;

Membership Subscriptions 2002 - Increase of 30p

Royal Visit to Gilwell - President Opens New Building

Corporate Website - www.scouts.org.uk

Powered Aircraft Flying - Significant Rule Change

Identity Badges - New Logo

POR Rule 40.1 - Activity Authorisations

Hawkhirst Adventure Camp - Fully Open

Millennium Volunteers - Recognition for Effort

Scouting 2007 - Core Teams

Gilwell Park Fun Days - Cub Scouts and Beaver Scouts.

Fun-d Raisers - Marathon Effort

British Gas - Think Energy

Film Processing Offer - KODAPOST Envelope

Cook, Care & Share - Resource Pack

Webb Ivory Band Festival - Milton Keynes Music

National Scout & Guide Symphony Orchestra - Did you know it existed?

Survival Skills Badge - New Sponsors

English Heritage - New Sponsors

LEGOLAND - Exclusive Weekend

Scouting for Boys - A New Edition

Corporate Logo - Design CD

Management of Choice II - Ideas by the Hundred

Individual Learning Accounts - Training Assistance

SCOUTING Magazine - On-Line Subscriptions

Talking Points Circulation - Why Do I Get 12?

Committee News

Mountain Activities:

Criminal Records Bureau:

Local Volunteer Structures:

Uniform Review:

Communications Strategy:

Census 2001:

Association Budget:

Headquarters Membership Subscription 2002/2003:

Reserves Policy:

National Programme Initiative - HM The Queen's Golden Jubilee 2002:

Gilwell Park Redevelopment:

Foot and Mouth Outbreak:

European Activities Symposium:

The Committee of the Council agreed at its meeting in March 2001 that the Headquarters' membership subscription for 2002 will be £15.30 with a rebate of 35p for prompt payment.

HRH The Duke of Kent declared Gilwell House, The Scout Association's new Headquarters building, officially open on 27 April. The Duke who is the Association's President, toured the organisation's new national offices and also met staff. During the high profile visit he unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion. HRH then took time to meet young people in the grounds of Gilwell Park who showcased a wide range of talents.

During his visit to Gilwell Park, HRH The Duke of Kent was invited to formally 'switch-on' Scouting's latest website (www.scout.org.uk). The new site is specifically aimed at non-Scouting audiences looking for information on the modern Scout Movement and its work with young people.

The new site compliments ScoutBase UK (www.scoutbase.org.uk/) which continues to grow as one of the largest and most successful charity websites in the UK serving the needs of half a million Members. In April alone more that 3 million page requests were received and the number of subscribers to the email list for news and topical information now exceeds 16,000. To subscribe to the email list, go to www.scoutbase.org.uk/ home page, click on the 'Get Talking Points' icon and complete the on-screen form.

Following consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority, please note the clarification of the rules governing organised flying activities involving Scouts.

It is confirmed that organised air experience flights by Scouts now comes under the category which requires an Air Operators Certificate (AOC). It had previously been agreed that The Scout Association's type of activities fell into one of the six exceptions on the grounds of "cost sharing". This is no longer the case due to the level of notification and organisation necessary to get a group of Scouts to an airfield. We are advised that this is deemed as "advertising" outside the flying club, which is prohibited under Air Navigation Order 2000.

The effect of this advice is as follows:

All organised Scout Flying Activities will have to be conducted by an AOC Holder (i.e. a Flying Club or Commercial operator) using a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) holder as pilot. In the past we have used Private Pilot License (PPL) holder as pilot under the "cost sharing" exception; this is no longer acceptable and will take effect immediately.

In P.O.R Rule 39.6 (c) Powered Aircraft Flying: "If any payments are involved, the legal requirements as to aircraft, pilot and operator licensing must be complied with strictly" must now be in accordance with the Air Navigation Order 2000, as outlined above. The wording of POR will be revised in the near future.

