July 2019 Newsletter from the DC Team
Mid-July already?
….so dare we mention September? We all know that the summer ‘break’, will zip by all too quickly. Some of us will be taking a bit of time out – recovering from a busy year of scouting, while others have summer camps ahead (or even a Jamboree!) – and for many people their summer camp will be the highlight of the year!.
But beside camps, and/or having a well deserved break from scouting at some point (however briefly), please do give some thought to what September will bring.
Our next District News will be distributed in early September with, we hope, loads of your summer camp reports.
Gone Home
We have just heard of the very sad passing of Claire Dwyer over the weekend. Claire held a number of roles in the District including GSL and Cub Leader at 1st Hanwell and Jack Petchey Coordinator. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family and loved ones. We have not been made aware of funeral plans but will share these once known.
We wish bon voyage to all our jamboree participants…who we are sure will have an amazing time and make memories for life. We look forward to your report back in September.
One big team – COME AND BE AN INFLUENCER – District AGM, 25th September 2019, 8pm Leighton Hall (refreshments available from 7.30pm)
Please would all Leaders, Parent Helpers, Group Executive members and any other adult Members from all 10 of our Groups, plus all Explorer parents and Leaders, put this date in your diary now and do your utmost to attend? It’s an opportunity to look back on the year, and to plan for the year ahead. Come and help to influence where we go next, together as a District. Any requested agenda items (including Any Other Business) should be submitted in advance please. (Section ADCs, and others preparing reports – please get your reports written in good time, ideally by end of August, to secretary@
Where are all the Students? Help us find some! – Autumn initiative at University of West London
We are keen to build better links with students living or studying within our District – offering them the chance to get involved in Scouting – perhaps as Network Members or District Scout Active Support members – but also offering volunteering options both at District level and within Groups, for example as Section Assistants or Leaders – or even perhaps as Executive committee members. To do this, we will need a bit of help from YOU. We need a few hours of your time to help on a proposed District recruitment stall at the Freshers Fair at UWL on Wednesday 18th September and/or Volunteering Stall in October (date tbc, but likely to be at a week-end) We are looking for a good mix of people to help – young, old, male, female – so please do offer. The more the merrier! We will particularly need help from lots of our younger leaders and helpers for this type of event! Running our stall at the Hanwell Carnival was great fun for all of us involved and it brought us a good number of new people – but not the 18-25 year olds we’re hoping to reach this time. So please come and have fun, and do your bit to get the message across. It would be great to have an early indication, so please get in touch if interested in helping.
District Equipment for Use/Hire
The District has access to a number of items that can be hired by our Groups. These are as follows:
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A comprehensive set of camping equipment, mostly stored at Stoke Poges. This includes a number of patrol tents and other items. Please contact John Foxwell (j.foxwell@
ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk) , our District QM, to make enquiries. -
A box trailer. This is an Ifor Williams BV85 6’ Single Axle. Stored at 1st Hanwell but please contact Ben Pearson (b.pearson@
ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk) to book. -
4 District branded Feather Flags; 2 x large and 2 x medium. Can be anchored into soft ground or on hard ground using parasol bases (we have these). Contact DC Team to book.
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5 x Spot3 GPS Trackers. Designed for remote supervision of groups whilst on expedition. Uses a GPS signal so no mobile signal needed for the trackers although the supervision team need mobile signal to view locations. Due to the high cost of maintaining these there is a hire fee of £10 per tracker per hire. These belong to the District Explorer Section so once again please contact Ben (b.pearson@
ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk) to book. GLMW have an additional 5 trackers that can be hired and this is also arranged through Ben.
Grow Your Group – Plan for Autumn 2019
Last year we made a partial start on this, and a number of Groups found it very helpful indeed. However, the format was tricky for some – so we are aiming to re-launch with a revised/condensed format in the Autumn. The Groups who started last year, but didn’t get the chance to finish, will be invited to participate. The repeated parts will give the opportunity for a refresher to those who attended some of it last year – but we would also encourage Groups to expand the size of their delegation considerably (Leaders, Exec members, parents) – to include people who didn’t manage to attend at all last year. The Grow Your Group approach works best afterwards when a Group has a bigger team attending the sessions to find out about it. And yes it’s another call on the time of busy people – but with the goal of them finding ways of getting more help, so it’s worth prioritising. Information on specific dates and times to follow asap.
