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Focus on GLSW
Scouting in Greater London South West October 2004
The County Scout Network Conference, held at Frylands Wood on Saturday July 10, was well supported, and resulted in the following being elected to the County Scout Network Committee: Lucy Barden, Chris Griffin, Stephen Grogan, Robert Hiscocks, Karen James, Catherine Keen, Chris Vickers, Sean Weston, Edward Wilson, and Emma Wilson. Subsequently, Christine Budhan and Denise Williams were co-opted. At the first Meeting of the new Committee, the Officers were duly elected, namely:
Chairman: Karen James
Vice-Chairman: Robert Hiscocks
Secretary: Lucy Barden
Treasurer: Catherine Keen
After the Conference most stayed on for the Barbecue and Disco, and a dozen or so camped overnight to be on site ready to assist with the organisation of the Blues ‘Gig’ the following day. Unfortunately, the threatening weather forced the event indoors at a local school, but the music and other attractions were much enjoyed, nevertheless. Only the paragliding had to be cancelled, and this will be re-scheduled.
...only those who go around with their eyes and ears shut will be unaware of our existence!
Throughout the Summer Network members have been busily engaged in Camps and other activities. The highlight was a two-week Expedition to Belarus, and a project to build an adventure playground at an orphanage north of Minsk. Fourteen members made their way by air via Warsaw and then by train, while three of us travelled the 1,200 miles overland in a van carrying equipment, materials and humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, there was a ‘minor hiccup’ with customs documentation at the Grodno border crossing which caused a 34-hour delay, but this apart the expedition went to plan and the project was completed on time. The Belarus Project Network will be giving a series of presentations in the five Boroughs, and it is hoped that Explorer Scouts in particular, will attend these. Elsewhere, Network members joined forces with Explorers in Wimbledon and Wandle District to carry out a building project in Nicaragua, while during the last week in August 15 members completed Queen’s Scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award hikes in The Lake District.
It is now September, and at the time of writing we have already attended the Gilwell Reunion in force and met the new Chief Scout, Peter Duncan; and arranged another Network Investiture on Brownsea Island. Both events were much enjoyed and helped bring together Network members from different parts of GLSW.
Members of the GLSW Scout Network were privileged to meet the new Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, at the 2004 Gilwell Reunion
Towards the end of the month we shall have a stall at the Kingston University ‘Freshers Fair’ with a view to recruiting more members for Network and Leaders for local Groups. This fits in very well with the re-relaunch of the Kingston-based Local Network, and I am grateful to Lucy Barden and Christine Budhan for being the main protagonists.
As every day passes Network visibility is increasing, and only those who go around with their eyes and ears shut will be unaware of our existence! Network will be providing help at two Cub Scout events in September, undertaking car-parking at the London Region Special Needs Conference in November, and manning checkpoints at NITEX in December.
Looking further ahead, many GLSW Scout Network members have expressed an interest in going as staff to Edda 2005 in Sweden next year, and several more will be on the Service Teams at EuroJam.
And looking even further ahead, Ian Newbery and I have agreed in principle to organise an Explorer Belt Expedition in 2006. Further information will be made available during the early part of next year, but the current shortlist is Lithuania and Norway.
Uniforms and Badges
We are a uniformed organisation and as such it is important that we portray that image correctly to our young membership and to the public. The ‘new’ uniform is now the only official uniform to be worn and this applies to all including members of the Scout Fellowship. It is not acceptable to mix the old and the new, i.e. blue trousers/skirt with the old mushroom shirt as opposed the new stone coloured one. Also the polo shirt is designed as an activity shirt not as an alternative to the uniform shirt and as such should not be adorned with badges. Badges that commemorate Group or District events or expeditions need to have their designs approved first by the County Commissioner and should only be worn for the timescale as prescribed in POR. At present there are too many “unofficial” badges being worn on uniforms throughout the county that should be removed. Those commemorating the Queen’s Jubilee spring to mind.
The new EuroJam Badge issued by HQ may be worn on the uniform in the position on the shirt above the left breast pocket area.
Special Needs
A workshop organised by the Greater London Special Needs Advisory Panel under the title:
MODULE 50 – WHAT’S THAT?
will be held on Sunday 7 November 2004 9.45am – 4.00pm at St. Peter’s Primary school, Normanton Road, South Croydon. The cost will be £5.00 per head and this will include a buffet lunch and other refreshments.
The day will provide an opportunity to think around special needs issues and to gain information through a variety of workshops and activities. Workshops to include:
- Disability Discrimination Act and its implications for Scouting from October 2004.
- Behaviour problems
- Hearing Dogs for people with hearing impairment
- Disability – what it really means
- Networking needs
Application forms from Margaret Pooley – Asst.County Commissioner (Special Needs) or Mrs Lesley Bixby.
