Scouting Scotland February/March 2014 by The Scout Association

Scouting

arch 2014 February/M

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014

N I TH W WOR O + 0 0 £4 NG

IT OF VA ING K P M CA e 61 pag

Just be… Young people’s ideas to promote Scouting

A new promise

Our additional alternative Scout Promise

Beyond borders

Scouts build bridges across a divide

GO THE EXTRA MILE

Take on the challenge of a lifetime for an unforgettable fundraising experience

Scouting Editors Lee Griffiths, Matthew Jones, Antonia Kanczula, Vicky Milnes and Kevin Yeates

Scouting Scotland Editors Addie Dinsmore, Moray Macdonald With thanks to... Wayne Bulpitt, Stuart Carter, Ralph Doe, Graham Haddock, Glenn Harvey, Wendy Morris, Joanne Parker, Stephanie Sanderson, Calum Swanson and Mark Yates Cover image Will Ireland

Published by The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Fax: 020 8433 7103 Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Website: scouts.org.uk/magazine

In association with The Scottish Council The Scout Association, Registered Scottish Charity No. SC017511, affiliated to The Scout Association (UK). Scottish Scout HQ, Fordell Firs, Hillend, Dunfermline, Fife KY11 7HQ Tel : 01383 419073 Website: www.scouts-scotland.org.uk

Please send all contributions to: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Please note that the views expressed by members and contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of The Scout Association. Scouting Scotland is produced by Immediate Media Branded Content, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Editor Anna Scrivenger Group Art Editor Will Slater Art Editor James Daniel Project Manager Ian Ochiltree Director of Immediate Media Branded Content Julie Williams Group Publishing Director Alfie Lewis ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Tom Parker Email: tom.parker@immediate.co.uk Tel: 0117 314 8781 It is important to note the differing structures of UK Scouting in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, for ease of reading this supplement refers to all variations of ‘County’-level groupings simply as County. You can read Scouting magazine, Get Active! and Instant Scouting online at scouts.org.uk/ magazine. 110,002 average UK circulation of Scouting from 1 Jan-31 Dec 2011 © Immediate Media Branded Content. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging. Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.

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An honour and a privilege

FIND US +E EXCLUSIV EXTRAS A.T SCOUTS ORG.UK/ E MAGAZIN

I knew the Movement was an inspiring force for good, long before I became Chief Scout. In the past five years, my expectations have been totally surpassed. It’s my job to enthuse you all, but I’m most often the one left feeling inspired. It’s no understatement to say that it’s a complete privilege to be able to encourage young heroes and adult volunteers worldwide. That’s why I’m so proud to be continuing in my role as Chief Scout. I’ve had countless highlights since 2009, like the Day of Celebration and Achievement at Windsor; flying around the UK for Bear in the Air and ziplining across the River Tyne with the Olympic torch. However, my enduring recollection is simply seeing young people and adults thrive. And I believe this sums up the power of Scouting; it’s not always about the big, bold stuff, but the simple acts of everyday adventure that help members develop and reach their potential. I want to continue to do all I can to galvanise our Movement and shine a light on our inspirational young people and volunteers. This is a buzzing time for Scouting, as you’ll see in this issue. Read more about the innovative new project to get young people feeding into the direction of Scouting (pages 41–43) and check out the growing community impact of Scouts in our Real Troopers profile on pages 18–22. I’m proud and privileged to be continuing as Chief Scout and playing my part in this exciting future; alongside you we can make an incredible team to change young lives!

Bear Grylls Chief Scout

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Every issue we ask three readers to share their thoughts on the subjects we cover. If you fancy joining our reader panel for an issue, email scouting.magazine@scouts.org. uk to sign up. And keep an eye out for our handy reader panel stamp throughout the magazine. We asked our readers… Which big issue do you believe Scouting members could help tackle? Joanne Parker, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader ‘I work in a school and cyber bullying is increasing. Children don’t often talk about being bullied, or know where to turn if they are being bullied online. If Scouts are made more aware they can inform their peers and help spread the message that bullying, in any form, is unacceptable.’ Calum Swanson, Group Scout Leader ‘Scouting should be there for everything a community needs – whether that is tidying a communal garden or collecting for disaster relief. We need to be positive role models in the community. Scout Community Week should be a showcase for everything that has been achieved throughout the year.’ Stephanie Sanderson, Assistant Scout Leader ‘Cyber bullying is a huge issue for young people. It can be emotionally debilitating and can also be very difficult for them to talk about. As a safe and social space, I think Scouting is perfectly placed to provide both emotional and practical support to young people to help them deal with this problem.’

4 SCOUTING

ON THE COVER 18 Beyond borders 27 41 48

How Scouts are bridging a long-standing divide A new chapter All about the additional alternative Scout Promise A fresh perspective We ask young people how we can improve Scouting Do something amazing Push yourself with a fundraising challenge event

UP FRONT

13 15 16

News The latest Scouting snippets Housekeeping Membership system updates What’s on Find out what spring holds in store for Scouting members Mailbox You, your news and your say

FEATURES

25 33

38 45

Loud and clear How to do a great job of spreading the Scouting word Going the distance Planning overseas visits Make an impact Get involved with Scout Community Week Creative fundraising Cool ways to raise cash

18 REGULARS

30 66

Wayne’s word This issue’s message from the UK Chief Commissioner Our vision How young people can be empowered via citizenship Last word Young adult author Beth Reekles is proof that nothing is impossible

THE KNOWLEDGE 51

52 55 57 58 61

Volunteer Kerrie Downes changes lives in Glasgow Advice Your questions are answered by our expert panel Optic health How to take care of your eyes Food Warming campfire beef stew with dumplings Walk Explore the heart of the Lake District Puzzles Test your brain – and enter our comp with £400 worth of Vango camping kit to win

Wherever you see this icon you can unlock hidden extras via your Smartphone. Download Layar from the App Store, open the app then point your phone camera at the page and watch what happens on your phone screen!

February/March 2014

Beaver Scouts have views too

s you can read from page 41, our Be.scouts. org.uk initiative ensures that we include the views of those aged 12-25 in our strategic plans for Vision 2018; truly helping us have an organisation shaped by young people as well as adults. We have some good, ambitious plans that will ensure that these visions become a reality in the next few years. However, we need to ensure that all young people are able to shape their Scouting experience and this is just as important for those younger than 12 as it is for those who are older. Empowering our young people and giving them the skills, experience and confidence to lead are vital. One of the ways that we’ve encouraged young people to get involved within their section over many years is to hold a forum or council. This may be a Log Chew for Beavers, a Sixers Council for Cubs or Patrol Leaders Council for Scouts where the Lodge Leaders, Sixers or Patrol Leaders can represent the views of others within the section. These are examples of only one type of forum or council and it is important to recognise that ways to gather opinion can be hugely varied. There are many good ideas at scouts.org.uk; go to the Member Resources and select Youth Involvement/Achieving Youth Involvement to see many ways of setting up formal and informal forums

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Age should be no barrier to involvement in shaping Scouting, as Wayne Bulpitt explains Even younger sections should be able to have their say in our consultation process

at Group, District and County level that represent just a few examples of how all young people can shape their Scouting experience.

EVEN MORE ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Having opened the new Centenary Lodge at Youlbury Scout Activity Centre last summer, I’m delighted that by July 2014 we’ll see the addition of another new 50-bed lodge, a bouldering wall, weatherproof activity barn complete with archery and other activities. Find out more on page 10.

IN THE DIARY

Here’s where Wayne will be in the coming weeks… February 2014 1

15 22

Somerset Conference and CS Awards Muslim Scout Fellowship Exec Founder’s Day, Westminster Abbey

March 2014

1 Finance committee meeting 3–4 Visit to Gibraltar 8 Merseyside development

conference

10 DC support day, Gilwell 15 Manchester East County Day 22–23 West Midlands visit 28–30 Scouting Ireland National

Conference, Cork

February/March 2014

The latest Scouting Scotland news and events

BRAVE SCOUT RECEIVES AWARD

GREAT SCOTS

10-year-old Noah, from 13th Fife (Rosyth Methodist) Scout Group, has been presented with the Cornwell Scout Badge by Chief Commissioner Graham Haddock, for his endurance and courage during his battle with cancer. Noah said: ‘I’m really proud to have got this award. I love being in Scouts – through everything it’s given me something to do and to focus on. I have fun, go on camps and complete loads of badges, and everyone accepts me as I am.’ The Cornwell Scout Badge is awarded for pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage and endurance. Find out more at http://tiny.cc/scoutawards.

Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Scottish Scouting

s Chief Commissioner, I value the opportunities I get to see fantastic achievements in Scouting and think it’s hugely important that we recognise these. At our AGM in November we introduced a series of awards – Scouting Scotland’s equivalent of the Oscars – which recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in various categories. The winners were: s Largest percentage growth of young people – Lauderdale Scout Group s Most Queen’s Scout Awards –Clackmannanshire District s Largest percentage growth of adult leadership – Lochaber District s Most Wood Badges awarded – East Region

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s Most innovative summer camp – 77th Glasgow Disabled Scouts s Community project of the year – 115th Fife Scout Group s Youth involvement champion of the year – Forth Region We’ll run the awards again at this year’s AGM. Might you be in the running? Share your achievements with us meanwhile by dropping us a line at SHQ!

Graham Haddock, Chief Commissioner of Scotland

LEGACY BADGE FOR UK SCOUTS

As part of the Scouts Scotland Commonwealth Legacy Project; Our Commonwealth Challenge, a special commemorative badge has been created which can be worn on the uniforms of all Scouts in the UK. Kai, a Cub Scout from Portree, created the badge design as part of a competition that was launched at Auchengillan Jamboree. Badges cost 50p and you can order yours from SHQ by phoning 01383 419073.

SCOUTING 9

Point Layar here to watch Scouts talk about their volunteer heroes.

As you doubtless know, it’s Founder’s Day on 22 February, the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell – and we’ll mark the day by celebrating Scout heroes. Who most inspires you in Scouting? Was there someone who introduced you to Scouting that you’d like to thank? Or a fellow volunteer who bowls you over with their energy and enthusiasm? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook – pics and videos are most welcome – using the hashtag #myscouthero.

SCOUTS FIRED UP ABOUT ENGINEERING

A pioneering partnership with the University of Sunderland has sparked a passion for engineering in local Scouts. 1st Ovingham Scout Group has been enjoying fun, educational activities run by university academics. Dr Alastair Irons said: ‘The Scouts have been so engaged; it’s great to see them so passionate about technology.’ Scout leader Jonathan Howarth added: ‘They particularly enjoyed dismantling old mobile phones and building simple night lights.’ Afterwards, the Scouts received Electronics Activity Badges (sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology). It is hoped that the programme can be rolled out to other Scout Groups.

