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CROYDON DISTRICT SCOUTS NEWSLETTER No.56 - July 2015
www.croydonscouting.org.uk
GROUP AGMSA general thanks to Groups for advising their AGM dates earlier
this year. Even though we have 40 Groups in the District, we nowhave dates for 34 individual Group AGMs and indeed members ofthe team have attended 18 Group AGMs so far and another 13dates are already allocated to team members. Any outstandingGroup awards or presentations will be passed to the attending teammember for presentation.
RENEWAL OF PROMISEOnce again Groups from around the District rose to the challenge
and put on a great show by displaying in their communities andrenewing their promise together. Several District mini-events tookplace as well as the main District event held at St John’s Church inShirley, where the service was led by our own District Chaplain.
DISTRICT AWARDS NIGHT
This special event goes from strength to strength and this year wasby far the best ever. The evening was held at Whitgift School and wasattended by around 180 members from Croydon Scouting, includingVIPs and our invited guests and speakers. Members and guests arrivedto piano music played by the gifted Richard Luck on the school’s£200k Steinway grand piano and the evening was compèred by twoCroydon Explorer Scouts, Melinda Taylor and Giacomo Spagnoli.
Our impressive line-up of guestspeakers for the evening includedCouncillor Manji Shahul-Hameed (Mayorof Croydon), Hannah Kentish (ScoutAssociation UK Youth Commissioner),South Pole adventurer Bryony Balen andPaul Astbury, Detective SuperintendentCroydon Police.
A number of awards were presented toGroups, Units and individuals during theevening and wewere entertainedagain by RichardLuck on piano
and by Alison Plant on vocals. Please seeselected photos and visit the District website(details below) for the full editorial for thisevent together with all photographs of theevening. My sincere thanks to Mandy andPeter Giles for arranging and providing therefreshments for the evening and to othermembers of the District Team for helpingout on the evening.www.croydonscouting.org.uk/2015/04/croydon-district-awards-night-thursday-23rd-april-2015/
SUMMER BREAKMany of you will be busy planning your summer breaks and
indeed we have one Group travelling to Switzerland and one of our Units up to Scotland. Please have a wonderful summerbreak and please remember to send me a report and a couple ofphotographs, which we can try to publish in our October editionof Bourne Again.
Steve French District Commissionere: [email protected]
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER - STEVE FRENCH
Hannah Kentish - UKYouth Commissioner
Bryony Balen – South Pole adventurer
GO LEGOLANDOur plans for the trip to Legoland are underway so please ensure
you bring your deposit along for each of those Colonies joining us.To confirm, the trip is planned for 26 September 2015. Any childrenthat are on the waiting list and would like to come can join in.
The Challenge Day should also now be firmly in your Colony diaryfor 10 October 2015 – further details to follow.
Our next meeting is on 9 July at 7.45pm (8pm start), subsequentdates for meetings are 22 Sep. and 18 Nov., all at Bears Wood.
The District Team look forward to seeing you at thenext meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting pleasedo ask a helper or someone else from the Group to attendin your place – all are welcome.
Thank you for all that you do for Scouting and pleasedo enjoy the summer break.
Jenny Thairs Maureen WathenADC – Beaver Scouts District Beaver Scout Leadere: [email protected] e: [email protected]
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CHIEF SCOUT’S SILVER AWARDFollowing last year’s extremely successful event,
which saw the visit of the Chief Scout, Districtagain invited all those young people who hadgained their Chief Scout’s Silver Award in the past12 months to attend a free activities day atPinewood.
Of the 63 who had gained the award, 49 wereable to attend and had a great day as a reward forall their hard work. They took part in archery,shooting, climbing, kayaking, rafting and cratestacking. Again we were blessed with good
weather and by the end of the day we seemed to have some verytired little bodies at the presentation ceremony, but all went homehappy and satisfied with a great day out.