Thinking Differently...
about Development
At the beginning of December 2004 the GLSW County Development Project will be three years old. And yes, we are thinking very differently about development now. Over the last three years the focus of the project has shifted, as we’ve grown more familiar with the type of work we’re asked to do and with our ever-growing experience.
Over the last few months the Development Project has continued to work with Groups and Districts that want support with adult recruitment, youth recruitment and other forms of development. And as always we’re keen to promote further use of our recruitment initiative, the ‘GLSW BUDDY’ badge. The County Commissioner has given permission for this initiative to be further extended meaning Leaders can also gain the badge now! District Badge Secretaries hold stock of the badge which continues to be supplied free of charge, and details of the badge requirements are available on the Development page on the county web site (www.glswscouts.org/development) or directly from me. Please make the most of this initiative and get your young people (and Leaders) involved and motivated to increase the number of adults and young people in your section.
The Development Project is also working to make contact with national and faith based BME communities in the County. At the moment we are working on a plan to open a new Muslim Cub pack and we are looking at the possibility of running Explorer Scout taster sessions for the extensive Korean community based in the County. If you have any contacts which would help us with either of these two projects or would like to help out with some challenging development opportunities, we would be happy to hear from you.
There are still very few Counties across the country that have professional development support and GLSW continues to be the only one in the London region. Funding for the project in the first three years has been provided jointly by the Bridge House Trust and the Development Grants Board and many Groups and Districts across the GLSW have benefited from working in partnership with the Development Project. If you would like further information about the Development Project and what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or have a look at our web site (www.glswscouts.org/development).
The Scout Fellowship motto is Active Support, perhaps better described by the old Rover Scout motto Service. It is therefore a team of people who work together to provide active support for Scouting and the community, who in the process, have fun. The way it happens depends on the activities and skills of the members. All over the County at Scout events, members run activity bases, provide service crews, look after equipment, run District Scout Shops, and raise money. In this respect Scout Fellowship is a valuable resource, which should not be neglected.
Members give as little, or as much, time as they wish. Retired members can be particularly useful, especially ex-leaders who have valuable skills which they can continue to use without the deep commitment of running a section. Importantly, members are, or should be, subject to Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check procedures, consequently leaders can be sure that they have been cleared to help with young people. There is much more set out in POR, in leaflets produced by Scout Headquarters and some material available from Croydon Scouting.
There was no mention of Fellowship activity in the County’s AGM reports. Nevertheless, in GLSW there are some working Scout Fellowships. Since January 2004 Richmond upon Thames has had one event every month. As an example, one was a talk about the Scout Holiday Homes Trust; another was a visit to Brownsea Island, and in July a barbecue. Members of the Croydon Scout Fellowship have taken their Flying Rockets base to five Cub and Scout activities, pitched tents for a disabled people’s camp at Woodlarks in Surrey, taken the river bus to Greenwich, and donated £100 to the Belarus project.
Like so much in Scouting, Scout Fellowships quietly operate and nobody notices. It works and that’s what matters, or does it? I believe is scope for the County’s Scout Fellowships to work together to develop for the benefit of the County’s young people. Scouting does not end at 25; there is life after Scout Network.
Air Rifle Training
A course for the NSRA’s Youth Proficiency Scheme Tutor’s Diploma is being run on Sunday 21 November (9.30 – 16.00). This enables those who wish to instruct and supervise their Scouts shooting activities. Candidates must be over 21 as, in law, no one under that age may supervise youngsters under 18.
It will be held at 1st Malden Scout H.Q. Tadworth Avenue, New Malden and the cost will be £27.
Details from Jean Jenkins. Early application advised.
Adult Support
All Group Scout Leaders (and Assistant Group Scout Leaders), District Commissioners, Assistant District Commissioners and members of the County Team must attend a Module 25. This applies even if they already hold a GSL/Commissioner’s Wood Badge.
Module 25 is designed to give Managers the skills and knowledge necessary to support Adults in training and review process. To deal with the large numbers involved the following courses have been arranged:
| CROYDON | 24 October 2004 | 1st Coulsdon HQ |
| RICHMOND | 31 October 2004 | 2nd Whitton HQ |
| CROYDON | 7 November 2004 | 1st Croydon HQ |
| WALLINGTON | 21 November 2004 | District HQ Wallington |
| MORDEN | 5 December 2004 | Bow Lane Centre |
| KINGSTON | 23 January 2005 | 1st Old Malden HQ |
The cost of this Module will be £10; more information and an application form can be obtained from Mrs Joan Condon.
[see also www.glswscouts.org.uk/adultsupport/]
County Orienteering Competition
BANSTEAD WOODS – SUNDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2004
If you’ve never tried orienteering now’s your chance, it’s great fun and can be an excellent way to sharpen up map reading skills. This event is open to Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Network, and will be run with teams of two. The competition for 2004 will be run on the area known as Banstead Woods.
