Greater London South West Scouting

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Focus on GLSW

Scouting in Greater London South West April 2006

St George’s Day Awards

SILVER WOLF
In recognition for service of the most exceptional nature to Scouting
Keith E Angliss District President, Wimbledon and Wandle
Roger C Jones Group President, 1st Surbiton (Sealion) Sea Scouts;
District Executive Member, Royal Kingston
BAR TO THE SILVER ACORN
In recognition of further specially distinguished service
Stephen P Clark Deputy County Commissioner;
Assistant County Commissioner (International)
Robin M Corti District Commissioner, Richmond upon Thames;
Assistant County Commissioner (Activities)
David H Sweetland Assistant Group Scout Leader, 4th Worcester Park, Sutton
Patrick A Webb District Executive Member, Wimbledon and Wandle
SILVER ACORN
In recognition of specially distinguished service
Paul A Atkins Assistant District Commissioner (Scouts), Wimbledon and Wandle
Brian Beckley District Cub Scout Leader;
Local Training Manager, Wimbledon and Wandle
Dermott G W Castles Group Treasurer, 7th Malden (St James);
District Executive Member, Royal Kingston
Peter C Dobson Scout Leader, 5th Morden (St John Fisher), Wimbledon and Wandle
Janet M Eggitt Group Treasurer, 1st Old Malden St John the Baptist, Royal Kingston
Bernard W Farrell District Scout Fellowship Member;
Chairman of Development Committee, Croydon
David R Gould Assistant District Commissioner (General Duties), Wimbledon and Wandle;
County Adviser For Creative Activities
Alan A Green Cub Scout Leader, 1st Morden, Wimbledon and Wandle
Kevin P Moynihan Group Scout Leader, 28th Croydon Our Lady of the Annunciation, Croydon
John C Smith District Chairman, Wimbledon and Wandle

County Commissioner’s Message

Well done to all those who took part in Join the Adventure. It wasn’t the warmest of weekends to be standing about trying to encourage adult recruitment. Nigel and I managed to visit a fair number of the bases throughout the County, at their various venues. At the time of writing this piece for Focus, it has not been possible to have had a full feedback on any results so far. What is important, is that in whatever methods we use, we are positive and continue to be determined to recruit more adults into Scouting. Thanks should also go to Jo Launchbury our ADC Development, for all the back up publicity etc that was organised on everyone’s behalf for this event.

Recruiting and retaining both young members and adults must remain a high priority, throughout the County, in every District, every Scout Group, in every section, if we believe in availing the opportunities of Scouting to those young people who wish to take part.

Our increase in membership last year’s census was unfortunately not matched with further success this year and overall numbers are down, which is disappointing. Especially as positive comments made to the County team and DCs throughout the year have not translated into a positive increase. Why is that I wonder? County and Districts will be looking at the census returns to see what can be learned from this years figures, ready to improve during Scouting’s Centenary year.

Finally congratulations to all those listed in Focus in receipt of this year’s St George’s Day Awards.

Enjoy your summer months of Scouting.

Best wishes, Roger

Opportunities

County Treasurer

Our treasurer Peter Runacres has given notice that he intends to stand down in the next eighteen months and obviously we need to find a successor. It would be helpful to find someone sooner rather than later, so that Peter’s successor has the opportunity to work alongside him for a while to ensure smooth handover.

Gang Show Producer

Andrew Hayward will be producing his last County Gang Show in 2007. It would be great if his successor was also appointed before then, to work alongside Andrew for the 2007 show, to be ready to fully take on SouWest 2008.

If you are interested in either of the above roles within the County and want to know more before making any decisions, please contact the County Commissioner for an informal chat.

Development Update

[Picture of the Mobile Unit]

I’m going to focus on ‘Join the adventure’ in this issue, although the County Development Project continues to work on all our key initiatives.