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The Baden-Powells are to be honoured in France, where they did much good work

PARISIAN HONOUR FOR BADEN-POWELLS A square in Paris is to be named in honour of Robert and Olave Baden-Powell. The Mayor of Paris, Bertram Delanoe, wrote to the founder’s grandson, Lord BadenPowell, requesting permission to name the square on the Rue Bayen in the 17th arrondissement. ‘I was delighted to accept this honour on behalf of my grandparents,’ said Lord BadenPowell. ‘They travelled widely and loved

meeting Scouts and Guides from across the world. It’s heartening their memory is still cherished in so many countries.’ Scouting began in France in 1911 with the establishment of Eclaireurs et Exclaireures de France, a joint Scouting and Guiding association. The Baden-Powells opened a Scout Recreation Hut in Etaples in 1915, supporting over one thousand men during the First World War.

Win a stay at Youlbury SAC

Name the new lodge to win great prizes

Youlbury Scout Activity Centre in Oxfordshire is busy revamping its facilities so that even more young people can experience adventure. As well as brand new archery facilities and a bouldering wall, a fantastic 50-bed lodge will be unveiled by July – and we want you to name it! There’s a free two-night stay in the lodge up for grabs for up to 50 people, as well as a £50 Scout Shops voucher. Your name/Group name will also be added to a commemorative plaque in the lodge’s lobby area. Email your ideas to sac@scouts.org.uk using the subject line ‘Youlbury competition’, including your full name and telephone number. The best entries will be shared on Facebook.com/ ScoutActivityCentres for voting during April and a winner announced by 30 April. Terms and Conditions • Closing date 31 March • Subject to availability • Cannot be redeemed during national events • Prize must be redeemed by end of July 2014 • Prize consists of accommodation only. Catering and activities are available to book at standard rate.

February/March 2014

Picture: Michael Loomes, curator of The Story of Scouting Museum, Waddecar Scout Activity Centre

WHO IS YOUR SCOUT HERO?

UPFRONT

Forward thinking Chair of the Scottish Board, Moray Macdonald, talked to us about his new role and the work of the Board Tell us about you? I work in communications as Managing Director of an international public relations company with offices across Scotland. I’ve had a number of jobs over the years for political parties here and in New Zealand and for a transport organisation, but all have involved managing communication. How did you get involved? I started as a Cub at 2nd Inverness in 1983 and worked my way up to gaining my Queen’s Scout Award. I first became aware of the work of SHQ while serving on the Scottish Venture Scout Council. After coming back from working in New Zealand I focused on my career and decided to give Scouting a break. A couple of years ago Graham Haddock invited me for a chat over dinner and here I am today, once again involved!

The changes are really important to ensure that the organisation is transparent and fit for purpose. The key recommendations will see a slimmer and more democratic structure that is supported by people with the right skills and is more reflective of our membership, including getting a better gender balance and more youth involvement throughout. Some of the recommendations will require approval of the Scottish Council, so we plan to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to tackle this. What does the Board do? The Board looks after the business of Scouting, including overseeing SHQ and supporting the work of the wider Scottish team. We recently adopted a three-year strategic plan, designed to grow the number of people involved in

the objectives. Growing the number of members is an obvious one, but if we get it right we want to ensure we are also developing in areas that have so far been hard to reach. We want to ensure Scouting reflects the communities we operate in, and to do that we need to be as diverse as the local population. We are encouraging members to build programmes that see us embedded in our communities, and playing an active role in helping others. For me, I have a real passion about youth involvement. It’s what we are all about. At all levels of our organisation we all need to focus on getting more young people actively involved in our decision making.

‘Part of the plan is to bring youth involvement to life’ I’ve loved my role as Commissioner for Communication and I’m now really looking forward to the challenge of Chair. What’s first on your agenda? We’ve already had my first meeting as Chair of the Board and focused on the report of the Working Group that has been investigating how we could improve the governance structure of Scouting in Scotland. I was pleased that the recommendations were accepted and we are now looking at implementing them. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Scouting; improve training; deepen our involvement with local communities; support quality programmes; bring youth involvement to life throughout the organisation; strengthen our finances; and ensure safety is integral to all we do. How does that impact Scouting at a local level? It is an ambitious programme, but there are things we can do at all levels to help meet

SCOUTING 11

UPFRONT

The latest on our membership system and Print Centre

New resources FS120459 Role Description, County Assessor

Deleted factsheets

Emotional health and wellbeing – now members resources content FS250059 Self harm – now members resources content FS320005 Smoke-free Scouting – now members resources content FS250044 Eating disorders – now members resources content FS250019 Bereavement – now members resources content FS185092 Substance use and misuse – now members resources FS185092 Alcohol and Scouting – now members resources content FS330011 Assistant County Commissioner (Activities) role description (merged into FS330000) FS330020 County Band Adviser role description (merged into FS330044) FS330009 Area Band Adviser role description (merged in FS330044)

Updated resources FS330000 Role description, Assistant County/Area Commissioner (Activities) FS330044 Role description, Band Adviser FS330049 Role description, Explorer Scout Leader FS330050 Role description, Explorer Scout Leader FS330051 Role description, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader FS330053 Role description, Nights Away Adviser Available via Scout Shops and Member Resources: Adult Training Scheme, Adult’s Personal File, Training Adviser’s Guide and Module Matrix

scouts.org.uk/magazine

INSPIRING COMMUNICATIONS

Help promote the everyday adventure of Scouting, show the fun and friendship we enjoy and demonstrate the positive impact we have on our communities, volunteers and young people. Head over to scouts.org.uk/brand where you will find a wide range of tools, resources and templates to help you create professional, on-brand communications. From Word templates, logos and artwork to over 500 downloadable templates on our Print Centre you’re sure to find something suitable for your needs. Simply log in using your normal username and password, then click on the green button in the bottom left-hand corner. We’ve recently added some new resources, including:

• Facebook banners • Downloadable Minifigs film: ‘What Cubs really think’ • Infographic template to help you show amazing facts and figures

• Minifigs certificates

Compass – coming this year Compass is a powerful set of online tools for members to manage Scouting administrative activities along with storing all adult, youth and parent information in one place. It’s the only online system provided by The Scout Association and it is free of charge to its users. Compass is currently being tested by a team of local leaders and will roll out for members to use across the UK throughout this year. Each County/Area/Region (Scotland) has a volunteer managing the process of introducing Compass to that local area (Compass Implementation Champion) and

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT SERVICES November 2013

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another volunteer to oversee any Compass training requirements in the local area (Compass Training Champion). They are also co-ordinating volunteers to ensure that all adult, youth and parent data is ready to upload. To prepare, please log on to the membership management system and check your personal, Group, District or County details are correctly registered and up to date. Checking this information now will help to ensure a smooth transition to Compass. Visit scouts.org.uk/compass to find out who your local Compass Champion is. Interest at the higher rate applies to deposits of £5,000 and above. Contact Frances on 020 8433 7252 (Monday– Friday, 9am–3pm) for further information.

SCOUTING 13

UPFRONT

Upcoming events, training opportunities and key dates to help you plan your programme

1–2

March

MAR

Endurance 80

Up for a challenge? How about trekking 50 miles (80km) across the Chilterns in 24 hours? It’s a real test of ability, leadership and teamwork for Explorers, Scout Network and adult volunteers. Find out more at endurance80.org.uk.

21–23

MAR

HUB Camp

HUB is back for 2014. Open to 18- to 25-year-old members, participants can choose what activities they want to take part in from a ‘menu’ of choices. Places are sure to book up soon so don’t miss out. Contact shq@scouts-scotland. org.uk for more info.

7–9

MAR

APR

Survival Skills @ Meggernie

PL/APL Training Course

Activities focused around the Scout Survival Skills Activity Badge: one night will be spent in a tent erected by the centre and one in a shelter you will construct. Call 01887 866231 or email warden@ meggernie.org.uk.

April

7–8

SHQ’s training camp for Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders offers new skills, teamwork and new friendships, plus some of the most fun activities at the Fordell Firs National Activity Centre. Contact shq@scoutsscotland.org.uk.

7–9

MAR

BASP Emergency first Aid Course

A two-day course suitable for outdoor workers, instructors and enthusiasts, leading to a certificate valid for three years and recognised by MLTB, BASI, BCU and other NGBs. Call 01887 866231 or email warden@ meggernie.org.uk.

APRIL

St George’s Day St George is the patron saint of Scouting, and today is a great day to reflect on our inclusive Movement and gather together to renew our Promises. Why not do this as part of an activity day?

APR

Virgin London Marathon Cheer on our runners, raising money to change the lives of thousands of young people through Scouting. It’s a fun day out and a vital fundraising event for our Movement – come and show your support.

Further ahead

Picture: Thinkstock

Parent and Cub Camp 16–18 May

An opportunity for Cubs and their parents or guardians to share the fun of Scouting. Fully catered weekend, guaranteed to be fun for all. Call 01887 866231 or email warden@meggernie.org.uk/ fundays.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Scout Community Week 2–8 June

Make a lasting impact this year with a brave and bold community project. Get inspiration, support and free resources by registering your Group at scouts.org.uk/ communityweek.

Blair Atholl International Patrol Jamborette Visitors Day 26 July A chance to experience a unique international Scouting event. Details at jamborette.org.uk.

Acceler8 22–24 August

Acceler8 is Scottish Scouting’s premier event for volunteers – come along to explore new programme ideas, try out activities, learn new skills, and visit our marketplace. More info at tiny.cc/ acceler8.

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mailbox February/March 2014

@UKScouting | scouts.org.uk/facebook | scouts.org.uk/TV Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk | Write to: Scouting magazine, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW

PHOTO OF THE MOMENT Survival for Sea Scouts

1st Watchet Sea Scout Troop braved the elements and slept outside in shelters made of natural materials on a survival skills weekend. They learned a lot about surviving in the countryside, and it made me proud to watch them achieve so much. Pictured is Daring Patrol, winner of the best shelter competition. From left to right: Bethany, Amelia, Elsie, Ewen and Ed. Judith Hall, Assistant Scout Leader

Enjoy our gallery of reader photos.

FROSTY FUN

STAR LETTER Example of courage

Matt Marnell, a 16-year-old Young Leader in my District, is organising a sponsored event in memory of his grandfather, John Marnell. John was a leader in our District for many years and was sadly taken from us in 2011 by motor neurone disease. Along with a few other Explorers, Matt is organising a sponsored 55km walk of the Sandstone Trail in Cheshire (over 24 hours) on 19 July with proceeds going to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. I know we like to publicise our young members’ achievements and I don’t think they get much greater than having the courage, motivation and determination to remember a family member and fellow Scout in such a manner. You can find out more about the event at facebook.com/ mndwalkforlife. Dex Whitmore, Assistant Cub Scout Leader at 1st Halton

16 SCOUTING

I’ve just been reading Dec/Jan Scouting magazine and was looking at the snow activities you suggested. It reminded me of one of the things we used to do when there was enough snow... 1 Give everyone a large, square or rectangular plastic tub or ice-cream carton. 2 Fill the cartons with snow and pack the snow down. 3 Turn out the snow brick. 4 Build an igloo. Something we did years ago. Happy days! Geoff Tabrah @QuilttheGrain: A successful night

hike with all 3 sections. Great views over Stroud valley followed by a bonfire! @stscouts brilliant fun! #iSCOUT February/March 2014

UPFRONT Erica Hunter I was fortunate to attend the National Scout and Guide Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey with my Mum, Sheila Stinton (83) who was awarded the Silver Wolf in April. I would like to say thank you on behalf of Sheila and myself; it was very much appreciated, especially for all the years of hard work that she, and others like her, have given to Scouting.