Equipment needed: Each team member will need warm waterproof clothing and preferably boots (strong shoes will do). Each team will need a Silva type compass, pen or pencil and a clipboard. An orienteering map plus full instruction sheets will be supplied to each team.
Cost: £2 per team entry (two persons).
Age group categories: (as at 28th November)
Under 12 years; Under 14 years; Under 16 years; Under 18 years and Over 18 years
The closing date for booking in teams is 22nd November; all bookings will be confirmed after this.
Please contact Ron Wellbrook (County Advisor – Hillwalking Activities) email: ronwellbrook@hotmail.com
[see also www.glswscouts.org.uk/scouts/orienteering-competition]
Hot Air Ballooning
An opportunity to participate in top-level balloon competitions, no experience necessary – you don’t even have to be a pilot!
The UK has always been at the pinnacle of international balloon competitions, currently illustrated neatly by a Briton holding the World title (David Bareford). The breeding ground for that success is the UK competitions club.
The structure of the competitions is that for each balloon, we need an observer. If you have never heard the term before, think of an observer as being a judge. The purpose of the competition is for the pilot to drop a marker to show how close they get to a goal and for the observer to go with a balloon for each flight (either in the basket or in retrieve) to ensure compliance with the rules and to independently measure the distance from the marker to the goal. We have a number of excellent (world class) observers who regularly attend competitions in both the UK and internationally – five regulars have been offered places at the World Championships in Australia later this year.
However, vacancies do occasionally occur and this is your opportunity to get involved. The skills required are excellent map reading skills, reasonable fitness and stamina, tack and self-confidence. It is my job to organise the observers and help the pilots ensure they have an observer for each flight. I will also provide training and encouragement to new or prospective observers. The UK event calendar for 2005 consists of a number of weekend events and a week long National Championships. If you are interested in becoming involved or wish to discuss in more detail, please contact Rupert Stanley, Chief Observer, on 020 7353 0800 or email rms1@onetel.co.uk
Sedan Chair Rally, Tolmers
22 to 24 October
This event would provide a good opportunity for linking between Network and Explorers. If any Units are interested in taking part, contact Karen James who is coordinating for Network. Her email address is karenjames8@aol.com
Explorer Scout Night Hike
- Event:
- County Explorer Scout Night Hike
- Date:
- Saturday 6th November – Sunday 7th November
- Times:
- Start times from early evening on the Saturday, finishing early Sunday morning
- Place:
- West Horsley, Surrey
- Teams:
- 4 – 6 Explorer Scouts from Units in GLSW
- Route:
- 2 different lengths, decide on the night which
- To Register:
- Contact neil.mclauchlan@glswscouts.org.uk
[see also www.glswscouts.org.uk/explorers/night-hike]
Awards
| Bar to the Medal of Merit | |
|---|---|
| Jeffrey Gregory | Wallington, Carshalton & District |
| Medal of Merit | |
| Malcolm Jones | Surbiton |
| Brenda Pawley | Surbiton |
| Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service | |
| Aneurin Lewis | Surbiton |
| Paula Wilson | Wallington, Carshalton & District |
| Chief Scout’s Long Service Decoration | |
| James Dimmock | Wallington, Carshalton & District |
| Bar to Long Service Decoration | |
| Glynis Docker | Croydon |
| Long Service Decoration | |
| Jennie Blake | Croydon |
| Linda Watts | Croydon |
| Simon deWhalley | Kingston and Malden |
| Jane Entwisle | Sutton and Cheam |
| Agnes Brodie | Croydon |
| Genevieve Dunbar | Croydon |
| Linda Gillams | Croydon |
| Wendy Kirby | Croydon |
| Rosemary Watson | Richmond upon Thames |
| Kevin Cook | Sutton and Cheam |
| Maureen Crabb | Sutton and Cheam |
| Anna MacPherson | Wallington, Carshalton & District |
Wimbledon Explorer and Network Scouts Nicaragua Expedition 2004
After two years of planning and fundraising 50 Scouts from the Wimbledon (Edge Hill) Explorer Unit and members of the GLSW Network completed a month long Expedition to Nicaragua.
The group spent four weeks working in the neighbourhood of Barrio Sandino in the town of Ocotal, which was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. A local community centre, which previously provided basic education and healthcare to the people of the Barrio, was badly affected and had fallen into disuse.
With a lot of hard work the group successfully completed rebuilding one building (levelled after the hurricane), completely renovated a second, installed electricity to the site, built a “mini” adventure playground (including fort and slide, sand pit, sea saw and climbing frame), designed and painted a playground mural, repaired the vandalised latrines and perimeter fencing. A last minute dash (very Ground Force) created a garden and a concrete driveway allowing access from the main road. By the time the group left Ocotal the centre was again up and running with pre-school lessons underway.
