February 2019 Newsletter from the DC Team – Ben, Simon & Heather

Hello again,

Nothing stays the same. The seasons change, people and circumstances change. The wind changes direction – and Mary Poppins comes and goes. As you will discover below, our District has – by necessity – developed a healthy approach to change, as part of our flexible approach to volunteering, and our commitment to high quality scouting. That old saying about closing doors and opening windows is put to the test this month by a couple of key District personnel changes. Meanwhile, there are exciting plans afoot down at our District Campsite – a host of enhanced features including….. Tunnels! Bouldering Walls! Proper crew quarters!….And better equipped washrooms! But (unlike Mary Poppins) we can’t make such exciting things appear as if by magic….although a spoonful of sugar might help.

The DC Team – We are very sad to announce that Simon Ketteringham is stepping down from his DC and Assistant Explorer Leader roles, and Scouting in general.  Simon’s work commitments have increased significantly since September, taking him overseas on a number of occasions (he’s in Paris this week), and this had led him to re-evaluate his volunteering commitments and work-life balance.  Explorers in Ealing & Hanwell would not be the success it has been without Simon’s efforts; since joining in 2009 Simon led the opening of our Wednesday meeting, co-ran three trips to Kandersteg with Ben, and made too many other contributions to be mentioned here.  Ben, with his Explorer hat on, is very sad to be losing a key member of his team and we thank him for all his efforts.

Simon’s departure leaves a hole in the DC Team.  Heather, Simon and Ben made the decision to take on the District Commissioner role because it was being shared across three people, thus allowing us to continue to be section leaders AND to retain some work-life balance.  We are now seeking a third person to ensure that all three can continue doing that. We had preconceived ideas of what the role was before we stepped forward and being a team of three has meant that they were wrong…yes, there can be a few too many meetings (this is work in progress),yes, there is a to-do list that seems long….but these are challenges shared between three and that makes it a manageable workload.

Please contact the DC Team on dc@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk or Richard Williams, County Commissioner (and DCs manager), on richardwilliams@glmwscouts.org.uk if you are interested or would like to find out more.

District Secretary – We are delighted to report that Jackie McKenna has stepped forward as the new Acting Secretary for the District Executive. The Chair, and indeed the whole Executive Committee, look forward to welcoming Jackie to her first meeting on 24th April.

District Treasurer – We are sad to announce that Sheila Burt, District Treasurer and 7th Hanwell Treasurer, is having to step down from those roles due to ill health.  Sheila has just reached 10 years as District Treasurer and we are hugely grateful for all her efforts over the last 10 years. The finances of the District are in a good shape and this is largely down to Sheila.  Thank you Sheila and thank you for staying around to support the transition to a new treasurer.

Can you help us find a treasurer?  Please contact our District Chair, Jonathan Bartlett, on chair@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk if you can help.

ADC Cubs – John Stanton has now stepped down as ADC Cubs.  Thank you John for all your hard work in leading the cub section over the past two years.  Thank you for continuing in your section leader role at the 5th Hanwell.

First Response Refresher – On Wednesday 20th March we are holding a First Response Refresher course at Leighton Hall (7pm-10pm).  This is open to adults who have a current, or just expired, first response certificate.

Exciting campsite plans – Rabbit-Run,  bouldering unit, crew quarters – and better equipped washrooms Thanks to a commitment of significant funds by the District Executive, the Campsite fund and by 25th Ealing, the plan is to build (and bury) a ‘rabbit run’ of tunnels, and to install a storage container (storing equipment inside, but used for bouldering outside –  with grips attached to all 4 of its outside walls). The re-fitting of an area above the toilet block as proper crew quarters is also planned – once the stored items are out of the way (transferred into their new – more accessible – home in the container) And finally, the central toilet block will also be upgraded with proper hand driers, soap dispensers and robust toilet roll dispensers.  We will be reaching out to each Group to arrange their own ‘Helping Out’ day.

Census Many thanks to those who have been busily entering the required data for each Group’s Census Return. It’s nobody’s favourite job – but an important way of assessing the health of each Group and the District as a whole.  

District Survey – Another thank you!  We very much appreciated hearing from so many of you  – the information contributed, and opinions expressed, will be very useful as we go forward.  We will be sharing the outcomes from this in due course.

Uniform Retailers – we have a new uniform retailer in the local area.  PMG Schoolwear Ealing in based in Hanwell and sells our uniforms.  Visit their website at https://pmgschoolwear.co.uk/stores.php

News from around the District

Send us your news! Share your achievements and your good ideas

Cub Talent Show – for the Entertainers Badge: a combined effort by 7H, 25E, 5H & 8E

Well done to all – performers and helpers alike. This wonderful event was held on 29th January and  raised £410 for 7th Hanwell’s re-building fundraising effort. Particular thanks to Nisha Patel (25th Ealing) as the main organiser, and to 7th Hanwell for hosting the event. Also to the Cub Leaders from 5th Hanwell and 8th Ealing who made it possible for their young people to get involved.

District Beaver Party – Saturday 2nd February

Delighted to hear that this event for our youngest section went really well. Around 100 Beavers from across the groups joined in with a magic show, learning tricks and making balloon animals! As well as the show by a professional magician, two of our Explorer Scout Young Leaders helped teach the young people tricks: – well done to Andrew Woodward and Amelia Combes!

8th Ealing Beavers – Good luck  in the Jambowlree!

