;

Welcome

Duke of Edinburgh's development

Activity permit scheme implementation

Nights Away permit scheme

Even more Jamboree opportunities

Expedition Leader Training

Caving Funding

UK adviser (activities)

Flying bursaries

Armada

Diary Dates 2007

New water activities equipment

Bike Safety

Factsheet update

HQ Profile

...and (nearly) finally

...and finally

Activities News Mailings

This document is also available as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file: an-2007-05.pdf

Welcome to the May 2007 issue of the activities newsletter from the Programme Team.

In this issue we take a look at:

• Activity Permit Scheme reminder
• Developing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Update on the Nights Away Permit Scheme
• Discounted activities equipment
• A range of activities opportunities

There has been a lot of work going on to give additional support to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award within Scouting. So here's what we've done so far and some things to look out for in the future:

Perfect Match Leaflet - This is a leaflet that outlines the links between Scouting's Awards and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. There will be a variety of versions available to download from ScoutBase UK and we will be mailing District Explorer Scout Commissioners shortly with a supply for distribution to each Explorer Scout within their District.

Banners - Shortly there will be sets of two Duke of Edinburgh's Award banners, designed to represent the Award within Scouting, available to borrow. Details of how to book these are available at: www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/dofe/resources/index.htm

Posters - We are currently designing 'Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Scouting' posters. These will be sent out to District Explorer Scout Commissioners for distribution to Explorer Scout Units. They should be available in the autumn.

Training Days - During the spring 2008 a series of training days will be running across England to support Leaders delivering The Award within Scouting. Details of these events will be available later this year. For details of all of these resources please go to:

www.scouts.org.uk/dofe

We are hearing many encouraging stories of Counties/Areas implementing the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme very successfully. For those Counties/Areas yet to do so this is a reminder that everyone needs to have transferred to the permit scheme by 1st September 2007. If any Counties /Areas would like someone to visit to help them launch the scheme, answer questions, help sort any issues, etc. then we would be very happy to do so. Please contact us at: activities@scout.org.uk

Additionally, if you are running any permit training or assessment courses, and would like to advertise them on ScoutBase UK to potential applicants and Assessors from other Counties/Areas, then please feel free to send the details, including a link to a website or email, to: activities@scout.org.uk

Following the review of the implementation of the Nights Away Permit Scheme we can confirm that we are on schedule to announce minor changes in September 2007. This timescale is to ensure that we don't introduce any changes just before the start of the main camping season, especially in our centenary year when we hope many people will be getting out at some point, and also to ensure that Counties/Areas and Districts have plenty of time to implement any changes before we reach our next main camping season.

Any changes introduced will not be wholesale, but simple tweaks and additions to the current system, suggested by those who responded to the review, to ensure the scheme works more smoothly, efficiently and effectively.

The 21st World Scout Jamboree still has opportunities for activity leaders to get involved in its Off Site Programme. Specifically they are looking for instructors for climbing/abseiling at Gilwell Adventure and dinghy sailing, raft building and bell boating at Splash! There are also opportunities at Splash! as; general staff to help with running challenge bases for 'Aqua Challenge', to help on the support team to make sure coaches are unloaded and loaded safely, to provide maintenance, and to help out in a trading outlet, selling food and drinks etc.

It is recognised that there are a lot of people for whom attending the whole of the Jamboree period or affording the International Service Team fee has put them off volunteering to help. It was with this in mind that the Off-Site Team (OST) packages have been created. They offer flexible options, with costs covering food and camping only. There are even options to come and help out for free if you can find your own accommodation and catering in the area. For further information please see:

www.thejamboree.org/ost

The Young Explorers' Trust are running a weekend training course on leading expeditions in this country or abroad. The course is open to anyone who is intending, hoping or just interested in leading expeditions. The course will offer training in; planning, selecting members, equipment, food, member training, management of a team in the field, insurance, fund raising safety procedures, project work and how to minimise the environmental impact of an expedition.

