations and communities. In particular it means that:

•

Explorer Scouts

•

18-25 year old Scout Network Members

•

18-25 year old Adult Leaders

Following some initial integration, the participants were split into seven Groups and challenged to find out more about the different types of Scouting that exist across Scotland.

• young people have an important contribution to make in decisions that impact on their lives, organisations and communities;

The main part of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon when Groups attended three out of seven workshops to identify:

• young people have the skills, knowledge and confidence to get involved with decision making; and

1. The issues that face Scouting now

• a culture exists within which young people's opinions and contributions are recognised, valued and acted upon by wider society. The Youth Engagement Implementation Group was formed in 2009 with a clear remit to implement the 38 agreed recommendations of the Scottish Board in moving Scouting in Scotland towards becoming an organisation where young people and adults share decision making. The Chief Commissioner appointed Neil Mackenzie, an Explorer Scout Leader in South East Scotland, to lead the group. Work is currently progressing in four defined areas: Youth Programme, Adult Support, Communication and Representation. The first real test of the direction of this work was the 2010 Youth Summit.

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2. Where Scouting in Scotland should be in 2013 3. How we are going to get there There were wide-ranging discussions and ideas around the eight strands of the Scottish Three Year Work Programme: (a) Recruitment & Retention (b) 6-25 Programme (c) Internal Communication (d) Selling Scouting Externally

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(e) How adults support local Scouting (f) Ensuring we are a sustainable movement (g) Youth Participation (h) Reflecting Diversity in Scouting Each Group was then challenged to identify five statements of intent that followed the theme of “In 2013 Scouting in Scotland will…” The facilitators used various methods to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to have their say and some lively discussions took place that challenge the way that we do things in Scouting today. The Saturday evening was a time to relax and have some fun and a number of exciting activities were laid on including Hover About, Bucking Bronco, Surf Simulator and Art Attack as well as a time to chat to new friends. On Sunday the various findings of the Saturday workshops were shared with the entire audience and, after a short team-building exercise, each group championed the session that they attended on the Saturday. The young people shared their aspirations for Scouting in Scotland in 2013 and everyone used interactive voting pads to select the three priorities under each of the headings. The voting brought out 35 statements of intent which were then put together into a video manifesto from the young people of Scotland. This was shared with seven invited guests including The Chief Commissioner, Depute Chief Commissioners, Chairman of the Scottish Board, The Chief Executive and the Scottish Headquarters Commissioners (Explorer Scouts and Scout Network). The weekend was a great success, the statements were extremely positive, and in some cases controversial, but they all proved how articulate our young people are and how passionately they believe in their movement.

So what now?

The video manifesto formed part of a report that was given to the Scottish Board in August, it will be part of the District Commissioners event, ‘On Track’, in September and will also be presented during Axis 2010 (see page 2 for more information on this). However it is clear that we must embrace our engagement with young people; they have a voice and it must be heard.

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We were all very impressed with these young people and promised them that we would keep in touch so that they know about events and activities that affect them in the future. This is not just a national responsibility but a local one also and it is up to every one of us to ensure that we are reminded that this is a Youth Movement. The next issue of Pathfinder in spring 2011 will have a complete youth focus and some of the young people involved in Youth Summit2 will take leading roles in bringing this publication and their aspirations for the future to life.

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Youth Summit2 -

Preparing for the Journey - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - -

•

Explorer Scouts

•

18-25 year old Scout Network Members

•

18-25 year old Adult Leaders

Following some initial integration, the participants were split into seven Groups and challenged to find out more about the different types of Scouting that exist across Scotland.

• young people have an important contribution to make in decisions that impact on their lives, organisations and communities;

The main part of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon when Groups attended three out of seven workshops to identify:

• young people have the skills, knowledge and confidence to get involved with decision making; and

1. The issues that face Scouting now

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So what now?

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Scouting for Profile: an outsider’s view of Scout PR - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - -----

editor. But new media is all two way. It is a debate and a conversation and contains the opportunity to bring new people on board.

Martin Raymond, Director, Cloudline PR, Edinburgh, www.cloudline.co.uk

To the question why focus on communications, I reverse the question. Why would an organisation not prioritise its communications? We are, like all the more advanced apes, essentially social animals and to underestimate the importance of managing communication is to deny part of the most fundamental part of what it means to be human. If communication isn’t managed it won’t just drift away like bad weather. Both internally and externally any organisation has to actively manage the flow of information through and around its borders. This has always been the case, but in a 24-hour digitally fuelled world, management of communication takes on a new urgency and importance. To be a high

profile public body without a crisis PR plan is to invite a sudden descent into chaos which may take years to repair. When I say the initials BP in this context, I don’t refer to the founder of world Scouting. And the Scouts are nothing if not high profile. Indeed the Scouts are without doubt the highest profile youth organisation in the world. The brand image is overwhelmingly positive too. Of course there is the odd bit of negative PR and there should always be debates about how well or badly the image is being managed, but the brand image of the Scouts is a precious asset that other organisations covet. PR often deploys a fine set of smoke and mirrors, but at the core of its philosophy is the telling of good

stories. Good stories not in the sense of falsehoods, but in the sense of ensuring that everyone knows about positive tales of lives enhanced and transformed. Often, of course, the sort of stories that people within the organisation take for granted as part of their normal day-to-day work. Managing negative stories is easier when they appear within a continuous, long-term flow of positive stories. Setting out a plan for the year with clear objectives and key messages defined is the sort of professional approach taken by the Scouts and the way to ensure positive relationships with the media. And it’s not just a task for the communications professionals in any organisation. Everyone has a role to play in positive PR. That’s not just a reference to the type of work with local media that the Scouts do so successfully. It’s about every office holder and volunteer being alert to opportunities to promote and clarify and argue. Traditional media still has a role. Trusted media, locally and nationally have, if anything, become more trusted and recognised as opinion leaders as the online sector grows exponentially. Blogs, tweets, social media are threats and opportunities. No organisation’s communications department can protect and develop the image online without enlisting the help of all stakeholders. Everyone who has an interest in the organisation can do online PR, picking up inaccuracies they see, arguing the point, promoting positive stories and engaging with the infinitely fragmented world of the internet. The days when PR only consisted of carefully worded press releases crafted by experts is over. Everyone has to be involved. The rewards from new media can be great. All traditional media is a one way flow, except for inveterate writers of letters to the

But everyone has to be speaking the same language and pursuing similar goals. So, internal communications are even more important than they were before anyone had heard of Googling. Luckily, new media makes internal dialogue and information flow much easier than the days when a Gestetner copier was on the sharp frontier of technology. No one is short of opinions on communication. Everyone has views on how it can be improved. The PR Department of any organisation, commercial or voluntary, is always subject to more advice from well wishers than, say, its Accounts Department. But that’s a very positive reflection on how important the function is and how vital it is.