The photos shown depict the finished product, as well as what we got up in our “spare time” (including appearances on National TV!) and in the final week spent in the “adventure” phase of the Expedition, which included coastering, fly wire, sailing, fishing and scuba diving.
Chief Scout’s Awards
| Scouts | |
|---|---|
| Many congratulations to the following on gaining their Chief Scout’s Gold Award |
|
| Rory McDermott | 8th Morden |
| Kyle Schilling | 8th Morden |
| Jamie Holland | 8th Morden |
| Cai Griffiths | 8th Morden |
| Steven Turner | 8th Morden |
| Caroline Quinn | 11th Mitcham |
| Joe Richards | 11th Mitcham |
| Jack Rogerson | 11th Mitcham |
| Duncan Love | 3rd Hampton Hill |
| Andy Williamson | 3rd Hampton Hill |
| Ben Oliver | Trinity Scout and Guide Group |
| John Cockcroft | Trinity Scout and Guide Group |
| Daniel Fuller | 7th Purley |
| Alex Brind | 7th Purley |
| Edward Hayes | 7th Purley |
| Luke Dansie | 7th Purley |
| Joshua Brown | 3rd Beddington |
| Adam Goldsmith | 3rd Beddington |
| Steven Goovaerts | 3rd Beddington |
| Rebecca Griffin | 3rd Beddington |
| Matthew Harmer | 3rd Beddington |
| James Ridler | 3rd Beddington |
| Oliver Williams | 3rd Beddington |
| Explorer Scouts | |
| Many congratulations to the following on gaining the awards listed: |
|
| Chief Scout’s Gold Award | |
| John Cockcroft | Sutton Explorer Scout Unit |
| Ben Oliver | Sutton Explorer Scout Unit |
| Chief Scout’s Diamond Award | |
| Mark Simpson | Sutton Explorer Scout Unit |
SOUWEST ’04 GANGSHOW
Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th October 2004
Secombe Theatre, Cheam Road, Sutton
7:30pm evenings and 2:00pm Saturday Matinée
BOX OFFICE 020 8770 6990
Ticket Prices £7 Concessions, £8 Adults, Party Rates Available
[see also www.glswscouts.org.uk/gangshow/]
Diary Dates
| 1 – 3 October | GLSW Remote Camp | |
| 3 October | GLSW Cyclo-Cross | Frylands Wood |
| 15 – 17 October | National Air Rifle Competition | Bisley |
| 22 – 24 October | National Sedan Chair Rally | Tolmers |
| 26 – 30 October | County Gang Show | Secombe Theatre |
| 6 – 7 November | GLSW Explorer Night Hike | West Horsley |
| 8 November | GLSW Network Committee | Croydon |
| 14 November | GLSW Scout Section Meeting | Bow Lane |
| 20 November | GLSW Cub Scout Swimming Gala | Trinity School |
| 21 November | Air Rifle Tutor’s Course | 1st Malden HQ |
| 28 November | GLSW Orienteering Competition | Banstead Woods |
| 4 December | GLSW Scout Swimming Gala |
Flying Programme 2004
All Scout leaders should have been aware through the Adventurous Activities sheet of the flying dates this year. There is one date remaining at Stapleford Airfield on October 10th.
This year, for the first time, flights are being offered in a five-seater twin-engined Piper Seneca, which is a much different experience from the usual three-seater Piper Warrior. For further information and bookings contact Mrs. Dot Short on 020 8684 4421.
A word of warning – the rules relating to flying were amended in the October 2003 revision to POR. If anyone is contemplating flying Scouts with private pilots they MUST inform me well beforehand and also notify HQ of their intentions. Failure to comply with these requirements will negate any HQ insurance cover and consequently could leave the leader liable for any ensuing court action.
OS Copyright
Readers may be interested to know there are still opportunities to get something for nothing. Hopefully some of you are curious, so I’ll explain.
As part of the formation of the new Royal Kingston District in October, I volunteered to format and copy the first edition of the new District Directory. As members in the two ‘halves’ of the District probably didn’t know the location of all the Scout Group Headquarters in the new District, I thought it would be a good idea to include a location map of each one as part of the Group details. Nothing new there, but it occurred to me as I was about to print 300+ copies, that I might be infringing Ordnance Survey copyright (most map suppliers allow up to ten copies only for personal use).
However, a phone call to the OS Customer Contact Centre resulted in a ‘No Charge Licence’. This means the District can copy Ordnance Survey extracts without incurring a copyright fee each time. This is mainly because we are not making financial gain or using the maps as part of advertising third party products. Each map has to have the following text inserted on all copies: Reproduced by kind permission of Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright (Followed by our licence number).
Further information is available from OS Customer Contact Centre 08456 050505
email customerservices@ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Focus on GLSW
Items for the December issue should be submitted by 14 November 2004 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk
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