@SueTylerJones: Thank you to

@ukscouting and @TheAllinOneCo for our cosy competition onesies! Here’s a dinosaur and a rabbit.

KrisReynolds: @essexscouts

‘Awesome’ evening doing tubing with the Royal Pack from 1st North Springfield! #iScout

OVER HEARD

The funny things Scouts say ‘While explaining how long he’s been involved in Scouting, our GSL was asked if he was at the Experimental Camp.’ BEAVER: ‘Where do you get your uniform?’ LEADER: ‘I order it online from Scout Shops.’ BEAVER: ‘What, can you just print it out and then wear it?’ LEADER: ‘We’re planning to go abseiling at the weekend.’ CUB: ‘But Akela, I can’t swim!’

DOCTOR WHO PARTY

LEADER: ‘That’s a lovely shell collection – did you pick them up off the beach?’ BEAVER: ‘No, I took them out of my mum’s paella.’ ‘At football camp a Scout asked our SL: “Did you used to play football when you were young?” He’s 36.’

St Luke’s (Maidstone) Wednesday Cubs had a wonderful time at their party to mark 50 years of Doctor Who. We played ‘pin the weapon on the Dalek’, had a TARDIS beetle drive and played musical statues to the Doctor Who theme tune. Hannah Rumball, Akela @StaffsWildlife: Cheddleton

Scouts have made brilliant bird and hedgehog boxes for a community garden in #Leek ow.ly/i/3D3rn. @robberred1993: Just invested 10 @BerkshireScouts explorers and one leader tonight; my first investiture as a @UKScouting explorer leader. #iScout #proud scouts.org.uk/magazine

@Barnabites: Our Beavers received a warm welcome from @RabbiJanetB at Ealing Liberal @synagogue tonight as part of their promise challenge. Matthew Powell We made s’mores

tonight with Hearne Troop from Wells 5th/7th Scouts. We cooked over small open fires on skewers with chocolate digestives in the Mendip Hills… a brilliant treat! Isla Louise Marshall We’ve just

had a weekend music camp in Swanley District. The Explorers and Network members all brought their ukuleles, guitars, cajons and harmonicas along with them to gather around the campfire for a good old knees-up!

WRITE IN TO WIN

Our STAR LETTER writer wins a copy of the Outdoor Adventure Manual: Essential Scouting Skills for the Great Outdoors. Available from scouts.org.uk/shop at a special price of £14 (RRP £21.99).

SCOUTING 17

Beyond

REAL TROOPERS

Pictures: Andy Yoong

SCOUTLINK

Northern Ireland/ Republic of Ireland Founded: 2000 Members: Organised by The Scout Association, Northern Ireland Scout Council and Scouting Ireland Meet at: Northern Ireland and the border Counties of Ireland Did you know? Since 2007 Scoutlink has delivered 55 cross-community residentials and camps involving around 2,400 young people from a variety of communities and backgrounds to develop peace and reconciliation programmes.

18 SCOUTING

Scoutlink encourages co-operation between both sides of the Irish border

February/March 2014

borders

REAL TROOPERS

We visit an inspirational cross-border Scouting project that is helping to build bridges between Northern Ireland and the Republic WORDS LEE GRIFFITHS

Point Layar here to watch a video of Irish Scouts talking about how Scoutlink benefits their communities.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 19

REAL TROOPERS

‘Last year one of our Explorers brought two African exchange students to a meeting. They spoke no English and clearly felt out of their depth. However, within ten minutes (and after a couple of games) the universal language of ‘doing stuff’ bridged the gap. Someone once said to me that language is only a barrier if you want it to be.’ Helen Bacon, Assistant Explorer Scout

ounty Monaghan and County Tyrone may be neighbouring counties, but they might as well be a thousand miles apart. With the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland border running between them – Tyrone to the north and Monaghan to the south – the counties are physically divided by an international border and a long history of religious and political differences. Segregation is the norm on both sides of the border but Scouts are looking to change that…

Scout links

Set up in 2000 and based in Northern Ireland, Scoutlink is an ongoing mission to help spread peace and unity in Northern Ireland and the Republic through Scouting. Its latest scheme, the Cross-Borders Project, which launched in 2013 and focuses entirely on the Tyrone/

20 SCOUTING

Scoutlink was set up in 2000, two years after the Good Friday Agreement

Monaghan divide, aims to dispel stereotypes and assumptions. Joan Reid, the head of Scoutlink, together with Scout leaders from either side of the border, are helping to unite young people by hosting activity workshops and residentials with Groups from both counties. ‘Scouts from Tyrone and Monaghan rarely have the opportunity to speak to each other even though they’re next door to each other,’ says Joan. ‘The border is a physical boundary, but it’s also a boundary in people’s minds; they have no understanding or experience of those across the divide.’ In a nutshell, the Cross-Borders Project is all about helping young people to think differently. When Scouts finally met during their first residential, all previous assumptions were dispelled, says Joan. ‘We held a residential with 30 young people and adults and through

outdoor activities they got to know each other.’ Another residential in November saw different Scouts from either side of the border meeting up for a chilly weekend of canoeing, archery and orienteering: working together, having fun and enjoying the activities, regardless of where each of them was from. ‘It was really cool to meet other Scouts and learn about our differences and similarities,’ says Laura, a Scout from 3rd Monaghan. ‘I think it will encourage peace between us.’ ‘We don’t really get the chance to do much with each other, because of the border and because we’re basically two different organisations,’ says Kieran Ashmore, Scout Leader of 5th Monaghan. ‘We do some things differently south of the border but you discover that essentially we do the same thing: have fun and enjoy Scouting. We’ll always February/March 2014

REAL TROOPERS

23rd Wimbledon’s committed team of volunteers helps the Shree Ghanapathy Temple and Sa

Scoutlink’s projects have proved a great success

‘It was really cool to meet other Scouts and learn about our differences and similarities.’

The Cross-Borders Project’s aim is to help young people to think differently

LAURA, 3RD MONAGHAN

remember this project and the young people will too.’

Breaking barriers

Young people in Northern Ireland still generally go to single-religion schools. Schools south of the border are mainly Catholic, so as well as rarely mixing across the border, young people have few opportunities to meet others from different backgrounds within their own countries. This makes the CrossBorders Project all the more vital. ‘In Northern Ireland, there are only about 5% of schools that are integrated; pretty much every school scouts.org.uk/magazine

that young people go to is either Protestant or Catholic,’ says Joan. ‘They are segregated because of religion and their education, and that falls back on the communities. Young people never get the chance to meet others from different communities.’ Tackling the segregation issue, especially during the early stages of the Scoutlink project, was extremely tough for Joan and her committed team. ‘The initial reactions from the young people were interesting,’ says Joan. ‘The Irish Scouts thought the Northern Irish Scouts would be a bit

more “Englishy”, if you like. There was some suspicion and apprehension. That’s why we ran initial workshops, to alleviate the suspicions and get people working with us.’ Scoutlink has overseen a whole spectrum of impactful community projects, including a six-year endeavour in north Belfast, which began in 2003 and brought young people together from a tough area of the city for workshops and activities. Groups were happy to get stuck in but some didn’t want to go public and shout about their involvement as it was such a sensitive time. This was a period when the Holy Cross dispute

SCOUTING 21

REAL TROOPERS

‘They move up into Cubs so fast… You need to prepare for that’ – The need for larger sections keeps on growing…

Young people embrace the spirit of Scoutlink’s projects and keep coming back for more

dominated the news: a Catholic primary school located in a mainly Protestant area became the focus of heated unrest between the communities. ‘We were in a contentious area working across peace lines and it was a real challenge,’ remembers Joan.

A change for the better

Joan and the Scoutlink team believe that now is the time when we should be moving on and focusing on the generation that can change things for the better. Scouting is in the perfect position to bring about that positive change. ‘When we started the project we were just two years into the Good Friday Agreement [which encouraged positive cross-border relations between the two country’s governments] and the young people

22 SCOUTING

Cameron and Joshua enjoy a day of activities south of the border

‘It’s important now for young people to make up their own minds’ JOAN REID

would still remember a lot of what happened during the Troubles,’ says Joan. ‘But we’re now in a postAgreement era and the young people involved in this project, being 14 to 16, wouldn’t remember much about that time.’ Joan continues: ‘It’s important now for young people to make up their own minds and have a chance to meet each other on a neutral basis without the backdrop of the Troubles. Parents are largely on board with it, and that’s thanks in part to the fact that Scouting is such a trusted organisation.’ Indeed, it’s the fun, friendship and adventure that brings these young people together and ensures that they keep coming back for more. Enda Morris, a leader with 6th Monaghan, sums it up: ‘We’re all here for one reason – Scouting: doing

activities together and having fun. Everyone gets on so well together. The young people from my Group have been so positive about the workshops and they can’t wait for the next one.’ Scoutlink has achieved so much during the last decade or so, bringing young people together who might otherwise have never met. It’s shown young people that despite having some differences, we are all essentially the same: when you’re a Scout, you’re a Scout – no matter where you’re from.

More info

To find out more about the Scoutlink projects visit citizenscout.com or email Joan at joanreid@citizenscout.com.

February/March 2014

LOUD AND CLEAR

COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP

Get the right messages out about Scouting

e all know that Scouting is phenomenal: day in, day out, amazing things go on at grassroots level. And we want even more people to know. Whether it’s telling members about a big outdoor event or securing press publicity for an inspirational volunteer, communicating well helps us to function smoothly – and grow.

communications workshops to help you better understand the Scout brand – and how to spot, craft and pitch stories. Fine-tune your writing skills, learn how to package content for external media and members, cover events and gather colourful quotes and expressive pictures. You’ll also get the inside track on using social media.

‘Communicating well helps us to function smoothly – and grow’ It means members are clear about the direction of Scouting and have a sense of pride and commitment about what we do. Plus, when we convey the energy, fun and everything that’s great about Scouting, it helps us appeal to potential volunteers, ambassadors and companies, who can donate resources – or speak up on our behalf.

What’s the story?

In our technology-rich lives, where camera phones, tablets and social media are the norm, there are bountiful ways to get the Scouting message across – and we’re here to support you. Throughout the year and all over the United Kingdom, The Scout Association runs media and scouts.org.uk/magazine

Even if you can’t get to a course, we can help. There’s an array of resources available via scouts.org. uk/membercommunications, including tips on member-to-member communications; writing newsletters, e-newsletters, web copy, news and social media; creating professional videos and more. You can access information about the Scout brand and brilliant templates at scouts.org. uk/brand and in Member Resources you’ll also find advice from our Media Relations team on generating media coverage from all those amazing achievements and events you’re involved in. Your local communications team or Media Development Manager can also help you get your message out – if you’re unsure who this is, contact info.centre@scouts.org.uk.