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Scouting for Profile: an outsider’s view of Scout PR - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - -----

editor. But new media is all two way. It is a debate and a conversation and contains the opportunity to bring new people on board.

Martin Raymond, Director, Cloudline PR, Edinburgh, www.cloudline.co.uk

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It’s All in the Words - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - ----Communication is commonly defined as ‘the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or signs’. Or more simply put, ‘the process of transferring information from one entity to another’. In this age of 24-hour rolling news, mobile Internet access via our phones, and social media sites seemingly taking over peoples’ lives, we are being bombarded with more information than ever before. For us as individuals, we try to find the nuggets of information that are of interest to us, whilst filtering out the rest of the electronic noise. As people involved in Scouting, all this extra ‘chatter’ makes our jobs of communicating with our audiences more challenging, as we try to make sure our information gets through to the correct people at the correct time, and in a way which is easily understood by them. It is also a most exciting time to be involved with this subject, as the new and emerging technologies open up the possibility of creating a twoway communication process with our audiences.

For an organisation like ours, it is relatively easy to broadly define the people we want to communicate with into two categories: the ‘internal audience’, in other words those people who are already within the Scout Movement; and the ‘external audience’, who are those people whom we wish to influence who are not part of our organisation. The information (or ‘messages’) we want to convey to these groups and the methods by which we can do so will vary considerably, and this article looks at some ways we can harness both traditional and new media to successfully reach the people we want to communicate with. Some key points underline all types of communication, whether to internal or external audiences, and whilst they are common sense, they are worth reinforcing at this stage: •

purpose – what precisely is the reason for the communication, and what is its intended result? For instance, is it purely informational, or will the recipient need to take some sort of action as a result?

•

message – what is the information that needs to be given; is it as concise and understandable as possible?

•

relevance – as far as possible, target the recipients to only give people information that is of interest to them

•

timeliness – if something is urgent, then it may merit a special communication of its own; otherwise, consider if it can wait to be included along with other information in a scheduled publication

•

frequency – do not overload people with too many separate letters or emails. Instead try to coordinate them into one regular communication

•

accessibility – some modern communication channels such as social media are great for reaching young people, but consider how many leaders or managers use these sites; is an alternative method required to reach those people who do not or cannot access the internet?

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which would be of more general interest to the internal audience, whilst at the same time showcasing Scouting to a wider external audience. It is important to get the balance right – moving everything to emails and the internet may exclude some people, although it is generally accepted that in order to be an effective manager or leader in Scouting today you need to have access to email and the internet.

Speaking to ourselves...

The balance is perhaps more difficult to achieve at a Group setting, where not every adult helper or parent has access to emails. In these situations, it might be necessary to send physical copies of newsletters to them – it will be a far reduced number than before, and will still save a lot of time and money in production and posting.

Whatever role we have within Scouting, communicating with others is an essential part of our jobs. The key ‘internal audiences’ that have been identified include section leaders, adult helpers, managers at all levels and, of course, our youth members and their parents or guardians. These are very diverse groups, and careful consideration is needed to work out the best ways to reach them with our messages and receive feedback from them. The first consideration in any communication process is defining what information we want to put across, and whether it is just a single process or the start of a ‘conversation’ about the topic. Understanding this will determine not only the method(s) of communicating and their content, but also the tone of the communication.

Print versus online... The monthly or quarterly printed newsletter has traditionally been the main method of sharing information within the organisation, the advantage of which being that almost everyone can receive and digest these without much effort, assuming they open the envelope when it drops on their doormat. The downside of this method of communication is the cost of printing and distributing the items, which has led many Groups, Districts and Regions, as well as Scottish Headquarters, to move away from regular printed newsletters to something different. For instance, the transformation of the old quarterly Scottish Scout News into this bi-annual Pathfinder magazine was accompanied by a change in strategy to move the ‘news’ element of the newsletter into more regular email bulletins, with the focus of this magazine being on longer features and other articles

Spinning the web... Creating web pages for local Groups, Districts and Regions is a great way to convey information to an internal audience as well as promoting the organisation externally. Dates and times of meetings, when sections start up after the holidays, forthcoming activities, reports from camps and suchlike are extremely good pieces of information to put on to the internet. When considering whether to create web pages for the first time, consider the following: • Who will design and maintain the technical bits of the site? If it is a volunteer, do they really know what they are doing, and can they design something that will enhance the reputation of the organisation? If they cease to volunteer, what happens to the site – can its maintenance be transferred to someone else? Who

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•

message – what is the information that needs to be given; is it as concise and understandable as possible?

•

relevance – as far as possible, target the recipients to only give people information that is of interest to them

•

timeliness – if something is urgent, then it may merit a special communication of its own; otherwise, consider if it can wait to be included along with other information in a scheduled publication

•

frequency – do not overload people with too many separate letters or emails. Instead try to coordinate them into one regular communication

•

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Speaking to ourselves...

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young people we work with (for instance a group picture of Beavers should not name each child individually).

away. It is also easier to send a gentle electronic prod to a parent to remind them to send in the necessary information if they are a little late.

• What level of contact information is on the site? Is it a Group Scout Leader’s email address or a link to www.scouts.org.uk/join and Gilwell Info Centre telephone number for ‘Want to Join’ enquiries 0845 300 1818.

Communicating to young people in the Scout Section is a little more complicated, as they begin to take more responsibility for organising their own programme, but they still require a lot of leader and parental involvement. Also, under 12 years of age they are legally too young to give their own consent to be contacted electronically, and most social networking sites (Facebook in particular) sets a lower age limit of 13 years.

A review of www.scouts-scotland.org.uk is currently underway, and one of the ideas being considered is to offer Groups, Districts and Regions the chance to create their own mini-web-sites within the structure of the Scottish national website. This would save them from the hassle and expenses of having to create and maintain their own local sites, and enable them share in the national design and hosting services whilst maintaining their local content via an easy to use administration interface. More information on this will be sent out over the coming months as the review continues, but in the meantime we would be delighted to receive your comments on this idea – please email david@scouts-scotland.org.uk.

