Greater London South West Scouting

[The Scouts logo]

Focus on GLSW

Scouting in Greater London South West October 2002

Chairman's Notes

I'm sure you would agree that time flies extremely quickly when you are so very busy and that is certainly the case with our Development Project — you would record that our County Development Office Jo Launchbury was appointed last December. The five principal aims were:-

In preparing the first year's report for the Funding Agencies I want to share with you the highlights, including the difficulties as well as the successes.

Difficulties included our ability to gain access into local schools to market Scouting. This has proved to be a problem and in some cases totally unsuccessful. Establishing District Adult Recruitment Teams (DARTs) has been slow especially where our existing leaders and adult helpers are not evenly spread across Districts and Groups. Not surprisingly our volunteers are less than enthusiastic about the perceived administrative side of the development process.

Successes include an estimated recruitment of 100 young members and adult helpers to date in Central Croydon, Richmond upon Thames and Surbiton Districts. In reading District and Group newsletters, Development discussions (where are we going to be in 5 years?) are starting to hit the agendas. In support of the development concept the keynote speaker at the County's AGM was John May, Chair of Programme & Development at HQ who emphasised the theme "Better Scouting for more young people"

Following the job advertisement in Focus last December for a Part-time Project Manager I am delighted to announce that Ian Newbery ACC(S) has accepted the position and started on the 1st July. It is imperative that the Manager knows the shop floor of Scouting and recognises the inherent problems — Ian certainly does!

Financially the project is on budget for the first year but if we are to meet the County's strategic objective to increase membership by 3350 to 13500 by January 2007 the current 3 year project must be extended by at least a further three years to December 2007. Consequently, we will start now in approaching various charitable bodies to raise a further £100 000 by December 2004.

It is never too early to start raising money especially when you can support your bid with detailed development plans and experience but it will not be easy.

At the recent finance meeting, the 2003 budget was set with the recommendation that the County membership fee should rise to £2.50. This budget and revised membership fee was approved at the County Executive meeting on Wednesday 25th September.

My personal thanks go to Wallington and Carshalton District for hosting the AGM. It was an excellent evening enjoyed by over 100 people who welcomed the musical item from the 1st Wallington Scout Band. The Mayor of Sutton in his address stressed that we must remember to support and celebrate the achievements of all volunteers. I endorse that sentiment and commend it to all readers of Focus.

Cheers!

Tony Edwards (County Chairman)

County Annual Subscription

Over the past year the demands on County funds have been increased.

We have continued to upgrade the County base at Morden. We have increased our funding of the County team going to the Jamboree in Thailand, partly funded the Development Officer apart from normal commitments. As a result our resources are depleted. Next year we have been asked to fund the set up of the new Network Scouts and to continue part funding the Development officer.

As a result of all of these commitments your finance sub-committee are recommending the increase of the County Subscription by 25p to £2.50 for the coming year to maintain a reasonable funding of our County.

H Carter-Pegg (Chairman Finance Sub-Committee)

The Seychelles Scout Association Joins The World Scout Family

The Seychelles Association became an Accredited National Scout Organisation on 14 July during the World Scout Conference, which took place in Thessaloniki, Greece. The Seychelles was represented by Valerie Savy who proudly marched behind her flag on to the stage to loud applause to receive the Association's membership certificate.

Other new members elected to the World Organisation of the Scout Movement were Cape Verde and Ethiopia, the latter returning after some years of turmoil in the country during which Scouting could not exist.

The World Conference was the largest ever, with over 1,200 participants representing over 140 Scout Associations. The main work centred round devising a strategy for the future and agreeing on the World Scout Committee's strategic priorities for the next triennium.

Half the former World Committee had to retire after six years and new members were elected. One newcomer is Steve Fosset (USA), who had dashed to Greece from Australia after becoming the first man to circumnavigate the world in a balloon. The UK candidate, competing against 15 others, was not elected.

The new World Committee elected its first women chairperson, Marie-Louise Correa. She comes from Senegal, West Africa and is a medical doctor with four children. She has been chairperson of the Africa Region of WOSM and has also served as a Minister in the Senegalese government.

John Beresford (Vice President)

Six steps to success — A guide to Adult Recruitment

It has been proved that recruitment of adults is possible if a simple structured process is followed. You also need to get some basics sorted out.

