;

welcome

assessor training

the outdoors show

new acc/aac (activities) induction workshop

Scout Led Activity index

Air rifle shooting

Grade five caving

Appointments

Private Mobile Radio

Factsheets

National Activities Team vacancies

ScoutBase UK

Activities Office staffing

Diary dates 2003

and finally

Air Rifle Shooting - Qualification of Supervisors

Airgun Shooting - Invitation to Nominate "Tutor Trainers" to NSRA

This document is also available as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file: an-2002-10.pdf

Welcome to this year's second activities newsletter from the National Commissioner for Activities and the Activities Office at Gilwell Park. This issue is packed full of information about the latest and forthcoming developments in activities. Enjoy reading!

Assessors form a key part of the Activity Authorisation process. In order to support the financial cost of Assessor training, The King George VI Fund offers a massive 50% subsidy towards Assessor courses. A further enhancement to this scheme is that Plas Y Brenin and Adventureworks have set up a partnership deal with The Scout Association whereby these providers will bill the Scout Association direct therefore you only have to pay half the course fee up front. Leaflets and additional information are available from the Scout Information Centre by telephoning 0845 300 1818 or by emailing info.centre@scout.org.uk.

The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show will take place at the NEC Birmingham from 14th to 16th March 2003. Following The Scout Association's attendance at the inaugural Outdoors Show we will once again have a stand. The show will grow in size and be almost three times as large as the previous event. In addition, the show will host Climb 2003, Canoe 2003 and the Adventure Sports Show.

Discounted tickets will be available, details of which will be published in Scouting Magazine.

As part of the review of how activities are supported, we are piloting two workshops for those newly appointed to the role of AAC/ACC (Activities). Each will be limited to a small group to provide a foundation across a broad range of topics whilst allowing individual needs to be addressed.

Each workshop will be for one day and facilitated by both a member of the National Activity Team and Gilwell staff. The cost is £20 which will include lunch and refreshments. The venues are:

• Gilwell Park
  Saturday 1st February 2003
• Manchester North (County HQ)
  Sunday 23rd February 2003

To apply, simply contact the Activities Office on 0208 433 7125 or email activities@scout.org.uk to check out availability and request an application form.

Those who are unable to make these dates or venues should contact the Activities Office to ensure that information regarding future workshops is sent directly.

The Scout Led Activity Index (Factsheet number FS120084) is an extensive factsheet designed to help Members identify the relevant rules and guidance appropriate to a particular activity. With over 70 activities listed, this factsheet is a one stop guide for guidance on undertaking activities in Scouting.

The factsheet is available from the Scout Information Centre by telephoning 0845 300 1818 or by emailing info.centre@scout.org.uk, alternatively it can be downloaded from the factsheet section of ScoutBase UK at www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts.

Attached to this issue of Activities News is an information sheet on the qualifications required by those who can supervise air rifle shooting in accordance with our shooting rules. The guide is designed to identify the minimum recognised qualifications required for this activity.

Also attached is information on the nomination of Tutor Trainers to the National Small-Bore Rifle Association. Although not a Scouting appointment, this should help increase the number of people who can deliver the YPS Tutor's Diploma Course.

Results of the recent "Bisley Scoutshoot '02" and an update on the entry status for this month's National Scout Air Rifle Championships can be accessed at http://www.dohoo.clara.net/svsrc/index.html.

Make Sunday 6th April 2003 a date in your diary for the 3rd Inter-County Scout Shooting Championships at Aldersley. Details are available from David pennell (david.pennell@v21mail.co.uk).

After concern over the severity of Grade 5 caving, the caving review team put forward a recommendation which was later advised to ACC/AAC (Activities) by the National Commissioner for Activities. A summary of the advice is as follows:

• Those holding authorisations for Grade 5 caving should only do so with adult groups who, individually, have regular experience of caving, are physically and mentally fit to undertake this level.

• As is common best practise with all adventurous activities, the leader should hold a pre-trip discussion with the group, as a whole and with individuals of least experience, to examine the objectives, and the problems that may be encountered e.g. severity, personal capability, weather, escape and rescue, amongst other things that would normally feature in such a discussion, or briefing.

• Those wishing to undertake, or organise, caving through an external provider should make enquiries as to the grade. The provider should be advised that Grade 5 has been deemed as inappropriate where any individual is not a regular caver, is physically and mentally unfit to undertake the task and is unable to give adult consent.

The review is continuing and further guidance on caving will be issued shortly.

The National Activities Team is pleased to welcome

• Mike Rosser as the Specialist Adviser for Rock, Snow and Ice Climbing

• Julien Pike as the Specialist Adviser for Paddle Sports

• Mike Pedley as the Specialist Adviser for Air Scouting

The Team are currently in the process of reviewing the large number of high calibre applications for the post of Specialist Adviser for Dinghy Sailing.

Check out the "new appointments" section for details of the latest vacancies in the National Activities Team.