A huge thanks from me, and I’m sure, from all the participants,to my District Team and all the instructors and helpers who madethe event such a success.
NIGHTS AWAYDuring the first six months of this year it has been great to see
how many Packs have been on Nights Away experiences. Thank youto everyone who has sent in NAN forms and Activity Notifications;keep them coming!
So far you have topped over 1000 Cub nights away and 465Cubs have spent a total of 85 nights away at some point fromJanuary to June. This number is bound to increase over the coming
summer months. As we stand, 29 of our 49 Cub packs have beenaway which is brilliant news, so if your Pack has not been awaymake sure you offer your young people the opportunity in thecoming six months and let’s see if we can get every Pack away thisyear.
UP-COMING EVENTSBy the time you read this the Mang Challenge Trophy will have
taken place at Pinewood where 48 Cubs compete in six teams togain points from Scouting and teamwork challenges.• The next District Cub Scout Leaders’ meeting is on Monday 6 July,
8pm at 7/12th Croydon HQ, Rear of 35 Birdhurst Rise, SouthCroydon CR2 7EJ.
• Baloo Trophy at Bears Wood this year is on Saturday 19 Sep. Don’t forget to register your pack with PROVISIONAL numbers by3 July to Mandy Giles.
Thank you and have a great summer.
Martin Greenwood ADC – Cubse: [email protected]
it would not have been possible. We have some exciting eventscoming up over the next few weeks including the Adkin Challenge,Fire Safety Day and even a new event, which will be a day trip toChatham Dockyards (information will be issued soon).
I hope everyone is looking forward to the summer holidays andplanned camps and activities. I and members of the team will becalling in where possible and look forward to seeing everyone in thevery near future.
Dave Martin ADC Scoutse: [email protected]
CHECKPOINT CHALLENGEHi all, I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter and double bank
holidays in May and have settled back into the hectic life ofScouting. Since the last edition of Bourne Again we have held ourDistrict Checkpoint Challenge, which 22 teams entered. It was afun-packed day as always and everyone who took part enjoyedthemselves. We are very pleased to confirm that 24th Purley camefirst and 7th Purley and 49th Croydon followed close behind. Iwould like to take this opportunity to thank my team and everyonewho took part in helping us run this event, as without your support
Chief Scout’s Silver Award Day.
All Units are busy at this time of the year enjoying the opportunityto meet out of doors where possible and balancing weeklyprogrammes and activities against irregular attendance due to thepressure of school and the exams season.
GILWELL 24A number of our Units are putting final touches to their plans in
preparation for their trip to Gilwell 24 over the weekend 10 to 12July. This is a 24-hour-long day of activity and challenge runningfrom 9am Saturday straight through until 9am Sunday. In addition
www.croydonscouting.org.ukBourne Again 56 - July 2015 3
ALL CHANGE!As we are all aware a number of programme changes are
happening throughout the sections and Network is no exception.However, for Network, there are more than just programme changes.Over the last few months we have been working and making plansto move Network forward with the new changes.
During September we will be inviting all eligible members ofNetwork (everyone between 18 and 24) to join us for a ‘Network Re-Launch’. This will enable us to answer any questions and hopefullyallow everyone to get to know each other.
Aside from preparing for the changes we have been meetingregularly at 6th Croydon. We joined other members of the Districtat the renewal of promise service where we invested some newmembers. We enjoyed meeting Bryony Balen at the District Awardsevening and also had representatives at the AGM.
Alongside this we have tested our skills with kite making and flying,extreme twister and a trip up to London to have a go at solving puzzlesand escaping a room in 60 minutes. By using some excellent teamworkand perseverance we managed to escape with seconds to spare andour reward was a place on the wall of fame!
As for the next few months, we will be helping at Mang Trophy,travelling to Cumbria to take part in Dragnet, providing some helpinghands at Cobham FC as part of a community project in mid-July, andpreparing for our annual camp at Gilwell Reunion in early September.