Given these elements and restrictions, it is easier to apply the same methods of communication as used for Beavers and Cubs, whilst fully involving the Scouts in what is going on.

has copies of the passwords for the site design and the hosting platform? If a professional company is employed, how much will it cost for the original design and then for ongoing maintenance and hosting? • Who registers and owns the domain name (the ‘www’ bit) and, again, who has the passwords and technical information to renew it when the original domain registration expires or transfer it to a new hosting platform? • Who will update the information on the site and, realistically, how frequently? Is special training required to be able to post new content to the site? Who will maintain the security of the site, for instance giving passwords out to other leaders / managers to update the content? • What kind of information will be uploaded to the site? Is it interesting / relevant? Does it protect the

For the youngest sections, Beavers and Cubs, most of the formal communication regarding activities, camps and so on is actually with their parents or guardians, and not primarily with the children themselves. The simple note given to the child at the end of the evening to take home still works, most of the time, although how they can lose a note between walking from the door of the hall to the door of their parent’s car constantly baffles! An alternative that has been successful in a number of Groups is gathering the email addresses of the parents at the start of the year and using that to send out the information, again with the proviso that there may still be a need for physical mailings to the small number without email. Sending out forms in this way and accepting back electronically can also help reduce the administrative burden of organising trips

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created on Facebook. These sites have been created to help ensure that members of these Sections become aware of the range of opportunities that are available to them, and build upon the very successful trial that the Scottish Scout Network Council has run for the past couple of years. The sites are currently administered by SHQ staff and senior volunteers, with members of these Sections being recruited to assist in their administration. Where required, the Facebook pages link across to pages on the Scottish Explorer and Network websites. Please encourage all Explorer and Network Scouts to go on to these new Facebook pages to find out what is going on and get involved in the discussions – simply search on Facebook for ‘Scottish Explorer Scouts’ and ‘Scottish Scout Network’.

Having it both ways...

Getting down and hip with da yoof... Communicating with our youth membership is one of the most challenging areas, particularly when it comes to getting the right tone, how not to do it being clearly demonstrated above!

The new technologies also enable two-way communication to happen far more easily than before. Free online tools like Survey Monkey can be used to create simple surveys to find out what the people you work with think about different issues, whether it is feedback on a camp or ideas for a Regional development plan.

Being sociable... The Explorer and Network Scout Sections are the two youth Sections which can, and currently do, embrace the new and emerging technologies to communicate between themselves and their leaders and Commissioners. Social media has been mentioned several times already in this article, and for the 14-17 and 18-25 age groups it is the fastest growing means of communication. Facebook recently announced that it had reached 500 million worldwide users, making it by far the biggest social media service, with users switching from other social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace. At a Scottish level, official Scottish Explorer Scouts and Scottish Scout Network pages have just been

Of course, there is still often a need for face-to-face meetings in Scouting, particularly for issues where detailed discussion is appropriate. Again, new technologies can help to support this. For example, Doodle is a free online scheduling tool which makes arranging dates and times for face-to-face meetings much simpler than either emailing back and forth or calling round everyone who is to be involved in the meeting individually in order to arrange the date.

The ‘phone...

However, with all these new technologies coming online, the humble telephone is often overlooked as a communications tool. Just picking up the phone and calling someone can solve many issues, and take a lot less time than slaving over a keyboard, trying to get just the right tone of message – and a call is a lot less likely to be misconstrued!

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young people we work with (for instance a group picture of Beavers should not name each child individually).

away. It is also easier to send a gentle electronic prod to a parent to remind them to send in the necessary information if they are a little late.

Given these elements and restrictions, it is easier to apply the same methods of communication as used for Beavers and Cubs, whilst fully involving the Scouts in what is going on.

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Having it both ways...

The ‘phone...

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Mobile phones in particular offer a new way of communicating to our adults and young people, albeit in an extremely concise manner. A recent example was an Explorer Scout Leader using text messaging to contact his Explorer Scouts during the summer holidays about a forthcoming camp – within 15 minutes of sending out the message, he had received ten expressions of interest, enough for him to submit an application for the camp. This same technology could be applied to situations where you need to quickly send a message to parents about a change in plans for an activity, or to youth members to remind them of the need to bring their wet gear for canoeing. Rather than keeping all of your Group’s mobile phone numbers in your own phone, (which isn’t such a great idea for all sorts of data protection and security issues), there are many ‘off the shelf’ text messaging applications available via the internet, which allow you to send a message to many recipients for only a few pence per message.

Join the adventure... When it comes to communicating with our external audiences, we already have clearly defined messages that we want to make sure we get across in everything we do. Whether it is writing an article to accompany a photo in a local newspaper, or being interviewed on national radio, the key messages that everyone involved in Scouting across the UK is being encouraged to deliver are: •

Scouting is adventurous, modern, fun and challenging.

•

Scouting is for both boys and girls, and has been for quite a while

•

Waiting lists exist across Scotland of young people who want to join but cannot due to a lack of adults. We are looking for adults (of both sexes) to join and give whatever time they can to help young people join the adventure.

•

Support and training is provided.

This is under the overall banner of ‘Join the Adventure!’ There are many channels to get this message across, and nationally UKHQ and SHQ work with the large newspapers and TV and radio stations to try to get media exposure, an example of which was the high level of coverage of the annual growth in membership earlier this year. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get national coverage, so most exposure comes from local media outlets.

Going to press... Scotland has one of the most dense network of local newspapers and freesheets anywhere in the world, each of which are usually very keen to receive articles and photographs from local organisations to help fill the pages in their publications. This gives media savvy Groups, Districts and Regions the chance to promote what they do, whilst at the same time putting across the key messages with the aim to recruit more adult leaders and hence more children and young people. Wherever possible, submit an action photograph of youth members having fun doing something adventurous (but safe!), avoiding the traditional ‘grip and grin’ award presentation shots. Whilst it is extremely important to recognise the contribution of volunteers with awards and presentations, these kinds of photographs are not often the most exciting when

they appear in print, nor do they give the impression of the youthful, modern and adventurous organisation that our key messages put across! At an event, try to have someone whose job it is to take photos of the young people enjoying their activities – there is usually someone within a Group who enjoys photography and would be willing to help out. Check with your local newspaper when their deadline for publication is, and if they would accept an article / press release and photographs from you, and how they want to receive it (because of their size, sometimes photos need to be sent to a different email box).

Radio ga ga... There is also a growing number of local radio stations hitting the airwaves, often serving a very local community. Again, these are usually looking for news and features, and may be willing to come along to cover an event live, such as a big District or Regional camp. And as we approach the significant anniversary of many Groups (75, 80 or 100 years), it may be worthwhile approaching local newspapers and radio stations to do a feature on the Group history, which gives a perfect opportunity to shoehorn in the key messages by contrasting how Scouting used to be with how it is today.