The plastic identity badges individually engraved with the wearer's name and Scouting appointment are available from Headquarters. Each identity badge costs £5.75 with £1 extra for non-standard orders. Telephone the Information Centre 0835 300 18 18 for Order Forms or go direct to www.scoutbase.org.uk/trading/resource/idbadges2.htm

The Scout Association has carried out a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the rules, training and procedures that must be followed by everyone undertaking adventurous activities in moors, hills and mountains with young people. The new Authorisation Scheme came into effect in February 2001.

It is vital that everyone in the Movement is aware of the revised rules and procedures so the entire rule has been reproduced in its entirety below.

The following Fact Sheets are freely available from the Information Centre (0845 300 18 18). They are also downloadable from www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/index.htm

(FS 120000) Activities - Risk Assessment

(FS 120002) Authorisations - A District Commissioner's and GSLs Guide

(FS 120078) Home Contact

(FS 120415) Mountaineering with Scouts - The Vital Culture

(FS 120416) Application for Authorisation for Hill Walking

(FS 120417) Mountain Advisers and Assessors

The change in POR will be:

Delete the current POR rule 40.1 and insert the following:

It is generally recognised that hillwalking accidents often result when those taking part underestimate the severity of the hills, and do not take into account the rapidly changing weather conditions that are likely to be met. Preparation, training and equipment must be adequate and if at all possible local advice must be sought beforehand.

1. 1. All hill walking and mountain biking activities must be led or supervised by a leader. If the activities take place in Terrain Zero, the leadership arrangements must be approved by the District Commissioner in accordance with Rule 37.1(b). If the activities take place in Terrain One or Terrain Two, leaders must be authorised. For special event and activity authorisation, see Rule 37.2(c). For descriptions of Terrains see c - e below.

   2. For those activities requiring authorisation:

      1. The Association's Adventurous Activities Authorisation Scheme must be used. Factsheets to support the scheme are available from the Scout Information Centre.

      2. An authorised person can be any age.

      3. Authorisations are valid for a fixed period not exceeding five years. They will be cancelled automatically if they are not renewed.

2. 1. Two forms of authorisation may be issued:

      1. To lead: the authorised person must be a member of the party and be in a position to make all the safety related decisions first hand.

      2. To lead and supervise: the authorised person may oversee the activity from a distance, delegating some or all of the safety related decisions to a designated party leader.

   2. A designated party leader, who does not need their own authorisation, is a member of the party and makes all immediate, practical decisions. It is the responsibility of the leader who has been authorised to lead and supervise the activity to brief the designated party leader carefully before the activity begins.

   3. Travelling time is the time it would take a person to walk by the quickest safe route. For this purpose a person shall be deemed to walk at 5 kilometres per hour. In addition, one minute should be added for every 10 metres of increase in the height above sea level.

   4. Scrambling means that the use of hands is required at least for balance if not for actual progress.

   5. Winter means when winter conditions, including snow and ice, prevail or are forecast: this cannot be defined by a portion of the year.

   6. Summer means any condition not covered under winter.

3. Terrain Zero describes routes in open country which meet ALL the following criteria. The routes must:

   1. Be below 500 metres above sea level.

   2. Be within 30 minutes travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied (such as a farm) or another means of summoning help (such as a telephone box).

   3. Contain no element of scrambling (no part of the route requires the use of hands in order to proceed).

   A leader does not require authorisation for hill walking or mountain biking in Terrain Zero. Note: please see Rules 37.1 and 37.3 in respect of appropriate preparation and District approval.

4. Terrain One

   1. A leader requires authorisation for Terrain One for a route which:

      1. Is below 800 metres but more than 500 metres above sea level or

      2. Is more than 30 minutes but less than three hours travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied (such as a farm) or another means of calling help (such as a telephone box).

   2. In addition, although the route may pass through rough or rocky ground, there must be no scrambling.

   3. An applicant for authorisation for activities in Terrain One must:

      1. Either hold a Walking Group Leader Award or demonstrate experience and skills which match the assessment standard of that award. For a winter authorisation the applicant must demonstrate the additional skills required. Note: see transition arrangements (below) for additional requirements after 1 January 2005.

