2nd Brewood Scouts

Author Archive

First of all, on behalf of the Leaders, may I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Meeting dates and events

Please note that the first meeting back in the New Year will be on Friday 15 January at the normal time of 7.00pm.

In early December we held a successful sleep-over, preceded by a night hike across to Chillington and down to the canal via the Avenue and the Ornamental Bridge. Some were tired and most got a bit muddy, but there weren’t too many complaints. Beccy, assisted by Calum and Dominic, then laid on supper for everyone back at the hut. They got to sleep – eventually.

One issue that did crop up in the administration for the evening was the question of consent forms and home contact details. Most Scouts (and parents) were very prompt in returning the necessary forms, without which we technically cannot allow a child to participate in the activity. There were one or to exceptions that caused difficulty for the Leaders and which were compounded by us having ineffective contact telephone numbers. I would ask that if you change your contact telephone, please let us know. Also, if any event such as a sleep-over or camp is being held, please make sure that you are contactable on the numbers we hold.

Patrols – the scores on the doors . .

As previously advised, there are now two Patrols – Owls and Kestrels. Points have been awarded for attendance, winning games and effort in the activities. One third of the way through the “season” the scores are:

Owls 324

Kestrels 315

I am particularly pleased with the five Scouts who managed 100% attendance – including the Remembrance Day parade – showing great commitment to Scouting. They were Thomas, Sarah, Calum, William and Charlie. None of the Leaders managed 100% attendance!

Camps

The main Summer Camp has been booked for the week of Saturday 31 July 2010 to Saturday 7 August 2010. It will be at Ashworth Valley, a Scout Camp just north of Rochdale and set in glorious surroundings. The activities available on site are excellent and the staff were very friendly and helpful to us when we visited. There is a website which holds some details of the site – www.btinternet.com/~derek.redfern/ashw/index1.htm. Further details will obviously be provided in due course.

In the meantime, as practice for me as much as anyone else, a weekend camp has been provisionally booked for 5 to 7 March 2010 at Patshull. Again, details will follow.

On the subject of camps and nights away, could each Scout please let me know which camps and sleep-overs they have attended in the past as I would like to recognise their achievement with the relevant badges.

Geoff Hopwood
Scout Leader
2^nd Brewood

The Government have announced that it is going to intervene to stop Ofwat’s rain tax and introduce a sensible social water charging regime.

Over the past year, The Scout Association has been campaigning against Ofwat’s planned changes to the way water companies charge community groups in England and Wales for the disposal of rainwater.

The Government’s announcement will be welcomed by all community groups across England and Wales who have been frustrated by Ofwat’s failure to understand the damage and financial hardship their policies were going to cause.

Read the full statement from The Scout Association regarding the Government’s announcement.

Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Leader come to Scouts Speak Up

21/09/2009

The political party conference season got off to a swinging start with over 50 Explorer and Network Scouts, leaders and parents from across England and Wales taking part in Scouts Speak Up.
The event was a chance for Scouts and leaders to meet MPs, prospective parliamentary candidates and councillors and talk about the issues that they are concerned about, ways to change the perception of young people and climate change.

Showing support

Matt, an Explorer Scout from West Mercia said, ‘It was excellent, we got ourselves heard! To have Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Vince Cable, Deputy Leader, come and listen to teenagers and show their support for us was really fantastic.’
‘As a young person it is really inspiring to know that a decision maker wants to hear my opinion. One of the topics we voted on and discussed was how to get young people like me interested in the general election next year. Scouts Speak Up at the Liberal Democrat conference was the first step in doing that. Being part of that process was definitely the highlight for me.’

Sign up and Speak UP

Scouts Speak Up events are also happening at the Labour Party and Conservative party conferences. There is still time to sign up and come to speak to MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates. Simply email citizen@scout.org.uk with your postcode.

The next two conference dates

•    Sunday 27 September, 12 pm to 2pm, New Madeira Hotel, the Lisbon Suite, 19 – 23 Marine Drive, Brighton – Labour conference.
•    Monday 5 October, 6pm to 8pm, the Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester – Conservative conference.

This year us explorers camped separately due to the recent climb in numbers, which allowed us to do our own activities, which included; Blo-Karting, sailing, rock climbing and swimming. However camp this year didn’t go without its problems,  with several people feeling unwell and ANOTHER trip to the hospital coming within reaching distance! Despite this we had a fun and enjoyable week, which was to be our last time with our lovely leader Laura, who due to university commitments is sadly leaving us. Tom Meikle.’

and more here

Intrepid TV adventurer Bear Grylls has been named the UK’s youngest ever Chief Scout.

The 34-year-old, who presents programmes such as Man Vs Wild and Escape to the Legion, will hold the voluntary position for five years.

He said that being a scout when he was a young man helped him learn the basic skills he uses in his programmes.

“The TV side of what I do is an extreme version of what I learned in scouting,” he said.  “If you want to learn what I do on the show, the basics for me were learnt in scouting.

“I then developed them with my time in the special forces.”

Grylls, who spent three years in the SAS, was also the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest when he was just 23.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brewood Scouts continue to expand and now have over 70 children spread between the Beavers, age 6 to 8, Cubs age 8 to 10, Scouts age 10.5 to 14 and Explorers 14 to 18. Scouting is open to all boys and girls and offers an opportunity for them to learn self reliance and respect in a fun and friendly environment. We take children from Bishops Wood, Codsall Wood, Wheaton Aston, Stretton, Coven and Blymhill.

The result of this success is that we are now looking for more leaders to cope with the increased demand. Previous experience of Scouting is not necessary as full training will be provided by the Scout Association. What we do need are people aged 18+ with an interest in helping our youth to develop into good citizens and who are prepared to give up some of their time, mainly one night a week, to this cause.

Read the rest of this entry »

Download the full planning decisions here

Media Release
Communications Department
Chief Executives Office
County Buildings
Martin Street
Stafford ST16 2LH

Tel: 01785 276832   Fax: 01785 278468
Email: richard.caddy@staffordshire.gov.uk

www.staffordshire.gov.uk

Ref:    8053   
Friday July 25, 2008

Partners join together to safeguard youth services in Brewood

The county council, the Scouts and other community groups are joining forces to safeguard the future of youth services in Brewood.

They will be joined by representatives from Brewood Parish Council and South Staffordshire District Council.

Brewood

The future of scouting and youth work in Brewood is to come under the microscope this week.

County councillors are to discuss the possibilities of a new scout HQ, in the light of the financial constraints they are facing, and the county’s wish to sell off the current scout hut and youth club site for housing.

A meeting is due to take place today (Thursday) with scout leaders, Rotary and other interested parties.

County Councillor Rex Roberts, who is keen to see a scouting presence in Brewood said: "I have received numerous e-mails and letters about the proposed closure of the scout accommodation at Deansfield scheduled for 2009, and many of the points raised are very valid and should impress the Labour Leaders at County Council.

"I have had assurances from Cllr John Taylor, Leader of the County Council and Chairman of the Cabinet and his Deputy Leader Cllr Robert Simpson that adequate provision will be made in Brewood for the Youth of Brewood including the Scouts.

"I am led to understand that Youth and Community Officers are endeavouring to locate suitable accommodation possibly in buildings at the Middle School.

"A formal meeting with Councillor Taylor has been arranged to establish the true position in order to allay the concerns that exist throughout the community of Brewood.

"Invitees are to be representatives of Brewood Parish Council, the Scouts, Brewood Rotary, Eric Drinkwater, myself and County Officers.