David Robinson, Media Development Manager at Cambridgeshire Scouts

‘By day, I work for Huntingdonshire District Council as an assistant ranger; I’ve been in Scouting for years but first got involved in comms around the centenary in 2007. I’ve been on several media and comms courses since then and access online resources regularly; I’ve used the Print Centre for artwork and business cards, and the brand guide is my constant oracle. With the help of the UKHQ media and comms teams and my County Commissioner, we’ve raised our profile massively. In fact we’ve now got to the stage where local papers take our images directly. One story I’m really proud of is 2nd Wisbech Orchards, a diverse Group where six languages are spoken. It had huge press attention and featured in Scouting magazine (Oct/Nov 2013). My top tips are: renew your training, and be prepared to absorb new ideas and try new things!’

More info

Find out what comms courses are coming up at scouts.org. uk/commsday or by emailing communications@scouts.org.uk.

SCOUTING 25

THE PROMISE

WE LOOK INTO THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVE PROMISE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

hroughout our 107-year history The Scout Association has been constantly evolving so as many people as possible get to experience the amazing experiences, fun and friendship of membership. On 1 January, and after a 10-month consultation with those inside and outside the Movement, another step was taken to being even more inclusive: scouts.org.uk/magazine

an additional alternative Promise was introduced to enable Humanists and others without an affirmed faith to join the Scouting adventure. While Scouting remains fully committed as a Movement to explore faith and religion as a core element of its programme, the barrier of requiring young people and adults to have an affirmed faith to join Scouting has been removed.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scouting remains fully committed as a Movement to explore faith and religionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SCOUTING 27

THE PROMISE

What the change means for us Adult members have been feeding back to us about how the introduction of the additional alternative Promise affects them. Here are just a few of your viewpoints: George Devine, Active Support Unit Adviser I am a committed Christian but one who has always believed that inclusion serves for greater understanding and unity. As a Scout leader I often used to try a rather tenuous interpretation of ‘duty to God’ as a way around issues that some Scouts had with the commitment to faith. Some talented people were put off joining Scouting because of the Promise and now that hurdle’s been taken away. Now

Scouting is more open and inclusive it will be easier for leaders to explore faith and beliefs with their Groups. It’s definitely a positive thing for the future of Scouting. Peter Archibald, Group Scout Leader I can now share the journey that I have made as an adult in Scouting, because I will no longer be discriminated against for my beliefs. When I became a Scout leader, I began to examine my own beliefs and pursue my spiritual development, as we are all encouraged to do. This led me to discover Humanism. I am proud that The Scout Association has extended its welcome to Humanists and others who do not believe in

God. We can all now work to make that welcome manifest in our own Groups and to encourage all our members to pursue their own spiritual journeys. Stephanie Sanderson, Assistant Scout Leader As an atheist I’ve always made my Promise as a matter of ritual, but now I can make one that I really mean. The fact that I couldn’t technically be a ‘full member’ in my own right was quite upsetting. While I may not believe in a god, Scouting has changed my life for the better. The introduction of this new additional alternative Promise makes me feel like I’m a valued member of the Movement and not somehow lacking. Scouting really is inclusive now, and nobody has to cover up a fundamental part of their personal philosophy to be involved.

Wording of promises and alternatives The Core Promise remains the same* The Beaver Scout Promise:

I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and to love God.

The new Beaver Scout additional alternative Promise:

I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and to love our world.

* Alternative versions of the Scout Promise have been available for nearly 50 years and have been used by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and those who live in the UK but are not UK citizens. Hindus may use either the words ‘my Dharma’ or ‘God’. Muslims may use the word ‘Allah’ in place of ‘God’. Buddhists should use only the words ‘my Dharma’. Muslims may use the phrase ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful’ in place of ‘On my honour’ when making the Promise. For more details on this, and advice when some other form of wording is required for a member of a particular faith or religion, search on the sentence ‘promise, faith and nationality’ on Member Resources.

28 SCOUTING

The Cub Scout Promise:

I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

February/March 2014

THE PROMISE Anne-Marie Barker, Assistant Cub Scout Leader This change is a good thing because it’s more welcoming for Cubs that don’t come from religious families. It might have put some young people off having to say the Promise and the parents might not have been keen. I hope we’ll attract even more volunteers and young people to Scouting now that we’re more inclusive. Everyone can be a good person, regardless of whether they are religious or not.

More info

Visit scouts.org.uk/fundamentals to view more FAQs and information on any updated resources. If you have any further questions contact the Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 or at info.centre@scouts.org.uk.

The new Cub Scout additional alternative Promise:

I promise that I will do my best to uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

FAQs

Has the Core Promise changed? The Core Promise has not changed at all. The additional alternative version now allows those of no affirmed faith to join Scouting. However, exploring faith, beliefs and attitudes remains a key part of Scouting’s values and programme. Who makes the decision about which Promise to take, the young person or their parent/carer? Will it be the same for every section? This is a sensitive issue and one which may need to be discussed with parents/carers, depending on the age and maturity of the young person concerned. As with other decisions in Scouting, in most cases the leader’s role is to set out the options, explain the differences and

The Scout Promise:

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

encourage the young person and their parents/carers to discuss the options before making a decision. Will Promise ceremonies change? Are different versions of the Promise said all together? There will be no changes to Promise ceremonies. It’s good practice to invite members to renew their Promise ‘in their own words’ and this should continue. The different versions can then all be said together at Promise renewal events. Can an Executive decide which version of the Promise an adult volunteer makes? No, it’s up to the individual which version of the Promise they take. For more info, check out scouts.org. uk/fundamentals.

The new Scout additional alternative Promise:

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

OUR VISION

CITIZEN SCOUT

in The latest ries se ew n e th the exploring ards w o T n io is V 18 20

MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

The fifth article in our Vision Towards 2018 series by Graham Haddock, Chief Commissioner for Scotland, looks at citizenship and social change

e’ve covered some of the easier topics. Now we need to look at some of the Vision statements which, I suspect, will cause some leaders to scratch their heads in confusion. It may surprise some of you to know that the full title of Robert BadenPowell’s book is Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship. In short, preparing young people to be good citizens is part of our DNA as an organisation and has been since its inception in 1907.

The Values of Scouting

As Scouts we are guided by: s Integrity We act with integrity, we are honest, trustworthy and loyal s Respect We have self-respect and respect for others s Care We support others and take care of the world in which we live s Belief We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes s Co-operation We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends

30 SCOUTING

So how do we go about making our youth members good citizens? Well, we could start with our Fundamentals and our Values. These Values are a recipe for good citizenship, but what do we mean by active citizenship? There is a lot of debate in today’s society about what active citizenship looks like. Many agencies working in this area agree that it comprises at least two things: ȓ Civil participation: people getting involved with each other to pursue their goals and interests. For example, it might include participation in sports clubs, faith groups and Scouts. ȓ Civic engagement: the more formal routes of public participation in the processes of governance. For our young people, this could be through user panels, youth forums, membership of local and national committees, being on local and national government advisory groups and Youth Parliaments and, in Scouting, being members of the Council of TSA as Nominated Youth Representatives or Trustees at various levels in Scouting.

Ideas for active citizenship

Being a member of Scouting clearly delivers on the civil participation element of active citizenship, so that’s alright then. Or is it? Is there an opportunity to step outside our Scout meeting places and engage with the wider community to actively influence their level of engagement with others in society? Could your Cubs or Scouts visit elderly people in your local care home and chat to them about their lives? Your Scouts would learn something about life in the past and our senior citizens would feel engaged and valued. Could your Explorer Scouts plan and deliver a hot meal for some of the homeless that populate our inner cities? Your Explorer Scouts would learn about what it is to be homeless and would make a difference to the lives of some of the excluded people in society. If this works, could this become a monthly activity for the Explorer Scout Unit? It’s a real example of practical action in the service of others. But what about civic engagement? There are many opportunities to get February/March 2014

OUR VISION

Young people are keen and able to help shape the society in which they live

our young people involved in decision making at every level. One example on the horizon is this year’s Scottish independence referendum. For the first time in the UK, young people aged 16 and 17 have a vote. Our Explorer Scouts will have a golden opportunity to influence the outcome of a major political decision. But wait a minute: ‘Scouting is an apolitical organisation,’ I hear you

Scouts learn to exercise the right to vote and the importance of doing so.

Changing society

Embracing and contributing to social change is another of our challenging aspirations. How does Scouting make a difference here? I would suggest that we already have. When I was young, the environment was rarely discussed.

Picture: Jon Challicom

‘When I was a young Scout, the environment was rarely discussed’ say – and you’d be right. It would be completely improper to try to influence how any young person might vote. But it would be entirely correct to help them to understand the nature of the democratic process, the importance of exercising their right to vote and to encourage them to engage in that process. Voting is at the core of active citizenship. If other parts of the UK follow Scotland’s lead, we might have to look at how we help our Explorer scouts.org.uk/magazine

Scouting now has a strong focus on the environment and environmental issues. By including this in our programme we are already contributing to social change. Sexual health among young people was never discussed when I was a young leader. Society has changed, and so has Scouting. We now have clear guidance to our leaders on how to support young people dealing with this challenging area of their lives.

Bullying has been a hot topic in the press recently. Scouting has been at the forefront among youth organisations in making the issue known and helping our adults to support young people who are being bullied. Scouting has long had a very strong global perspective – we have 32 million members worldwide – but also in the prominence of international activities and issues in our programme at all levels. Who could fail to have been moved by the terrible images on our TVs after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last year. ShelterBox, one of the organisations that has worked with Scouting for many years, was at the forefront in delivering practical help and support to those whose homes were destroyed. Getting your Scouts involved in ShelterBox and similar organisations helps them to understand what it really means to help others. Scouting has more work to do in delivering these two challenging parts of our Vision. Why not start to think how you might make them real in your section, Group or Unit?

SCOUTING 31

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE

GOING THE DISTANCE Your fuss-free, step-by-step guide to planning visits abroad

A group of Explorers from Dorset got themselves to Nepal for a monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volunteering

scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 33

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE

WHAT WE DID

WE ENJOYED ADVENTURE… IN GREECE 1st Liphook Cub Scout Leader Trevor Holden helped organise a trip to the idyllic Ionian island of Kefalonia and experienced Scouting adventure, Greek-style. ‘We were actually the first Scout Group from the UK to visit Kefalonia. Seven Scouts, ten Explorers, two Network members and eight leaders kicked off the adventure in style with kayaking and cave exploring. There were so many highlights during our trip. Our campsite was a beach on the Ionian Sea and we swam every day in crystal-clear blue waters. We also got the chance to visit a Bavarian horse stables and ride into the mountains above the town of Sami, where the views were spectacular. ‘We also visited the enormous Drogarati Caves – which host classical music concerts – and inside we saw spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. On our final evening, we all descended on Oskars Taverna, near our campsite, for a traditional meal and we even experienced some traditional Greek dancing. ‘The 19 young members who took part were a credit to 1st Liphook and UK Scouting, and the leadership team helped make the trip truly memorable.’

