Focus on GLSW

Scouting in Greater London South West June 2003

Chairman’s Notes

It is that time again for AGMs and that certainly is the case for your County. I regard our AGM as an excellent platform and opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all our leaders, adults supporters and helpers for their contributions to the benefit of our youth membership. May I ask you, the reader, to take every opportunity at your local Group and District AGMs to thank your volunteers because without them there wouldn't be a Scout movement.

Naturally the AGM focuses on the achievements of the past year and proud we should be of them. Another opportunity is to have a theme for the future and this year is no different. Scouting will celebrate its centenary in 2007 primarily with the 21st World Jamboree to be held in the UK on the Essex site near Gilwell. We have invited a keynote speaker from Scout HQ to outline the plans and to advise how we can help, being one of the host Counties.

The presentation by our GLSW troop, who were so fortunate to have attended the Thailand 2003 Jamboree, proved to me the major benefits to the individuals with their personal development. It also showed that over 100 countries could meet in harmony without class, colour or creed issues disturbing the peace. I have arranged for the Jamboree team to give us a brief illustrated talk at the AGM. Please try to attend because you can be assured of a warm welcome plus displays and special refreshments.

On a personal note may I use Focus to thank you all for your kind thoughts, get well cards and telephone calls following my major heart surgery. I am making excellent progress which you will be able to see first hand when you attend the AGM!!

Tony Edwards

Is your Group rated too highly?

On my travels around our County I have come up against two cases of Scout Groups who have been paying Council Rates at the full commercial value of their property at I00% level.

Would the Committee of every Scout Group in the County please check, because they should be getting at least 80% relief from their Local Authority as a Charity.

A few of the London Boroughs are even more generous and are offering 100% discount.

Please make sure that your Scout Group is paying the appropriate level of Council Rates on their Scout Headquarters, because once paid it is difficult to get it back.

Hallam Carter-Pegg Chairman County Finance Committee

Bethesda launches publicity sheet

Every Scout Group in the County is being sent a laminated sheet providing details of GLSW’s Activity Base in Bethesda.

The Base, located 5 miles from Bangor, is ideal for exploring the mountains of Snowdonia.

The hope is that all Groups will display the sheet on their notice boards and encourage Scouts, Explorer Scouts and members of the Scout Network to take advantage of the excellent facilities at the Base.

‘Viking’ Thames Traditional Rowing Club

Small breaks in the cloud seemed to be making a determined effort to avoid the Richmond area so we stood under Richmond Bridge sheltering from the rain, feeding chips to passing ducks… ‘Viking’ Thames Traditional Rowing Club (sponsored by 14th Richmond ‘Viking’ Sea Scouts) offers Leaders, adults and young people (over 11) the opportunity to row the royal shallop ‘Jubilant’ and some other rather fancy boats. So there we stood waiting for the appointed time and the promised sunshine to accompany our first trip out along the river.

Amazingly, the sun did come out just before 7pm that evening and we jumped into ‘Jubilant’ and rowed off at a great rate. Apparently all the oars are meant to go in and out of the water at the same time, oh really! Well, it was our first attempt. By the time we reached Eel Pie Island we were starting to regret our Olympic pace but we’d got into the swing of it and were pulling together nicely. Eventually back at Richmond Bridge all smiles and blisters, the party retired (for a refreshing beverage!) to discuss our row like a bunch of salty sea veterans.

If you’d care to join the crew (novices or experts all welcome) we meet at the boat arches under Richmond Bridge on Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm, for rowing about 7pm, and all safely back no later than 9.00pm. For further details give Vic Griffiths, GSL, 14th Richmond, a call. See you on the river.

Jo Launchbury Assistant County Commissioner (blisters!)

Analysis of the Scout Section Questionnaire 2003 focusing on County Events, Communication and Implementation of the New Programme

In December 2002 the County Scout section produced a second edition of the County Scout Events Yearbook.

