Clyde Connections Issue 9

www.clydescouts.org.uk Page 1

Clyde ConnectionsApril 2011

Clyde Regional Scout Council21 Elmbank StreetGlasgow G2 4PB

www.clydescouts.org.uk

0845 094 4391

Auchengillan Outdoor Centre Blanefield Glasgow G63 9BA

www.auchengillan.com

01360 770256

The Glasgow Scout Shop21 Elmbank Street GlasgowG2 4PB www.glasgowscoutshop.com

0141 248 5941

Avondyke Training Centre100 Sidehead RoadStonehouseML9 3PD

www.clydescouts.org.uk/avondyke

Contact us:

Clyde Connections is the official newsletter of Clyde Regional Scout Council, Registered Scottish Charity SC010415

Safeguarding - it’s everyone’s responsibilityThe Region is pleased to welcome Patrick Fisher to the role of Safeguarding Awareness Coordinator. Patrick is joining Moira Aitchison in the delivery of training across the Region. You can contact Patrick at [email protected] or on 07966 923456.

Commenting on his new role Patrick said, ‘I am looking forward to getting out to the Districts and promoting discussion about Safeguarding. I am sure that people have their own views and experiences that can be shared and used to make the training sessions relevant and useful.’

Safeguarding Awareness Training in the Region has been running for several months now and there are a few more training sessions before the end of June. Group Scout Leaders are reminded of the need to ensure that all of their adults have completed this update by either completing the online training package, or preferably attending one of these training sessions.

The Region’s Safeguarding Awareness Team is keen for you to attend these sessions, which are aimed to be fun and interactive, as well as informative. By doing so all participants are encouraged to provide feedback so we can ensure to deliver the training in the most effective and least onerous format.

The Safeguarding Team would also like to ask all volunteers in the Clyde Region, to ensure their Disclosure Scotland/PVG Scheme details are kept up to date. A recent audit has highlighted a few volunteers in the Region have still never had a criminal record check carried out and some renewals have been allowed to lapse. The new Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme has replaced the previous Disclosure procedure.

If any individuals or leaders are unsure about the current policy, please contact your GSL or the Safeguarding Awareness Coordinator for clarification.

And that’s the way i.LIKE it…You may remember from my last Clyde Connections article, I alluded to the fact we would be beginning to push social media more as a method of sharing information and creating two way communication channels with our young people and adults.

I am pleased to report that we 70 people have signed up to our Facebook page since the last issue and that this has been a steady growth. I would invite you and your young people to join us on Facebook to receive the latest updates from Clyde Region straight in your news feed. I have been working with Communications colleagues around the UK to try and provide a document to better prepare Leaders for using Facebook, dispelling some

myths and offering practical advice in creating Group Facebook pages and for securing their own Facebook page. I hope to have this document ready before the start of summer. Watch out on Facebook, Twitter and in eNews for it.

You can find us on facebook by searching for “Clyde Regional Scout Council” or going to www.facebook.com/ClydeScouts

As always, if you have any questions about communications, media or the membership databaseat scouts.org.uk, please contact me at [email protected] or 07845 816970

Gavin Holt, ARC (Communications)

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Clyde Connections April 2011 Page 2

Calder District’s Media Development Manager, Colin Hamilton tells us what has been happening across the District.

Cubs success for local Charity

Cub Scouts from the 6th Motherwell recently organised an open evening as part of their badge work. The event was held in the Scout Hall, Muirhead Terrace, Motherwell on Wednesday 9th February 2011. The Cubs brought toys, books and prizes for a tombola stall and also made teas and coffee and provided a selection of home baking and biscuits in return for a small donation.

Everyone worked very hard on the evening, making it a great success and as a result the Cubs managed to raise an amazing £355. The Cubs chose to donate the money raised to the worthwhile cause “Clann Sonas” a local charity which does great work both at home and abroad. The Cubs wish to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success!

Camping at the Craigs

22 Scout from the 2nd Coatbridge Scouts enjoyed a fabulous weekend camp at The Craigs Scout site in Torphicen. They arrived on Friday evening and set up camp. The scouts were all up at 7am on Saturday morning and undertook a lovely morning hike (thanks to JK, our SPL who got us lost, hehehe!!!). On returning to camp, the PL’s and APL’s completed some campsite service, digging a trench and planting some new bushes. Their work was outstanding and gratefully appreciated by the warden and camp site staff on duty. The rest of the day was then spent playing games and finished off by a traditional campfire. Sunday was time to pack up and head home at 3pm.