All new members aged 18 to 24 are welcome to join us. If you’reinterested drop us a line at the email address below.
Cari-ann & Andy BaileyScout Network Leaderse: [email protected]
there is a warm-up pre-event on Friday night with various stagesand a fairground. There will be a party of some 50 Explorer Scoutsattending this exciting activity weekend to represent Croydon.
In Croydon we continue to carry out our regular programme ofYoung Leader training with approximately 22 Young Leaders inattendance at our last session in May. Our next training session isscheduled for 5 July.
Richard Goad DESC e: [email protected]
MULTI-SKILLSMembers of the Croydon Active Support
Section were on hand to help and support atthe District Renewal of Promise Service at St John’s Church in Shirley and also at therecent District AGM by providing drinks andrefreshments. These activities are areas that ourmembers carry out year on year and while wedo enjoy being asked to support with thesetypes of functions we also have other skills tooffer, for example:
Early June saw our members out in forcesupporting the Frylands Wood Campsite ‘Funday’and running the ‘ever-popular’ Water Rocketactivity game. The whole day was part of a circus-themed activity day put on by the FrylandsWood Management Committee and CroydonActive Support are always pleased to be asked torun the ‘rockets’.
Kate Balzer Active Support Managere: [email protected]
Winning Escape Room team!
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SPECIAL REPORTS
PINEWOOD SCOUT CENTRE –OPEN DAY 2015
As Chair of the Pinewood Scout Centreit gives me great pleasure to share withyou the wonderful feedback that wereceived from parents and youngstersalike regarding the Croydon OutdoorExplorer Network Open Day at PinewoodScout Centre held on 24 May. I spent mostof the day instructing kayaking on the lakeand without exception everyone I spoke tocommented how great it was, getting somany youngsters and families enjoying thegreat outdoors and how there should bemore of this type of opportunity.
It was a massive achievement to have over 500 local people,mostly families, from a wide range of backgrounds visitingPinewood Scout Centre. They participated in adventurous activities(kayaking, archery, climbing and crate stacking) and non-adventurous activities such as campfire cooking, friction fire-lighting,making woodland music, storytelling and mud play – above allenjoying such a fantastic day and having fun.
Full credit must go to Meike Weiser, Community PartnershipOfficer from Croydon Parks & Leisure team, for all her hard work inplanning, organising and delivering such a successful, inclusive,inspirational and fun day for all concerned.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
Recently the Cub Scouts at 63rd Croydon participated ina sponsored silence. Although there were only eight CubScouts at the time they still managed to raise the staggeringamount of nearly £400 for the Battersea Dogs and CatsHome.
At a later date a Pack visit was organised to the petrescue home in south-west London, during which the Cubsmet both staff and dogs from Battersea and were able topresent them with a cheque for the money raised. A greatday was had by all and a tremendous effort made by theCub Scouts themselves.
Mick White (CSL)63rd Croydon Scout Group
The open day itself was the culmination ofthe excellent collaborative working relationshipbetween the Pinewood Scout CentreCommittee, Croydon Parks & Leisure team andCroydon Forest School & Adventure Project, arelationship that has, in the past 20 months,seen both Scouting and non-Scouting use ofthe Pinewood Scout Centre more than doubled.
To add further numbers we had over 60people kayaking and over 50 doing archery,crate stacking and climbing, mostly for the first
time. To do so with members of Crystal Palace Explorer Scouts andthe Croydon Air Cadets also running bases and engaging with thefamilies so confidently was inspiring, especially at a time whenteenagers tend to get so much negative publicity.
Crystal Palace Explorer Scout Unit provided refreshments all day,fundraising for a volunteer trip to work on the WYCE charity in TheGambia next February, when 14 young people and seven adults willbe making a real difference.