For more information and an application form please contact: peter.drake@scout.org.uk

As part of their youth and development policy the British Caving Association (BCA) are making funding available to voluntary youth workers (including Scouting) taking part in their training and assessment scheme. This takes the form of a refund of the Local Cave and Mine Leaders Award (LCMLA) registration fee on completion of the training, and a grant of £50 on completion of assessment for LCMLA Level 1 or Level 2. To apply for this funding, or for more details, please contact the Training Officer at the BCA with proof of membership of The Scout Association at: training@british-caving.org.uk

Following the end Alex Minajew's appointment as National Commissioner for Activities we are delighted to announce that Linda Thelwell has been appointed as UK Adviser (Activities). Linda is now looking forward to meeting and talking with many people involved in Activities as she aims to continue supporting and developing Activities within Scouting. You can find out more about Linda in 'HQ Profile' later in this newsletter.

The Royal Aero Club Trust is launching its 2008 youth flying bursary programme in August, with a bursary of up to £500 available to anyone between 16 and 21 years of age who wishes to advance their competency in an air sport. A wide range of activities are covered by the bursary scheme including, paragliding, hang gliding, parachuting, ballooning, flying gliders, microlight aircraft, fixed wing aeroplanes, helicopters and model-flying. For more information and an application form visit the Royal Aero Club Trust website from August at:

www.royalaeroclubtrust.org/bursaries.html

A number of Sea Scouts from across Europe have arranged to arrive at the 21st World Scout Jamboree in style. They will be arriving as part of an armada of around 30 sailing vessels. The armada will be calling at and picking up participants and vessels from; Norway, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Belgium, before sailing up the Thames to dock at the Dockland Scout Project.

Once docked in London these vessels will be opening their doors to visitors as well having their own Sunrise Ceremony on 1st August. If you wish to visit then more details can be found through contacting: admin@lordamory.com

Below are listed a number of activity events taking place in 2007. Many of these allow novice levels to take part without the need to bring specialist activity equipment. The fact that we are advertising them does not mean that these events are necessarily vetted or endorsed by The Scout Association nationally. For a full and up to date list of activity events and dates please see:

www.scoutbase.org.uk/direct/events/activitiestemp.htm

The 21st World Scout Jamboree water activities day, Splash!, offers not only the chance for thousands of young people from around the world to have their first taste of water activities, but also hopes to have a lasting positive impact on water activities within Scouting in the UK. A range of exclusive deals from major manufacturers have been negotiated and the following are available for purchase now. The equipment will be delivered directly to the Jamboree and used for eight days of activities, after which you will be able to collect your items from the Splash! site at Alton Water, near Ipswich.

• OldTownDiscovery 158 Open Canoes
• Topper Sailing Dinghies
• Laser Sailing Dinghies
• RS Sailing Dinghies

For more information on this equipment and the prices please see:

www.scouts.org.uk/scoutingplus/250107/splash.html

There will also be a range of equipment available to purchase direct from the organisers of the Jamboree, including the following:

• Buoyancy Aids
• Paddles
• Throw lines
• Helmets
• Mambo Sit-on Kayaks

To see if you can pick up some new equipment keep an eye out for the pre-event launch of the Jamboree equipment sales website at:

www.thejamboree.org

Pedalites are a new cycling safety gadget that automatically produce lights in your pedals when you ride at night. What makes them unique is that they use an energy storage capacitor rather than any form of battery, so you don't need to worry about leaving them on or replacing dead batteries. And the manufacturers are offering a 20% discount to Members of The Scout Association. Simply add the code BBD7-A58D-80CB-2A9E when ordering from:

www.pedalite.com

Details of new and updated factsheets and assessment checklists in the past six months can be found on their dedicated web page at:

www.scouts.org.uk/recentupdates

Linda Thelwell has recently been appointed as the UK Adviser (Activities). To give everyone a better idea of the sort of person who will be driving Activities forwards for the next few years, we sent our very best reporter to ask her some in depth questions.

What is your first recollection of Scouting?