Following the success and positive feedback from the 2002 edition we again included entry criteria, rules for the events and application forms. It also contained an updated list of useful information regarding the Counties appointed advisers for Adventurous activities along with some dates and contact details of when and where they were taking place.

We again attached to this document a covering letter detailing the booklet’s purpose, an A3 year planner and a questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to provide data in 3 distinct areas of information:

• Continuing the research that we started last year we asked some questions about communications, a number of the questions were very similar to the ones on the 2002 questionnaire. This was deliberate to enable us to form direct comparisons.
• We wanted to know some information on the implementation of the new Programme.
• We wanted some direct indication of the likely uptake of two new events.

Of the 137 questionnaires sent out 44 were returned, with the majority completed in full. Against every statistic is the number of responses that were received to the particular question.

Communication

Is the Troop represented at the District Scouter’s meetings?

Of the 44 responses 82% said that they were attending regularly, the remaining 18% claimed to attend occasionally. No one claimed not to attend at all.

In 2002 74% were regular attendees with 24% occasionally and 2% never attended.

Do you want to see a member of the County Scout team at your District meetings?

41% wanted a regular visit by a member of the team, 16% were happy with an occasional visit and 2% expressed no preference.

In 2002 38% wanted a regular attendance, 50% occasionally and 12% had no preference.

Do you see the GLSW County newsletter Focus on GLSW?

The penetration of “Focus on GLSW” has not changed significantly. In 2003 82% saw “Focus” regularly, 16% occasionally and only 2% not at all.

The 2002 figures are very similar with 82% regularly, 14% occasionally and 4% never.

I have highlighted to the relevant District Commissioners those Troops who had indicated that they only occasionally received or never received “Focus” in case there is a problem with distribution that they wish to pursue.

Do you read the Scout Section news in Focus on GLSW?

79% of those who responded claim to read the sections pages regularly, with 19% occasionally and only 2% never. If one discounts the 2% who never read the pages as being those who do not receive “Focus” and the 16% who only receive it occasionally, it would appear that the readership is about 82%.

Interestingly the question posed in 2002 was “Would you like to see a Scout Section Report/ News items in Focus” to which 56% wanted an item in each issue and 34% occasionally. It would appear that we have met the need.

Do you have regular access to the Internet?

86% did and 14% did not. One needed to establish this information to put into context the next 3 questions.

Do you look at the GLSW web site www.glswscouts.org.uk ?

20% regularly, 61% occasionally and 19% never.

In 2002 the figures were 16% regularly, 42% occasionally and 42% never. It would appear therefore that although the regular users have only increased usage by 4%, the occasional users have increased by half again on last year. If you adjust the never percentage to eliminate those who do not have access to the Internet, only 5% do not look at the web site at some time or another.

Do you use the Scout Section pages off the web for event application forms?

34% yes and 66% no

Although this result may at first appear disappointing, one has to temper it with the fact that all the entry forms are sent direct to each Scout Troop in the Events Book, therefore possibly negating the necessity to reproduce entry information.

Do you use the Scout Section pages on the web to get results of County events?

50% yes and 50% no

Again this should be adjusted by 14% to account for those with no Internet access.

Programme

Have you started to run the new programme in your Troop?

86% yes, 14% no

Did you see the booklet called “Troop Transition” which gave details of how to translate the old awards into the new scheme?

73% yes, 27% no

This I believe is a disappointing if not entirely an unexpected result. If one remembers that this information was either handed personally or posted direct to each Group Scout Leaders, the ¼ failure rate of receipt at the “coal face” is unacceptable.

Would you like someone to run through how the scheme is to operate with the Troop Leadership team?

Of the 44 replies only 4 people indicated that they would like further assistance with coming to grips with the New Programme. Each of these requests are being followed up either within District teams or by the County Scout team.

Has your Troop got its own copy of “Nights Away”?

93% yes 7% no

It is particularly pleasing to know that this excellent new resource has found its way into so many Troop leaders hands.