Young people speak out... Whenever possible, allow the youth members to be interviewed for the media, as their first-hand experiences are more authentic and resonate more with the public. A number of young people around Scotland have been trained as Young Spokespeople and are willing to take part in local media activities where it is relevant for them to do so. To find out who the Young Spokespeople are in your Region, please contact your local Assistant Regional Commissioner (Communications) or Scottish Headquarters.

PATHFINDER 13

Local and support... As well as finding your local Young Spokespeople, if you have any queries about working with the local media, or if you are approached by the national media, contact your local ARC (Comms) or SHQ who will give you the support you need. Out of hours, UKHQ maintains a 24-hour helpline for emergencies, which is 07977 539630. Communicating is about getting information from the mind of one person to that of another – hopefully this article has successfully transferred some of the current thinking around communications from us to you, and that you are now inspired to try new ways of communicating with your internal colleagues and external audiences. Let us know how you get on!

It’s All in the Words ---------- -- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- - - - - --- -

PATHFINDER

Scouting is adventurous, modern, fun and challenging.

•

Scouting is for both boys and girls, and has been for quite a while

•

Support and training is provided.

PATHFINDER 13

... As Ithers See Us ---------- -- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- - - - - --- -

PATHFINDER

...AS ITHERS SEE US - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---

For this edition of Pathfinder, Explorer Scouts Alan Borland and Abigail Goldfarb travelled to Edinburgh to meet up with 65-times capped ex-Scottish rugby international Scott Hastings. Scott, who now works as a freelance marketing and events consultant, was happy to look back at his Scouting days in Edinburgh, as well as sharing his thoughts on some of the key issues facing Scouting today and his involvement in the recentlylaunched Manifesto for Sport...

AB: Did you find it difficult to juggle Scouting and rugby when you were young?

SH: Not at all, it didn’t really have an impact, Scouting became part and parcel of our leisure time. In fact I seem to remember winning a Scout Sevens at one point with the 9th Edinburgh. We always looked forward to Friday nights at the Scouts because there always used to be games and everything was very competitive. So in amongst the badgework and camps, there was always a rugby ball or a football getting kicked around.

AB: Earlier this year, you were involved in launching the Manifesto for Sport. What can you tell us about that? SH: I’m one of the council members of the Scottish Sports Association, the umbrella body for all the sporting organisations in Scotland. The manifesto the SSA has produced is about ensuring that sport is part and parcel of our everyday lives here in Scotland. We are saying to the political parties ‘here are ways that you could put sport at the front of your policy’. As a country I don’t think we do enough to promote good health and I think sport can help in a lot of ways. We talked about moral standing and discipline and sport can bring that. It also has its health benefits. Also, if we can get more children in schools exercising, then that they can improve not only in terms of their physical capability but also their mental capability. We want to inspire young people to play and represent Scotland – not everyone will be able to do it, but it’s a marvellous opportunity for young people to get involved in sport.

AG: How do you think you benefitted from being a Scout? Alan Borland (AB): Why did you decide to join Scouts when you were a boy? Scott Hastings (SH): It was part and parcel of my childhood. I was lucky enough to go to school at Watson’s College in Edinburgh and they had a strong attachment to the Morningside Scout Group – the 9th Edinburgh. It was a natural progression to go through the Cubs and graduate to the Scouts and then become a Venture Scout. They were very happy days. It was great because it was on a Friday night, so the weekend started with Scouts. It was tremendous fun.

Abigail Goldfarb (AG): What did you enjoy most about Scouting? SH: I think, looking back, it was the variety of projects we undertook and the summer camps and hikes. I still have very fond memories of hiking and the camps were a highlight of the summer. And undoubtedly the tasks were always good, the pioneering for example. Also the fact there was a simplicity within the structure which allowed you to gain a badge and to gain recognition and reward. I think recognition and reward are good core values in society which sometimes we lack, but for Scouts I think it’s a great thing.

SH: I think it gave me a discipline, a moral standing. It was good to put something back into the community and without doubt it was a lot of fun. But above all you learn some core disciplines and values in life and that’s very important.

AB: Were there any particular skills you learned in Scouting which you found useful in your adult life? SH: How to use a compass and a map! I got involved in an advertising and PR agency when I left college and we ended up running Outward Bound-type courses. We used to get out on the hill using our map and compass and it was the fun and the memories that that brought back, when we were hiking across the hills, setting up courses, hillwalking, bivouacking and understanding camp craft is always good fun. These skills you can have for life and from my own perspective I wish I’d practiced them a bit more!

AG: How do you feel Scouting can contribute to the issues raised in the manifesto? SH: Scouting allows people to get out of their towns and cities and understand that activities like pioneering, walking, camping, the great outdoors, kayaking, canoeing are accessible through Scouting. So maybe Scouting can be a good catalyst to introduce people to less high profile sports. So Scouting could be the conduit for a new Olympic or Commonwealth Games champion, because they have learnt the skills of, for example, kayaking or canoeing through Scouting. But I would reiterate that the manifesto is not about creating champions, it’s about the access to sport for all and Scouting can provide that.

AB: A volunteer shortage means that many young people are on waiting lists to join Scouting. What do you think can be done to encourage more adults to volunteer?

AG: Did you ever consider being a Leader? SH: I did, but I suppose I got pulled in other directions. I’m very busy, involved in other charities, and I’ve got a young family who are involved in athletics and hockey. But hopefully one day I can get back involved because it gave me a great opportunity and Scouting relies on that voluntary support. And whether it’s one week in four, perhaps I could get back involved.

SH: There’s a huge demand on volunteering throughout all organisations and all sports. What people fear I think, in terms of volunteering, is that it can become all-consuming; it can become too demanding on their everyday lives. I think it’s not until people take that first step and say, ‘yes, I’m going to volunteer’ that they realise how much fun it can bring to their lives.

PATHFINDER 15

Improving the culture of volunteering within Scotland is again something we cover in the Manifesto for Sport, where employers could allow employees an hour of their time in their day or week to allow them to help with their voluntary organisation. So it’s hard, but we’ve got to understand that we have to fit in with people’s lifestyles and that’s difficult when modern lifestyles are so demanding on all of our time.

AG: In this issue we’re looking at how Scouting communicates internally and externally. How important do you think this is? SH: Hugely important. You’ve got to embrace all the new technology now. It’s important that Scouting embraces Facebook and text messaging and that it remains exciting. Because you guys know it is exciting, it’s some of the people who look at the organisation from the outside who are a bit blinkered. But I bet you if you put any young person into a Scout Troop, they would realise what a joy it can be. But because they’re often ignorant of how much fun it can be, they don’t take the plunge and get involved. But through things like YouTube and electronic communication, we can communicate better to the young people in society today.