Auditions for Glasgow Gang Show 2011

Sunday 8th May 2011

Community Central Halls 304 Maryhill Road, Glasgow, G20 7EY

12noon - 1.30pm: Cub ScoutsThe audition will last for 1 1/2 hours

2pm - 5pm: Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Scout Network, Guides & Guide Senior SectionThe audition will last for 3 hours

Please wear suitable clothes & Shoes for an auditionAuditionees don’t have to prepare anything in advanceFor more details contact: Tom Raybould on 01360 312738 or [email protected]

www.clydescouts.org.uk/gangshow



Building Availability

Not yet booked for your Group weekend, Parent & Child camp, Beaver Sleepover or Pack holiday? Don’t worry, we’ve got the following weekends available up to the summer holidays:

• Kyle Cabin: 20-22 May & 24-26 June

• Providore: 3-5 June, 10-12 June & 17-19 June

• Allander Chalet: 29 April – 1 May 13-15 May, 10 - 12 June, 17-19 June & 24-26 June

Adventure Days

Look out for details of a new venture on our website. We will be offering Adventure Days on selected dates through the summer holidays, with a selection of activities to take part in. Absolutely ideal for parents to drop children off for the day (age restrictions apply).

The days will run from 10am – 5pm, four different activities will be available to take part in each day (different activities each day, so you could come for two days!) and all equipment will be supplied.

All you need to bring is a packed lunch and wear suitable clothing (not uniform).

The days will be open to non members, so brothers, sisters and friends are welcome. Parents will also be welcome to come and try out the activities!

Activity Training

We have courses on mountain biking and orienteering coming up soon. If you are interested in either of these, please see our website.

Archery and Rifle Shooting

Both of these activities now take place in our new indoor ranges and are proving very popular. There are new ‘drop down’ targets in the rifle range as well as the traditional ‘bulls eye’ targets, which give a new twist and extra excitement to this activity.

Centre improvements

Over the Easter holidays, work will start on re-siting the changing area for tower based activities down to the tower itself, which will also allow for improvements and the development of an indoor day visitor’s area in the present Games Room.

Camping

Bookings are well in hand for weekend bookings and there are already huge demands for space and activities on some weekends up to the summer. If you are thinking of getting in a weekend before the summer or even booking for a summer camp (easy access, low transport costs, plenty to do, programme planning assistance – what more could you ask for?), don’t leave it too long to avoid disappointment.

Don’t know how to get started or need help in booking?

Drop us an email to [email protected], call us on 01360 770256 or come out and see us and we will steer you in the right direction and design a programme to match your requirements exactly.

Don’t forget booking forms, self supervised activity sheets, risk assessments and all forms can be downloaded from www.auchengillan.com

I look forward to seeing you at Auchengillan in 2011!

Andy Wilson.Centre Manager.



Our Regional Adviser for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gives us his regular update on the Award.

At present there are two methods for Recording Awards, in Clyde Region.

Paper System

Until late summer, the Scouts in Scotland will continue to use the packs in a paper format for management of the award.

Leaders using the paper system should have the ‘Keeping Track booklet’(found in Participants box) filled in and signed by the Assessor for each section, along with any additional documents, then forward it to Ron Alexander. If it is all correct, Ron will sign it and issue Bronze or Silver Certificates and pin badges. Gold will be processed and assistance given on the filling up of the necessary paperwork (if all correct) then forwarded to the Award Manager, for processing by DofE Scotland.

Using the Paper System

In the participants entry box, there are cards for each section, Volunteering/Skill/Physical/Expedition & Residential (Gold only), ‘Assessor’s Guidance Notes.’ The Scouts/Explorer Scouts should enter their name and number of months/days/nights, on the cards and pass them to their Assessor. This explains to the Assessor, the requirements for the section.

On Line System

eDofE is available to any Leader who wishes to use it. Please contact Ron Alexander to arrange this.

There will be changes to the eDofE system from the end of the summer, with the exact date to be confirmed. Assessor Reports will be able to be logged online, rather than having to hand write the report and then have the participant scan the paper copy. This function will be available via the DofE website and will not require a log in. This means Leaders, instructors or Expedition Assessors will be able to upload reports easier and quicker and make the use of eDofE smoother for everyone.