First of all, a big thank you to everybody who was involved on the 18th March. There were fourteen bases across the County on Saturday including having the HQ Mobile Display Unit (MDU) at IKEA in Croydon, plus one base on Sunday and one more to come next weekend so a fantastic effort from everybody. It was also good to see a number of Scouts, Explorers and Network members helping out on bases so a special thank you to all of you.

[Picture of the Mobile Unit]

We were blessed with a dry and sunny day on Saturday but it was extremely cold and (depending where your base was) very windy. I don’t have the paperwork from all the bases yet but so far we have over 140 leads with over 50 of those from adults willing to take an active role in Scouting. So the work now begins to convert these leads into members and supporters of GLSW.

The County invested a considerable sum in advertising and promoting the event in local newspapers, and in providing resources and supporting the initiative but we’ve learned a number of valuable lessons from this initiative. Different Districts had different approaches to the initiative and some may have been more successful than others. So for us to gain the maximum benefit from this, in the coming weeks I’ll be organising some feedback sessions to enable all those involved to have their say regarding ‘Join the adventure’. How did it work in your District, how would you do it differently another time, did you feel it was time and money well spent, did you know anything about it or are you reading this article thinking ‘why didn’t anybody ask me to help?’...

[Picture of the New Malden base]

There are a number of ‘givens’ (things we know for certain) in Scouting:

Please let me have your feed back about ‘Join the adventure’, it will be vital in our evaluation of the event and decisions about future such events and initiatives.

Again, a big personal thank you to all those involved, well done everybody!

Jo Launchbury Assistant County Commissioner (Development)

75 Nights Away Badge

James Waine 7th Hampton

GLSW & Surrey Scout Paragliding Club

We still have some places available this year so if you wish to have a go, please contact the booking Secretary on 020 8684 4421 for forms or download forms and dates from our web page www.parascout.org.uk. If you cannot get a date to suit we have now got our dates for year as follows below, be quick as places go fast.

The cost is currently £25 for the day and includes all relevant training and three flights.

All courses are for those participants that are 14 years or older. The courses specified as under-14 are set aside especially for participants that are under 14 years. Over-14s can fly solo whereas under-14s have to fly with a club member.

Also, we can put on other weekends to suit for groups or special events i.e., jamborees etc. These are arranged by e-mailing our Special Events Coordinator, Nicola Sykes on highflying.nic@virgin.net, for club availability.

We also run wing courses for over-16s. These are again specially arranged and can be booked through our booking secretary, Dot Short. These are a whole weekend of training and we usually arrange to camp near the flying field. Costs include Saturday evening BBQ and Sunday breakfast. By the end of the weekend pilots should have had 8–10 flights (there is a lot more training involved than our normal courses); there is a limit of six pilots to a course. This course leads those attending needing a few more flights to gain their Canopy Scout Badge. Costs for this course do not include BHPA membership either temporary or yearly, which is a mandatory Scout insurance requirement.

Simon Sykes GLSW & Surrey Scout Paragliding Club Instructor

Explorers

2006 Explorer Scout Census

Well the really good news is that the Explorer Scout section in GLSW has grown by 8.5% with an increase of 43 over last year’s return. We are up from 496 to 539.

All the Districts have either increased or held their own, which to my mind is a tremendous effort by all those involved in the section. Please accept my thanks for all your hard work and can I ask you to pass on my congratulations to all those who help the section.

It is clear however that the largest growth area is in the provision of Young Leader Explorer Scouting which has made a significant impact on this years return. In some cases it was the difference between growth and decline.

It is imperative that we continue our efforts with the Young Leader Explorer Scout scheme. We still need to promote a greater understanding of the scheme amongst all adults in Scouting.

My thanks again for a great result.

National Explorer Scout Team

We were very pleased to welcome the National Explorer Scout team to this County on February 12th at 1st Hook, where they delivered an excellent day.

I know that all of the 38 who were present went away buzzing with ideas and a clearer picture of how Explorer Scouting could be made to work in their Districts.