AG: How relevant do you think Scouting today is? SH: I think it’s very relevant. It gave me a discipline, it gave me an understanding of how to interact with people and show respect to your Leaders and fellow Scouts. But also the sense of achievement –the recognition through wearing the badges that you have on your shirts today. I think that’s a great thing and we should understand that recognition brings a sense of pride and self-fulfilment and these are good things for young people to aspire to.

AB: Do you have a message a message for our adult volunteers in Scotland? SH: I think you’re doing a brilliant job! Imagine if each of those volunteers could bring one of their friends into the organisation, that would be a great challenge and there would be a great sense of achievement if they could do that. But for all the volunteers out there, I applaud what you do.

... As Ithers See Us ---------- -- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- - - - - --- -

PATHFINDER

...AS ITHERS SEE US - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---

AB: Did you find it difficult to juggle Scouting and rugby when you were young?

AB: A volunteer shortage means that many young people are on waiting lists to join Scouting. What do you think can be done to encourage more adults to volunteer?

PATHFINDER 15

Developing Scouting ---------- -- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- - - - - --- -

PATHFINDER

Developing Scouting - Communicating the Good News! - - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - - ----‘Development’ - seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing these groups with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities.

Clearly the above statements communicate a fantastic success story. The focus on local development by Groups, Districts and Regions is bearing fruit. Scouting is growing across Scotland as more young and not so young people Join the Adventure.

The 2010 Scout Census recorded:

And yet, with the waiting list up to 2,157, the challenge to provide Scouting for more young people remains. Starting and equipping a new Group or Section can cost money. The good news is that there is money available! Whilst the media highlights cutbacks and budgets being squeezed Scottish Scouting is in the enviable position of being able to actually give money away. Read on to find out how Scouting in your community can benefit.

•

A fourth consecutive year of growth

•

Membership up by 1,762, the biggest one-year growth since 1957

•

Scottish membership now 38,546, the highest since 2001

•

Record numbers of teenagers now involved – 26.8% more than in 2001

•

Female youth membership up 14% in the last year

•

An increase of 6.5% in adult volunteers

CashBack - Bad Money...Made Good! On 30th March 2010 Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, launched the £500,000 CashBack for Communities Small Grants Scheme at the Fordell Firs National Scout Activity Centre. CashBack for Communities is a Scottish Government initiative that uses funds recovered from criminal activity to support positive activities for young people. The CashBack for Communities Small Grants Scheme is a pilot initiative operated by a partnership of 6 national volunteer-led youth organisations: Scouts, Girlguiding, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Clubs for Young People and Youth Scotland. It provides funding of up to £1,000 to support the start-up of new Groups or Sections, and up to £2,000 to support programmes of activity for established groups. It aims to increase the range of opportunities available to young people aged 10 – 19 (Scout, Explorer and Network sections) in Scotland by awarding grants to volunteer-led community-based youth groups and units, particularly in areas of deprivation or need.

Round 1 of the Scheme closed on 1st June, and the response was overwhelming. Scottish Scout HQ received 7 Start-up and 60 Programme Grant applications seeking almost £108,000. Grants of £24,496 were approved, including £5,142 for new Scout or Explorer Scout provision in Burntisland, Girvan, Inverleith, Kelso, Kelty, Kincardine on Forth and the Isle of Arran. £19,354 was awarded to 17 applicants for Programme Grants, supporting Groups and Units from Ross and Sutherland to Dumbarton. Presenting the first award under the new scheme to the Kelty Scout Group during the Scottish Scout Awards Day at Hamden Park in June, Kenny MacAskill said: ‘CashBack aims to redress the balance, to put criminals’ money back into the communities that they have taken from in the first place. The creation of the 77th Fife Scouts Group is clear evidence of the bad guys’ money being put into good ideas with a long term future.’ Dormant for 5 years, the Kelty Group re-opened with Beavers and Cub Scouts in 2009 and will shortly be starting a Scout Troop. Future application dates for the CashBack for Communities Small Grants Scheme are: 1st December 2010 and 1st March 2011. Applications forms and information are available at www.scoutsscotland.org.uk/cashback. To discuss a project proposal contact Andrew Aldous at Scottish Headquarters on 01383 419 073 / andrew@scouts-scotland.org.uk.

Scottish Development Fund in the money! Scottish Headquarters is delighted that the Development Grant partnership between the Gannochy Trust and Scottish Scouting has been renewed for a further 3 years. A Gannochy Trust award of £195,000 over the next three years (£65,000 p.a.) will be disbursed as grants to support local development projects. Groups, Districts and Regions can apply to the Scottish Development Fund. The grants are administered by the Development Grants Committee, whose members will discuss each proposal with the applicant and assess it against agreed criteria. The

PATHFINDER 17

Committee has authority to award grants of up to £3,500 and will make recommendations to the Executive Committee on exceptional requests above this threshold. During the past year over £60,000 was allocated through the Fund. Projects supported include replacement camping equipment; recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing youth members and adults through school presentations; participation in a community cavalcade; purchase of Programme items to benefit entire Districts; Local Development Days/Camps and the employment of two local development officers. In addition, support was provided to individual adults for activity assessments that increase capacity to offer adventurous activities to young people. Small start up grants for the Beaver and Cub Scout Sections have recently been introduced. Added to the CashBack Scheme, this means that start-up finance is available for all Sections. Application forms are available at www.scoutsscotland.org.uk/development. Finally, the Special Needs Fund exists to offer direct support to Groups/Units who want to ensure access to Scouting for all young people. Full details of this are available on www.scouts-scotland.org.uk.

Have you applied for a grant recently, if not why? When did you last consider an application to the Scottish Development Fund? Why not make 2010 the year that you do? The Scottish Development Fund is your fund. If you have a project in mind but are not sure if it qualifies then speak to Graeme Luke at Scottish Headquarters who can give you some advice and support and perhaps just suggest a few ways to strengthen your application. The application forms and guidance information is available at www.scoutsscotland.org.uk/development. So go on, switch on your computer and download the forms… before the money runs out. Applications for Development Grants must reach Scottish Headquarters by no later than 17th November 2010 and 9th February 2011. Come on, join this winning team and apply today!