34 SCOUTING

ombining the adventurous and life-affirming spirit of Scouting with its passion for making an impact on communities, a visit abroad offers young people once-in-a-lifetime experiences while helping them grow and reach their full potential. While a Scouting trip abroad may sound complicated and initially intimidating, it’s actually pretty simple, and there’s a wealth of support available to assist you along the way…

STEP 1: why and how?

Think carefully about the purpose of your visit abroad: what are you going to do there and what are you hoping to achieve? Do you want to embark on a community project? Is there a cause that you’re particularly passionate about or that you think young people would respond to? Or, do you simply want to give your young people the chance to visit somewhere exciting that they

wouldn’t have had the chance to experience without Scouting’s help? When planning a visit abroad, it’s important to remind young people that Scouting is inclusive and their financial situation is not a barrier to taking part. There are grants available to help those who may need support and young people who meet the criteria can apply for up to £1,000 towards the cost of their trip. Contact the UKHQ International Team for more information on this: international@scouts.org.uk. You can also fundraise to help with the cost. Fundraising for Visits Abroad can seem daunting, but with a little bit of imagination you can achieve great things. From abseiling to zorbing you can get sponsored to do just about anything. Ask at your local supermarket to see if you can do bag packing, run a jumble sale or car wash at your HQ. The possibilities are endless and the activities will be very rewarding. Take a look at page 45 for some

Think carefully about the purpose of your visit abroad: what are you going to do there? February/March 2014

INTERNATIONAL REAL ADVENTURE TROOPERS

Wimbledon’s co tted of volunteers helps the Shree Ghanapathy Temp

unique fundraising tips and check out scouts.org.uk/fundraising for more inspiration and ideas.

STEP 2: where?

Chat to your Group and find out if there are any foreign places they’re really keen to visit. Getting the whole Group talking about foreign travel will help excite them about the trip. Think methodically: there are a number of different types of international experiences you can get involved in through Scouting, which

might help to narrow the destinations down. These include: s Exchange visits s National jamborees s International camps abroad s Explorer Belt s Scouts of the World Award s Queen’s Scout Expeditions s Community development projects s World jamborees and moots If you’re still stuck for ideas, check out the Globetrekker website

for inspiration at scouts.org.uk/ globetrekker, where you’ll find pictures, videos and comments about the places Scouts and leaders have visited with their Groups.

STEP 3: make the call

Once you’ve decided where to go and what to do when you get there, the next step is to contact your Assistant County Commissioner for International – or ACC(I). You may already know who this is, but if you’re not sure, both the Info Centre (on

WE MADE A DIFFERENCE… IN UGANDA

help other peoplehelped do theScouts same.’and Explorers change a community in Uganda. Ian King,[BOXOUT] Assistant Reader Scout Leader panelat 1st Wallington in Surrey, Sanderson, ‘For the‘International past 20 years, UK travel Scouts gives have beenStephanie building links with young people in Uganda, with several expeditions there. Assistant Scout Leader I’ve been young an people assistant opportunities leader on three trips there including last year, on a charity project in partnership with Softpower Education. they wouldn’t The expedition get if they was advertised on The Scout Association’s website and a camp was held at Downe Scout Activity justCentre went to onselect holiday: a team theyof 16 Scouts and Explorers for the Ugandan community impact project. ‘Wecan built immerse a three-classroom themselvesschool in and five-pit latrine block for the Nagawa Memorial School in eastern Uganda, whichanother caters for culture; aboutthey 500 local gain children, including many orphans. Previously it had been a temporary wooden hut. We camped some on perspective a playing field onbehind the the school and interacted with the locals, sharing simple but fun experiences such as bubbles, opportunities balloons and available glow-sticks. to ‘Uganda them is atahome; great country. and theyThe come people welcomed us with open arms, and helped in any way they could. Apart from benefitting back motivated children intoAfrica, makethe theexpedition also benefitted our young people too, helping them experience and understand most ofpoverty their own in a lives developing and tocountry.’ Read about Ian’s adventures at: ugandascoutexpedition2013.wordpress.com.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 35

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE

WE EXPANDED OUR HORIZONS… IN NEPAL

0845 300 1818) and the International Team can help with this. Once in contact with your ACC(I), they will talk you through your travel plans so far and offer training and support where necessary. They will also issue you with a Visits Abroad Pack. This contains everything you need to finalise your plans and make the foreign adventure official. Your ACC(I) can help with the next exciting steps: planning your programme of activities, establishing local contacts, preparing the participants for their trip and building the adventure into your programme. Don’t forget to share your experiences with the other sections; you could inspire the next generation of Scouts to have their own exciting expedition abroad. For help and advice for planning your trip, get in touch with the international team at international@scouts.org.uk.

36 SCOUTING

Helena Ventham, AESL with Bere Regis Scouts, planned and organised a month-long expedition to the Khumbu region of Nepal for 18 Explorers. ‘The 18-strong group did a lot of fundraising to get to Nepal. Each individual taking part raised £2,000 and as a group we raised £13,500 by holding various events including a Valentine’s ball and a talent show, plus we also produced a recipe book. We also held a couple of cultural evenings with the help of Gurkha soldiers based at Blandford Camp, Dorset. As well as raising money for the trip, we raised £7,500 for a charity called Moving Mountains Trust. ‘When the Explorers arrived in Nepal they trekked to the mountain village of Bumburi and helped build a medical clinic there. For a week they lived amongst the locals and even spent a day in a school teaching the local children, who were keen for our Scouts to teach them maths (and the hokey cokey!). ‘They trekked to Mount Everest in blizzard conditions, and enjoyed some breathtaking views once they’d set up at Base Camp. One of the highlights for all the Explorers was when they worked as a close team to make sure everyone made it here together. ‘One of our Explorers, Rowan, celebrated her 17th birthday during the trip and said; “It was an amazing, life-changing month.” The expedition is something that none of the Kingsbere Explorers will ever forget.’

February/March 2014

Ma nchester Scouts roll up their sleeves to h ma ke a difference, wit help from B&Q

s for lp w it h idea B&Q ca n he tore -s in g in is fu nd ra

Take action and make

AN IMPACT

How to get involved with Scout Community Week 2014

aking place from 2 to 8 June, Scout Community Week is the perfect time to showcase how amazing Scouting is and what it can achieve. We’d like you to get creative with your project ideas – and think about what will make a long-lasting, tangible impact in your community. Could your Scouts tackle a recycling project, decorate a community space, improve a nature reserve or teach IT skills to older people? The possibilities to make an impact on your locality are endless.

Why take part?

Change people’s lives and the community for the better. Learn and share new skills with people living or working nearby. Build your Scouts’ confidence and help them bag a variety of badges. Spread the word about Scouting and recruit more young people and volunteers. Help Scouts to play a role in our

38 SCOUTING

In partnership with:

communities – and show them that they have the power to make a difference.

Choose the perfect project

Have a discussion with your Group about the local issues they want to tackle: involving all the young people will help them feel empowered and motivated. How do they think their community could be improved? Ask their parents and carers too; they could have a dazzling idea – or particular skills or business contacts to share. Don’t forget to talk to the council, local charities and community organisations: could you link up with another organisation and work together on a project? You could also draw some inspiration from past Scout Community Weeks. In 2013, young people from 8th Newham (Beckton) revamped the garden of a sheltered housing scheme with help from Ground Force presenter, Tommy Walsh and our partner B&Q – and the benefits will be felt and seen for years

to come. Alfie Ford, Group Manager of 8th Newham and District Commissioner for Newham District, said: ‘You could see on residents’ faces how much the project means to them: having a space where they can spend time outdoors in a relaxing atmosphere will make such a difference to their lives.’ Badges are also a fantastic motivator – so why not put them at the core of your plans. Your Scouts could gain lots (not least the Scout Community Week 2014 Badge), for example: Planting flowers in the community (with B&Q’s help) can help Beavers earn their Outdoor Activity badge. Cubs might get the Communicator Activity Badge by campaigning on an important community issue. Scouts could host a recycling fair or support local older people for the Community Challenge. Explorers and Network members could collect, upcycle and sell old furniture for their Community Badge. February/March 2014

I0 N W TO 0 £1 AT

DO1THING

D SPEBN&Q

ges in Scouts can ear n bad ret urn for helping out

Bird boxes are a great Scout Com mu nit y Week pro ject

Tra nsform a neg lected out space into a vibrant gar door den and you cou ld win £100 to spe nd at B&Q

Help from our partner

B&Q is on hand to give your project a boost – so factor in a visit to your local store manager as you plan your project. Could you use some free materials such as tins of paint, timber offcuts and endof-range items via its waste donation scheme? Scout Groups have an exclusive opportunity to fundraise in B&Q stores throughout May. Or see if the staff can help your project. Some stores also offer Kids Can Do It DIY classes so your young people can prime their practical skills in preparation for Scout Community Week. Visit scouts.org.uk/bandq for more info. scouts.org.uk/magazine

GET CREATIVE AND WIN PRIZES

What greater impact could you have during Scout Community Week than adding colour to an unloved part of town? By designing a garden that will transform a neglected community space into a stimulating oasis, you could also be in with the chance of winning £100 of B&Q products. Brainstorm areas of your neighbourhood that could do with a flower-powered makeover. Make sure you have permission to work on the area: you could ask your council, local church, school or care home if you can work on their gardens. Then, with your Group, design a green space: considering shape, height, colour and scents. Think about: Planting the kinds of plants and flowers that bees love – see the project idea overleaf for ideas Building a home for wildlife Using peat-free compost Ensuring that there is somewhere birds can feed Sowing wild flowers – you could choose poppies to mark the First World War Centenary

HOW TO ENTER

2-8 JUNE 20

Register at scouts.org.uk/ communityweek for all of your Scout Community Week 2014 badges and information pack, where you’ll also find loads of project ideas and handy tips. Update us on your project via Twitter, Facebook or by emailing community.week@ scouts.org.uk.

You must register for Scout Community Week, then take a clear picture of your chosen unloved site, and send it to us, along with your design, at partnerships@scouts. org.uk by 30 April 2014. The winning design will be the one that stands out the most, whether it’s the brightest, most colourful, most eco-friendly or bee-friendly. The winner will receive a £100 B&Q giftcard to help bring your design to life, plus help and support from your local store. Two runners-up will also win £50 each towards their project.

SCOUTING 39

//Swap logo// - not s

add W blob -

Plant a bee paradise with B&Q E Suitable for all sections

In partnership with:

very garden needs bees in order to flourish. They’re busy workers, constantly on the move, collecting nectar and pollen to feed themselves and help pollinate all sorts of flowers. But they’re also under threat, so it’s important to create beefriendly spaces full of plants they love. Follow these simple instructions and watch your Scout space turn into a buzzing paradise.

You will need

The best flo for attra wers ctin bees are g : Sunflow ers Crocuses Primros es Daffodil s Lavende r Heather

s Seeds s Space to grow s Water s Compost s Trowel

What to do

Encourage your Scouts to bring in a mix of seeds to your meetings – these could be bought or harvested from plants in their own gardens.