Has your Cub Scout Pack started using the new programme?

86% of the Troops reported that their Cub Packs had started the New Programme, the other 14% did not know.

Has your Beaver Scout Colony started using the new programme?

78% of the Troops reported that their Beaver Colonies had started the New Programme, the other 22% did not know.

Have you discussed with the Cub Scout Leaders how you will operate the “Moving on” award?

Worryingly only 48% answered yes, which means that over half of all Troops and Packs have no plans for putting into practice the Moving on award.

Do you know who the District Explorer Scout Commissioner is for your District?

Pleasingly 88% knew who their DESC was.

Have you met them?

Equally pleasingly 84% had met them.

Do you know where the Explorer Scout Units will be in your District?

Even better was the fact that 93% of Troops knew where their District Explorer Scout Units would be.

Events

Do you think that you will have any Scouts who will achieve the Gold Chief Scouts award by the end of Easter 2003?

15

Do you think that you will have any Scouts who will achieve the Gold Chief Scouts award by the end of November 2003?

68

Would you like to see the County Scout Section provide a weekend where Scouts could complete most or all of the Outdoor Challenge?

59% yes, 41% no

If yes would you like it to be held at:

End June / beginning July? 14%
End September? 86%

Ian Newbery Assistant County Commissioner Scouts

Membership of the Scout Network in GLSW has been growing steadily, and those who have registered directly with County have now passed the 50 mark. We are conscious that there are many Leaders and Instructors aged 18–25 with Groups around the County who are not yet enrolled, although of course they are automatically members. It would be helpful if they could make themselves known either to myself or Andrew Florence, the County Scout Network Administrator. This is particularly important as we approach the County Scout Network Conference on July 10. We shall be electing a Committee for the first time, and all members have the right to stand for election and to take part in the ballot. A County Scout Network Commissioner has many qualities and capabilities, but mind-reading is not one of them. So please identify yourself to ensure you are eligible to take part.

Two recent activities did not materialise which is disappointing, but probably reflects the inability of the Scout Network to sustain larger events at this point in time. The Boating Activity at Longridge in early May was cancelled, but we have a new date for the Rugby Sevens, namely September 21.

Our next event is the charity dragon boat races at Kingston on June 1, and we need a minimum of 12 to enter a team. This is followed by ‘Twickeree’ at Marble Hill Park, Richmond on June 28/29. We have been asked to undertake security and other duties so that Leaders can be released to be with the youngsters, but we hope to have our own displays and camping area. If you can assist in any way please contact Stuart Richardson, Karen James, or myself. The following weekend we shall be using the County Mountaineering Centre at Bethesda as a base for the MS Challenge and a day in the hills. Details of this activity have been sent to Local Scout Network Coordinators. The Specialised Network for the Belarus Project meets at Bow Lane on Monday 7 July at 8pm – anyone interested is welcome to come along.

On July 24 a Scout Network party will be heading for Sweden, and Kragenas 2003, a Camp for 3000 Scouts in an idyllic part of the country near the border with Norway. We shall be helping to staff the Camp, which means security (again), running activities, cleaning the loos, serving in the camp shop, and all manner of other tasks.

Richmond Local Scout Network is arranging a Camp much nearer home in the New Forest towards the end of August, and this is open to all members of the County Scout Network: further information is available upon request.

From August 25–31 or thereabouts, we are offering an opportunity to complete practice or qualifying expeditions for the Queen’s Scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in Snowdonia. Already the response has been good with several of you registering online via the Network pages on the County web site. There will be a second opportunity to undertake expeditions on foot during half-term week in October.

Overall, progress in the GLSW Scout Network has been satisfactory if not spectacular. In the autumn we shall be seeking a presence at the various university ‘freshers fairs’ within our ‘patch’, and offers of help will be much appreciated. Also by then we look forward to our first intake from the Explorer Scout section. The future looks promising indeed.