Another change to the system and something which will hopefully attract leaders to adopt the use of eDofE is that from July 2011 free mapping software will be part of the eDofE system. This will make preparing route cards, planning route and printing maps far easier. This mapping will be free to all DofE Leaders and will be a benefit to everyone, especially when completing the Green Expedition Form.

At this time there are over 100 young people in Clyde Region on eDofE. I can see daily who are progressing and who are not. I have no idea how many are on the paper system. I only know if I receive a request for completion of an Award.

The DofE are also looking at running a series of training sessions across the country to teach Leaders in the use of eDofE. All details are on their website.

Just a reminder for Expeditions from 1 April 2011... All final expeditions must be assessed by an accredited DOE Assessor (they will have an ID card with a Ref number).

If you have any questions about eDofE and its use please contact me on 0141 424 3141 or [email protected]

REUSERECYCLESUPPORT.

As part of our fundraising, Clyde Region is collecting and recycling old clothes and rags in worn or damaged condition that are not suitable for resale through Charity Shops. These will be professionally recycled and thus will not end up on landfill sites. Any old clothing, shoes (please pair shoes together), bags, belts or bedding will be accepted.

Please deposit them in the rag bag bin in the entrance foyer at The Glasgow Scout Shop, 21 Elmbank Street, Glasgow, G2 4PB or call us on 0845 094 4391 to arrange for a collection. For more information, please call Gary Bainbridge on 0845 094 4391 or email him at [email protected]



The Regional Commissioner...

We’ve been found out, our numbers up – quite literally!

For the third year in succession, the census has shown growth in numbers in Clyde Region, 3.4% overall and 4.1% for youth membership.

This is great news for the extra 237 young people who are experiencing the fun and friendship of Scouting. In a few weeks we are going to see Scouting restart in Plains near Coatbridge, after a 6 year absence and we are working with another 10 or so communities and existing Groups throughout the Region to start, rebuild or strengthen Scouting in these localities.

We are also seeing adults come forward wanting to be part of the Big Adventure. As well as ‘Want to Join’ applications prompted by national PR campaigns, local initiatives are also attracting new adult members. They are all vital to our growth but in these challenging times, not everyone can give a regular weekly commitment.

We therefore need to be flexible, welcome them in and then work out a way to accommodate Scouting into their lives so that they will help us grow even more.

In an increasingly competitive market for limited funding and support, Scouting is being asked to justify what it does for our young members?

One measure of successful participation is how many members achieve the Top Awards, Chief Scout’s Award and Queen’s Scout Award. So for the last three years SHQ have sought to gather data on numbers of awards presented in each section. However with only half the Districts making any return and those that do reporting limited response from Groups, the data is fragmented and very under-representative of what is actually going on. This benchmark should not be difficult to gather but we need your help. We should be able to celebrate your success, and with it prove to local councils, education and funding bodies the good we do for young people in our communities. We can all shout out for Scouting, so when the request comes in please take a moment to respond.

Keep up the good work.

Great Western’s District Commissioner, Anne Law gives us a round up on what has been happening...

Members from Great Western District continue to enjoy an action packed programme in their Groups.

Many weekend camps and sleepovers have been enjoyed, with one Group even bedding down in the aquarium tunnel at Deep Sea World! We have had several changes to leaders throughout the groups, causing GSLs the occasional headache, but thankfully sections have managed to continue functioning, and recruitment is at a healthy level.

Beavers had the opportunity to participate in a district badge day in February, where they did the air activities badge, finding out about different types of aircraft, spoke about their experiences in aircraft and built paper aeroplanes. For the Explorer badge they explored Queen Margaret Drive and the Botanic Gardens.

The Cub Football competition took place on 20th March, which went to an exciting penalty finish, the 183rd being pipped at the post by the victorious 86th/191st Glasgow.

The Scouts are busy preparing for the District Flags competition to find a District representative for the national heats in June.

I was delighted to attend the 72nd Glasgow’s variety show in March, Oven Stew, which returned after a 3 year break. The cast made a tremendous effort, singing, acting and dancing, which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

The whole district is getting ready for our first ever district camp, which is to be held at Auchengillan during the weekend 27th-29th May. Beavers are joining for the Saturday. We have an exciting programme planned and are hoping the sun shines on us!



Get ready for your 2011 Big Adventure!

0800 980 7988www.glasgowscoutshop.com

The Glasgow scout Shop is owned & operated by Clyde Regional Scout Council, a Registered Scottish Charity SC010415

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Clyde Connections Issue 9