All the presentations, handouts and fact sheets etc are available on ScoutBase at www.scoutbase.org.uk/6to25/Inductiondays.htm

Items for your Diary

Air Rifle Shooting (24th&25th April provisional)

YPS course for beginners (8 weeks). Contact Jean Jenkins on 020 8942 8352 or jean.jenkins@glswscouts.org.uk

Isle of Wight Revolution (13th–17th April)

Isle of Wight Revolution for the 12th year will take place over the double bank holiday Easter Weekend held on the beautiful Isle of Wight. The camp runs over five days and four evenings and is jam-packed with events including Scuba-Diving, Driving Experience, Archery, Beach Games, Golf, Fencing, Lawn Bowls to name a few and Evening Activities continue the event into the early hours.

All activities listed are included in the price (unlike many other events), which is a bargain at £45. See the web site for a more detailed program see www.homestead.com/iowrevolution or e-mail iow_venture@yahoo.com

Mountain Skills Weekend (12th–14th May)

Pre-meet 7th May. Contact Ron Wellbrook on 020 8668 7965 or ron.wellbrook@glswscouts.org.uk

Pike View Hike (12th–14th May)

The 2005 Pike View Hike was a great success with entries from 39 teams, which made it the biggest Pike View Hike event yet! For more details visit their web site www.pikeviewhike.co.uk

Gilwell 24 (8th July)

Gilwell 24 is a 24-hour event targeted at those aged 14–18. It will be a packed 24-hour day of activities and challenges. The date for Gilwell 24 has been set for the 8th of July for more information go to www.gilwell24.info

Ian Newbery Assistant County Commissioner (Explorer Scouts)

GLSW IST for the World Scout Jamboree

GLSW have set up the e-mail list for all those from GLSW interested in being IST in 2007 (our thanks to Chris Sowden). If there is someone who wants to join this list they should send a message to: ist-subscribe@glswscouts.org.uk

There is now updated information on the UK contingent web site: scouts.org.uk/ukcontingent/resources.html

Network

This year’s ‘Operation Red Flare’, held last weekend and organised by Croydon District Scout Council, was won by a team from Sutton Explorer Unit. The event, now in it’s 42nd year, is a 12-mile hike at night with activities (incidents) at checkpoints along the way. A new route is devised each year and teams have no idea of where they are going until they check in at the start, which this year was at Boidier Hurst Scout Camp near the top of Box Hill near Dorking.

Altogether there were 20 teams of 4–7 Explorer Scouts, Ranger Guides, and Scout Network members, most of whom were fairly local, though one team came all the way from Morley, near Leeds, to compete. The total number of individuals taking part was 100 with 40 Leaders undertaking various tasks such as marshalling, transport and catering.

There were five activities this year – lighting a camping stove and cooking food, cracking a code, crossing a ‘ravine’, making and using stilts, and climbing a tree roped together as a team. The route included Betchworth, Buckland, Reigate Hill, Margery, Walton-on-the-Hill, and Headley. Points were awarded for navigation, speed, the activities, a pre-start kit check, and a quiz to do on the way round. 15 teams completed the challenge, and only five teams retired before the finish.

The top five placings were:

  1. Sutton Explorer Unit ‘A’ (Laura Ede, Ellis Gale, Rob Groves, Alex Pericleous, and Helena Wilding) in a time of 5 hours 50 minutes (424 points)
  2. Belmont Explorer Unit (395 points)
  3. Sutton Explorer Unit ‘B’ (391 points)
  4. Voyager Explorer Unit from Kingston (385 points)
  5. Greater London SW ‘All Stars’ – Croham Valley Explorers and County Scout Network (359 points).

The Presentation of certificates and trophies was made by Roger Hurrion (County Commissioner) and Ian Newbery (Assistant County Commissioner, Explorer Scouts)

Chris Dean County Scout Network Commissioner

Gang Show

Well that was 2005, now to look forward to 2006’s show!

Auditions have just finished for the prospective cast for this year’s show, and we must have done something right last year as we have auditioned over 100 people for the 2006 show! Our best figures ever!!