The open day was also the official launch of the CroydonOutdoor Explorer Network, a group of like-minded bodies whichstrives to reconnect children, young people, families and localcommunities with the natural world and all that it offers on theirdoorstep. Pinewood Scout Centre and Croydon Scouting are verymuch a part of this and you are urged to check the various links (seenext page) for further information.
www.croydonscouting.org.ukBourne Again 56 - July 2015 5
Croydon Outdoor Explorer Networkwww.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/croydon-outdoor-network
Pinewood Scout Centrewww.pinewoodcroydon.weebly.com/
Croydon Scoutingwww.croydonscouting.org.uk/
George Campbell(Chair – Pinewood Scout Centre)e: [email protected] or call George Campbell on 07841 329721.
On previous occasions we have arranged an informal tea for all fromGLSW on the Saturday afternoon and will be repeating this event – wesimply meet outside the CIC at 4pm – bring some cake and a mug!
We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Chris DeanDeputy CC (Programme)
DISTRICT CHAPLAIN
During the Second World War Scouts from Croydon rose to thecall and helped and supported the war effort in a number of ways. Inparticular they provided service to Mayday Hospital as messengers,look-outs, stretcher-bearers and other important duties in the hospital.
On Wednesday 29 April a special service of commemoration washeld at St Barnabas Chapel at Croydon University Hospital torecognise and commemorate theservice given by Scouts fromCroydon. A plaque recognisingtheir courage, commitment andcompassion was unveiled in the presence of the Bishop ofSouthwark, the CEO of CroydonHealth and Services, former andcurrent Scouts from Croydon andfamilies of those who have diedor are too infirm to attend.
‘Boy Scouts went out as stretcher-bearers tobring in the wounded, the dying and the dead’.
‘One of Croydon’s Scouts receivedthe gilt cross for outstanding heroism’.
Please see the following link for further information about thismoving tribute to the bravery of Croydon Scouts.http://thecroydoncitizen.com/history/prepared-heroism-croydon-scout/
Revd. Andy Dovey District Chaplain e: [email protected]: 07527 818816
Top from the left: John Ashe, Ray Cross,Revd. Hilary Fife, Les Ling and Donald Wood.Below: Roger Jones and Revd. Andy Dovey.
GILWELL REUNION 2015
The Gilwell Reunion takes place over the weekend of 4 to 6September at Gilwell Park, Chingford, and I am sure a sizeablenumber of adults from GLSW will be attending. It has also becometradition for the various District-based Networks to camp theretogether – not far from the refreshment tent near Essex Chase!
PINEWOOD SCOUT CENTRE
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WATER ACTIVITIES
2015 looks like being another superb year for thePinewood Scout Centre with increased usage, highprofile events and excellent feedback from so manysources. Several Croydon Scout Groups have booked thesite for the first time in years which is great news.
The most pleasing aspect has been witnessing so many moreyoung people enjoying lots of traditional Scouting and outdooractivities at Pinewood and also buying into the site by working onour service days which resulted in:
• Wild camping area created along one shore by removingrhodedendra and replanting 70 native trees.
• Large camp fire circle created and seating being installed.
• Small camp fire circle created close to Lodge.
• Tree survey completed by Croydon Council Tree Officer and alltrees identified as dangerous have been felled by approvedchainsaw contractors.
• 45 tonnes of road planings have been laid and whacker platedalong the main track.
• Grass area behind lodge cut right back to tree line, campingarea increased, I had 6 patrol tents pitched there in early May.
• Second parachute shelter installed.
• Overflow car parking area created and surfaced.
In addition to the above we’ve also invested in our unique selling point with the Lake being dredged, banks levelled, slipway
The new badge programme now recognises and rewardsparticipation in water activities like never before. We now havestaged badges for Paddle Power, Dinghy Sailing, Nautical Skills andTime on the Water. We are fortunate to have not one but two wateractivities centres within Croydon District.