      2. Have completed a First Response Course within the three years prior to the application. This requirement is waived for holders of a valid First Aid Qualification where the syllabus equals or exceeds that of a First Response Course, especially in respect of hypothermia and hyperthermia.

5. Terrain Two:

   1. A leader requires authorisation for Terrain Two when a route:

      1. Is over 800 metres above sea level or

      2. Requires an element of scrambling or

      3. Lies more than three hours travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied (such as a farm) or another means of calling help (such as a telephone box).

   2. An applicant for authorisation for activities in Terrain Two must:

      1. Either hold a Mountain Leader Award (Summer or Winter, depending on the authorisation requested) or demonstrate experience and skills which match the assessment standard of that award. Note: see transition arrangements (below) for additional requirements after 1 January 2005.

      2. Hold a valid First Aid Qualification which includes hypothermia and hyperthermia. It must be valid at the time of the authorisation assessment.

6. Party Size: for activities in Terrain One and Two:

   1. Parties must consist of no more than seven, but no less than four people, except as provided for in Rule 40.1(f)(4) below.

   2. Each party must have an authorised leader or a designated party leader.

   3. If a group has more than seven members, then one or more separate parties of no more than seven or less than four must be formed. The parties must use different routes or, if using the same route, leave a clear time and distance interval between them - so that they do not become mixed.

   4. Exceptionally, where a party contains two authorised leaders, the total party size may be increased to eight.

   5. No leader authorised to lead and supervise the activity may do so with more than three parties, including their own.

   6. When authorised adults are checking on the safety of Scout parties or their routes, the party size may be less than four but never less than two. All the members of such a reduced party must each have the skills and experience required to travel safely in the hills in such circumstances.

7. Hill walking and mountain biking abroad often requires considerably more experience and training than described in these rules (for example in snow/ice techniques). Local and/or professional guides should therefore also be consulted.

8. A detailed route plan must always be carried and a copy be left with a responsible person in the host area. An official route planning form is available from the Scout Information Centre.

   Any forms produced locally must contain at least the same information as sought in the Headquarters form. The route plan should be cancelled or collected in when the activity is completed.

9. An emergency card and pencil, both in a plastic bag, must be carried by each member of the party. An official emergency card is available from the Scout Information Centre. Any cards produced locally must contain the same information.

10. When Members of the Movement take part in non-Scout events, the above Rules may be varied at the discretion of their County Commissioner.

11. Transition Arrangements:

    1. All applications for new or renewed authorisations must be assessed under these rules from 1 March 2001.

    2. During the period from 1 March 2001 to 31 December 2002 all valid authorisations granted before 1 March 2001 will still be effective at their current level OR at the level implied by the revised rules, whichever is the lower. On 1 January 2003, however, all such existing authorisations will automatically become invalid.

    3. From 1 January 2003 the only authorisations that will be valid are those assessed under the revised rules.

    4. From 1 January 2005 all those seeking a new or renewed authorisation must (at the least) have attended the relevant formal training course (Walking Group Leader Award or Mountain Leader Award) unless they have been formally exempted from it by one of the UK Mountain Training Boards.

Hawkhirst Adventure Camp is once again fully open for Groups to enjoy camping and water based activities. Due to Hostel cancellations during the Foot and Mouth crisis Hawkhirst now has three weeks in August available for Scout or Cub Groups wishing to stay on this unique site beside Kielder Water, Northumberland. Enquries: 01434 250217

Millennium Volunteers (MV) is a Government initiative for 16-24 year olds who want to volunteer their time. As well as encouraging new volunteers MV awards are now available to recognise young people who are already volunteering.

The key to this recognition is the MV Certificate and MV Award of Excellence. The Certificate is achieved after volunteering 100 hours of their time, the Award of Excellence after 200 hours. These awards are now being promoted to employers as valuable additions to a CV and are already supported by industry bodies and recruitment organisations.

In order to become a Millennium Volunteer or to find out more, young people should call free on 0800 085 1624, or register on-line at www.mvdirect.co.uk.

Scouting 2007 is looking for volunteers to join its Core Teams to continue planning for UK Events & Activities and the 21st World Scout Jamboree. Individuals are also sought to report directly to the Chairman and take lead responsibility for design and stage management. Applicants should have a history of strategic management of Scout events, leading and managing working groups, be innovative and come with exciting ideas for the Centenary celebrations! Most communication will be electronic, so all applicants should have access to e-mail. To see a full list of the job descriptions and person specifications, and to download an application form, please log on to: www.scoutbase.org.uk/2007/

Saturday 23 June - East Anglia Region. Sunday 24 June - All Counties/ Areas. The Gilwell Park Fun Days offer a whole day of activities to suit the entire Pack or Colony. From the moment they arrive, everyone will be occupied until they go home again. The fun starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm. All the Leaders need to do is to book the places and get to Gilwell where the Camp Team will do the rest. The theme this year is 'On Safari', so why not dress accordingly? You could also use the theme for your programme for the month of June!

Booking forms have been mailed to all Groups. You can also visit http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/gilwellpark/funday/ or ring Gilwell Park Campsite on 020 8498 5410

In many ways running a Scout Group is like running the London Marathon - the years of training, the comradeship and lifelong friends made, not to mention that warm, glowing feeling that comes from knowing that, by volunteering, you are helping others!

We are investigating the possibility of obtaining some 'Golden Bonds' for the Flora London Marathon as a way to boost local fund-raising efforts. These Bonds guarantee a place in the race for runners who are sponsored to support a charity. All monies raised, after the deduction of the cost of a Golden Bond (approximately £250) can be credited to your local Group.

If you are interested in taking part in the world's biggest and most prestigious marathon, ring the Fundraising Department at Gilwell Park or e-mail jack.gilbert@scout.org.uk

British Gas is still encouraging youngsters to 'Think Energy!' If you haven't already done so get your Cub Scouts and Scouts to fill in the energy efficiency surveys on their homes, and send them back to British Gas to be in with a chance of winning a prize for your Group. This can easily be incorporated into an evening's programme or badge work. Please contact the Information Centre for additional copies. Reassurance can be given to Leaders who have expressed concerns that in sending back their details they will become the target for unsolicited mail. British Gas will not be doing this.

The KODAPOST envelopes that have already been sent to all Groups are a terrific way to help your Cub Scouts earn their Photography badge. They are also an inexpensive way to acquire high quality prints at a discounted/ affordable price.

All members of your Scout Group as well as families and friends can use the envelopes. Each month until April 2002, Kodak will present a 'Single Use Camera' to one lucky user of the KODAPOST envelopes and publicise the winners in SCOUTING Magazine. Additional envelopes are available from the Scout Information Centre.

British Meat, supporters of the Cub Scout and Scout Cook badges, has produced the resource pack entitled Cook, Care & Share. It is aimed at assisting you and developing the culinary skills of young people, building their confidence in the kitchen and establishing a sense of self-reliance. This will enable individuals to make an informed choice about meat and other food items and identify how their actions today will impact on their health and the environment in later life. Copies of the Pack have already been sent to all Scout Groups.

Have you ever been to a Scout Band Festival? You would be surprised how entertaining it can be!

Twenty-two Scout (& Guide) Bands will be performing displays of drill and manoeuvre to music at the National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes from 10.00am on Sunday 1st July. All styles from Traditional Marching Bands to Show Bands will be competing for £1,500 of prize money.

Tickets in the stand cost £5.00 (£3.50 for concessions and a party of 20+). Bring your own food or buy from a hot dog stall in the grounds. Booking forms are available from the Scout Information Centre. (It's a grand day out).

The Orchestras is in fact in its 25th year. Two Concerts will be given in August this year, following the Summer Course in Matlock, Derbyshire for 55 talented musicians from both Associations.

The dates are:

Friday 3 August at St John's Church, Buxton, Derbyshire at 7.30pm

Saturday 4 August at The Priory, Worksop, Nottinghamshire at 7.30pm

The music will include Holst's Somerset Rhapsody, Arthur Sullivan's Pineapple Poll and a major orchestral piece. Also performing will be Nicholas Brown, Choirboy of the Year, who is a Scout from Cumbria. Tickets cost £6.00 (£4.00 concessions) Booking forms are available from Information Centre.

Fox 40 Whistles are sponsoring the Scout Survival Skills Badge. The new whistle, with no movable parts to jam or freeze, is widely used in sport and now is recommended as a safety aid in Scouting activities. Resource material to help Leaders deliver the badge will be available to all Troops soon.

To order your own limited edition Scout Association Fox 40 Whistle, featuring the new logo contact: sales@fox40whistles.co.uk or 01883 331553.

English Heritage is sponsoring the Scout Heritage Badge. English Heritage not only manages a number of historic sites, but actively promotes heritage all over the UK. All of their sites offer free entry to Scout Groups. Resource material designed to help Leaders deliver the badge will be available to all Troops soon.

LEGOLAND is once again opening exclusively to members of The Scout Association for a whole weekend on 24th & 25th November 2001. As well as the exciting rides and attractions there will also be a host of Scouting activities on offer. Booking forms can be found in June's edition of 'SCOUTING Magazine', on ScoutBase UK and will be mailed directly to all Groups. Early bird bookings, before October 19th, will secure goody bags for everyone in their Group.

The Scout Association has reached an agreement with Oxford University Press to produce a new paperback edition of Scouting for Boys. Baden-Powell's seminal work will appear in early 2003 as part of the OUP's prestigious Oxford World's Classics series, a list of books spanning world literature. Other books in the series include The Bible, The Koran and Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.

The edition will feature a new introduction by Professor Elleke Boehmer, Director of Colonial and Post Colonial Studies at Nottingham Trent University. All proceeds from the sale of edition will go towards Scouting 2007 Ltd, the company organising the Centenary celebrations. The book enters the public domain in 2011, seventy years since the Founder's death.

The latest detailed design manual is now available. The publication is a useful aid when instructing printers, signwriters and other people being commissioned to produce items using the corporate identity devices. The manual comes complete with a CD. The CD contains master Word 97 templates to help you construct letters, press releases and design your own-headed paper. It costs £5.00 inclusive of p&p and can be purchased online at www.scoutbase.org.uk or by phoning the Information Centre on 0845 300 18 18

The Information Centre is making a special offer to all customers. If you want to buy the last few remaining copies of Management of Choice II we are offering a special deal. Buy one for £15.00,two for £25.00 or three copies for £30.00. Telephone 0845 300 18 18.

This government-backed scheme entitles you to a discount on a learning scheme of your choice. It can also be used for Scout Leader training, becoming a sports instructor, or First Aid for example - in fact any course that has an emphasis on learning so you can help other learn. You cannot use it simply to take part in an activity or sport.

The first 1,000,000 people to register get a free £150 voucher to spend with any registered provider. The Association has recently encouraged all Counties/Areas to register as providers but many other activity centres, companies and organisations are also registered.To register you need to complete a simple form. It's well worth registering now on 0800 072 5678 or on line at http://www.dfee.gov.uk/ila/

You can now subscribe to SCOUTING magazine online through ScoutBase UK. Go to http://www.sbuk.org.uk/info.centre/catalog.php to order the national magazine for the Scout Movement the easy way.

A frequently asked question about Talking Points is "Who gets it?" The main circulation is handled by a Mailing House who use labels produced from the National Database in the Records Office. The labels are created from Census information supplied by Groups/Areas/Counties and Districts. If your copy of Talking Points comes in a clear plastic wrapper and the label is incorrect then the Records Office need to be advised. This advice is best given through your County/Area or District Secretary because if you have changed address, it might be quite useful if they know as well!!

Single copies are mailed to:

• County Chairmen
• County Treasurers
• County Administrators
• County Commissioners
• Acting County Commissioners
• Deputy County Commissioners
• County Organising Commissioners
• Assistant County Commissioners
• County Advisors (who are recorded on the system)
• District Commissioners
• Acting District Commissioners
• District Scout Fellowship Chairmen
• Group Scout Leader OR Group Contact, only when there is no GSL

Twelve copies are mailed to the following people so that they can be circulated to members of County or District teams not covered by the above.

• County Secretary/Acting County Secretary
• District Secretary/Acting District Secretary

If you receive your Talking Points in a plain brown envelope you are on the mailing list of Editors or Public Relations Officers maintained by the Communications Department at Gilwell Park. Any changes should be notified directly to them.

The Committee of the Council met at Gilwell Park on 24/25 March 2001.

Amendments to POR Rule 40.1 were approved. The Committee noted that it may need to revisit the timing of the transitional arrangements if the current Foot and Mouth outbreak restricts training opportunities for the new scheme.

The Committee reaffirmed the Executive Committee's wish for the ideal objective for a single UK Headquarters service for obtaining all disclosures. Headquarters will register with the Criminal Records Bureau as the single interface at least for England and Wales. There will be no need for Counties, Areas and Districts to register. There will be collaboration with Scottish Headquarters and Northern Ireland Headquarters about achieving the single service.

The Committee received proposals regarding support to Scout Groups after consultation with County/Area Commissioners. It is proposed that there is further discussions with the Council (mainly County/Area Commissioners) at the Council in Conference in September 2001.

The Committee decided that the optional uniform tie will be navy blue with a single tone on tone logo at its tail. Outdoors was authorised to vary the style of the skirt following substantial feedback from female Leaders. The new Outdoors e-commerce site launched at the end of April received 20,000 hits on its first day and thus far has taken several thousand pounds worth of orders. Sizing information is now available to the shop network and on the company's website (www.outdoors.ltd.uk).

The Committee received a progress report on the implementation of the Communications and Image Strategy it had agreed in February 2000. Some 26,000 copies of the Design Guide have been distributed free of charge to the Movement. SCOUTING Magazine has been produced in partnership with contract publishers since September 2000. The production delays experienced at the end of the year have been eliminated and the magazine is appearing on time. The entire production and distribution processes are being reviewed with external assistance. This will lead to a revised business plan and report for the Committee later this year.

A formal review of the census operation will be undertaken and a report prepared for the General Purposes sub-Committee in July.

The Committee approved the revenue and capital budgets for 2001/2002. This includes provision for the first phase (infrastructure) of the Gilwell Park Campsite redevelopment.

The Committee set the figure for 2002/2003 at £15.30. This is a 30p increase on the 2001/2002 figure. The rebate of 0.35p for prompt payment still applies.

The Committee has decided that the Association should hold general reserves of between six and 12 months revenue expenditure.

The Committee approved the theme for the programme and a budget. Subject to fine-tuning the theme will be 'The Queen's Jubilee - be prepared to make a difference'. It will be linked to Commonwealth related projects and promotion of the Queen's Scout Award. Programme packs will be available to the Movement in September/October 2001. There will be an article in SCOUTING in June 2001.

The Committee received a progress report and details of the master plan. Early proposals for the design of new buildings on the site were received. These may change as the detailed requirements are clarified. The Committee approved expenditure in the next financial year for the commencement of work on the required infrastructure for the project. An external climbing wall will also be built. Other buildings will be constructed over the next few years as funding becomes available.

The Committee agreed that Scout parties should seek advice from the local District Commissioner before visiting an area. The local District Commissioner should base that advice on consultations with local professional advisers e.g. MAFF.

The Committee agreed to the hosting of a self-financing European meeting in the UK later in the year. The meeting will consider the various legal requirements imposed by European Governments on voluntary organisations undertaking adventurous activities.

The next meeting of the Committee of the Council will be 23/24 June 2001 at Gilwell Park.