Firstly, everyone must agree that recruitment is required and that they will help in the process of filling the gap and keeping it filled. Secondly, finding the right person, not the first person, will save time and avoid problems later on.

The six steps in the process for more successful adult recruitment.

  1. List the job details
  2. Describe the ideal person
  3. Options
  4. Target the best choice
  5. Ask them to do the job
  6. Follow up Yes or No

1. List the job details

Agree as a team exactly what the job is that you want doing — not just its title, but define in detail the following:

It has been proved that people are more likely to volunteer if they are asked to do a specific job for an agreed period of time. You can always renew their appointment if they like and are good at the job.

2. Describe the ideal person

Step two is to draw up a profile of the type of person who could do your defined job and do it well.

A person may be ideal for one job, but totally unsuited for another. Matching the right person to the job is the key to successful recruitment.

Look at the key tasks defined in step one and list the knowledge, skills and personal qualities needed to do the job. You should then look to see if there are any other things which may be needed such as typing skills or ability to drive. Your requirements should then be ranked as 'Essential'; 'Important' or 'Useful'.

Remember you are not thinking of a particular person, but of the type of person who could best do the job.

3. Options

Searching for those who you could ask to do the job must begin by casting your nets as wide as possible and listing EVERYONE who your team think match your profile for the defined job. Don't just look inside Scouting, use as many contacts as possible. Think of as many sources of contacts as possible.

List all organisations and clubs that you know — all these will have people who may be suitable. Don't ignore anyone because they are already involved in another activity or because of their circumstances — they may welcome your approach. Look at known networks of people such as:

4. Target the best choice

Having exhausted your ideas of suitable people, you now need to narrow down your choice by looking at your essential, important and useful requirements and which of these can be best matched by your named people.

This will allow you to target your 'Best Choice'. Don't allow personal prejudices or inaccurate assumptions to creep in here.

If you think your 'Best Choice' is unlikely to do the job, ask anyway, you may be surprised at their response. If after targeting and no-one matches up to your job and personal profile requirements, you may just be asking too much. Look again at what is needed.

Remember, keep your lists, they may be useful for different recruiting in the future.

5. Ask them to do the job

An invitation to volunteer now needs to be drawn up. This will help you to be surer of your 'Best Choice' saying Yes!

Firstly, you need to decide who is to do the asking. Choose someone who is most likely to get a positive response, not someone because they have a certain job. Perhaps use a friend of your 'Best Choice' you can still go along and take part in the discussions.

You need to arrange to meet. This may be after the Pack meeting if you have targeted someone to ask to provide transport to camp or it may be more suitable to set up a separate meeting.

If you are to set up a meeting, you need to introduce yourself and explain that you would like to discuss how they could support Scouting. Don't tell them what job you want them to do or that you have a desperate need to recruit someone. You must assure them that you do not want to discuss a problem. Set aside about 1 hour and find a comfortable informal place to through the following agenda:

6. Follow up YES or NO

If they say yes, you now need to agree what to do next. You need to outline what you expect of them and what support you can offer to them.

At this stage you will also need to provide a CRB form for the volunteer to complete and complete an application form in the case of a warranted appointment. See Policy Organisation and Rules, (P.O.R.), for further details of the appointments procedure which must be followed when any adult is recruited into Scouting. Don't forget filling in forms is not everybody's strong point so help the volunteer as much as possible, especially if they have reading difficulties or speak English as a second language. If you have any difficulties completing the forms, a quick call to the Information Centre at Gilwell Park (local call rate 0845 300 1818) can usually deal with any questions you have on the spot.

If you can provide them with a welcome pack of information at this stage and introduce them to their personal training adviser, (p.t.a), this will help to show your positive support at a time when they most need it.

Many people leave Scouting because this support is not provided or when the job they have agreed to do turns out to be too much for them because it is not what they were expecting.

Retention is as important as recruitment, so start right from the beginning by showing them that they are valued. Ensure that members of the current team are ready to accept the new member.

Let them ease into the job at their own pace. Don't throw them in at the deep end and expect them to swim.

Start them off immediately with informal and appropriate formal training to help them to do their new job.

Jo Launchbury (Assistant County Commissioner Development)

Queens Jubilee

The County received two invitations to join in the Service Parade held in London over the Bank Holiday. The Scout Association was keen to show its links with the Commonwealth and accordingly 3 members from the group that visited the Seychelles last year and members from 1st Merton Park VSU, through their links with Kenya took part in the parade.

