Issue 57, July 2002

In this issue:

♦ Editorial ♦ Leader Training ♦ News from the Groups ♦ Census 2002 ♦ Quidditch 2 ♦ Blast from the Past ♦ The Global Village ♦ Activities with Boy Scouts of America ♦ Criminal Records Bureau ♦ Welcome, Farewell and Congratulations

Editorial About ten days ago after the BGA team meeting, the five of us on the team spent a hectic afternoon packaging up all the new material to be posted. Hopefully some of you at least have received this by now. I am sure you will find it very exciting and user friendly. It is thanks to David Bull and David McKee managing to get funding for this material that we have been able to send it to you. Each parcel was valued anything between £21 - £80, you are very lucky, all Groups in the UK had to pay for their own out of Group funds. We would therefore like to point out that this material is for the Group and not for individual Leaders. If you leave the Group please do not take any of it with you.

Many of you will not see this issue until after the summer break so I hope you have had a good one. You will see there is an important piece about the Criminal Records Bureau that Bob has put in, please read it carefully.

Leader Training As you will see from your new materials when they arrive there is a folder called Scouting Essentials which is cross-sectional and gives all the information one needs to run a group. Added to this each section has it’s own Essentials with specific information on that section. These are two very important resources for all Leaders but particularly for new Leaders coupled with the section Programmes file. To further assist you Bob has put together BGA Essentials which initially will be sent out to Group Contacts (two copies) and then to all new Leaders. We are also revamping the Welcome pack to make it more relevant and eliminate duplication. Armed with these documents a new Leader should have all they need to get started, however, as I have said before if you have any queries please feel free to contact me.

In the October issue I will hopefully be able to tell you more about the new training scheme that is being brought in over the next two years. I feel it will be far better suited to BGA needs but in the meantime we will continue to provide support as best we can.

Heather Elliott, County Training Manager

As you know, we try to feature a different Group each issue. This time it was to have been 1st Kampala. However, we have not received anything from Uganda which is a pity.

The next issue hopefully will feature 1st Bandar Seri Begawan so I hope to hear from them soon.

News from the Groups

1st Ascension Island

“They Came – They Went – They Got Burnt”!

Twenty seven of our good friends - Scouts and Leaders from the First Portstewart Scout Troop in Northern Ireland, joined us for eleven hectic days together over Easter.

The “Twin Peaks Challenge” – Weather Post & White Horse together, Swimming at Comfortless Cove, English Bay, Georgetown and Two-Boats Pool (at least every day!) The Dew Pond and Pierhead Jump, Raft Building, Disco, Wide Games and Campfires, “Cowboys & Indians Theme Day, ”Beavers & Cubs down Breakneck Valley and The Pines, Boat trip to Bosunbird, Barge Fishing, Ariane visit, The Museum, “Down the Fumaroles” Turtle Watching, Snack Bar, “With the Guides”, Two-Boats Club Day, were most of what we got up to – PHEW!!!

As ever, some friendships were renewed and strengthened whilst new ones were begun. The two

Troops have now enjoyed 5 hosting experiences over recent years.

The only down side of the trip was that it was all over too quickly – there were tears at the airhead and a few had threatened to “take to the hills” as they didn’t want to leave.

A very big thank you to all who made it possible, - a great experience was had by all and one that will have enlightened and enriched our own scouts for years to come.

Thanks everyone – here’s to the next venture!

N.J.

The other side of the coin – from 1st Portstewart Scouts A party of twenty three Scouts and four Leaders from 1st Portstewart have recently returned from their expedition to Ascension Island in the south Atlantic. This was the

latest in a series of joint camps to be held by the 1st Ascension Scout Troop and the 1st Portstewart Scout Troop and it allowed the local scouts to experience life on a very remote and unique island.

Ascension is a small island situated just south of the equator mid-way between Africa and South America. It has a very barren landscape of dormant volcanoes with a small green tropical area at the top of its highest mountain. The population of about 900 is made up of mostly Saint Helenains and the warmth of their hospitality was a major highlight of the trip.

All the Scouts greatly appreciated the support that they received for the fund raising events that had been arranged over the last 9 months. Without this help an expedition to Ascension would not have been possible, the cost of travel alone coming to more than £20,000. Support was also received from The Honourable Irish Society, The National Lottery and many more individuals and local businesses.

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All the hard work involved in planning and fund-raising led to the Scouts setting off from Portstewart on Sunday March 24th for the 22 hour journey to Ascension. After flying to Heathrow and travelling to RAF Brize Norton they eventually boarded an RAF Tri-Star for the final part of their journey. On arrival they were met by the entire Ascension Scout Troop and many of their families, all keen to greet their friends from Portstewart.

The first week of the expedition was to be spent high in the mountains at a former NASA base. Here the Scouts were able to acclimatise to the heat and get to know their hosts. Each day was filled with different activities including hikes across the barren landscape, swimming and snorkelling, a visit to the local Guide camp, fishing and going into the fumaroles (caves formed by cooling lava). There was also the chance to witness the spectacle of green turtles coming onto the beaches at night to dig out a nest and lay their eggs. Some of the Scouts were allowed to carry baby turtles from the local conservation centre down to the surf where they would begin their long swim back to Brazil.

At the end of the first week a family picnic was held with all the Ascension Scouts, Cubs and Beavers. This allowed the Portstewart Scouts a chance to meet their host families before leaving the NASA base to stay with their Saint Helenian friends. During the final few days they joined the local Easter Fair, were entertained at the Administrators residence and were able to buy gifts at one of only two shops on the island. When the time for departure came the Leaders had to keep their fingers crossed because there had been rumours about Portstewart Scouts hiding in the mountains so as to miss the flight home. However, everyone turned up and after a long journey returned safely to Portstewart.

This, the 5th joint expedition, has once again strengthened the friendships that have been formed by the two Scout Troops over the last 13 years. It is hoped that contact will be maintained and that the wonderful shared experiences will be remembered by all those involved for many years to come.

1st Nanjing

Camping In China!

On 1st June eight eager boys met Akela, Grey Beaver and Baloo (a Chinese teacher - Ms. Lu) for our first ever camp. We had been allowed to use a field in one of the expat compounds. Not very exotic, but the choice was limited. My husband (Mr. Harrison) was also there - our cook for the weekend, hidden away in the Kindergarten

building that we were using as a base. The weather was hot and sunny and the boys very excited.

We began with the basics, putting up the tents. The boys

were all working for their Explorers badge during the weekend and doing the first part of their Campers badge. Once we were settled in bases began, tracking and compass work, shelter building and some nature studies. We broke off from these for some lunch and then an expedition to a nearby lake. Some games and free time followed this before the boys had to cook their own hamburgers and banana with chocolate (yum!) The boys had to get the barbecues going themselves and clear up afterwards.

The evening saw another base, free time and then a few wide games. Limited space made these interesting, but

as usual being out at night with the torches proved fun enough. The evening ended with Pizza and some very tired Cubs. Lights out by 10.30 - now that's not bad!

Mind you the birds had us awake at 4.30 am on the Sunday! The boys stayed in their tents till 6.00am, some

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even went back to sleep! But then it was a few games before breakfast at 8.00am. Inspection and flagbreak followed (minus a flag! we haven't got round to sorting one out yet.) then another hike, this time a little longer, we were gone for 3 hours, cook began to get a little worried. However, we all returned safely but exhausted around midday. Another base, lunch and then pack up - time had gone so quickly. Needless to say the boys didn't want to go home.

Before they went we tried out their shelters just to see if they would have kept out water! Not bad - so they each got their Explorer badge at the closing ceremony.

The following day they were all at school, and a lot of parents said that they didn't know much about what had gone on as the boys had come home and fallen asleep straight away. However that night the boys filled them in with every little detail!!

Akela (Jane Harrison)

1st Stavanger I am the Scout Leader of the 1st Stavanger British School Scouts. The Group started in April 1997 when we had several boys aged 10½ - 11 who had left Cubs,

including my son, and no Group to go on to. I had been the Cub Leader from Sept 1994 - Dec 1996. When we started David Saunders was the SL and I had the role of ASL. Unfortunately as with most BGAs, folk are transitory and David went back to UK at the end of 1998, and I took over as Leader. My "problem" is that I am a local employee here in Stavanger so I just watch people come and go. When we started the Group we had nine Scouts all aged under 11½. The numbers have fluctuated over the years to as low as four and mostly having between five and seven. We join in activities and camps with the Guides (which my wife runs) this gives better numbers.

We had our last meeting of the School year last night and that was the final one for my son and his friend, now 16 years old, who were founder members in the Unit. Another Norwegian boy who joined us 2 years ago at 16 left yesterday too, at nearly 18! As we were such a small Group we did not start a Venture Scout Unit. Now when we re-start after the summer I will have six boys aged 10 ½- 12, so we will be back to being a younger group so therefore, unfortunately I do not have plans to start an Explorer Unit in the near future.

Norway is a great place for the outdoor activities and camping. I have certainly had fun being involved with the Cub, Scout and Guide Units and get great pleasure in seeing the boys and girls enjoying themselves and learning and developing "Scouting" skills. Although our numbers have been small we have had regular attendance and good feedback, I hope that continues. It is a shame that the BGAs have such a transitory membership because it would be great to have more continuity in the Units. We have been fortunate in the last few years as there has been a core of Scouts and Guides who are more permanently resident here.

I thought you might like to see the attached photo taken last weekend on a camp my wife and I ran for the 13+ years, Scouts and Guides. It was a fun camp but sad too as that was the last Scout/Guide camp for all ten of them as they all have decided to leave either because they are leaving Norway or are too busy at school. For those still in Stavanger they were interested in getting together for another camp but could not commit to a weekly meeting.

Tim Austin, Scout Leader

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United Arab Emirates

District Parade

The St George’s Day Parade and Service went off very well and I was really delighted in every way. There must have been 150 people there, of whom about three-quarters were in uniform (Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and their Leaders). Tim Christian & I renewed our Promise, in our new roles with David Sim as flag bearer, and some Cubs told the story of St George. My son’s Cubs told us a bit about six of the Commonwealth countries, as part of the Jubilee, and Richard recited the first verse of Wordsworth’s Daffodil poem; three other Cubs read the other verses. The Guides and Brownies paid a nice tribute to the Queen Mother & Princess Margaret and gave us lots of info that I certainly didn’t know about their involvement with the Guide Association.

We prayed for the Queen, and for peace, and for our Scouts and Guides, and sang rousing hymns and finished off with juice and biscuits in the porch outside! My husband Martin filmed most of it and took several photos that we’ll forward to “Far & Wide”. Tim was stunned and thrilled to receive his Wood Badge; and I presented Jim Ward (2nd Dubai) with his 10 years certificate which was a complete surprise for him and he was thrilled too. One of the Guide DCs who has been here 20 years said she has never attended either a St George’s Parade or witnessed Leaders renewing their Promise (perhaps she meant in church?) So it really was a special occasion, added to which the church (Christ Church, Jebel Ali) was only consecrated in March! The Vicar, Peter Roberts, is a former Eagle Scout in USA and was Group Chairman at his last parish in Wetherby.

I am hoping to get a District website organised by the end of May and will let you know the address. Then all the sections can post their news.

Beavers are all thriving with new leaders coming forward every month – volunteering to help!! Plans are well under way for a second 3rd Dubai Cub pack in September. The only target that has so far eluded us is re-opening a Scout Troop (we had some volunteers who have gone very quiet!) but we’ll keep trying.

Susan Jalili, DC

Census 2002 My thanks to all those Groups who sent in their Census returns on time, (or almost on time!). Jane Harrison of 1st Nanjing was in Gold Medal position on 23rd January, with Jim Milne of British School Scout Group, Riyadh taking Silver on 2nd February and Jackie Hendry of 1st Mallorca a Bronze on 5th February. It seems that, out of 10,250 returns, only a handful are still outstanding. Sad to report that at the time of writing this (15th June), all of these are BGAs. “Turnip” medal position I think!

Current BGA membership is 982 youth members plus 169 adults – plus those in the handful of BGA Groups which have not yet re-registered.

Membership Subscription 2003 I’m sure many of you will have noted the information which was shown in April’s Talking Points? If this had escaped your notice, I’m reproducing the major points so that you can “Be Prepared” in your budgets!

“Membership Subscription 2003: As has become the Committee's normal practice, the Association's Membership Subscription for 2003 was discussed and agreed. The Committee gives the Movement advance information early in the preceding year. This is done despite the difficulties in forecasting numbers, expenditure, and the external financial climate more than a year ahead. The major factors in deciding the Membership Subscription for 2003 were

• the need to stabilise and consolidate the core operation of the Association's services

• the need to make some provision for inflation - which seems likely to be in the order of 3% over the year

• the need to manage centrally the further reduction in income consequent upon the anticipated continued decline in paying membership

• the reduction of investment income as the Association uses its reserves to support the development of Scouting;

• the major increase in the cost of insurance following the terrorist attacks on the United States in September of last year.

Whilst the Association has been bearing these costs since December 2001 and will continue to do so for the financial year 2002/2003, the premium increase - currently equivalent to £1.20 per Member - will have to be passed on in 2003/2004. In the light of all the information available, the Committee has decided that the Association's Membership Subscription for 2003 will be £17.00, with a rebate of 50p for prompt payment.”

It’s worth remembering that there’s no BGA County membership subscription. The not-inconsiderable cost of supporting BGAs is met from HQ International funds and from private pockets.

Scoutbase – what’s in it for you? Scoutbase (www.scoutbase.org.uk) is The Scout Association Member’s website. I know that some (many?) of you visit this, but it’s worth reminding ourselves of just what’s there for us.

Apart from a link to the Information Centre where you can buy the latest books, leaflets and a host of support material plus gifts galore, there are many other Scout Association links to the latest versions of Factsheets, most of which can be downloaded – free!

There are links to POR with all the latest updates, links to activities, games, programme ideas, crafts, swaps,

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trading clubs Scout Association forms, badges, clipart, and so on and so on and so on !

The link to SID (Scouting Internet Directory) will give you access to every County, District and Group who are members of The Scout Association. BGA is, of course, a “County” and, our County being “the world”, is geographically the largest County in the Association.

If you log into SID you can add your own email address and appointment details (as part of “British Groups Abroad”) so that others can make contact with you. You can sign-up to receive an electronic (email) version of Talking Points.

We have our own BGA page on Scoutbase. Unfortunately this is rather out-of-date; we are currently recruiting a new Web Master (we hope!), and have all previous editions of Far And Wide, in Acrobat format, ready to put onto the Web page along with other BGA-specific items for your information and support.

Visit Scoutbase and SID – and get yourself listed!

New Programme – complimentary handbooks On 14th June the BGA Team spent a few hours “picking and packing” the various handbooks we’d promised. These have been paid for by The Scout Association’s “Brotherhood Fund” (thanks).

What will you receive? Every Group which has completed the 2002 Census return (and paid their membership subscription) will receive:

• One copy of Scouting essentials and one copy of Nights away, plus – for each Section registered:

• One copy of “Section” essentials and one copy of

“Section” programmes.

So, for example, if you’d registered only with a Beaver Scout Colony, you’ll receive Scouting essentials and Nights away plus Colony essentials and Colony programmes.

Groups with Venture Scout Units (or potential for Explorer Scouts) will receive Unit essentials, the handbook for Explorer Scouts. Unfortunately the Unit programmes handbook has proved very popular and is already being reprinted! We didn’t receive any copies with our order, but will send these on to the relevant Groups as soon as possible.

The parcels have been sent to the registered Group Contact at the latest advised address (two Groups had asked for special mailing arrangements for these parcels). I hope your Group contact’s mailing address is current – HQ have just had the first “new programme mailing” for one Group returned to them as the Group Contact had moved but hadn’t let us know their new address. Apart from losing the SCOUTING Magazine (which costs £70 a year per Group to send out), the wasted postage was equivalent to one member’s subscription for 2002!

So – please keep us informed of any changes in your registered Group Contact or their address!

A Force to be reckoned with Settling down in front of the TV on Sunday evening (16th June) after a hard day’s loafing in the garden, I noticed that “Ground Force” (BBC TV’s gardening programme) was a special edition from the Falkland Islands. The Ground Force Team – Alan Titchmarsh and colleagues were refurbishing the courtyard of the King Edward VII Hospital in Port Stanley.

I was pleased to see Tim Miller, Cub Scout Helper with 1st Falkland Islands Scout Group, talking to Alan Titchmarsh, and even more pleased to see Tim’s unpaid labourer Janet Miller, planting out in the new garden.

Janet Miller is Cub Scout Leader with 1st Falkland Islands, and told the world that she met her husband when she took her Shropshire Cubs on an outing (in Shropshire!)

Janet had some 14 year’s service as a Cub Scout Leader in Shropshire before moving to the Falkland Islands 10 years ago, and was awarded the Medal of Merit for Good Service to Scouting in September last year.

Good to put faces to the names, Janet and Tim – I also spotted a Cub Scout lurking around at the end of the programme, were there any other 1st Falklands members there?

Adult Appointments – The Scout Association and the Criminal Records Bureau You will possibly be aware that The Scout Association has been preparing for some time to use the CRB checking facility. As from 1st June 2002 only the new CRB Application Form may be used to check an individual’s suitability.

I have specifically checked with the Association’s Chief Executive to confirm that this requirement applies also to BGAs, and the answer is an unambiguous “yes”!

I have previously had to complete CE forms for many appointment applications I receive, but cannot do this for the new CRB disclosure form which calls for evidence of identity. Sets of the new forms are now in the post to Group Contacts with enough guidance notes and instructions to ensure that there will be no problems.

The former Confidential Enquiry Form (CE) has been withdrawn, and any spare copies should be destroyed. Please understand that we are obliged to use the new forms and that any appointment applications not accompanied by completed CRB forms simply can’t be processed.

I am including with this edition of Far And Wide, “Frequently Asked Questions” handout that Records Office has issued, with their approved amendment to make it relevant to BGAs.

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Please contact the County Secretary (rspargo@netcentral.co.uk) if you have any questions.

Quidditch 2 This is another epic on Quidditch for you. More suitable for older boys than younger because I think you’ll find it quite like the real game.

There are just the same balls and the same type of players, such as the Seeker who has to bend down on a scooter to pick up the Snitch (tennis ball) or the Chaser who is after a soft football and tries to kick it into the goal. The Beater’s job is to keep an eye on the Bludger, so that it can be used to knock people off their scooters by hitting them (with a hard basketball as the Bludger) on the legs or on the scooter.

There is a Keeper on each goal that is a tennis net and the centre post is the barrier between the two goals, left side and right side. The game is played on a hard tennis court on scooters. Make sure that the tennis court isn’t on grass because scooters are not very good on grass

Richard, a Cub Scout

Blast from the Past

The Dragon Scouts of Shanghai.

We know that very soon after B.-P. published “Scouting for Boys” in six fortnightly parts between March and May 1908, British Scout Troops formed in Europe. St George’s School in Paris was registered in November 1909; the 1st Peninsula Boy Scout Troop was formed in Oporto, Portugal in 1910 and the 1st Brussels started in 1911. These were known as British Scouts in Foreign Countries – (the forerunner of BGA). BSWE did not exist until 1952, although there was a Local Association called British Scouts in France up to 1939 and British Scouts Germany existed for five years before the formation of BSWE.

Surprisingly, one of the earliest British Troops overseas was formed outside the Empire in Shanghai, China. Early in 1909, JB Dixon of Garner Quelch & Co in Shanghai obtained “Scouting for Boys”. With RB Roach as ASM and a dozen boys, (including Alan Hall, who was far too young for Scouts but Cubs had not yet been dreamt of), formed a small but select Troop working on Scout lines. With a Den at Mr Berthet’s house and a HQ at Benjamin Buildings in Shanghai, the first official photograph of this Troop was taken on the steps of the Consular Supreme Court in Shanghai in Oct 1909. The buglers were borrowed from the Shanghai Volunteer Constabulary for the occasion of marching to the Consulate. ASM Roach is at the back, fifth from the right and Scout Master Dixon is seated.

1st Shanghai, outside Supreme Court, October 1909

In 1910, Mr Hertslet who had been a Scoutmaster in UK, came out to work for Dodwells. With Mr Gregory as ASM, who had been a Scout with the Canadian NW Frontier Police, he joined the small band in 1911 and with their experience and knowledge, the Troop grew. The HQ moved to the old Cathedral Church house in Kiukiang Road with Dean Walker as a keen supporter. A photo was taken outside the Cathedral in late 1911. Hertslet is shown fifth from the left in the back row; SM Dixon is shown (half cut off) on the back right.

1st Shanghai, outside Cathedral in late 1911

Hertslet and Dixon were hard working Leaders and interested some of the leading businessmen and the Consul General Mr Fraser (later Sir Everard Fraser KCMG) in the Movement. Hertslet, who never lost touch with Scout HQ in London, supported by the Consul General, made an application for the Shanghai Troop to be registered and affiliated to the British Association. Colonel HS Browning, then Commissioner for Overseas Dominions and Colonies, and B.-P. himself, took a personal interest in the Troop in this land outside the Empire. Registration was granted and an unnumbered warrant granted on 24 May 1911.

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1st Troop Warrant, May 1911

The Boys Scout Association, Shanghai Branch was then founded with the Consul General as ‘Chief Scout’, complete with a committee of prominent businessmen.

The names of the members of the original Troop who gained honours were recorded on an Honours Board, which hung in the Scout Den of the Cathedral School for Boys until the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in 1941.

In 1912, B.-P. visited Shanghai. A parade of all 120 Scouts in Shanghai included 35 of the British affiliated Scouts, who met the Chief and the 1st Jamboree or ‘Camp Display’ was held in the Consulate grounds. The photo shows the Troop waiting to be inspected by B.-P.

Waiting to meet B.-P. Shanghai 1912

Three of these were already Kings Scouts and many more in the photo later achieved it.

Meanwhile several of the original Troop were going back to UK boarding schools and took the opportunity to attend the Birmingham Scout Rally in 1913. Led by Hertslet and Roach, these Scouts were distinguished by wearing a Chinese Dragon badge and were known as the “Dragon Troop” and had had a Dragon Flag presented by the ladies of Shanghai. The efficiency and smartness of these Scouts in competition with Scouts from all over the world gained for Shanghai a prominent place in the reports on the Rally. A Troop photo taken at the Rally shows nine Scouts and SM Hertslet on the right of Kings Scout AM Scott. Prince Arthur of Connaught, President of the Scout Association, gave a special lunch to the Dragon Troop where B.-P. presented the Prince who pinned a bronze swastika on each member. The swastika was a popular Scout emblem being used for Thanks Badges and the Medal of Merit before it was discredited by the Nazis. The Scouts completed their education in UK, no doubt joining local school Troops.

1st Shanghai at Birmingham Rally, UK 1913

Years later in 1941, when the Shanghai British Association discovered that British Scouts wore County badges, it was suggested that Shanghai should have one and a Chinese Dragon was proposed. The DC

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agreed, never mentioning the previous connection of the Dragon with Shanghai Scouting. The badge was designed and made by Denis Kliene of the 9th Shanghai Rovers. It shows a yellow Dragons head on green, with a red mouth and eyes. These three colours represent the Wolf Cub, Scout and Rover Scout sections respectively. The DC decreed that due to the lack of District funds caused by the war, each Group had to make its own badge, copying the pattern of the 9th

Shanghai. The badge was worn up to 1953 when the last British Group (which met in secret) closed.

Around two dozen Shanghai Groups registered with the British, including two Russian, a French, a German and an American Troop, who were members before forming their own associations. The German Troop was absorbed by the Hitler Youth in 1933. By the end of 1938, more than 480 Cubs, Scouts, Rovers and Scouters were recorded in the ten Groups registered with the British Association. In addition, there were over 300 in the Shanghai (British) Guide Association. Of course, due to the peculiar nature of the International Settlement of Shanghai, many of these were English-speaking ‘other’ Nationals, very much like many of the modern BGAs of today.

Tony Dunn, BGA Historian.

The Global Village If we could shrink the earth’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would contain approximately 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 8 Africans and 14 people from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south. Of these:

52 of the 100 people would be female

70 would be non-white

70 would be non-Christian

11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire wealth and all 6 would be from the United States

80 would live in substandard homes

70 would be unable to read

50 would suffer from malnutrition

Only 1 would have a college education

Only 1 would own a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

Cub Essentials and Cub Powerpack Update Some of you may already have received this notification in Info Centre's update 01, but - there is a discrepancy between the Pack Essentials and the Cub Scout Powerpack books. The factsheet FS200201 gives

details of the changes and can be downloaded from Scoutbase.

The same update gave information on the status of Adult Training and the revision to Chapter 5 of Scouting essentials sent to you recently:

Adult Training Review Many of you have been sending in your requests for an updated version of Chapter 5 to the Scout Information Centre.

As a result of wishing to deliver the new Adult Training programme as a full package, the Committee of the Council has concluded that it cannot afford the entire cost of the new scheme within a single budgetary year. The need to absorb escalating insurance costs in the next financial year means that the cost will have to be spread over two years. This will mean that the local implementation will be delayed by approximately six months to Autumn 2003.

Further details are being prepared and will be sent in due course. This means that rather than you getting your new Chapter 5 in the Autumn of 2003, the revised Chapter 5 for Scouting Essentials will be delayed until Spring 2004. We will of course hold your forms on file until the new material is ready for distribution.

As previously mentioned there will be an Adult Training special in October’s Far and Wide.

The good turn die Make paper or card boxes – before they are glued together write six ‘good turns’, one on each of the faces, and Akela puts the seventh inside on a slip of paper before the box is sealed.

Each day, Cub Scouts roll the die and carry out the ‘good turn’ on the uppermost face, crossing it out when completed. If you roll a completed ‘good turn’, then throw again.

On the seventh day, undo the box and complete Akela’s ‘good turn’ challenge.

Taken from ‘Scouting’, November 1999

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Activities with Boy Scouts of America. Many of you are already aware if there is a BSA group operating in your area. For those of you who don’t, here is a list of those close to BGAs, taken from their websites. Quite often it is possible to have an activity with a BSA group which can be beneficial for all concerned. If you don’t know where they meet in your area, try the American Embassy or American Schools. You will see from their websites that there are far more BSA abroad than there are BGAs. The reason for this is simple. The Americans pour thousands of dollars into their overseas Scouting and have far more employed full-time Scouters than we have. Also they are heavily supported by American businesses. The UK Scout Association has neither the money nor the resources to provide a similar set-up. (Just thought I’d mention it before we get the letters asking why we cannot do the same in BGA!)

DIRECT SERVICE COUNCIL

BSA Boy Scout Troops BSA Cub Scout Packs Troop No. Location Pack No. Location 826 Manama, Bahrain 3826 Manama, Bahrain 943 Beijing, China 3944 Beijing, China 455 Jakarta, Indonesia 3455 Jakarta, Indonesia

3806 Amman, Jordan 935 Al Zour, Kuwait 3935 Mina Alzur, Kuwait 938 Safat, Kuwait 3938 Safat, Kuwait 818 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3818 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 711 Muscat, Oman 3971 Muscat, Oman 252 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 3253 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 253 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 3255 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 257 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3257 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 260 Khamis, Saudi Arabia 3260 Khamis, Saudi Arabia 7 Singapore 3107 Singapore 458 Singapore 3458 Singapore

3459 Singapore 965 Kampala, Uganda 3913 Dubai, U.A.E. 813 Dubai, U.A.E. 5919 Dubai, U.A.E.

BSA Venturing Crews Crew No Location

2253 Dhahran, Saudi, Arabia

TRANSATLANTIC COUNCIL

BSA Boy Scout Troops BSA Cub Scout Packs Troop No. Location Pack No. Location

343 Athens, Greece 236 Rome, Italy 236 Rome, Italy 230 Stavanger, Norway 230 Stavanger, Norway For details of BSA groups in Athens and Stavanger contact: pbbeau@aol.com

For details of BSA groups in Rome contact: GarverAM@cmtymail.98.asg.army.mil

For Direct Council BSA groups listed, contact intnldiv@netbsa.org

Their website is www.direct.servicebsa.org

Although American Scouting predominates in numbers, look out for other expat Scouting. I know that there was New Zealand and Australian Scouting in Singapore, there is a Filipino Troop in Dhahran, Taiwanese Scouts in the Philippines, as well as European Scout Groups scattered around the world, so keep your eyes and ears going! Tony Dunn

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The Scout Association

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Checks

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the CRB check replace the Association’s Form CE checks?

The CRB form will replace the Association’s Form CE. However the Association will continue to carry out its own internal ‘CE’ check using the information on the CRB form.

Who should be checked?

Those likely to have unsupervised access to young people including Warranted Appointments, Skills Instructors, Activities Authorisations, Scout Network members, Scout Fellowship members and Section Helpers must be checked using the CRB. Additionally, Officers of Group, District, County and Area Executives (i.e. Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) must be checked using the CRB.

Additionally, new Warrant applications for existing leaders must be preceded by a CRB application.

Do adults working with special needs/vulnerable adults need to be checked?

Adults working with special needs/vulnerable adults should also be checked.

Do we check 16 & 17 year olds?

Only those over 18 years old will be checked through the CRB as a youth Member under the age of 18 years working with another Section must not have unsupervised access to youth Members.

Do identity checks need to be done by a member of the District Team?

Ideally the District Secretary or the Secretary of the Appointments Sub-committee should check the documentation. However, the Association recognises the practicalities of doing this where the District is very large in numbers or geographically spread. Therefore, this check can also be done by the Group Scout Leader or Scouter in Charge. For British Groups Abroad, BGA County Appointments sub-committee administers all Appointments. Identity checks should therefore be undertaken by the Group Scout Leader or Group Contact except where a District Commissioner has been appointed for that specific District

Who should have the CRB booklet Applying for Disclosure?

Each Group should hold a copy. A copy should be available to applicants to help with the completion of the CRB form. Ideally the completion of the CRB form should be done with the help of the Group Scout Leader, Group Contact or other District personnel as above.

Why does the CRB request a reference? Does it replace those requested by the Association?

The CRB will use the referee in the event that the applicant does not have any of the preferred forms of identity. It does not replace the referees requested on the Association’s Form AA (Adult Appointment Application).

Can the CRB form be photocopied?

No. Each form has a unique reference number, which is used as part of the tracking process by the CRB. Supplies of the form are available on request from the BGA County Secretary (email: rspargo@netcentral.co.uk).

Will the Applicant receive details of the outcome of the check from the CRB?

The Applicant and The Scout Association Records Department are the only recipients of the actual disclosure report from the CRB.

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Welcome, Farewell – and Congratulations

We welcome the following Leaders and Helpers who have joined us in BGA since 15th March this year:

Peter Antao ASL 1st Manama, Bahrain Lynne Armitage AESL 1st Fuengirola (The Ark), Spain Richard Bainbridge CS Helper 2nd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Michelle Baker BS Helper/Treasurer Tanglin Trust School Scout Group, Singapore Colette Breslin BS Helper 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Linda Casey Faucher ABSL St Catherine’s Attica, Greece Andrew Colegate CS Helper 1st Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Terrence Eeckelaers ACSL 1st Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Cath Etchells BS Helper 1st Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Quentin Fogg ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Denise Hardstaff ABSL St Catherine’s Attica, Greece Julie Hipkiss BS Helper 1st Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Jan Horn CS Helper 3rd Oman (Ras Al Hamra), Oman Fiona Ivison BS Helper Tanglin Trust School Scout Group, Singapore Catherine Kennedy ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Kenneth Lenton SL 1st Fuengirola (The Ark), Spain Louise Mills BSL 1st Manama, Bahrain Ian Mockett ACSL 1st Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Gillian Rollo BS Helper 1st Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Ricky Smith ASL 1st Fuengirola (The Ark), Spain Debbie Turner BS Helper Tanglin Trust School, Singapore Barbara Ward BS Helper 1st Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Marjorie Wright ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Farewell, and many thanks to the following Leaders and Helpers who have left BGA:

Alison Bamforth ABSL 1st Salmiya, Kuwait Stephanie Bradshaw Helper 1st Beijing, China Julie Capstick ABSL 1st Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia Mike Capstick CSL 1st Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia Paul Chapman CSL 1st Salmiya, Kuwait Kathleen Cox CSL 1st Dubai, United Arab Emirates Jacqueline Cracknell ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Mike Crossley Group Contact 1st Salwa, Kuwait Richard Dennis SL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Neville Dutton GSL 1st Salwa, Kuwait Dale Bowers SL 1st Jamestown, St Helena Susan Evans BSL/GC 1st Al Ain, United Arab Emirates David Forrester DSL(D) Spain Keith Gordon ASL 1st Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Rebecca Hathaway Helper 1st Beijing, China Elaine Howe CSL 1st Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Christopher Hurley ACSL 1st Salmiya, Kuwait Deidre Kemp Helper 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Julie Keown BSL 1st Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia Eila Merriman ABSL 1st Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Shelley Owen GSL 1st Awali, Bahrain Timothy Owen ACSL 1st Awali, Bahrain Katrina Rafferty CSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Carol Smith ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Angela Souter ACSL/GC 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Linda Taggart ABSL Tanglin Trust School, Singapore Lorna Tripney ABSL 3rd Dubai, United Arab Emirates Mary Walker BSL 1st Manama, Bahrain Lesley Wilson ACSL 1st Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Marlene Yon CSL 1st Jamestown, St Helena Linda Yu Helper 1st Beijing, China

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Congratulations to the following Leaders who have received Awards from The Scout Association:

Honorary Scouter

Peter Kinton Adviser British Groups Abroad

Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service

Gillian Salway ACSL 2nd Dubai, United Arab Emirates

James Ward CSL 2nd Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Congratulations to the following Leaders who have been awarded Service certificates:

5 Years

Stephen Baggaley ACSL 1st Mallorca, Spain Elaine Liddell CSL & GC 1st Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

10 Years

Gordon Bailey GSL 1st Isa Town, Bahrain Michael Hiley SL 1st Oman, Oman

James Ward CSL 2nd Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Congratulations to the following Leaders who have been awarded Wood Badges:

Tim Christian ACSL / ADC(AS) 1st Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Derick Postlethwaite SL 1st Salmiya, Kuwait

I’m sorry to report that the following BGA Scout Groups have now closed:

1st Awali, Bahrain

1st Salwa, Kuwait

British School Manila, Philippines

1st Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Best wishes to you all

Bob Spargo, County Secretary