All plants have different care requirements, so use the internet to research how often you will need to water them.

Locate somewhere for your bee-friendly space – it could be as small as a windowbox or a wide patch, and help the young people sow the seeds.

Using the table below, get your Group to record the number of bees that pass through your garden. Record at the same time each week and watch the number of bees increase.

DATE

TIME

NUMBER OF BEES

HEIGHT OF PLANT

More info This activity is taken from B&Q’s DIY Badge Activity Pack. Visit scouts.org.uk/bandq to download this in full for Cubs and Scouts, as well as book in-store workshops and classes.

40 SCOUTING

February/March 2014

an you sell Scouts in 30 seconds? What’s the biggest problem in your local community and how could Scouts help solve it? How do you think can we involve everyone in Scouting? These are just a handful of questions we’ve posed to our young people so that they can feed into the development of Scouting. If you’re in a volunteer role working with young people, you know that they’re an opinionated and passionate bunch.

So, in a first for The Scout Association, we’re channelling this creativity with a platform for our young members; be.scouts.org.uk, where 12- to 25-year-olds can have their say on making the Movement bigger, more inclusive and more visible. Through videos, audio and photos, as well as in writing, our young people have been telling us how they think we should adapt on our journey to achieving the Vision Towards 2018. And their ideas make for inspiring reading…

Turn over for some young people’s ideas, or see the video at be.scouts.org.uk.

Point here to watch the Be… video and see what our young people think we should be doing more of.

OUR INNOVATIVE CAMPAIGN TO CANVAS YOUNG PEOPLE’S VIEWS ON THE DIRECTION OF SCOUTING

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

THOMAS

‘Include people from different backgrounds in ads, to show we accept everyone’

‘In Milton Keynes, there’s a big gap between the youth opulation and our senior citizens. By promoting Scouting within the community we can show our elders that there will always be well-rounded individuals in society, and counter negative stereotyping.’ REVS956

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOW CAN YOU SOLVE IT?

ALEX

‘We need to empower our membership. Scouting reaches nearly every community in the UK. Huge numbers of our young people are desperate to improve Scouting and society as a whole.’

HOW CAN WE MAKE SCOUTS BETTER?

LOTTIEKAA

‘Make sure people know about the cost; many believe Scouts is more expensive than it is! Show people what they’re missing. Attend community events and have Scouts run the activities rather than leaders.’

HOW CAN WE INVOLVE EVERYONE?

JOWAN ALBON

‘They should promote how important it is to be a team and not worry about race or background’

‘Get people from all ages and backgrounds together on a camp, to show we’re all the same inside’ MATT

W ASHENHURST

‘As a Scout from Northern Ireland, too few events take place here so we miss out on the chance to take part and belong to the UK Scout family. We need more events everywhere.’

HOW CAN WE INVOLVE EVERYONE?

Pictures: Alamy

DAN FENNER

‘More Scoutled activities where we can step up and take charge’

‘How about producing a Scouts catalogue for schools, doctors’ surgeries, dentists…? Fill it with amazing pictures of everyday adventure in Scouting!’ KMSCOUT

HOW WOULD YOU GET MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN SCOUTS?

DOMINIC

‘The biggest problem is stereotyping young people as bored delinquents! Share with the community what we do in Scouting to demonstrate that we are not all the same!’

KATE MILLS

‘We should offer a wider variety of Scout activities – most are either outdoor or athletic, like football. We should add more events like gymnastics and dance. There should be more District and County camps t00 – I’ve only been on two and it was great to meet other Scouts.’

WHAT COULD WE DO TO MAKE SCOUTS BETTER?

HOW CAN WE INVOLVE EVERYONE?

‘When people Google fun, adventure, explore… they should find Scouts’ COMPANY52

We’ve also been asking our young people which topical social issues they think Scouts should get involved with; find out about the results of our community impact survey in the April/May issue of Scouting magazine.

be.scouts.org.uk

If you know any creative 12- to 25-yearolds who have an opinion on Scouting, encourage them to get involved at

‘I think Scouting is already very inclusive, but people don’t know that so they kind of exclude themselves. You don’t have to have certain beliefs, or be a boy or have money. It’s a nice way to bring everyone in the community together and nobody should exclude themselves.’ DEANNA

Creative fundraising

OUT THERE

Want to rent a TARDIS? Or race a dinosaur? Fundraising is high on the agenda for all Groups, but it’s a challenge to think of new ways to do it. Looking for inspiration? Check out these offbeat ideas… Dinosaur dash

Denmead Scout Group’s annual Dinosaur Derby has been going strong for over 20 years. Last year, over 2,000 people came to enjoy the famed races, with painted wooden dinosaurs being pulled along a 100-metre course. Local businesses sponsored the event, which featured stalls and sideshows – and it raised £5,000 for Scouting. ‘The Dinosaur Derby is our Group’s claim to fame. People know it’s a Scout event and they visit from quite far away.’ Alan Harwood, Explorer Scout Leader

Memorabilia hire

Illustration: Harry Bloom Picture: andytylerphotography.wordpress.com

Dog show

Cub Leader and dog-groomer Jess Sullivan came up with a paw-fect way to raise money for her trip to the World Scout Moot in Canada – she held a dog show in Stourport. With categories from waggiest tail to best-dressed dog, there was something for every competitive canine. Stand-out entries included a chihuahua in a knitted jumper and an owner wearing a husky hat to match his pet. ‘One of my Scouting colleagues brought his dog. I’d like to do it again – it was great fun!’ Jess Sullivan, Cub Leader

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Doctor Who devotee and Assistant Scout Leader Tom Nichols has come up with a lucrative fundraising idea. Sci-fi fans pay to stay at his house, which is filled with a huge collection of memorabilia including Daleks and costumes. He also hires out his own TARDIS to weddings and events. The profits help 3rd Upton Scout Group to fund international trips and revamp the HQ. ‘I’ve been hooked on Doctor Who since I was at school. He would certainly have been a Scout!’ Tom Nichols, Assistant Scout Leader

SCOUTING 45

OUT THERE

End-to-end cycle

Penny mile

17th Reigate (St Joseph’s) collected and laid out a mile of pennies to help raise funds for their new HQ. The young people had six months to collect 250kg of coins; searching behind sofas or exchanging notes at the bank. Volunteers and parents joined them in a Guinness World Record attempt to lay the fastest mile of coins. Although they narrowly missed out on the record, their coins raised over £1,000. ‘The Beavers carefully positioned the coins one by one on the masking tape, but the Explorers raced each other. It was quite entertaining!’ Mike Phillipson, Group Scout Leader

‘We ran ScoutStock – a mini music festival with local bands. We raised money through entrance fees, food and drink while promoting local musical talent. We used a curtain-sided lorry as a stage the first year! Local music shops and venues supported us. It was great fun!’ Joanne Parker, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader

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Cyclist and triathlete Chris Maudsley fulfilled a long-held ambition when he rode a recumbent trike all the way from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Travelling at 14 miles an hour, he took 12 days to cover the distance and stayed with Scout leaders along the way. Assistant District Commissioner Chris raised money for renovations to 1st Castleberg (Settle) Scout HQ in Yorkshire, including a ramp for disabled access. ‘It was great to have a night at home in Settle halfway through; and there was lots of publicity.’ Chris Maudsley, Assistant District Commissioner

Duck race

Some people would say they’re ‘quackers’ but 1st Grundisburgh Scout Group’s annual 2,000-strong duck race has proved a massive hit over the years. Visitors buy their favourite duck – and while encouraging it over the finishing line, enjoy duckthemed activities including a tombola and cake sale. In 2013 the event raised almost £3,000 for the Group’s new HQ. ‘We secure great prizes for the race, sponsored by local companies and individuals – and it’s so popular with the public that people queue up to buy their ducks.’ Pat Ross, Scout Group Secretary, 1st Grundisburgh Scouts

D NLOA R DOWOSTER FO P NG OURNDRAISIN T FU IRATIO A INSPcouts.org/ s rand b Share your story

Have you come up with any novel fundraising ideas? Leave your comments at scouts.org. uk/magazine or email scouting. magazine@scouts.org.uk. February/March 2014

n u f e r o m s ’ Life s l l a w t u o h wit

OUR PART

N ERS

vice from d a t r e p x e oors with oor store d t u o e h t y Enjo old Outd w s t o C l a c your lo

elp Scouts prepare for adventures with expert advice from Cotswold Outdoor staff, including in-store training events, kit talks, demonstrations and more. Tom Parkin, Cotswold Outdoor Birmingham store manager and a dedicated Scout from Beaver to leader, explains how your local store can help you to inspire the next generation of explorers. ‘I’ve been a Scout most of my life, and a Cotswold Outdoor customer almost as long! When Cotswold Outdoor began sponsoring the Hikes Away Staged Activity Badge and provided resources to help us teach hiking skills, my Group made use of them.

All set for a well-equipped trip

‘Things really got going when the local branch offered to run one of their kit talks for us. It was a great chance to use the staff’s expertise to make the right equipment purchases, and from there we were able host leaders’ meetings, promotional nights and jamboree fundraising activities in-store. ‘The store even sent members of the team to a pre-trip meeting for our next County ski trip to Kandersteg in Switzerland. There, we were advised on the most important kit and clothing to take, as well as some essential accessories to make sure that our Scouts and Guides were able to not merely brave the winter elements, but thrive in them. ‘Store staff are incredibly committed to equipping the next generation of young adventurers. Adventure and the outdoors is their passion and working directly with Scouts is something they relish. I’d recommend any Scout Group visit their local store and see how they can help you.’

More info

To find out how your local store can help your Scout Group enjoy ‘life without walls’, contact its manager. Find your nearest store at cotswoldoutdoor.com/stores. Cotswold Outdoor is proud to be the official recommended outdoor high-street retailer for The Scout Association and sponsor of the Hikes Away Staged Activity Badges. Visit scouts.org.uk/cotswold to download the packs and for more info. Don’t forget Scout leaders receive 20% off* and can also receive bespoke quotes for bulk order purchases. *See the members area of scouts.org.uk for details. scouts.org.uk/magazine

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CHALLENGE EVENTS

Courtenay was an Olympic Torch bearer thanks to Scouting, and ran the London Marathon to ‘give back the honour’

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February/March 2014

Picture: Will Ireland

enge of ll a h c e h t n Take o couting S h t i w e m i a lifet

ade a new year’s resolution to shape up? There can be no better incentive to drive your fitness regime than raising funds and awareness for Scouting. So, why not leap out of your comfort zone and begin a brand new adventure?

Going the extra mile

Fancy yourself as a hiker and enjoy beautiful scenery? Then join the Jurassic Trek for a 22-mile walk along the beautiful Dorset coast. If cycling’s your thing, the London to Paris Bike Ride offers the chance to pedal all the way to the iconic Eiffel Tower. Or, if you’re looking to get super-fit, why not take on the 26.2 miles of the Virgin London Marathon?