European Jamboree 2005

Whilst this may seem a long way off, we have been advised that the European Jamboree to be held in 2005 will be treated as a World Jamboree, that is to say that unlike Holland, we will be invited to send County contingents. The Jamboree will be held on the Jamboree site in Chelmsford and it is expected to replicate to some degree the World Jamboree in 2007. There are two areas where we can be involved and they are as follows:

Participants

Usual age range will apply 14-18. There will be a maximum of 3250 for the UK contingent and we will soon be required to indicate whether we will be sending a contingent or possibly 2!! Once more information is available we will also require a Leadership Team — don't all rush now, but wait for details on how to apply.

There may also be many of you who would wish to be part of the Service Team. Again look out for the details. Nearer the time if you are interested then let me have your e-mail address and I will forward the details to you.

Home Hospitality

The Jamboree organisers will be offering Home Hospitality and again we will need to think about how this is implemented. Initial discussions feel that it might be better to support Districts in providing hospitality. Again this is for your thought and discussions within your Groups and Districts as to how and if you would be able to help in this way.

There are likely to be many requests for help as we are in the South-East and Meet and Greet teams are being discussed, and again it may be a small way that you can be involved and a trial run for 2007!!

Please think about the above as there will no doubt be funding issues and again for 2007. The dates for your diary are 30 July — 10th August 2005. Home Hospitality could be for a few days either side of these dates.

Stephen Clark (Assistant County Commissioner International)

Scouts

I am pleased to be able to announce the appointment of a new County Scout Leader. Alan Kemp will be joining the team after a long period of distinguished service with Purley District the last few years of which as their ADC (Scouts). Alan's primary roles will be to carry on looking after the County Scout Cyclo X and the orienteering, on top of which he will continue his work with Ron Welbrook in providing opportunities for older scouts and explorer scouts to hill walk and camp in remote areas. He will, I am sure still be around in Purley District supporting the scout section in their events as well as being involved in other areas of County Scout activities. Welcome Alan and thank you for taking on the appointment.

Ian Newbery (Assistant County Commissioner Scouts)

Dates for County Scout Events in 2003

9th Feb Cooking Competition 1st Hook
12th March County Scout Section Meeting Bow Lane
15/16th March Night Exercise Polyapes
19th June County Scout Section Meeting Bow Lane
20/21 Sept Camping Standards weekend TBC
TBC Oct County CycloX Frylands Wood
8th Nov County Swimming Gala Trinity School
23rd Nov County Scout Section Day Meeting Bow Lane
30th Nov Orienteering Comp Farthing Down/Happy Valley

Awards

Bar to Medal of Merit
D G Gatland Eastern Croydon
Medal of Merit
S A Barden Surbiton
G T Barrow Wimbledon & Merton
T J Eggitt Kingston and Malden
P Farley Kingston and Malden
B Gardiner Surbiton
E Lay Sutton and Cheam
V A J Mills Wandle
M N Spenceley Wallington, Carshalton & District
E I Steele Wandle
Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service
I D Johnston Surbiton
J R Johnston Surbiton
T M O'Leary Wallington, Carshalton & District
B R Lewis Wallington, Carshalton & District
M P Pearcy Wallington, Carshalton & District
W G Smith-Langridge Wallington, Carshalton & District
C L Waters Wallington, Carshalton & District
J E Walker Surbiton
S Western Eastern Croydon
Chief Scout's Long Service Decoration
Anthony G Edwards MBE County
Bar to Long Service Decoration
Alan W Plummer Central Croydon
Anthony J N Odling Purley and District
Long Service Decoration
Brenda M Hunt Sutton and Cheam
Jennifer A Ririe County
Giles T Barrow Wimbledon & Merton

Diary Dates

22-26 October Gang Show Secombe Theatre
14 November Team County Scout Centre
17 November DC's Conference County Scout Centre
18 November Finance 67 Westow St., SE19
4 December Executive County Scout Centre

Focus on GLSW

The search is still on to find a new editor for Focus. If you know of someone who would like to take on this important role for the County, please contact me at the address below.

Chris Feltham

Items for the December issue should be submitted by 15 November 2002 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk