December 2019 Newsletter from the DC Team
Hello again from Ben and Heather
It’s with mixed feelings that we click ‘send’ this month. There is much to celebrate, of course – and festive feelings abound – but we recently also had to say a sad farewell, and it makes us all the more conscious of those among us who will find this season difficult, for whatever reason.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s included below in this month’s newsletter.
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Gone Home – Dave Folkerd
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Census 2020
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St George’s Day 2020 – a glimmer of hope
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Development and Recruitment in E&H
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E&H Network Scouts (Scorpions) & Youthshaped Scouting
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Take up the Challenge: Do 20 in 2020
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News around the Groups
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Quick Final Reminders (First Response, GLMW meetings re Kandersteg, Explorer & Beaver/Cub ADCs)
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District Diary Dates
Gone Home – Dave Folkerd
On Tuesday the District attended Dave’s funeral and said our formal goodbye and thanks for all the years of service he gave us. Dave held roles as Group Scout Leader at the 25th Ealing and also as Assistant District Commissioner (Campsite) but he was so much more than that. He built things, designed things,3d printed things; inspired us all, drove us to hit deadlines and taught us how to use different coloured fonts in emails and that a large spreadsheet is the answer to everything. At the last campsite meeting in September he had drawn up plans to enlarge the caving system at Stoke Poges before it was even finished and this ambition and drive summed him up. Thank you Dave for all you did for Scouting in Ealing & Hanwell. We miss you already.
Census
The next census is just around the corner and as per every year, you will need to collate your young person and adult numbers for direct entry into the Scout census system. Timetable is still to be confirmed but please start reviewing your adult members on Compass and ensure they match the picture on the ground. Every adult member you return on the census must have a matching role on Compass.
St George’s Day 2020 – a glimmer of hope
Yes, there’s a glimmer of hope – but it all depends on YOU. We will hold a meeting early in January to explore the possibility of attempting a District Parade, or other celebratory event, on Sunday 26th April 2020. Our previous co-ordinator, Anthony Philips, has kindly offered to provide some support on the admin side of things. If you could help with formulating the plans for an event this year, please contact Heather or Ben on DC@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.
Development and Recruitment in E&H
With funding agreed by our District Executive, the GLMW Development Team are set to take on their first 3 month project in our District from late January 2020, and preparations are already underway. In this case, the focus will be on helping an existing Group – 8th Hanwell – to develop further, both in terms of the overall number of young people and adult leaders, and enhancing the Group’s role within the local community it serves. The Development Officer will be working closely with GSL Laura, her existing team of leaders and the 8th Hanwell Executive Committee to agree the details of a project brief; the Group will have dedicated input for several hours each week over the course of a 3 month period.
Later next year, we anticipate that our 2nd project will be a new Group start-up, with the aim of serving one of the parts of our District where existing groups cannot meet the demand for places and have massively over-subscribed waiting lists. There’s no magic wand – but the Development team have an approach that has been shown to work elsewhere – ie a taster session followed by the 4 week challenge, along with support from the development officer as the potential new leaders (new parents willing to give it a go) learn the ropes and gain confidence.
We’d also like to mention the success of 5th and 7th Hanwell Groups who have also been doing great work using lessons from Grow Your Group; some 8 adults have been recruited in recent weeks – a terrific achievement. Huge thanks to Steve Douglas, Rob Coomber and the rest of the Appointments Advisory Committee for arranging extra meetings to process these adults.
There is lots of handy Recruitment advice on the Scout Website – Growing Scouting. Also, in the Diary below, we have listed 3 very helpful Recruitment Webinars – one a month from January to March, which will offer lots of tips on Volunteer Recruitment, based on the Grow Your Group approach. (for info/to register)
E&H Network Scouts (Scorpions) & Youthshaped Scouting
On the 4th January, Scorpions Network will be having a Winter BBQ. This is in an attempt to re-establish Scorpions Network within the District for members of Scouts aged 18-25. If you are Network aged or know anyone of this age who would be interested (from within or out of Scouting), then do drop me an email on r.scoynes@
Alongside other things, at the Scorpions BBQ, planning will start on an Explorer Belt Expedition, one of the highest awards in Scouting. Throughout Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Network, there should always be a focus, not just on the top awards of each section, but on seeing these in the context of the young person’s entire journey within Scouting. There is a growing recognition of the importance of Youth Shaped Scouting within the UK (including a Youth Shaped award scheme coming next year), so it’s a great time to emphasise the importance of all members having a say in the programme. Let’s encourage all the members of our younger sections to get creative and think of ideas and activities – just as they will have to when working towards the top awards later on, such as the Queen’s Scout Award and Explorer Belt.
Take up the Challenge: Do 20 in 2020
Have you looked at this yet? GLMW 20 in 20. The 20 in 20 challenge was inspired by a suggestion Please do build it into your planning for the coming terms. The 20 challenge categories are the same for all Sections (and adults) – with the level of challenge increasing with age. There’s plenty of flexibility too – “We’ve listed some ideas for how you could do it in each of the sections But, if you want to take a different approach in any of the categories, then let us know and we can help you get to the right level of challenge.” NB Adding this badge to OSM makes it really easy to record the progress of those in your section – simply go to Badges..Challenge…Add Badge and type in ‘GLMW’ in the filter box. (And remember – each 20 in 20 activity can also be counted towards the main award scheme – it’s deliberately designed to help towards those, so please do double-count!)
PS One of the Challenges is to take part in a District or County event – we have quite a number of those already planned for 2020, but there’s always scope for fresh ideas too!
NEWS AROUND THE GROUPS
1EN – The Group held a Year in Review plus 40th Anniversary Celebration on 29th November, including a fantastic powerpoint on the Group’s history (so many fantastic old photos – including one of Malcolm Turner as a 13 year old scout!) . At the end, ADC Scouts Stuart Flaye was delighted to present the Chief Scout Gold Award to Rosie Harpley Gebbels.
6th Ealing – Well done to the 6th Ealing Beavers for their Carol Singing at Northfields tube station, on 5th December, to raise money for Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter.
9th Ealing – The Beavers enjoyed a fabulous sounding Sleepover on 29th November. As one of the main activities, each Beaver got to make and decorate their own Christmas cake. The Group also arranged to sing Carols on 9th December in the central square of Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre. Unbeknownst to leaders David and Toby, Heather had been invited along to invest them at the end! In front of all the young people and their parents, they both made their scout promise and were presented with their badges, followed by a final chorus of ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’. Well done to all!
16th Ealing – The Cubs and Beavers, and their families, enjoyed an Indoor Christmas Campfire as their end of term family event on 13th December. The entertainment included lots of excellent (and silly!) performances, plus plenty of audience participation songs. Awards presented at the end included: a 5 year Long Service Award for Cub Leader Mona Jamal; an additional Wood Badge certificate for GSL Holly Smallman and Chief Scout Silver Awards for four Cubs. Congratulations to all!
8th Ealing – Ealing Food Bank Donations (Message from Mark, GSL) “Throughout December, 8th Ealing Scout Group has been collecting not just food but other items such as Nappies and personal hygiene products. The donations would have cost just over £200 if we had gone to the shops and bought it all. A big thank you to everyone who donated items to our Annual collection for Ealing Food Bank.”
Melted Snowmen biscuits!
QUICK FINAL REMINDERS
First Response – A final reminder that on 18th January, we have a course running in our own District (at Leighton Hall), making it particularly handy to get to! Please do contact Jenny (Local Training Manager) to book a place if you – or any of your team – need to do this Mandatory Module (including those whose First Response has expired, or will soon expire). je.foxwell@
GLMW meetings – see diary below.
There are 3 meetings coming up soon for particular people. If you haven’t already received the full information relevant to you, please just get in touch
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For Explorer and Network Leaders & co-ordinators re Explorer Belt
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For Leaders & Organisers interested in Kandersteg 2021
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For Beaver & Cub District Representatives
And finally…
Thank you to every single person who has made such fantastic Scouting possible in this District during 2019. We look forward with great anticipation to what we will achieve together in 2020.
Wishing you all peace, rest, kindness and goodwill this Christmas, and in the New Year ahead
Yours in Scouting
Heather and Ben
DC team, Ealing & Hanwell