It was really good to see so many people, new faces and old, Gang Show vets and first timers too. They really excelled themselves and we look forward to having them in the show. It was also good to see some new groups represented for the first time as well. The only ‘downer’ was that there was no one from Richmond District. I would really like to remedy that situation if I can. Is the message not getting across, do you feel we are too far away? Please let me know your thoughts if you can...

We think we have another winner of a show on our hands again and we very much hope to prove it to you when we see you at Sutton’s Secombe Theatre in October! Watch this space for more details!

Andrew Hayward Gang Show Producer

Diary Dates

12–14 May Agent 2007 Conference
17 May Wimbledon and Wandle AGM
21 May County Day – Bow Lane
7 June County AGM
13 June Croydon AGM
14 June Royal Kingston AGM
28 June CST – Bow Lane
1 July Cub and Beaver Fun Day – Walton Firs
29 July–12 August County Explorer Belt Lithuania and Seychelles
4 September County Finance
20 September County Executive – Bow Lane
23–24 October Warwick Conference and AGM
29 October Regional Communication and Consultation Day – Gilwell
6 November County Finance
19 November County Day – Bow Lane
29 November County Executive – Bow Lane

Fellowship

Well it’s the AGM season just about to begin. It’s good to know that there is plenty of Scout Fellowship activity planned for 2006.

Richmond upon Thames have an AGM planned for 21st April at 3rd Teddington HQ, Wimbledon and Wandle have theirs on 19th March, whilst Croydon have already held theirs on 27th February.

Richmond upon Thames Scout Fellowship is preparing a history of their District for presentation at ‘TWICKAREE 2006’. They are collecting memories, photographs, and film. I believe that they will be pleased to hear from anyone with suitable archive material. On 17th February they held a quiz at 3rd Teddington’s HQ – a very enjoyable evening.

Wimbledon and Wandle are to be congratulated on having a full programme planned for the whole of 2006 with activities every month right up to December. Activities include ten-pin bowling, a couple of rambles and a barbecue.

Croydon’s activities in support of Scouting began in January when the team provided dinner on Saturday 28th and breakfast the following morning for 30 Patrol Leaders taking part in a training weekend. Sunday 5th March found five members out at Boiderhurst campsite by 7:00am. The task was to provide breakfast for over one hundred competitors and staff on the ‘Red Flare’ night activity. Two hundred rashers of bacon were cooked and one hundred bacon butties served.

Croydon’s AGM was held at Bears Wood Training Centre. The secretary reported on twenty-one activities carried out in 2005, whilst the treasurer confirmed the accounts, proposed subscription levels for 2006, and confirmed the intention to donate spare money to the Scout Holiday Homes Trust and Pinewood Training Centre.

Les Ling Croydon Fellowship

Good Service Awards

Medal of Merit
Carol A. Corti Richmond upon Thames

Adult Training

2006
5–7 May Module 16 Nights Away residential camping at Bears Wood campsite
21 May Module 7 Valuing Diversity a.m.
Module 17 Activities Outdoors p.m.
11 June Module 12 Providing a Balanced Programme a.m.
Module 18 Practical Skills p.m.
2 July Module 19 International a.m.
Module 15 Challenging Behaviour p.m.
24 September Module 11 Administration a.m.
Module 5 Fundamental Values of Scouting p.m.
Module 6 Changes in Scouting p.m.
15 October Module 15 Challenging Behaviour a.m.
Module 14 Young People Today p.m.
26 November Module 13 Growing the Movement a.m.
Module 8 Skills of Leadership p.m.
Module 9 Working with Adults p.m.
10 December Module 7 Valuing Diversity a.m.
Module 17 Activities Outdoors p.m.
2007
21 January Module 12 Providing a Balanced Programme a.m.
Module 18 Practical Skills p.m.

All workshops at Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden (unless stated)

For all details of workshops contact Mrs Joan Condon on 020 8540 5115 or e-mail training@glswscouts.org.uk. Or contact your District Training Manager.

Focus on GLSW

Items for the June issue should be submitted by 14th May 2006 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk