Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Warwickshire Scouts WISPA magazine
Citation preview
Warwickshire Scouts Issue 85 - February 2010
Training in Warwickshire | WAGS GangShow | Santa’s Helpers in Rugby | Retaining Young People
www.warwickshirescouts.org.uk
Having first checked with the Met office, 28 Atherstone Scouts
& Explorers plus 7 leaders made the trip to Gilwell Winter
Camp. Although none of us appeared in the BBC news bulletin,
but we did enjoy many of the 70 activities on offer; ranging
from quad bikes to hi-ropes course and brush-boarding to
bucking broncos.
Temperatures plummeted to -6 at night; forewarned everyone
had 2 sleeping bags and we cosied up in the tents. Come
Sunday one of our number decided to celebrate the
temperature rising to a giddy zero........with an ice-lolly, before
a steady trip home.
Mick Judd
2010 has started with a bang.
We have a full Jamboree Contingent for
Sweden having filled the 36 young person
places from 113 applications. A whole
weekend was taken up by the selection
process with over 20
leaders helping assess
the candidates. I wish
we could send all of
them; it was a difficult
call for the team.
By the time you read
this we will have
enjoyed our annual
County Development
day, where we share
good practice and
explore new ways of working in Scouting.
Our focus this year will be the role of
young people in decision making.
The Scout Fellowship is changing and
Scout Active Support Units will start to
evolve later this year. We are on our way as
a County to rolling out this change and
Districts are keen to follow and some have
their own plans. These units should be a
really good resource.
Welcome to James Finch as a young person
rep. on our Exec. We now have 2 reps but
room for more! Jason Wiggins has taken
on the role as Health & Safety advisor and
he and I shall meet it when it's safe to
travel. And thank you to Mark Waterstreet,
our Regional Commissioner, who is
stepping down.
I hope to run into you at WAGS. Have fun!
Dave
County Outlook
To increase youth membership by 3% | To increase the number of adult volunteers by 3%
Chairman's PieceWe are only weeks into 2010 and already there
are a number of new initiatives being
undertaken, all with a view to make
Warwickshire Scouting relevant and enjoyable.
These include a new appointment on the County
Exec', James Finch, who will be an asset when
we discuss issues that demand a Young Person's
point of view.
Work has commenced to examine the way the
County Executive committee works and how it
can be improved. The review involves a sub-
committee looking inwards and attempting to
identify the strengths and weaknesses of the
County Team in order to suggest ways that
decision making processes and the structure of
the committee can be improved.
You can, if you wish, be a part of this review. All
you need to do is pass any ideas or comments
you have through to the County Team. This can
be done via your D.C's or directly to a County
representative.
By the time you read this we will have had a
County Development day where we will spend
time exploring ways of making the County Team
more accessible and how we can increase the
involvement of Young People in making
decisions relevant to their Scouting
expectations. This is an ongoing project but we
would hope that you will begin to see
improvements in the way the Executive Team
works at an early stage.
All of the above is intended to improve the way
our County works together and thereby improve
the Scouting Experience for everyone, Young
People and Leaders.
Finally I would like to wish you all well for the
New Year and thank you for your ongoing
commitment to Scouting in Warwickshire.
Sid Russell
Having been around to visit most
Districts leader meetings I am thrilled
with the “buzz” there is for your district
activities. A ghost hunt and scrap heap challenge were new
ones to me, but great!.
I wonder if you have the same buzz when it comes to your
weekly pack meetings. Come on experienced leaders,
exchange ideas and refresh them. Talk to other leaders in
your district / pack and get the “buzz”.
'Just do it' but………
I wrote 'just do it' but, because without taking the 'adventure'
and 'get up and go' out of activities, we do want them to be
safe. Please do read again the leaflet from Scoutbase
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdf
s/fs129999.pdf
Scouting is all about adventure. The Big Adventure
continues in 2010 aiming to get more adults involved. Let
us be a part of it together. If anyone is doing anything with
the Big Adventure please let me know.
http://www.scouts.org.uk/thebigadventure
Graham Howe | ACC Cubs
Everyone can take part in this event. Teams of six drivers
take turns to race human powered cars around the 595m
circuit. The winning team is that completing the most laps at
the end of the race.
There are classes for adults, under 16's, under 14's and even
under 12's (the under 14's and under 12's take a six hour
break from midnight onwards for safety reasons).
Information is available from Jes Featherstone (DESC
Rugby) [email protected]
26-27 June 2010 | Shenington
Kart Circuit near Banbury
Shenington 24Hour Pedal Car Race
NUNEATON & DISTRICT SCOUTS & GUIDES
ABBEY THEATRE, NUNEATON
7.30pm Tuesday 16 th to Saturday 20 th March (also Matinee on Saturday 2.30pm)
Tickets £8.00 each, Con cessions & Children £7.00 each. Ring Sandra on 024 7649 0449 to book or for 20 plus rates
Designed by 13 yr old Kieran Wood-Evans
Stop Press: A detailed architectural
model was recently created by
Swebbelli Explore Scout Unit of the
proposed new Scout hut for the
22nd Rugby Scout Group.
Having perfected the final design
the model was painstakingly
assembled by unit members before
being put on display to the public for
a short length of time last week.
The features of the new hut include
an abseiling wall, fireman's pole,
massive TV, dodge ball court, fire
circle, flashing Tony Marsella statue
plus wind turbine to power the
statue.
Unfortunately soon after Explorers
Michael Hope and Tom Scoltock
were pictured with the model it
caught fire and was destroyed.
To enhance and embrace the culture and participation of young people
As we begin a New Year we are giving
Training in Warwickshire a make over. We
have a new look and a new way of doing
things to help support all our members.
As you are aware the County has several
objectives to meet over the coming year
and we in the Training Team have looked at
how we support you to help ensure they
are achieved.
With the help of the Comms team we have
designed a new County training logo; this
will be used on letterheads, power point
presentations and anything to do with
training throughout the County.
This is just the start of a number of
initiatives the Team are putting together
with the aim over the next twelve months
to make Training in Warwickshire even
better.
You will soon notice your Local Training
Team putting on more training sessions
within your Districts. So there will be many
more opportunities for you to get those
module training sessions completed for
your 'Wood Badge'. Your District will have
at least one training session per quarter put
on locally and you will have access to the
Training Calendar for all the other Districts.
So, if you can't make your local session or
that last module you need that's eluding
you, then soon you'll have access to the
modules being run in another local district.
And don't forget Warwickshire is not that
big!
Another initiative is to standardise training
throughout the Districts. Each local training
team will be working from the same set of
slides and training information. It won't
matter where you are in the County you will
receive the same high level of training. The
Training Team are beginning work on these
over the coming months.
So as you can see, this year is going to be
big in terms of
Training in Warwickshire and I hope you
will be able to see the benefits yourself
over the next few years.
The Training Team cannot do this on our
own so we need your help as well. If you
have any ideas you think will help to make
training even better please let me know. Or
if you would like to step up to the challenge
and be part of a winning training team
delivering help and support to our next
generation of leaders, please get in touch
with your Local Training Manager or me
and together we can make Warwickshire
better than it already is and give our
members the training they deserve.
Sam Marshall | County Training Manager -
Training in Warwickshire
To strengthen the strategic management of the organisation
Father Christmas was in need of some help
in setting up and running his Christmas
grotto this year; so Rugby Scouts lent a
hand.
Based at Blooms Garden Centre, 5th
Newbold & 7th Bilton Scout Groups,
supported by local members of the
Warwickshire Jamboree unit helped Santa
during each December weekend and
Christmas week to ensure that boys and girls
were able to visit him. A magnificent £4,200
was raise with over 1,500 children having a
great experience.
It was so well
run that before
Santa went off
for a well earned
rest he asked
them to do it all
again next year!
To watch frozen Explorer Elves doing their bit
for 'Elfves have Talent' go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPTz5yf
Tt6A
Santa gets a helping handfrom Rugby Scouts
Local Training
Contacts:
Atherstone - Dave Meads
Kenilworth - Helen Prowting
Leamington - Hilary Crosby
Nuneaton - Samantha Marshall
Rugby - Richard Leader
Stratford - Katrina Collie
Warwick - Ian Carter
West Warks - Debbie Morris
WCVYS First Aid Training:
Sunday 7th February at Stratford High School
Sunday 7th March at Red Cross HQ,
Coventry
Training Dates:
Course information is available through your
Local Training Manager. There is no charge
for training events apart from the Module 16
residential course.
If a group of adults wants a refresher on
particular module or more than three or four
of you need a module but the calendar
doesn't match your availability, please let
your LTM know. We can probably arrange to
run a module locally for you.
To strengthen the public perception towards Scouting
Better known for pedal powered racing,
members of Swebbelli Explorer Scout unit
recently saw the opposite end of the car
racing spectrum with a trip round the Force
India Formula 1 team's factory at Silverstone.
The first thing that struck the unit, apart from
the two multi million pound racing cars in bits
in the workshop was how incredibly clean the
whole place was. 'Totally different from Jes'
pedal car shed' was the verdict!
Holding the rear wing off one of the cars and
being told it was worth over £20,000 was an
interesting moment! A particular highlight
was going inside the team's double-decker
transporter lorries which transform into fully
equipped workshops, offices, meeting rooms
and even kitchens during a Grand Prix
weekend.
At the end of the tour there was another
chance to get up close and personal with the
cars which were in the process of being
stripped down and re-assembled before the
Hungarian Grand Prix. Any suggestion that it
was Scoltock's fault when one of the cars
practically dropped out on lap 1 of that race
with electrical failure are probably an
exaggeration…
Our thanks to Gary from 1st Brill Scouts for
arranging the visit and showing us around.
(Well, he did get to look round Jes' shed so it
was only a fair swap…)
Swebbelli Explorers visitForce India Formula 1 Team
We've all seen the 'Want to Join' buttons on
scouts.org and warwickshirescouts.org, but
does the process work for those who use it?
We recently heard about a local family who
used the service and due to some prompt
action within one of our Districts the young
person concerned was found a place in
Scouting. This is what his grandfather wrote in
response to a follow-up questionnaire:
'The District Commissioner was most
helpful. My grandson had reached the
point of moving from Cubs to Scouts but
his natural Scout Troop meets on a night
when he does another activity. All the
Scout Groups were either full or met on
evenings when he had other activities.
With the DC's help (and that of his Cub
leader), my grandson has been able to stay
with his current pack until a new Scout
Group starts in the New Year. I would
commend this flexible approach as it has
kept my grandson in touch with Scouting (I
hope for the long term). Thanks!'
MP
Retaining Young People
To develop sound management of finances and assets through the organisation
County Development Objectives 09-12
The 8 objectives that you will see at the bottom of each
page of this issue of WISPA were recently adopted by
the County as the key pieces of work we are working
towards. Look out for up-dates as work progresses
over the coming months.
News:Friends and family of Leamington
Scouting stalwart Sandra Broom will
celebrate her birthday this weekend.
We can't possibly publish a lady's age
but Sandra, who is both ADC Cubs for
Leamington and 1st Heathcote Cub
Scout leader, is wished a very Happy
Birthday.
A thank you
Donations in memory of Maggie Rawlins
reached £1,863.15. This will be split
between The Shakespeare Hospice &
the Meon Medical Centre. In addition a
friend of Maggie's held a bonfire party
and raised a further £1,400!
Maggie would be so pleased and proud.
Thank you all.
Steve Rawlins
Mike Hayward from Stratford will take
over from Jo-ann Bramston in early
March as the County's Safeguarding
Coordinator.
Stratford News:
Congratulations to Newbold Sea Scouts
on their successful RN inspection
during which Carina Clifford was
presented with her Chief Scout's Gold
Award and Adrian Wakeham an Award
for Merit. A great achievement for
both.
Great news! 1st Tiddington Scouts are
up and running and recently invested 8
Scouts, Nos Stonehouse their leader
and new GSL James Coates.
1st Shottery held a very successful
Christmas Post. Great support from
leaders and parents resulted in £700
being raised.
InTouch: The new Home Contact System
Following a long
consultation process and
a six month trial in three
counties, The Scout
Association is launching a
new home contact
system. The new system will be known as InTouch
and will be replace the Home Contact Scheme.
InTouch is designed to give more flexibility to Leaders
in putting together the most effective and useful
system of communication for the events and activities
you run. Plus it recognises the different
communication methods that are available to leaders
today.
The main difference is that there will no longer be a
'Home Contact' required to sit by the phone for every
event. It will still be possible to use a third party if this
is deemed the most sensible approach by the Leader
in charge but it will no longer be the only option.
Full details of InTouch will be coming your way via
your District Commissioner, plus we will cover the
scheme in more detail in the May edition of WISPA.
Rugby DC Search is on!Tony Marsella, the current DC of Rugby,
will be standing down at the end of his
five year term. The process of finding a
successor now is underway.
Nominations are now welcome for the
position of District Commissioner for
Rugby. Nominations of self are perfectly acceptable
For a copy of the County Commissioner's letter inviting
nominations please go to the County website. You will
also find a job description and nomination form attached
to the letter.
Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of the
Search Committee, James Stuttard, 16 Meadow
Furlong, Oakland, Coton Park, Rugby CV22 0GG or by
email to [email protected]
The closing date for nominations is 21st February.
To reflect and celebrate the diversity of communities in which Scouting operates
County useful numbers:See County website.
Diary Dates:
3rd February - DCs meeting
1/6th March - WAGS GangShow
16/20th March - Nuneaton GangShow
21st March - County Cub Quiz
24th March - County ADC Scouts meeting
7rd April - County Beavers Scout meeting
14th April - County Cub Scout meeting
14th April - County Executive
16th May - Scout Fishing competition
2nd October - Frank Latchem
For more information & specific training
details please consult the County website
calendar.
Next WISPA deadline:14th April 2010 - all articles & adverts.
If your Group needs a website. Contact:
Alan Peedle - 5 Broomybank,
Kenilworth CV8 2SF | 01926 851195 |
WAGS Gangshow
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa | 1st-6th March 2010
200 members of Warwickshire Scouts & Guides have put together this
year's show, the 39th!
There are many questions to be answered:
• How many songs about colours we can fit into 8 minutes?
• Will the second part of Lord of the Rings be as
good as the first?
• What is the Fantasy end to the first act?
• Can the Gang swap from High School Musical
to the glamour of 1930s Broadway?
For the answers and a great evening out for
Scouts and families of all ages come and see us.
Tickets are available now from Pauline on
01564 776489,
www.wagsgangshow.org.uk or
the Spa Centre Box Office.
WISPA Distribution
From May this year we will
improve the distribution of
WISPA. Currently the County
secretariat maintains a manual
list of adults who receive our
newsletters. However with
improved record keeping and
technology we will soon be able
to send WISPA to every adult
who is a member of
Warwickshire Scouting.
WISPA is also received by a
number of supporters of
Scouting. We will continue to
send you our newsletter unless
you tell us not to.
To work towards the delivery of Premium Scouting in Warwickshire