As a young girl I was in the Brownies and Guides. In those days girls had not been invited to join Scouting. However my Dad was Skip for our local Scout Group and my brother a Scout so I do remember them going off to Scouts on a Thursday evening. I had to stay at home with Mum and watch Top of the Pops followed by The Man from Uncle. I was disappointed that they would not take me along. However I was always allowed to help at the monthly fund raising coffee morning clearing the tables and taking the dirty cups through to the kitchen. My favourite memories of those early days were Scout summer camp. Again I was not allowed to stay but I was invited to join them on the first Sunday when families could visit. On leaving Guides I joined a Ranger Guide Unit which did many joint activities with the local Venture Scout Unit. By the time Venture Scouting was co-educational I was too old to be a member, in fact by this time I was an Akela.

What activities do you do when you have spare time?

Like most people involved in Scouting it occupies most of my spare time. I passionately believe in Scouting so this is not a problem to me. I do love to have some time to myself. I enjoy many leisure activities including hill walking, cycling, sailing and jogging.

Where is your favourite haunt...where can we find you?

I am Yorkshire born and bred so I love nothing better than hill walking in the Yorkshire Wolds, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

Who provides you with inspiration?

It has to be my Dad. I was just twelve years of age when he died of Cancer. Unbeknown to me he had been diagnosed when I was 6 years old. He was a true fighter. He cared deeply for other people particularly his family. During his battle against cancer I never knew he was seriously ill. He ran a Scout Troop, took them camping and hiking, took me to Brownies, Guides, swimming lessons, etc. As a family we had a very happy and full life. He must have had to fight so hard to produce this. When things are tough and I am feeling down I think how my Dad would have coped with the situation and just know he would have "smiled and whistled under all difficulties".

What is your ambition?

My immediate ambition as UK Adviser (Activities) is to enable more young people to enjoy Scouting whilst helping Leaders to deliver Scouting easily within a safe environment. My personal ambition, well I suppose dream, is to retire, buy a camper bus and travel.

What is your claim to fame?

Along with Gilberdyke Venture Scout Unit we entered a fundraising challenge set by SCOPE. We had to get a beer barrel (sorry to say empty!) to Paris using only £5 of our own money. SCOPE set lots of other challenges. One of these being how many different forms of transport you could use en-route. We recorded 92 and achieved the most from all the UK entries. OK, so there was a bit of poetic licence in that. We did not travel far by space hopper, skipping rope or stilts but we did travel! We even went up and down an escalator with the beer barrel just because we could.

If you could go to any worldwide destination, where would you go?

I am fascinated by different cultures so there are so many places I would like to visit. I would like to go back to Africa. I hope to go to India next year and at some point I would like to go to Nepal and the Himalayas. I suppose really I would just like to see the world.

What is your favourite food?

Any sort of fish but my favourite is salmon especially if it has had a sauce and pasta added.

For this issue's must have gadget we have gone domesticated with specialised cutlery for differing activity needs.

Firstly for those travelling lightweight we have found the spoon, knife, fork combination, known as the Spork that gives you the functionality of a complete cutlery set at a third of the weight:

Secondly for those late evenings when darkness has won the race with your stove, fear not as we bring you the solution to night time eating with Glow Cutlery:

Thank you for reading this issue of Activities News. I do hope that you have found it of interest. Over the coming months we will be looking at ways of improving the methods used to deliver information to those involved in activities - and specifically at the format of these newsletters. If you have any ideas that you feel would make newsletters such as this more helpful, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Andrew Wellbeloved - UK Commissioner for Programme
Email: programme@scout.org.uk

If you need help or advice, please contact us:

The Programme Team
The Scout Association
Gilwell Park
Chingford
London
E4 7QW
Tel. 020 8433 7157 Fax. 020 8433 7114
Email. activities@scout.org.uk
Web. www.scouts.org.uk/activities

This newsletter has been sent to all those who hold an Activities appointment and have contact details on the Membership Services database. If you didn't receive this newsletter personally and believe you should have done, then please ensure your appointment and contact details are correct on the database. If you have received this newsletter by post and would prefer to receive it electronically for ease of forwarding on to other interested parties, then please ensure you email address is up to date on the database. This can be done at www.scouts.org.uk. If you require your membership number to sign up or do not have internet access, please contact the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.