8th Ealing Beavers recently went Tenpin Bowling, on 7th February. To add to the fun, they’re participating in a Worldwide Scout competition called Jambowlree – which means that they can submit their teams’ scores to compete against others (in the same section) all over the world. This may be of interest to other Groups – any bowling trip by any section (including scouting adults) before the end of May is eligible (there’s a one-off entry fee of £5 per Group for as many teams as you want, and funds raised go to Farnham Explorer Scouts in Surrey).  You can download free certificates for participants – and the organisers also sell an optional blanket badge (shown). Full details here http://www.jambowlree.org

16th Ealing – getting bubbly and twittery

Members of 16th’s Executive Committee have been exploring ways to promote the Group in their local community, with the aim of attracting more adult help. They recently added a page on Ealing Council’s volunteer site called bubble – http://www.dosomethinggood.org.uk/projects/volunteers-needed-help-run-16th-ealing-beavers-cubs-and-scouts and they have also taken to twitter, as https://twitter.com/16th_and to spread the word via social media. Community groups in the Pitshanger area – with big twitter followings – have supported them by posting some great photos of 16E Cubs busy helping in the community last year

Looking Ahead

Module 1E – On Sunday 17th March we are hosting a training session for Module 1E, which is the module for Executive Members.  Exact time is to be confirmed but it will be in the afternoon. Please contact Jenny, our District Training Manager (training@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk), to book a space.  

First Response – Refresher session: Wednesday 20th March, 7pm  at Leighton Hall  There are 12 places available. Please contact Jenny Foxwell  to book asap (suitable for those who have previously done the full course and this has just, or is about to, expire)

Plans for St George’s Day Parade – Sunday 28th April 2019

The plan this year is to hold an outdoor celebration of scouting in Montpelier Park. Led by our traditional band, there will be a parade around the outside of the park, sticking to the pavements. After that, a (fairly short) ceremony/’scouts own’ in the park will include the traditional reaffirmation of the scout promise by each section, plus a recognition of top achievements during the last year, to include both adult and youth members. All Groups are being requested to provide the names of their young people’s top award recipients (Chief Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold) from the last 12 months (April to April) – so that these top achievers can be applauded.

Yours in Scouting

Heather, Ben and (for the last time) Simon.

DC team, Ealing & Hanwell  

dc@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk

————————————————————————————————————–

Useful Information

Key dates for the District Diary

February 2019

• Census Deadline (for Groups to provide info to District) – 11th February
• February Freezer Camp – PACCAR 15th February

March 2019

• • GLMW Training – 3/3 (Mods 14,15,18 – Supporting Young People) @PACCAR

• District Cross Country (all sections) – Sunday 3rd March

• • District Beaver Sleepover Planning meeting, Monday 4th March 8pm, @ D of K
  • District Cub Leaders Meeting – 6th March 7:30pm @ LH
  • District Scout Leaders Meeting – 13th March (Stuart Flaye) @ LH
  • GLMW County Leaders Pioneer Training Course – 15th-17th March @ SAC

• Module 1E – 17th March  @ LH

• • First Response – Refresher – Wednesday 20th March, 7pm @ LH

• District Beaver Sleepover – 22-23 & 23-24 March (@ SAC) – main contact Mandy

• Young Leader Training – 30th March @ LH

April 2019

• GLMW Training – Mods 16 & 17 – Intro to Residential @PACCAR
• London Monopoly Run – 13th April
• District Executive Committee Meeting – 24th April @LH
• St George’s Day Parade 28th April (pm)  (organiser: Malcolm Turner)

May 2019

• Totem Camp (Scouts) 4th/5th May @ Walter Davies

• District Cub event – Athletics – date TBC

• • District Beaver Leaders Meeting – Mon 13th May, 8pm, @ Duke of Kent
  • District Core Team – 15th May @LH

• Young Leader Training – 19th May @LH

• GSLs Meeting – 22nd May @LH (or at Campsite – tbc)
• GLMW’s All American Adventure (all sections)  PACCAR – 24th May- 27th May

June

• Gilwell Fun Days (Cubs & Beavers) – 8th & 9th June
• District Paintballing Competition (Scouts) 20th June – TBC

July & August

• Young Leader Training – 6th July @ LH
• District Scout Leaders meeting – date TBC
• Camporee (District Cub Camp, week-long) – July 2019 (dates tbc)

• World Scout Jamboree, Scout Mondial, North America 22nd July – 2nd August
• Blow your socks off @ PACCAR – 10-17th August
• Leaders’ Reboot @ PACCAR – 31st Aug – 1st Sept

September 2019

• Gilwell Reunion 2019 (100th Anniversary) – 6th-8th September
• District AGM @ LH – 25th September
• Elements Camp @PACCAR (All Sections) – dates tbc

October 2019

• GLMW Training 12th Oct (Mod 5, 6, 11 & 12a – Our Organisation) @PACCAR
• GLMW Training 13th Oct (Mod 7,8,9 – Working with Adults) @PACCAR
• GLMW Training 27th Oct (Mods 16,17 – Intro to Residential @PACCAR

2020

• WINGS – 25th July – 1st August, Windsor Great Park
• Eurojam – 26th July-6th August, Poland

Contact Jenny Foxwell to book onto any training courses

Please get in touch with us to add any further dates to the District Diary

District Contacts

Some of your regular District contacts have new email addresses, as previously circulated. No new ones to add this month, but a reminder to please update your contact lists to use the  name@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk addresses, so we can reduce the number of ‘business’ emails going to people’s personal email accounts.