CHALLENGE EVENTS All funds raised will go straight back into Scouting and help even more young people join the adventure. Plus by being visible at huge events you can also raise awareness of Scouts and show the world what we’re all about. You’ll also get help from our challenge team, including full fundraising and training support, an exclusive i.Scout top and training goodies. Visit scouts.org.uk/ challengeevents to see what kinds of events are available and when. Once you’ve decided on the right event for you, you can simply apply online or email the team for an application form at challenge.events@scouts.org.uk.

Upcoming events

Royal Parks Half Marathon, London Several dates available London to Paris Bike Ride Several dates available Kilimanjaro Trek, Tanzania 10 Aug 2014 Prudential Ride100, London/Surrey 7 Sept 2014 BUPA Great North Run, Newcastle 5 Oct 2014

More info

See scouts.org.uk/challengeevents for more info. The challenge events team can be reached at challenge. events@scouts.org.uk.

CHALLENGE EVENT CHAMPIONS MARATHON

‘I did the London Marathon and raised over £1,000.’ Courtenay Smith, Scout Leader, Dorset

‘I’ve been a Scout since I was 10. Since turning 18 I’ve been involved in every section. When the Olympics came to Weymouth I got selected to run with the Olympic Torch through Scouting; I thought what better way to give back that honour than to run 26 miles for Scouts? I did the London Marathon last April and raised over £1,000. ‘The toughest part was when I ran just under a mile; you know you’ve got just over 25 miles left and I thought, I have to do this 25 more times! I saw lots of other Scouts running so that helped. ‘I’d absolutely recommend doing a challenge event. Scouting is the best cause I could ever raise money for.’

scouts.org.uk/magazine

CYCLED LONDON–PARIS

‘You make lots of connections.’

Karl Franklin, Young Spokesperson, Oxford ‘I cycled from London to Paris last September and raised £2,500. Some of it will go to TSA and some will go directly to my Scout Group. ‘The cycle is over four days – you cover around 80 miles per day in the first few days and 60 on the last day to finish in Paris. It was difficult. I had punctures along the way and I pulled my knee, but ultimately it was really good. ‘Doing a challenge event gives you a great sense of achievement and you make lots of connections as well. I met a guy who runs a camp in the New Forest and he invited me and my Explorers down. It also encourages your young people to get out there, do things for charity and the community – and of course, it also spreads the positive word about Scouting.’

THREE PEAKS EXTRA

‘The highlight was the West Highland Way.’ Roland Eason, ex-Scout, Amsterdam

‘Before I did it, no one had ever walked between the peaks of the Three Peaks Challenge as well as up them. I called it the Three Peaks Extra Challenge: walking from Mount Snowdon in Wales to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, before finishing at Ben Nevis in Scotland. It took 31 days to cover 447 miles. ‘The 10th day was the hardest. I arrived at Preston; it was searing hot and lack of sleep just caught up with me. I had half a rest day in the afternoon, went out for dinner and went to bed early. The next day I was fine again. The highlight was probably the West Highland Way, because I got to meet other walkers and chat to them and we motivated each other.’

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Advice and know-how to inspire and inform VOLUNTEER IN PROFILE

‘Every year is a new adventure’ Inspirational Scout Network leader Kerrie Downes talks about bringing adventure to all young people, no matter what their ability

first got involved in 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group when I was 15. That was eight years ago and I’m still there, now as a Network Leader. I’ve made lifelong friends among the volunteers and grown up with our members. The Group meets every week and caters for the needs of boys with physical disabilities and life-limiting conditions from the age of eight upwards. When you reach 18 and leave school, many activities evaporate and it’s difficult for young people to socialise, so Scouts allows them to meet up until they’re 25. We hold one-to-ones where local Scouts and young people buddy up with our members. The volunteers help with activities and provide physical support and laughter.

One of the biggest challenges is working with new volunteers to help them see there is no limit to adventure for anyone. It can seem crazy when I tell a volunteer that the Group is going abseiling. Imagination, planning and enthusiasm are the key; if a young person wants to go abseiling, they will go abseiling. Last summer we took the Group on their first international camp. We travelled to Holland by coach and ferry with 40 young people – 35 of whom were in wheelchairs – and spent two weeks doing

many activities, including going on a roller coaster. For most of our Scouts it was their first time abroad. I’m studying for a PHD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, so my life is pretty busy. However, volunteering is second nature; my peers know that Monday is Scouts night! Providing the best support I can to the Group is important to me. I spent every Saturday for three months learning sign language through the Makaton charity. This allowed me to communicate with a new member and means that 77th is ‘Makaton friendly’. All young people have the right to adventure – it’s just that some need more help. Some people see a wheelchair and assume the person in it can’t go skiing, sailing or hiking. Our Group shows that Scouts is open to all; that everyone can enjoy adventure.

More info

Most Counties and Regions have Special Needs ACCs/Advisers/ Committees to offer support. Contact your DC or CC for info. You can also contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team at diversity. inclusion@scouts.org.uk. scouts.org.uk/magazine

More info

Find out about setting up a youth forum at scouts.org.uk/ youthinvolvement.

Alex draws on his personal Point here to view a experiences to Layar teach younger photo of 77th Glasgow Scouts and ‘givegallery something back’ enjoying themselves

SCOUTING 51

theknowledge

I’m taking on a new appointment in my District, which form do I need to fill in? Steven Harford,

Assess the risks posed by your campsite, and set up systems to ensure things run smoothly

How can we reduce camping accidents?

Samantha Barnette, Scout Active Support Unit member Stuart Carter, Safety in Scouting Co-ordinator says: Firstly, stop, think and assess the risk and then plan. Train

52 SCOUTING

both Scouts and leaders how to use equipment properly – your kit will last longer and it provides a fun programme for both. Appoint a Quartermaster to ensure that equipment is kept in good condition and safely stored in a way that reduces risks from handling heavy or awkward items. Camp rules, explained with logic and reason, and followed up with positive supervision, will help instil a safe culture on camp and allow those involved to feel a great sense of achievement. Visit scouts.org. uk/safety and find further advice at ‘Safe premises and campsites’.

Glenn Harvey, Scout Information Centre Adviser says: If you are new to Scouting, have had a break in service of more than 30 days, or your current DBS check is due to expire shortly, you will need to complete an Adult Application (AA) form. However, if your new role is in addition to an existing role, or starting within 30 days of your previous role ending, and your current DBS check is still valid, then you will need to complete a Change of Role (CR) form. These can be ordered free from Scout Shops or downloaded from scouts.org.uk/appointmentforms.

How can we keep our Group’s money safe? Philip Eglitis, Section Assistant

Ralph Doe, Unity Liability and Insurance Adviser says: There are a few common-sense precautions you should take, such as not leaving money unattended and banking it at the first opportunity. If it is a large amount of cash, such as takings from a fundraising event, then split the money between February/March 2014

Picture: Thinkstock

Whatever your Scouting query, our experts have an answer for you

Group Scout Leader

volunteer a few people. Don’t discuss you are carrying cash, as you may be overheard by potential thieves. If you are carrying cash, don’t walk home alone; go with a colleague, as there is safety in numbers. You might want to consider money insurance cover, should the worst happen and the Group’s money is lost or stolen.

Shopping around for good quality kit can save you money

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e u s s i g Thebi My partner is about to join my Group as a volunteer – have you got any advice for working together? Felicity Muller, Cub Scout Leader

I need bushcraft kit for my Scouts, but budget is tight. Where can I shop? Phil Nutt, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader Mark Yates, Scout Leader and cohost of the Urban Bushcraft podcast (urbanbushcraft. co.uk) says: Pound shops usually offer decent utility kit such as paracord. Don’t forget Army Surplus stores, where the kit works – it’s been tried and tested. It will be more expensive compared to the 99p store but you’re getting good quality equipment. And in some cases, it’s worth the extra outlay: remember the old saying, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Joanne Parker, AESL for Phoenix Archer ESU says: ‘I’ve volunteered with my partner, Terry, for over four years now, in the same section. In fact, we met through Scouting and it’s fantastic to share it together. At first I was apprehensive about working with him, but we’ve always talked openly and kept disagreements away from home. We also arrange time together away from Scouting, which has strengthened the relationship.’

Calum Swanson, Group Scout Leader, 2nd Orkney Scouts says: ‘My wife is BSL at my Group – and overall it’s great to have someone to understand what you’re talking about. However, don’t talk Scouts all the time at home – and don’t talk home all the time at Scouts. Enjoy a shared interest and the extra time together. And remember, ‘Scouting’ birthday and Christmas presents only work once or twice.’

Stephanie Sanderson, Assistant Scout Leader says: ‘I met a former partner through Scouting. While it can be done, and sharing the same friends within the Group was really cohesive, I think it’s good to keep some distance by working in different sections or on different nights. Then you can appreciate each other’s commitment to the Movement, but are out of the way when they’re dealing with the everyday stresses.’

Over to you…

Do you have a query about Scouting, or experience you could share as a member of our reader panel? If the answer to either question is yes, email us at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk with your questions and advice.

SCOUTING 53

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O TIC

H E AtoLloTokH How

ight and after your eyeson g young people

ess am encourage awaren

hey’re the size of ping-pong balls but contain 107 million cells and process 36,000 bits of information per hour. Our eyes are amazing – but we take them for granted, not least because if there’s a problem it’s rarely obvious. That’s why being proactive about eye health is vital.

Eye, eye

The most important thing is to book regular checks – opticians can identify vision problems and other health issues too, as Ben’s story (above, right) shows. For adults, that means every two years, or more often if you have a family history of eye disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or poor vision, or are over 60. Comprehensive eye tests are recommended for young people during their first school year and are free up to 16 and for those aged 16 to 18 in fulltime education.

Visionary lifestyle

Follow an eye-friendly lifestyle. Protect your peepers in the sun: prolonged exposure is a risk factor for cataracts. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Wear a wide-brimmed hat or 100% UV protection sunglasses with the British Standard (BS EN 1836:2005) or CE mark. Use goggles during DIY and sports glasses when necessary. Watch your weight and stay active; research shows exercise may reduce the risk of sight loss, which can occur from high blood pressure, diabetes and narrowing or hardening of the arteries. Smokers are more likely to develop eye conditions including Agerelated Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, so ask the NHS for help stopping. Also, temper your alcohol intake: excess is associated with an increased risk of AMD. What we eat affects long-term eye health; studies show that a balanced diet, with antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, a nutrient called lutein and omega oils, helps age-proof eyes. Tuck into brightly coloured fruit and veg such as greens and blueberries – plus oily fish. Maintain good hygiene; wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes. If you’re a regular computer user, apply the 20-20-20 rule to exercise your

theknowledge

Jane Anderson, Assistant Scout Leader, Dane Valley Scout Group ‘I want to remind everyone that eye tests are vital. Last year, my world turned upside down when I took my son Ben, who’s also in my Troop, for his routine eye test. ‘The optician identified that Ben had swollen optic nerves and acted quickly. Next morning, following a scan, we received the news that he had a brain tumour. We were transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where Ben was operated on, first to relieve pressure from fluid build-up and then to remove as much tumour as possible. The tumour was classed as benign. ‘Ben is doing well and in good spirits. He has problems eating and suffers with double vision but this should be temporary. Our family is devoted to Scouting and we’ve received amazing support. Ben shows all the attributes of a great Scout, even agreeing to be part of research so medics can learn from his case to help others.’ vision: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Scout sight

If you volunteer with young people, encourage good habits in them, too: they should don hats and sunglasses outdoors and adequate protection during DIY and sport. Bring vision and senses into your programme; visit Programmes Online for ideas including the Visual Impairment Runaround Quiz. If you need guidance on sight or eye health challenges visit scouts. org.uk/diversity or contact diversity. inclusion@scouts.org.uk.

