1st Charvil open a second Beaver Colony
and a Scout Troop
To meet the demands, 1st Charvil have opened up a new Beaver Colony. Flyers were produced and sent out to local schools and displayed in the community, inviting the young people and their families to an Open Evening.
There was a great turnout on the evening. The children had a great time while Kim, our Local Development Officer, spoke to the parents about how they can get involved. Parents were keen to help out and six new volunteers are now running Canberra Beavers, giving more young people the opportunity to be involved in Scouting.
On the same evening, St Patrick’s Scout Troop was formed, enabling the Cubs to progress through Scouting. While the Troop numbers are low they are running a joint programme with 1st Sonning Scouts.
The Parks, Bracknell
In May 2015, a project began to open a new Scout Group on The Parks, a new housing estate in Bracknell. By December, a brand new Beaver Colony and Cub Pack were up and running.
The Group are going from strength to strength and this year they have opened up the Scout section so the young people can continue their Scouting journey with the Group.
Here is the journey . . .
Growing Scouting at Central Windsor
Where is Central Windsor?
Located in the middle of Windsor, a town situated at the east end of Berkshire below Slough with a population of approximately 27,000.
What was the aim of the project?
To set up a second Cub Pack to support the second Beaver Colony. The new Colony was also intended to reduce a growing waiting list in the area.
How did the project begin?
Following the identification of the need for a new section the Group Scout Leader (GSL) arranged a meeting with local stakeholders, parents of waiting lists and existing members to get together to talk about a new Cub pack. This targeted approach was different to holding a taster session as everyone present was personally invited. There was no need to find a venue as the Group has their own headquarters.
What was learned?
The hard work of the GSL to identify and personally ask people ensured that the right people were found to start the new Colony. This in turn ensured that the project was set up with little difficulty. This project highlighted the value of having a strong local support and a mentoring team for new volunteers.
What were the achievements?
At the time of set up, 18 more young people in Scouting and six new adult volunteers. The adult volunteers all share the leadership which is a perfect example of flexible volunteering and sharing the load.
Warfield Scout Troop:
Scouts on loan!
1st Warfield, just outside of Bracknell, was successfully delivering the everyday adventure of Scouting to Beavers (age 6–8) and Cubs (age 8–10). However, older children wanted to join and the older Cubs were in need of a Scout Troop (age 11–14) to move up to. The Group came up with a cunning plan to achieve this!
What was the issue?
No Scout Troop for children aged 11 to move up to from Cubs.
What resources did they have?
A small number of Scout age children and a volunteer Scout Leader.
What did they do?
1st Warfield is very close to another Group (2nd Bracknell). This is a large and well established Group with two Scout Troops and an experienced team of leaders. It was agreed that the Scout age children and volunteer leaders from Warfield could attend one of the 2nd Bracknell Troops for one school term. This gave the children the opportunity to get to grips with the way Troops work and for the leader to learn how to run a Troop from those already doing it!
After the term finished they returned to Warfield to set up their own Scout Troop, knowing there was support from 2nd Bracknell if needed. Two leaders also visited another local Group (1st Ascot) where they got an idea of how a Troop is run and shared ideas and information. Steve Dark, Cub Scout Leader remarked:
When we primed the Cubs for what was going to happen, I set them the remit to go off to another Scout Troop to find out how it worked and what we would need to do to create a Scout Troop. They seemed to take this responsibility very seriously, and have fed back to the leadership team here what they learnt during their term with another Group.
What worked well?
Warfield children and the leaders could benefit from the knowledge and experience of those at 2nd Bracknell and 1st Ascot. A strong relationship was established between the two Groups. Pressure was taken off Warfield.
What was achieved?
Warfield now has a successful and fully operational Scout Troop. This meaning they can offer Scouting to children aged 6–14. See them in action here.
Purley & Pangbourne Scout Troop:
three is a magic number!
1st Purley & Pangbourne, just west of Reading, is a large and active Group who already had two Scout Troops. However, with a bumper impending influx of Cubs, and children on the waiting list, the Group needed to open a third Troop to accommodate them all.
What was the issue?
Not enough space in the existing two Scout Troops for the expected number from Cubs and children from the waiting list.
What resources did they have?
A well-established Group with a strong leadership team and a great venue.
What did they do?
The Group invited older Cubs and children on the Scout waiting list to participate in a series of taster sessions. The session were run by existing volunteers in the Group as well as a new Scout Leader who was able to learn about the role during the sessions. The sessions featured varying activities to showcase the range of activities Scouts offers. By the end of the series of sessions there was an established core of regularly attending children, a competent Scout Leader and a leader from Beavers who had decided to help out too. On the last session parents were invited to see the activities in action and find out about how they could help support the new Troop.
What worked well?
The older Cubs and children on the waiting list were able to try out Scouts and decide if it was for them. The sessions allowed leaders to establish their leadership skills and responsibilities and decide their level of involvement. Parents were kept informed and made aware of the support required to open a sustainable Troop.
What was achieved?
1st Purley & Pangbourne opened its third Scout Troop in January 2017. The Group can now accommodate all expected Cubs and has taken on children from the waiting list who previously were unable to join the Group.