Christopher Dean County Scout Network Commissioner

E.J. (Ted) Barley 1924–2003

It is with deep sadness that we record the death after a short illness of Ted whose Scouting career started in Surbiton with the founding of the 3rd Tolworth Scout Group in 1936. Between 1941 and 1950 he was variously Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster (Senior Scouts), Actg. Group Scoutmaster and Actg. District Senior Scoutmaster, he was awarded the Wood Badge in 1943.

Ted joined the Royal Navy in 1943 and was a Deep Sea Rover until demobilisation in 1946. It was after being demobbed that with brother Phil he started Barley Bros. engaging in all things electrical and in 1948 was appointed Badge Secretary, an appointment he held until his death on the 16 May. In the 55 years from 1948 until his death he was a member of the District Executive Committee and also gave distinguished service as a member of the Appointments Sub-Committee latterly as Chairman only relinquishing that appointment in November 2002.

In 2000 he was appointed a Vice-President of Surbiton District. He was awarded the Medal of Merit in May 1964, the Silver Acorn in April 1975, a Bar to the Silver Acorn in April 1983 and the Silver Wolf in April 2002.

Ted will be sadly missed in Surbiton District and in many other Districts in the area.

Our deepest sympathy to his wife Jean, brother Philip, daughter Margaret and grandson Timothy in their sad loss.

Vince Burrows Chairman Surbiton District

Awards

Bar to Medal of Merit
David N Ashton	Surbiton
Nicholas H Devine	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Rosemary Goldsmith	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Janet Larkin	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Gillian Reeves	Wimbledon and Merton
Stuart M Thompson	Surbiton
Medal of Merit
Sylvia Angliss	Wimbledon and Merton
Katherine J Cherrill	Purley and District
Eunice C Goodbourn	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Jennifer M McCarron	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Peter Menhennett	Surbiton
Peter S Nelson	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service
Clive J Ardley	Wimbledon and Merton
Amanda C Baker	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Georgina Breen	Wimbledon and Merton
Brian W Cordwell	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Joan Gregory	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Cornelius T Griffin	Wimbledon and Merton
Ann E Laverick	Wimbledon and Merton
Maureen T Smith	Surbiton
Judith M Sollis	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Malcolm A Sollis	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Susan J Sowden	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Fredrick L Thompson	Surbiton
Robert A M Voller	Wimbledon and Merton
Beverley G Waller	Wallington, Carshalton and District
Anthony J Willis	Wallington, Carshalton and District

Ever wondered what it would be like to get the County Cubs together? All 2000+ of them. Well, on Saturday 12 July (between 10:00–16:00 hrs.) they are all invited to Walton Firs Camp Site for a Fun Day.

During the day the Cubs can get involved in the following activities… A Maze; Bouncy Castle; Karaoke; Beat the Goalie; Skittle Alley; Climbing and Abseiling; Basketball; Gun Run; Assault Course; Water Assault; Remote Controlled Cars; Crazy Golf; Woggle making and the Unrideable Horse to name but a few. Every District is putting on some events for the Cubs to participate in.

BUT (there's always a But!) we need extra help for some of the stalls on the day. Can you assist with this? You will need to be on site from about 09:30 with parking at the School along from Walton Firs. Some lunch for the day and SUNTAN lotion (It's going be HOT!).

From 15:15 there will be a central display allowing the Districts time to pack up and we aim to be off site just after 17:00. The more help we get the easier it is!!!!!

Please contact any of the names below with offers of support or for more information. If e-mailing, please make the subject "County Cub Fun Day".

Karl Bromley (karlb@7thmalden.org)
Graham Fairclough (GGF@scouty.fsnet.co.uk)
Jenny Ririe (jenny.ririe@lineone.net)
Caroline Gates (carolinegates1@hotmail.com)

Thanking you in advance.

Karl Bromley

Training and Diary Dates

For Training and Diary Dates visit the County’s web site www.glswscouts.org.uk

Focus on GLSW

Items for the October issue should be submitted by 14 September 2003 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk

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