Developing Scouting ---------- -- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- - - - - --- -

PATHFINDER

The 2010 Scout Census recorded:

•

A fourth consecutive year of growth

•

Membership up by 1,762, the biggest one-year growth since 1957

•

Scottish membership now 38,546, the highest since 2001

•

Record numbers of teenagers now involved – 26.8% more than in 2001

•

Female youth membership up 14% in the last year

•

An increase of 6.5% in adult volunteers

PATHFINDER 17

PATHFINDER

“Nobody told me!” 18

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - - -----

Communication works differently for each of us; some people enjoy a telephone call whilst others would rather have an email. Some like face-to-face meetings whilst others might like a Skype video call. Some of us like texting whilst others use social networking sites like Facebook. We do, of course, need to communicate with each other in the first place to find out the preferred method! And of course, communication is a two way tool; it is also a tool that needs to be used regularly.

If you are new to Scouting, how do you find out who your Training Adviser is? How do you find out when courses are available? How do you arrange to have your modules validated? If you are a Training Adviser, how do you know when you have been allocated a new learner? How do you help your new learner prepare their Personal Learning Plan? How often do you meet with, or talk to, your learners to discuss their training? If you are an Appointment’s Secretary, how do you know who a new Scouter’s Training Adviser is? How do you find out when the Getting Started Modules have been completed? According to the Learners Questionnaire, a survey of all leaders who complete their Wood Badge training, 21% of leaders in Scotland only met with, or communicated with, their Training Adviser between 1 and 3 times over the course of their training, a period of up to three years and in some cases longer! Communicating with each other is a key element in making training work. Without effective communication, we wouldn’t find out about new Scouters. We wouldn’t know when learning opportunities were available. We wouldn’t be able to keep our records up to date. But more importantly, our leaders would not feel valued or part of a caring and supportive organisation.

We’ll be working on communication as one of the sessions at MAD Twenty Ten. MAD Twenty Ten is a weekend workshop for everyone involved in Adult Training. If you are an ARC (AT) or an ADC (AT), if you are a Facilitator or a Presenter, if you are a Training Adviser or a Course Director, a place has been reserved for you. The workshop is happening over the weekend of 1st to 3rd October at Tulliallan Police College.

Edinburgh

Gang Show 23 – 27 November 2010

0131 529 6000 I 0131 529 6005 (Group Bookings) www.kingstheatre.org.uk Evenings 7.00pm I Saturday Matinee 2.15pm I Tickets from £10

Over the course of the weekend we’ll be looking at how we can make a difference in Adult Training. How we can make a difference to the experience adults have when they become leaders. How we can make a difference to learning opportunities. How we can make a difference for Training Advisers. So, this is your opportunity. Communicate with us now: •

complete the MAD Twenty Ten application form at www.scouts-scotland.org.uk.

•

telephone Scottish Headquarters on 01383 419073 and ask for a MAD Twenty Ten application form to be posted out to you.

•

send an email to admin@scouts-scotland.org.uk to get a MAD Twenty Ten application form emailed to you.

•

text your ARC (AT) and ask them to send you a MAD Twenty Ten application form.

“Nobody told me!” – We’re telling you now!

Director Andy Johnston I Musical Director John Duncan I Dance Director Louise Williamson

EGSPL is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland SC 239507 and is a Registered Scottish Charity SC 033837.

PATHFINDER

“Nobody told me!” 18

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - -- - - - - -----

Edinburgh

Gang Show 23 – 27 November 2010

0131 529 6000 I 0131 529 6005 (Group Bookings) www.kingstheatre.org.uk Evenings 7.00pm I Saturday Matinee 2.15pm I Tickets from £10

complete the MAD Twenty Ten application form at www.scouts-scotland.org.uk.

•

telephone Scottish Headquarters on 01383 419073 and ask for a MAD Twenty Ten application form to be posted out to you.

•

send an email to admin@scouts-scotland.org.uk to get a MAD Twenty Ten application form emailed to you.

•

text your ARC (AT) and ask them to send you a MAD Twenty Ten application form.

“Nobody told me!” – We’re telling you now!

Director Andy Johnston I Musical Director John Duncan I Dance Director Louise Williamson

EGSPL is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland SC 239507 and is a Registered Scottish Charity SC 033837.

PATHFINDER

EVENTS DIARY

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - - - - ----

EVENT

DATE

Scottish Scout Regatta

11th – 12th September 2010

On Track

18th – 19th September 2010

The Black’s of Greenock and Pentland Challenge & Vango Lunar Challenge

24th -26th September 2010

MAD Twenty Ten

1st – 3rd October 2010

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition Assessor training

Introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training

Caledonian Rally

VENUE

AUDIENCE

CONTACT

sportscotland National Centre, Cumbrae

Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network

regatta09@aol.com 0141 884 7387 www.scoutregatta.info

Scottish Police College, Tulliallan

District Commissioners and Deputy District Commissioners

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Bonaly Outdoor Centre

Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - - - - ---DATE

VENUE

AUDIENCE

CONTACT

Young Leaders’ Scheme Workshop

13th – 14th November 2010

Dunolly House, Taybridge Drive, Aberfeldy

Explorer Scout Leaders (Young Leader), DESCs, DESLs, ESLs.

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Scottish Scout Network Burns Supper

22nd January 2011

TBC

Scout Network

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

01383 419 073 Network High Altitude Ski Camp

9th – 13th February 2011

Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland

Scout Network

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

7th Annual Scottish Scouts Burns Supper

11th February 2011

Glasgow Marriott Hotel

Adults within and external to Scouting

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Hub Camp

25th – 27th February 2011

Nethybridge Bunkhouse, Nethybridge

Scout Network and members aged 18 – 25 who are not Network members

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

01383 419 073

9th October 2010

10th October 2010

15th October 2010

Scottish Police College, Tulliallan

Fordell Firs

Dochgarroch

Everyone involved in Adult admin@scouts-scotland / Training 01383 419 073

Any adults involved (or who would like to be involved) in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Any adults involved (or who would like to be involved) in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Members aged 13 -17

callyrally@live.co.uk

01383 419 073

29th - 31st October 2010

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Explorer Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Global Awareness Partnership Project (GAPP)

5th – 7th November 2010

Axis 2010 (incorporating the 100th AGM of the Scottish Council)

6th November 2010

Fordell Firs

22nd – 25th April 2011

Great Tower Campsite, Lake District

Scout Network

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader training weekend

3rd – 5th June 2011

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Scottish Hill Challenge

26th – 28th August 2011

01383 419 073 Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Scout Network

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

The Black’s of Greenock Adventure Challenge 2011

23rd – 25th September 2011

Scout Leader Skills training weekend

2011 – TBC

TBC

Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Explorer Scouts and Scout admin@scoutsNetwork scotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