More info

For information on eye health visit nhs.uk or lookafteryoureyes.org.

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Reader recipe WENDY MORRIS’S

BEEF STEW

WITH DUMPLINGS

Cub Leader Wendy Morris shares her favourite campfire stew

Picture: Thinkstock

About the chef

‘I’m Cub Leader at 1st South Bersted Air Scouts. This is my favourite meal when camping – it takes over two hours but is definitely worth it. The whole process of preparing, cooking and eating at camp is a slow, wonderful ritual that we miss out on in our normal ‘grab-it-quick’ lifestyle. For a hungry group, add more veg and a can of butter beans.’

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Ingredients Serves 6

• Braising steak – 550g • Plain flour, seasoning and 4 bay leaves – 25g, combined in a sandwich bag • Self-raising flour – 100g • Shredded suet – 50g • Dried mixed herbs – 2 tsp, combined with flour and suet in a second sandwich bag • Vegetable oil • Stock cubes – 2 • Onions, chopped – 2 • Carrots, chopped – 2 • Celery sticks, chopped – 4 • Horseradish sauce – 1 tbsp • Water – 1.5 pints

Cut the meat into chunks and put it into the sandwich bag with the seasoned plain flour (remove the bay leaves first).

Heat the vegetable oil in your pan and brown the meat. Add the onions, carrots and celery. Once the onion has softened a little, add the stock cubes, bay leaves and a pint of water.

Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for around an hour. Stir regularly if you are cooking on an open fire – or leave to cook at 150°C in an oven.

Put the contents of your second sandwich bag into a bowl and add the horseradish sauce and around eight tablespoons of water. Combine and slowly add water until gooey.

Spoon this dumpling mix on top of the stew – I aim for one large dumpling per person. As the dumplings cook, they puff up and create a kind of lid.

Cover and simmer until the dumplings are fluffy on top. The stew will have thickened and the meat will be tender. Enjoy!

SCOUTING 57

theknowledge TAKE A HIKE

The Podium of Cumbria The heart of the Lake District belongs to you in this superb, gentle-but-rugged introduction to England’s mountain heartland on the perfectly formed Loughrigg Fell

What is a ‘Wainwright?’

You often hear of people talk of ‘the Wainwrights’ in the Lake District. They’re named after Lakeland guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright, who spent much of his later life chronicling the region’s hills. Seven guidebooks were produced, containing 214 fells. The highest Wainwright – Scafell Pike, at 978m – is also England’s highest mountain.

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There are plenty of spectacular views from Loughrigg Fell to discover, including this one from Todd Crag over Windermere

February/March 2014

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Loughrigg Fell Map OS Explorer sheet OL7 Scouting classification Terrain Zero – though rugged and steep in places, good paths cover this hill. Beware slippy ground if the weather is icy. Distance 6 miles/9.5km Total ascent 310m Start and finish Rothay Park, Ambleside (NY374044) Loughrigg Fell is a superb, rugged little hill in the middle of the Lake District. Due to its central position, it offers deep views into the higher mountains of the region, which allows little Loughrigg to compete with far greater elevations than its own. The summit itself also has a real ‘mountain’ feel to it – despite being just over 300m above sea level. Easily accessed from either Grasmere or Ambleside, it offers many options for nearly every level of walker. It’s for this reason that many choose Loughrigg as their first ‘Wainwright’ – or even their first hill.

The route Beginning in the centre of Ambleside, the walk begins by crossing Rothay Park, vaulting the river by a stone bridge (A). A right and then a left over two cattle grids lead you onto some steep zigzags, which go through woods to a gate onto the fellside. Crossing a stream at its highpoint, the main path continues on to Loughrigg Tarn – beloved of William Wordsworth – but a steeper path breaks off right and zigzags northwest uphill onto Loughrigg Fell. ‘Fell’ comes from the Old Norse fjall, meaning ‘mountain.’ The summit is broad and knotty, made up of lots of little hummocky summits which are fun to explore. Among them there are many unthreatening scrambles, and superb views of the Lake District’s Central Fells. Climb up to the very top of Loughrigg Fell – marked by a stone trig point (B) – and you get the full panorama. Tick off the Langdale Pikes, poking up like a row of knuckles to the west; Helm Crag to the north, crowned by

the stone pinnacles of the Lion and the Lamb; and to the south the long slick of Windermere, England’s largest lake. The descent is along a steep path leading north-west from the summit, which descends towards Grasmere – long a colony for artists and poets – before turning right onto Loughrigg Terrace (C), which was a popular excursion for the genteel residents of Grasmere in Victorian times. A right turn at the end of the Terrace takes you around the north side of the fell; there’s a cave (D) on the right – beware of loose rocks if you venture inside. The main paths continue through woods to a lane, and then to a minor road leading south from Pelter Bridge back to Rothay Park, and the start.

More info

For more walks see scouts.org. uk/magazine. For advice on all adventurous activities, see our a–z of activities at scouts.org.uk/a-z.

Picture: Graham Thompson/Trail Magazine

Start and finish

This product includes mapping licensed from Ordnance Survey ® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. License Number PU 100040361. This map was generated and printed by TrackLogs Digital Mapping software. For more information see www.tracklogs.co.uk.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

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FUN and GAMES SCOUTING CROSSWORD 08

Crossword and wordsearch by Eddie James

For the solutions to last issue’s puzzles, head to scouts.org.uk/magazine.

SCOUTING WORDSEARCH 08

Find 20 meals and snacks hiding in our grid

BAGUETTE • BAKED BEANS • BUTTERSCOTCH • CAKE • CUCUMBER • FLAPJACK • FUDGE • GAMMON • HOTDOG • KETCHUP • LUNCHEON MEAT • PAELLA • PASTA • POTATO • SCONES • STEAK • STEW • SULTANA • TOAST • TOFFEE APPLE • TREACLE

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Across

6/7 across/28 down Mickey Mouse won’t cut out our June 2014 major fundraising / awareness activities (5,9,4) 9 Northern county is 100 before Italian region (7) 10 Tract of land in winter rainfall (7) 11 Big in America, this fruit (5) 13 Rash Scots ruined National Park (9) 15 Zen orb changes one ranking in the Chief Scout’s Award (6) 17 One taking a drink for a late meal (6) 21 One branch of our organisation – the main one! (3,6) 24 e.g. Landranger or Explorer adapted as mop! (2,3) 25 Professional often looking down in the mouth (7) 27 Part of Brechin WAGGGS chat (7) 29 Village at foot of Snowdon possibly near Bill’s (9) 30 Organised activity when first woman joins National Trust (5)

Down

1 Our global organisation – found in twos, mainly (4) 2 Medical operator takes time to be a caviare-producer? (8) 3 Name for mountains over 3,000 feet – US norm maybe (6) 4 Chief of Staff gets in by way of a special permit (4) 5 One who hangs out between bars for exercise? (7) 6 Coal is somehow communal (6) 7 Creative activity boat? (5) 8 Sayings like “Be prepared” some tot arranged (7) 12 Hooded jacket: green space requires one (5) 14 Colour that goes with strawberry? (5) 16 A route fixed around tip of Iraq the great circle (7) 18 Semi-pros organised our main and alternative core ones? (8) 19 Lake District valley – Daleks moving east! (7) 20 Peg for vent-hole in ass, pig, otter (6) 22 Ascents requiring carbon legs? (6) 23 Footwear hits! (5) 26 A tide causing broken pane (4) 28 See 6ac.

WIN! Vango

camping kit

Instead of poles, what does Vango’s Airbeam range use to hold the tent up? a) Ropes, b) Air, or c) Electricity? Email your answer, along with your name, address and contact telephone number, to scouting. magazine@scouts.org.uk by ɾɻ Ɔ | I 2m| I f ( m LfǼ Vango introduced the innovative AirBeam® range of tents in 2011, and they soon became the subject of much discussion on campsites and camping forums. For news and info check vango.co.uk, Twitter @Vango or the Vango Facebook page.

Terms and conditions

1. Subject to availability 2. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged 3. No cash alternative will be offered

SCOUTING 61

LAST WORD

BETH REEKLES Birthday Badge winner Beth Reekles landed a three-book deal at 17, proving that nothing is impossible… What made you decide to write your book, The Kissing Booth?

I couldn’t find anything to read; it was all vampires and werewolves and I was really sick of that genre. So I started writing the kind of book I wanted to read and ended up with The Kissing Booth.

Your uncle is a Scout leader and you met his Group. What was that like? It was wonderful to meet all the Cubs at my uncle’s Group! I hope that I’ve inspired a couple of them with wild imaginations to think about creative

Competi t

ion Win a sig ned copy The Kissin of g your Scou Booth for one of ts. To ente r the draw answer th , e followin g questio Which Bir n: thday Ba dge did Beth Ree kles win? Email you r an scouting.m swer to agazine@ scouts.org .uk.

‘I think that Scouting builds self-belief in young people’ I wanted something fluffy and girly and I always liked the forbidden romances.

What was it like to hear you’d got a book deal? I remember getting the email and I scanned over it, seeing terms like ‘commissioning editor’ and ‘Random House’ and ‘young adult fiction’ and I couldn’t believe it. I ran to my parents with my laptop making really weird noises! They read the email, and once we all calmed down – about 10 minutes later – I rang everyone I knew.

How can something like Scouting help young people reach their potential and uncover their creative side? I think Scouting is something that helps people get involved in a huge variety of activities, including those they might not have thought of. It encourages young people to try new things and get creative to achieve goals, whether on their own or as a team. I used to be a Girl Guide so I know how much these things build creativity and offer an opportunity to let your imagination run wild.

66 SCOUTING

writing. My uncle says that being a Scout leader gives him a huge sense of achievement in being able to co-ordinate, teach and guide young people.

You’ve worked hard and persevered, which are classic Scouting traits. How else can Scouting help young people in the real world?

There are so many activities to do with Scouts and all of them encourage different characteristics: working in a team is really important in the real world, and it also brings out great leadership qualities in people. I think that Scouting also builds selfbelief in young people, and that’s another very valuable trait in the real world, alongside perseverance.

What would you say to a Scout who wanted to follow in your footsteps? Write a lot and read a lot – that’s what I did. Practice makes perfect so the more you write the more you get out of it.

More info

The Kissing Booth is available from all good bookshops and online (£6.99, Corgi). Read Beth’s blog at authorbethreekles.tumblr.com and follow her on Twitter @Reekles. February/March 2014