The Scout Association currently holds a licence issued by the Radio Communications Agency to allow Members to use private mobile radios. This licence is soon to change which will have an effect on the way we operate the licencing scheme. The process is very much in its infancy at this stage and full details will be provided to PMR contacts in due course. The benefits of the new UK General Licence include:

• The use of fifteen dedicated frequencies, which can be used at any time

• A reduction in the cost of the licence fee

• A three yearly census as opposed to the current annual census

There is no need for any action at this stage for current licence holders, however, more details on the changes will be published soon.

The following are new or updated factsheets and are available from the Scout Information Centre or from ScoutBase UK.

FS120006   Aerial Runway Code

FS120034   Scout Led Activities Index

FS120266   Lighting for Scout Shows

FS120268   Sound for Scout Shows

FS120267   Costuming a Scout Show

FS120164   Scout Shows: Setting the Standards

BR120161   Original Material for Gang Shows

FS120614   Underwater Swimming For All

FS120709   Resource Material for Aviation Badges

FS120710   Job Description for District/County Air Adviser

The National Activities Team is recruiting key members to lead various high profile projects on the future development of activities in Scouting. The development of Scouting for young people through challenging and safe activities is an identified way of growing our Movement. We are inviting you to be part of this development and to make a difference.

There are four key project areas for which we are looking for dynamic, forward thinking and experienced project leaders to manage. The areas are:

• Creative Activities Review (Ref: ACT/PL/CA)
  This fixed term appointment, for one year, will oversee the review of creative activities in Scouting. The review aims to identify young people's needs whilst devising a strategy to meet them. The review will also encompass a review of the Scout Show support structure.

• Supporting Assessor's (Ref: ACT/PL/SA)
  This fixed term appointment, for two years, will lead a review of the current support provided to Activity Assessors. The review will involve providing Assessor Forums as a means by which to promote the sharing of ideas and promoting links with headquarters.

• Activity Resources and Marketing (Ref: ACT/PL/AR)
  This fixed term appointment, for two years, will oversee the development of brand new resources. The appointment will involve managing small teams of volunteers to produce and market exciting and informative resources on a range of activity areas through a variety of different mediums.

• Rules, Regulations and Technical Advice (Ref: ACT/PL/RR)
  This short-term appointment, until September 2003, will manage a review of The Scout Association's current activity rules, regulations and technical advice. The key focus of the review will be to identify ways to make rules and regulations more understandable and to communicate them effectively to members.

Applications are welcome from individuals who have experience in leading, motivating and managing a team. The need for good communication skills, creativity, teamworking plus an empathy for Scouting are essential.

The Team are also looking to recruit dynamic, forward thinking individuals to join the team of National Activity Advisers. The positions available are:

• Hillwalking (Ref: ACT/NAA/HW)
  This role looks to support the area of hillwalking as a Scouting activity. The role will involve working to develop and expand the opportunities hillwalking presents.

• Swimming (Ref: ACT/NAA/S)
  This role looks to develop the area of swimming as a Scouting activity. The role will involve working to produce a standard approach to swimming activities throughout Scouting.

• Campsites and Activity Centres (Ref: ACT/NAA/CS)
  This role looks to develop effective relationships with Campsites and Activity Centres and to identify ways to provide quality outdoor, residential experiences for young people.

The role of a National Activity Adviser requires an in depth technical knowledge and, where appropriate, experience of the particular activity. The role involves working with external organisations, therefore, relevant qualifications and membership of applicable National Governing Bodies are an advantage.

The need for good communication skills, aspirations to develop the respective activity areas and an empathy for Scouting are essential attributes for this role.

Application packs for all positions and further information is available from the Activities Office at Gilwell Park by telephoning 020 8433 7125 or emailing paula.varanda@scout.org.uk (please indicate the position reference).

The closing date for all applications is Wednesday 20th November 2002.

Interviews will be held at Gilwell Park over the weekend of 30th November/1st December or 6th December/7th December 2002.

ScoutBase UK is the largest charity website in the United Kingdom. The Activities area of the site has lots of useful information for Members, but is it the right information? How can ScoutBase UK be made more relevant to your activity needs? What resources can we provide to make ScoutBase UK even more useful?

As part of the national activities review we are looking at the provision of information as a resource on the internet and we need your help. Tell us what you think, how can we make it even better? Drop us an email at activities@scout.org.uk (please put "ScoutBase UK" in the subject line) to tell us your thoughts.

In the last issue of Activities News, it was reported that the Activities Office at Gilwell Park was undergoing some staff changes. We are pleased to report that the office now has a full complement of staff who are:

• Nick Parker - Programme and Development Manager (Activities)

• Barney Poulton - Programme and Development Adviser (Activities)

• Ross Maloney - Programme and Development Adviser (Activities)

• Paula Varanda - Secretarial Assistant

The office staff can be contacted via the Scout Information Centre or directly on 020 8433 7125.

National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra Course and Tour 2003

Sunday 27th July - Saturday 9th August - Course in West Lancashire, Tour TBC

Communication and Consultation Days

Sunday 9th February - Morth West Region

Saturday 15th February - East Anglia Region

Sunday 12th October - London Region

Saturday 18th October - East Midlands Region

Sunday 19th October - West Midlands Region

Saturday 22nd November - South East Region

Note: Communication and Consultation Days are opportunities for ACC/AACs to find out what is going on at Headquarters and for you to let Headquarters know what issues are relevant in your area. Be sure to find out the details of your meeting and go along!