North Inch Community Campus, Gowns Terrace, Perth

01383 419 073

Network Gathering

campchief@callyrally.org.uk Haunted Weekend

PATHFINDER 21

Members of the Scottish Council and all other (Associate) Members of the Association

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Leaders within the Scout Section

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

PATHFINDER

EVENTS DIARY

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - - - - ----

EVENT

DATE

Scottish Scout Regatta

11th – 12th September 2010

On Track

18th – 19th September 2010

The Black’s of Greenock and Pentland Challenge & Vango Lunar Challenge

24th -26th September 2010

MAD Twenty Ten

1st – 3rd October 2010

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition Assessor training

Introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training

Caledonian Rally

VENUE

AUDIENCE

CONTACT

sportscotland National Centre, Cumbrae

Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network

regatta09@aol.com 0141 884 7387 www.scoutregatta.info

Scottish Police College, Tulliallan

District Commissioners and Deputy District Commissioners

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Bonaly Outdoor Centre

Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

- - - - - ------------- -- - - - ---- - - - - ---DATE

VENUE

AUDIENCE

CONTACT

Young Leaders’ Scheme Workshop

13th – 14th November 2010

Dunolly House, Taybridge Drive, Aberfeldy

Explorer Scout Leaders (Young Leader), DESCs, DESLs, ESLs.

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Scottish Scout Network Burns Supper

22nd January 2011

TBC

Scout Network

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

01383 419 073 Network High Altitude Ski Camp

9th – 13th February 2011

Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland

Scout Network

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

7th Annual Scottish Scouts Burns Supper

11th February 2011

Glasgow Marriott Hotel

Adults within and external to Scouting

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Hub Camp

25th – 27th February 2011

Nethybridge Bunkhouse, Nethybridge

Scout Network and members aged 18 – 25 who are not Network members

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

01383 419 073

9th October 2010

10th October 2010

15th October 2010

Scottish Police College, Tulliallan

Fordell Firs

Dochgarroch

Everyone involved in Adult admin@scouts-scotland / Training 01383 419 073

Any adults involved (or who would like to be involved) in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Any adults involved (or who would like to be involved) in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Members aged 13 -17

callyrally@live.co.uk

01383 419 073

29th - 31st October 2010

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Explorer Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Global Awareness Partnership Project (GAPP)

5th – 7th November 2010

Axis 2010 (incorporating the 100th AGM of the Scottish Council)

6th November 2010

Fordell Firs

22nd – 25th April 2011

Great Tower Campsite, Lake District

Scout Network

admin@scouts-scotland / 01383 419 073

Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader training weekend

3rd – 5th June 2011

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk

Scottish Hill Challenge

26th – 28th August 2011

01383 419 073 Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Scout Network

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

The Black’s of Greenock Adventure Challenge 2011

23rd – 25th September 2011

Scout Leader Skills training weekend

2011 – TBC

TBC

Scouts

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Explorer Scouts and Scout admin@scoutsNetwork scotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

North Inch Community Campus, Gowns Terrace, Perth

01383 419 073

Network Gathering

campchief@callyrally.org.uk Haunted Weekend

PATHFINDER 21

Members of the Scottish Council and all other (Associate) Members of the Association

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Meggernie Outdoor Centre

Leaders within the Scout Section

admin@scoutsscotland.org.uk 01383 419 073

Blackwater Public Hall 15 Miles west of Edinburgh, The Craigs is set in 23 acres of natural woodland on the edge of the Bathgate Hills. There is a choice of 2 indoor accommodation buildings, sleeping either 38 or 19, as well as 8 mature campsites and our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Indian Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with its three tipis sleeping up to 30.

The hall offers sleeping accommodation for a PD[ RI SHUVRQV 7ZR EHGURRPV ZLWK EXQN accommodation and the main hall in camp EHGV

On site, there is a new adventure play area and a traversing wall, plus orienteering and nature trails. Bathgate, only 10 minutes away, offers a Sports Complex, swimming pool and excellent public transport links to Edinburgh.

Facilities include a very large well equipped NLWFKHQ D GU\LQJ URRP RLO ÂżUHG FHQWUDO KHDWLQJ and shower and toilet facilities with disabled DFFHVV

For the more adventurous, canal canoeing can be organised and Beecraigs Country Park is nearby. Beecraigs has wide range of outdoors activities ranging from archery to rock climbing - all within 10 minutes.

For further details contact Mrs Pam Cameron: Tel: 01250 882269 (PDLO 3DP&UD\#DRO FRP

Harlequin Coaches Put more outings in your Scouting with Harlequin Coaches. Whether your outings are home or abroad, near or far, let us quote for all your travel requirements. 49 seat luxury coaches, fitted with seatbelts, TV, Video, Toilet, Fridge, etc. For reasonable prices please contact Ian Adam: Home: 01506 437 101 Mobile: 07710 562 470 Email: adamharlequin@aol.com

Do you want to know more? Visit our website WWW.THECRAIGSSITE.INFO or contact the Bookings Manager on 01506 633 689

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10 miles north of Blairgowrie set in Â˝ acre of beautiful Perthshire countryside Blackwater Hall is an ideal location for Scouts, Guides and all organisations who wish to participate in outdoor activities including skiing, hill walking RULHQWHHULQJ ÂżHOG VWXGLHV HWF

THE JOCK NEISH SCOUTING CENTRE

www.bonaly.org.uk

3 ( LQIR#ERQDO\ RUJ XN : ZZZ ERQDO\ RUJ XN

Barrwood Scout Campsite A 100 acre wild woodland campsite in use since 1922. 10 minutes from Stirling, 45 minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow. On site activities include: - Beaver play area

Douglaswood is a few miles north east of Dundee in the Angus countryside. We have a choice of 2 indoor accomodation centres which sleep up to 34 & 24 each, as well as 11 campsites of various sizes across the site.

- Obstacle course - Nature trail - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sir Ian Boltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Barn - wet weather activity area with disabled facilities - Bouldering wall - Wayfaring course - Caving complex

There are several on-site activities like mountain biking, an interesting nature trail to follow or you could WU\ WKH ÂżHOG VWXGLHV FHQWUH 0DQ\ RWKHU DFWLYLWHV DUH available nearby so whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skate boarding or water sports, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty to do. Take a look at our website for more information and to make a booking

- Rafting on 1 acre reservoir More information, fees and booking form on

www.barrwood.org.uk

www.douglaswood.org.uk

or email us - bookings@douglaswood.org.uk

Come and stay - youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a great time

Stirling and Trossachs District Invertrossachs Camp Site

Extensive camping Extensive camping areas & areas range of of indoor indoor range

accommodation ac commodation

CAMPING - SLEEPOVERS - TRAINING ACTIVITIES - TEAM BUILDING

Two camp sites in woodland on the shores of Loch Venachar and a cabin with cooking facilities. Set in the Trossachs National Park some 4 miles west of Callander where there are all the support facilities needed.

