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By now most of you will have seen the new Scout Handbook that came out in January 2009. The resource is aimed at completing the set and is aimed at Scouts who are working through their Chief Scout's Gold Award. At just £8 is brilliant value for money. To get hold of a copy of the Handbook you can either visit the Scout Shops web pages at www.scoutshops.com or by calling the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.

As you can imagine the census returns are now almost complete and the results are very positive with another rise in membership in all the Youth Sections. This is a huge success for the Scout Section in particular with a very healthy growth. However, we understand that there is always development work that needs to be done. If you have something that you feel we should be working on or we can support the programme where you are you can contact us at programme@scout.org.uk.

We have now completed the initial round of Development, Advice and Support Days and it was good to see a huge number of you attending. Topics covered ACC/AAC Support, Supporting the Balanced Programme, Taking the Lead, Links between the Cub and Scout Section, Links between the Scout and Explorer Scout Section and the Young Leaders Scheme. If you have any comments about the sessions or have any views on the sessions we should be running in the next round of days please let us know by e-mailing Alasdair McBay on programme@scout.org.uk

The 2009/2010 cycle of workshops will include Programme, Adult Support and International and take place across the whole of the UK.

The workshops are aimed at developing those who are Supporters or those who support in Scouting.

Invites will go to supporters of the following:

The workshops will allow participants to engage with UKHQ, receive relevant information that will help support leaders and to support growth and development and to share in work that is relevant to the real needs of the Movement.

To find the latest information please visit:

www.scoutbase.org.uk/6to25/scout/news/rdaas.htm

If you have any queries, then please contact us on adviceandsupportdays@scout.org.uk

It's still not too late to plan your Big Adventure! Remember, you don't have to create a brand new event, just get people involved in whatever you currently have planned.

The Big Adventure is all about getting parents involved in the leadership team for a residential or other event that you are running. By getting them involved and giving them a defined role they will get the chance to experience the fun of being an adult in Scouting, and hopefully volunteer to help out in the future.

Each Group has been sent a number of free resources to help you make the most of your Big Adventure. If you would like any extra resources please contact the Information Centre.

See www.scouts.org.uk/thebigadventure for more information.

As part of the Youth Resources for the Scout Section we currently have a set of Skills Cards. These cost £2 or can be brought as part of a set with the Scout Record Book and Scout Badge Book for £5. The cards give information on a number of topics from the principles of flight to the camp cooking and navigation. You can also supplement these cards with a number of free skills cards designed to support the Adventure Challenge and the Outdoor Challenge. To get hold of the sets you just need to go to www.scouts.org.uk/sponsor.php

Following the programme amendments in January 2008 there was a window of opportunity for Scouts to finish the Chief Scout Gold Award Scheme under the previous requirements. This window finished on the 1st April 2009 and so all Scouts should now be completing:

As well as 2 of the following 3:

If you have any Scouts that have achieved the Chief Scout's Gold Award and would like them to be included in the Gold File Section of the supplement please get in touch with us at programme@scout.org.uk. To include them we will need a photo as well as a couple of lines saying what they did to complete the Award.

You will by now have seen all the information about age flexibility between the Scout and Explorer Scout age changing from 18 months to 12 months. Although we have had a small number of comments that have raised development issues for the section nearly all of the feedback has been very positive. Please remember that this change in flexibility does not change the core age of the Section. The rule change will come in from the 1st of September and will be reflected in policy Organisation and Rules (POR). Please remember that POR takes precedence over information in the other publications. If you are unsure about any of the details we are more than happy to discuss them with you. You can do this by contacting us at programme@scout.org.uk or by calling the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.

The UK Adviser (Scouts) has now asked a number of people to take on a number of projects to help with the development of the Scout Section. At the moment these are focussed around a number of key areas these are:

If you have had experience or would like to share your ideas on the above topics please get in touch with the working group by e-mail at programme@scout.org.uk or by phone on 0845 300 1818.

Following analyses of the last Your Programme Your Voice survey it has become apparent that more support needs to be given to the Expedition Challenge as well as giving ideas to those running the Award. The UK Adviser (Scouts) has asked Dean Harding to look at how the Award can be better supporting with in the section. If you run the Expedition Challenge regularly and have any ideas on these then please get in touch. As well as this if you do not run the Award because of a particular reason we would like to hear about this as well so that we can make sure that any support material is focussed on the right issues.

Some of you will be aware that this year marks the 100th Anniversary of the first Sea Scout Camp. To celebrate this there are a number of events going on throughout the year. The highlight of the year will be the Centenary Jamboree taking place at The National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham from 1 - 8 August 2009. This event is open to all Sea Scout groups, Sea Scout Explorer units and other Scout groups interested in water activities in the UK and from other countries. You can find out more information by going to www.seascout100.net

Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and the Channel Islands. It provides and maintains nearly 600 aids to navigation ranging from lighthouses and buoys through to the latest satellite navigation technology. Additionally, Trinity House inspects over 10,000 local aids to navigation provided by port and harbour authorities, and those positioned on offshore structures. Increasingly it is undertaking private commercial work which helps to fund its obligations as a navigation provider. Trinity House is also a major maritime charity, which operates as a separate entity to the GLA. The charity is wholly funded by its endowments. It spends around £3 million every year on the welfare of mariners, education and training of future seafarers, promoting safety at sea and fulfilling its role as a Deep Sea Pilotage Authority.

This fund provides grants to assist non-Royal Navy recognised groups and Scout Groups who undertake water/sea activities as a major part of their programme (more than half) in providing opportunities to experience water/sea activities over a period of time, including understanding issues connected with water safety. This fund normally requires the applicant to contribute up to 50% of the cost of the project although requests for more maybe provided in the most exceptional circumstances'.

Applications for this fund are approved all year round, but are limited to the funds provided to the Association on an annual basis. Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded. Only one application per year will be accepted from the same Group. If you have a group that would like to apply for the fund or would like further details please get on touch by e-mailing Ed Wilson at ed.wilson@scout.org.uk or by phone on 0845 300 1818.

The UK Programme Team is currently putting together a toolkit for all those who undertake a support role with in the 5 sections. The Toolkit will provide useful information on how to undertake their role as well as having useful tips on how to support the programme across the District, County/Area or Scottish Region. The toolkit will be available from later this year and all those in the target audience will hear from the Programme Team directly when it is released.

If you have any ideas that you feel would make future issues even more helpful, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Andrew Wellbeloved

UK Commissioner for Programme

Alasdair McBay

UK Adviser for Scouts

Ed Wilson

Programme and Development Adviser