The Outdoors Show

Friday 14th - Sunday 16th March 2003 - NEC, Birmingham

Royal Navy Sea Scout Swimming Gala

Friday 7th - Sunday 9th February 2003 - HMS Raleigh, Plymouth

Inter-County Scout Shooting Championships

Sunday 6th April 2003 - Aldersley

Having only just blown out the candle on my first anniversary cake as National Commissioner, I can reflect on a very busy year and the need to change one set of tyres. It has been great meeting the large number of people committed to promoting and delivering activities, be that at Regional Activities meetings, County and National events, campsites and even sharing accommodation with an ACC on a ML Training Course!

All the contacts I have made have been very beneficial in helping me to confirm the need to review the way in which the National Activities Team operates. As you will have read, we are advertising for volunteer Project Leaders who will undertake the management of certain key areas of work, and applications are invited from outside the 'activities' network.

The work of the overall Team will aim to look at providing more and better information about access to a wider range of activities, in both expected and unexpected places. However, this will not detract from the need to provide technical advice, information and representation in the areas of adventurous activities.

Another new initiative is the AAC/AAC (Activities) Induction Workshops, which we are piloting, in early 2003. This recognises the importance and complexity of a key support role and the impact it may have on our Members.

Those are just highlights of the changes that will be happening, in a programme estimated to last two years, to better support activities for more young people in Scouting.

Alex Minajew - National Commissioner for Activites

NOTE TO ACC/AAC (Activities)

It is a requirement of Rule 9.37 that:

"air weapon shooting must be under the instruction of someone who holds, as a minimum, the National Small-Bore Rifle Association's Youth Proficiency Scheme Tutors' Diploma".

The purpose of this note is to identify the qualifications recognised as above this minimum, the holders of which may also supervise the use of air guns as a Scout activity.

This list will be included in a future revision to the Factsheet "Shooting" (FS120004).

Background

For several years the NSRA Youth Proficiency Scheme (YPS) Tutor's Diploma has been the basic qualification for the supervision of target shooting with airguns as a Scout activity.

Over 4000 people have been awarded this qualification by the NSRA as a result of courses arranged through Scouting. The demand remains high and in some areas there are long waiting lists for this course. The NSRA is willing to consider nominations from The Scout Association for the appointment of suitable people as Tutor Trainers to deliver the YPS Tutor's Diploma course.

It is stressed that this is an NSRA appointment, not a Scout one. However, we hope that most Scout Counties and Areas will be able to find a suitable person to fulfil this role thereby increasing the supply of NSRA YPS Tutor's Diploma courses and enabling more Scouts to participate in this activity.

Who is suitable?

There are three criteria for nomination:

1. Experienced target shooter at Club level or above. Nominees will normally be qualified as a Range Conducting Officer, Instructor or Coach, or will be a shooter who has competed as a representative at County level or above.

2. Ability as a presenter of training to adults. This is to be confirmed by the nominating Commissioner on behalf of The Scout Association. The nominee will normally hold a Scout Association certificate of competence as a Presenter of training or have demonstrated their competence in the planning and delivery of training to adults.

3. Membership. The nominee must be either:

   • An NSRA Life or Annual Member, or

   • Both a member of the Scout Association and also a Member of an NSRA affiliated club

The membership criterion has two functions. It ensures that the Tutor Trainer is adequately insured and, through access to "The Rifleman", is kept properly informed of developments affecting the Youth Proficiency Scheme. The appointment will remain valid only so long as this criterion is met.

Administration

The Activities Office at Gilwell will act as a central point for nominations. The NSRA will consider only those it receives from Gilwell.

Route for applications:

1. The Applicant compiles a resumé of their relevant shooting and instructional experience, countersigned by people (usually including the Secretary of their Target Shooting Club) with personal knowledge of the statements made and sends it to

2. the Nominating Commissioner (who will be the DC or, in the case of holders of County /Area appointments, the County or Area Commissioner or a designated DCC/DAC or ACC/AAC) who confirms by letter, on the basis of personal knowledge, that the applicant's attitude to the management of safety, leadership capability and instructional skill are all appropriate to this appointment and forwards the application

3. through the relevant County/Area Office

4. to the Scout Association Activities Manager at Gilwell, who will register the application and forward it to the NSRA for consideration for appointment as a YPS Tutor Trainer.

The HQ Specialist Adviser (Shooting) will provide advice upon request to those identified above.

The NSRA will issue a Certificate of Appointment to successful applicants, with a copy to the Activities Office, Gilwell, which will maintain a register of YPS Tutor Trainers appointed on the basis of Scout Association nomination.

Operation of the Scheme

Tutor Trainers are authorised to purchase the YPS Tutor and Student Manuals in bulk from the NSRA as course materials. At the end of each tutor training course the Tutor Trainer notifies the NSRA of the details of the successful candidates and will be sent their certificates and badges for issue to the new Tutors.

John Dohoo - Specialist Adviser (Shooting) - September 2002