GATEWAY TO THE GREAT ANGUS OUTDOORS

Dormitory accommodation for 50 Two huts for catering and activities

! " # $ % & ' ( ) * +

0845 643 0161

Facilities for special needs

For further information: Tel: 01575 572 677 Email: george.s.blyth@btinternet.com

.co.uk ratlingate

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Canoeing, Bell boating, cycling, swimming and hillwalking on the doorstep. For information booklet with full details and booking forms please contact: Mrs J Payne, 12 Wallace Road, Dunblane FK15 9JA.

Fantastic Fan tastic discounted discounted rates ffor orr SScout cou ut G Groups, roups, justt as jus ask k ffor or details. d deta ils.

TOLLEY

Badges

Tel: 01786 822669

Auchengillan A uchen ngillan Outdoor Outdoor C Centre e re ent Blanefield, Glasgow, G633 9 9BA Bl anefield, e , Gla sg gow w, G6 BA ( PDLO ( ( PDLO FFHQWUH#DXFKHQJLOODQ FRP HQWUH#DXF UH# KHQJLOODQ FRP Tel: 01360770256 Tel: 0136 0770256 www.auchengillan.com ww ww.auchengillan.com Auchengillan A uchengillan is is Owned Owned a and nd Operated Operated b by yC Clyde lyde R Regional egional Scout Scout u Council Council

Email: june@junepayne.co.uk ^Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;ĆľÄ?Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161;Ć? Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x201A; Ć?Ĺ˝Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x;ĹśĹ? Ĺ&#x2021;Ĺ˝Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ä?Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ć? Ä¨Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ĺľ ĹŻÄ&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;ÄŽĹŻĹŻÍ&#x2022; Ä?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;ĹśĹ? Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; ĹŠĹ˝Ä?Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ĹŻĹ˝Ç Ä?Ĺ˝Ć?Ć&#x161; Ĺ&#x2021;Ĺ˝Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ć?Ĺ˝ĹŻĆľĆ&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśĆ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ĺ?ĹśÄ&#x161;Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ä&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x201A;ĹŻĆ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśĆ? Ĺ?Ĺś ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;

The hall offers sleeping accommodation for a PD[ RI SHUVRQV 7ZR EHGURRPV ZLWK EXQN accommodation and the main hall in camp EHGV

Facilities include a very large well equipped NLWFKHQ D GU\LQJ URRP RLO ÂżUHG FHQWUDO KHDWLQJ and shower and toilet facilities with disabled DFFHVV

For further details contact Mrs Pam Cameron: Tel: 01250 882269 (PDLO 3DP&UD\#DRO FRP

Do you want to know more? Visit our website WWW.THECRAIGSSITE.INFO or contact the Bookings Manager on 01506 633 689

IRU DFWLRQ DQG DGYHQWXUH

THE JOCK NEISH SCOUTING CENTRE

www.bonaly.org.uk

3 ( LQIR#ERQDO\ RUJ XN : ZZZ ERQDO\ RUJ XN

Barrwood Scout Campsite A 100 acre wild woodland campsite in use since 1922. 10 minutes from Stirling, 45 minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow. On site activities include: - Beaver play area

- Obstacle course - Nature trail - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sir Ian Boltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Barn - wet weather activity area with disabled facilities - Bouldering wall - Wayfaring course - Caving complex

- Rafting on 1 acre reservoir More information, fees and booking form on

www.barrwood.org.uk

www.douglaswood.org.uk

or email us - bookings@douglaswood.org.uk

Come and stay - youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a great time

Stirling and Trossachs District Invertrossachs Camp Site

Extensive camping Extensive camping areas & areas range of of indoor indoor range

accommodation ac commodation

CAMPING - SLEEPOVERS - TRAINING ACTIVITIES - TEAM BUILDING

GATEWAY TO THE GREAT ANGUS OUTDOORS

Dormitory accommodation for 50 Two huts for catering and activities

! " # $ % & ' ( ) * +

0845 643 0161

Facilities for special needs

For further information: Tel: 01575 572 677 Email: george.s.blyth@btinternet.com

.co.uk ratlingate

Canoeing, Bell boating, cycling, swimming and hillwalking on the doorstep. For information booklet with full details and booking forms please contact: Mrs J Payne, 12 Wallace Road, Dunblane FK15 9JA.

Fantastic Fan tastic discounted discounted rates ffor orr SScout cou ut G Groups, roups, justt as jus ask k ffor or details. d deta ils.

TOLLEY

Badges

Tel: 01786 822669

KEEGAN & PENNYKID (INSURANCE BROKERS) LTD

in conjunction with Royal & Sun Alliance (scheme developed in consultation with SHQ)

Equipment Insurance

An all risks new-for-old policy on all Scout equipment. Covers your equipment while in use, in store and in transit. Automatic cover anywhere in the world.

Building Insurance

Buildings insured on a full re-instatement basis. Competitive Premiums (minimum ÂŁ50 plus IPT). Underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance

Minibus Insurance (arranged by MBP)

Competitive minibus insurance. 24 hour claims and emergency helpline including Homestart, Roadside Assistance and onward transportation for driver and passengers. Underwritten by QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited (QIE) For full details please contact

Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd 50 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 3NS Tel: (0131) 225 6005 Fax: (0131) 226 3811 E-Mail: mail@keegan-pennykid.com Website: www.keegan-pennykid.com Member of the British Insurance Brokersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association

Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd and Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. MiniBusPlus Ltd t/a MBP is part of QBE European Operations, a division of the QBE Insurance Group authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

KEEGAN & PENNYKID (INSURANCE BROKERS) LTD

in conjunction with Royal & Sun Alliance (scheme developed in consultation with SHQ)

Equipment Insurance

An all risks new-for-old policy on all Scout equipment. Covers your equipment while in use, in store and in transit. Automatic cover anywhere in the world.

Building Insurance

Buildings insured on a full re-instatement basis. Competitive Premiums (minimum ÂŁ50 plus IPT). Underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance

Minibus Insurance (arranged by MBP)

PATHFINDER

The Scottish Council The Scout Association Fordell Firs Hillend Dunfermline KY11 7HQ Tel: 01383 419073 Fax: 01383 414892 Email: shq@scouts-scotland.org.uk Web: www.scouts-scotland.org.uk Scottish Charity No. SC017511