Caving complex at Walter Davies – work continues
With many thanks to Dave and Pete. Here’s another glimpse of the ongoing work to install this wonderful new facility at our District Campsite.
News from around the District Send us your news! Share your achievements and your good ideas
8th Ealing – Beavers trip to Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple in West Ealing (11th July) Beaver Leader Danielle Larson told us “It was such a lovely trip! We learnt about the different Hindu gods and while there we witnessed and participated in a wedding blessing. They offered us fruit and blessings. It was a really lovely trip and they were so hospitable towards the beavers and their questions!”
25th Ealing – News from Ali Hall (via Ealing & Hanwell Scouters on Facebook)
“25th Ealing Squirrels came away with the silverware for the West London Junior Ball Hockey League – 2018/19 WINNERS!!” Ali also explains how others can get involved next year – just drop her a line “If your Scouts want to get involved for the 2019/20 season, get in touch! We play twice a term on a Saturday morning at Elthorne Sports Centre. An annual fee or day fee per player is available, whichever works best for you (to cover club insurance etc). Kit is available to hire (sticks/helmets/gloves).”
(PS I’m assuming Squirrels is just the team name – and not one of those pre-Beaver Pilots for 4 and 5 year olds we’ve heard about – ho ho ho)
5th Hanwell (again from E&H Scouters on Facebook) – Scouts trip Apple Store, White City
Apart from dissatisfaction at their free ‘apples’ (turned out to be just fruit provided by their Leaders, LOL), the Scouts seemed to have a good time on this recent trip. Brian Duffy explains “Apple does a Free evening session run by them as part of their schools programme and they are happy to take scouts. If you want details II can pass this on. We made it part of the digital badge”
(If your section or Group’s fun activities haven’t been included this month, please do let us know about them for next time!)
Looking Ahead Admittedly we already mentioned a few things in an earlier part of this newsletter, but also…..
ReBoot at Paccar : 31st August & 1st September. A quick reminder from Cliff Brook, in case you haven’t already booked your places.”Everyone will be able to take part in activities, challenges and workshops without any of the Young People you always have with you.There will be a full range of on-site activities, including High Ropes, Zips, Climbing, Abseiling, Rifles, Archery and so on as well as traditional skills and activities such as Pioneering, Bushcraft etc. You can come just for the day – on Sunday – or overnight Saturday through Sunday. All Adult Members are invited, including occasional helpers etc, you might like to use it by including potential parent helpers as a bit of a recruitment drive.” More information, and the booking form can be found here https://www.paccarscoutcamp.
Book your next training course!
The course schedule for the next 18 months is available on the County website at https://www.glmwscouts.org.uk/
As part of expanding training provision, GLMW has partnered with Willesden District to offer modules on a rolling-basis on Tuesday evenings once a month – handy for those who find weekends difficult.
AND FINALLY…….THANK YOU!
A final thank you to everyone before we break up for the summer – all those camps, sleepovers, adventurous activities, outings and fun you have been laying on for our many, many young people across the District – none of it would happen if it wasn’t for you and your teams. So a great big thank you from the DC duo (still hoping to become a trio again…)
Yours in Scouting
Ben and Heather
DC team, Ealing & Hanwell
dc@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.
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District Diary – Key Dates
NB training dates no longer listed here – for those, please check https://www.glmwscouts.org.uk/
Contact Jenny Foxwell to book onto any District or GLMW training courses je.foxwell@
Please get in touch with us to add any further dates to the District Diary
July & August 2019
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Camporee (District Cub Camp) – 28th July- 2nd August
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World Scout Jamboree, Scout Mondial, North America 22nd July – 2nd August
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Blow your socks off @ PACCAR – 10-17th August
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Leaders’ Reboot @ PACCAR – 31st Aug – 1st Sept
September 2019
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Gilwell Reunion 2019 (100th Anniversary) – 6th-8th September
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District Executive LH – 12th September
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UWL Fresher Fair – E&H recruitment stall – Wed 18th September
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District AGM @ LH – 25th September
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Elements Camp @PACCAR (All Sections) – 27th September
October 2019
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Core Team Meeting @ LH – 16th October
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UWL Volunteering Fair – E&H stall – date tbc
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GLMW Young Leader Training Weekend 18th-20th October @ PACCAR
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GSLs Meeting @ LH – 23rd October
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District Executive @ LH – 31st October