PINEWOOD SCOUT CENTREKayaking and Traditional Rafting are both available at Pinewood.A two-hour kayaking session costs £6 per participant and we
are happy to take from Beaver age upwards.Rafting costs £17 per Group for a two-hour session, poles and
barrels supplied, please bring your own ropes.Anyone interested please email [email protected]
SOUTH NORWOOD LAKESailing & canoeing (open boating): Sessions for any member of
Croydon Scout District started in mid-April and have been wellattended so far. They will run on most Saturday mornings until mid-October 2015.
Cubs upwards can try dinghy sailing, but Beavers can, and havebeen open canoeing this year.
Sessions run from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Cost is £6 per youngsterper session, payable to CYSSA. Please book slots or ask anyquestions via: [email protected]
With current instructors we can cover a maximum of 24youngsters per session. They don’t have to be from the same Group,so even if you only have a handful of youngsters interested pleasebook the slots. We’ve have welcomed a couple of new Groups usingthis facility this year and both have been very pleasantly surprised,so why not bring your own youngsters down? South Norwood Lake
constructed and dam repaired with 10 tonnes of clay. Anyonewanting to book kayaking or rafting sessions please email.
The working relationship with Croydon Council Green SpacesTeam, Croydon Adventure Project and the Youth Forest Project hasflourished into a genuine partnership bringing tangible benefits.They organised and delivered another excellent Open Day, launchingtheir Croydon Outdoor Explorer Network (see separate item). OnSunday 24th May over 500 people, mostly non-Scouting families,attended and we’re already receiving enquiries and bookings fromnew non Scouting groups and local Guide units.
We’ve run 2 Pinewood Activity days, during which 78 Explorersand Scouts have taken part in crate stacking, climbing, archery, airrifle shooting and kayaking.
We’re running another on 18th July, anyone interested in takingpart please email. Cost is £20 for a day’s adventurous activities.
We have another Survival Skills weekend for Explorers and Scoutson 3rd & 4th October and 24 of the 40 places have already beenbooked. We will be using the same programme as we did for BearGrylls visit, not sure if he’ll put in a guest appearance though. Againanyone interested in attending please email: .
So, Pinewood is looking good and being well used and enjoyed,I’d encourage more Croydon Groups to make use of it.
George Campbell (Chair) Pinewood Scout Centre e: [email protected]
www.croydonscouting.org.ukBourne Again 56 - July 2015 7
Congratulations to the following on achieving their Wood Badge:Carol Russell 29th Purley, Dawn Lockyer 17th Purley, CharmaineKitazono 1st Purley and Sarah Brown 1st Crystal Palace.
It is a shame that with over 50 Leaders in the District needing todo module 7 and/or 14 that the last training course had to becancelled because only three applied to do a combination of thetwo modules.
TRAINING REPORT
It is hoped that the next course Module 19, International, isbetter attended, as this is a County course that is normally run atBow Lane Morden, but we have arranged for it to be run in Districton Wednesday 8 July at 8pm.
See over for District, County and Young Leadertraining programme dates.
CROYDON DISTRICT MARKETING KIT
The District has invested in and now owns threefully-branded and professional compact gazebos. Oneunit is 4.5m x 3.0m and the other two are 3.0m x2.0m. We have also purchased two ‘Feather Flags’3.4m overall height and ideal for outdoor marketingopportunities. These items are in addition to anassortment of existing roller banners and leaflets withthe Croydon website and the District 0845 2658311telephone number on display.
Other items like special tables with branded tablecovers, laptop, projector, projector screen and petrolgenerator are also available. Various media files canalso be provided for your use on outdoor or Group events.
To support Scouting in your Groups we also have copies of therecent GSL support booklet and the Executive Committee supportbooklet entitled ‘Executive Power’, giving real time support in theimportant GSL and Executive Roles. We also have booklets availablefor both Bears Wood and Pinewood, plus leaflets advertising thePinewood Water Activities to help Section Leaders to arrange and
book activities and programme ideas.Please contact our PR Committee on
[email protected] to discussany local marketing opportunities or
with requests to use the gazebos, banners orpublications.
A deposit and/or smallcharge will be madeagainst the gazebos andfeather flags.
The new round of Safety Audits are underway on the five-yearanniversary from the previous audit. Groups are invited to arrangea date for audit with Tony Grogan.
Guidance notes and proformas on Health and Safety are availableon the District website.
The safety committee are seeking new members to join theirranks and help with the safety audit of Group meeting places. It
SAFETY COMMITTEE
would be helpful if the willing recruit has some Health and Safetybackground, e.g. NEBOSH or Membership of IOSH, or a workplaceappointment or safety training. The committee meets four times ayear and would welcome your support.
Tony Grogan (Chair) District Safety Committee
t: 01959 523649 e: [email protected]
District Website:www.croydonscouting.org.uk
County Website:www.glswscouts.org.uk
Headquarters Website:www.scouts.org.uk
NAN FORMS:MUST be emailed to the address [email protected]
Any enquiries or queries regarding nights away experiences or ‘Nan Forms’ - should be directed to
Dickie Ball (ADC – Nights Away Support) e: [email protected]
ACTIVITY FORMS:MUST be emailed to the address below.
Any enquiries or queries regarding activities or ‘activity forms’ should be directed to
Steve French (District Commissioner)e: [email protected] Produced by Michael Gilbert & Paul Carter
© July 2015 Croydon District Scout Council
Venue: Scout Hut, Alverston Gardens, South Norwood SE25 6LR (Opposite Clifton Road and off Selhurst Road).Time: Weekday 8pm start / Weekend 10:30am start. Bring packed lunch. Cost: Nil. All courses are not in uniform.
To Book: Contact John Seaton District Training Manager t: 020 8325 1879 e: [email protected]
Wednesday 8 July (evening) Module 19 International
Tuesday 22 September (evening) Module 11 Administration
Sunday 18 October Module 8 Skills of Leadership
Module 9 Working With Adults
Validating Module 6 Changes in Scouting
Thursday 26 November (evening) Module 5 Fundamentals
DISTRICT TRAINING 2015
26 September Module 16 Introduction to Residential Experiences 10am – 1pm Bow Lane Morden
Module 38A Skills for Residential Experiences 2pm – 5pm Bow Lane (Both A & B to be attended)
4 October Module 12A & Module 22 Delivering a Quality Programme 10am – 12.30pm Bow Lane Morden
Module 12B Programme Planning 1.30pm – 5pm Bow Lane Morden
10 & 11 Oct. (Weekend camp) Module 38B Skills for Residential Experiences time to be advised Bears Wood (Both A & B to be attended)
8 November Module 19 International 10am – 12.30pm Bow Lane Morden
Module 17 & Module 23 Running Safe Activities 1.30pm – 4.30pm Bow Lane Morden
29 November Module 15 Challenging Behaviour 10am – 12.30pm Bow Lane Morden
Module 13 & Module 21 Growing the Movement 1.30pm – 5pm Bow Lane Morden
COUNTY TRAINING 2015
Modules Venue will be at 1st Lower Morden Scout HQ, Bow Lane SM4 4SJ. Application forms from Mrs J. Condon, 34 Arundel Avenue, Morden, SM4 4DX. e: [email protected]
or download from the County website: www.glswscouts.org.uk/applicationformCost for Modules: £4 for each Module attending Cost for Module 38 A & B: £40 Cheque made payable to: GLSW Training Account
John Seaton District Training Manager t: 020 8325 1879 e: [email protected]
Sunday 5 July Modules A, B & F 1st Coulsdon
Saturday 12 September Modules A, J, E & Missions Venue 1st S&A
Sunday 15 November Modules, A, C & I Venue TBA
YOUNG LEADER TRAINING 2015
All sessions start at 9am, run until 12 noon and uniform is not required. Information is sent out 2/3 weeks prior to the Training Session.Any queries please contact Vicki Armitage at [email protected] or Margaret Tyler at [email protected]
