Congratulations and well done to Denise Clasby and Sarah Durham of the 11th Freemantle and Rob Greenaway of the 9thShirley Warren and Amy O Keefe of the 26th Swaythling and Clare Bandy of the 7th Basset and Paul Harvey of the 1stAldermoor for gaining their Leadership Training Wood badge.
Congratulations to JJ and Jake for gaining their D of E Bronze award well done to you both.
Well Done to Kris Partridge of the 11th and Kay Wilkinson of the 2nd for five years service. Congratulations to Lin Johnson for her 25 years service award. Lin will be retiring from her role as ADC Beavers at Christmas.
Well done to the 22nd Regents Park for the group’s 75th Birthday celebration. It was a lovely day which the Mayor and Mayoress thoroughly enjoyed.
District AGM
A big thank you to all of those that came along and supported the district team at this year’s District AGM it was lovely to see such a good attendance your support is greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to the 1st Aldermoor and the 13Th Sea Scouts Millbrook for jointly winning the Bert Cooke Trophy. At the AGM we looked back over the year and it was widely recognised that we have lots to be proud of in our scouting.
The focus for next year will be the continued growth of our scouting. At the group AGM’s we passed out a vacancy board to advertise your adult volunteer vacancies. Don’t forget a scout group has a job for everyone. Get everyone involved.
This picture is of the vacancy board at the 29th. Have you got your vacancy board up yet?
Grow your Own Scout Group, Offer the Big Adventure.
Scouting in Southampton needs to grow. We all now what the problem is it is a lack of volunteers. I have asked Thelma ADC Group Support to help you with getting your group bigger next year.
We will be organising a meeting with you soon to take this initiative forward. Lot’s are happening this coming year about recruitment of adults it is our main focus but we need you to help us with this as well you need to ask anyone and everyone that you meet in your groups or outside scouting to get involved. Scouting has a job for most people.
Get The Out In Scouting
I am really pleased to say that Ian Budd has now been appointed as our Assistant District Commissioner. His responsibility is to encourage and facilitate anything that involves ADVENTURE!!.
Far too often we organise district activities and competitions and you struggle to get a team to represent your group or the lack of interest is disappointing. Ian will be helping you all to get our young people out and about and really enjoy our scouting. Scouting is NOT just a one night a week commitment. To get the very best out of scouting our young people need to have an I want to do that kind of attitude.
Ian will be coming along and talking to you all about how we can get the OUT in SCOUTING.
District Team Structure
Jamboree 2015 – Japan
I am very pleased to say that we have four of our young people who have put their name forward to be considered for the 2015 Jamboree in Japan. They are Owen Budd, Rozy Toomer, Abi Bacon, Kieran Brackley. The selection weekend is to take place from 6 – 8 September at Fernycrofts. I wish all of our candidates all the very best of luck they will all hopefully be given this wonderful opportunity they are all great scouts.
Wilverley District Camp Site
We have been talking to the Forestry Commission about renewing our license and we have now got permission to purchase and have installed a LPG generator at the site to replace the old Diesel genny. This will be far more efficient and much easier for you all to use. We estimate it will cost approximately 25K to have installed and we intend to have it fitted later this year. That shows very clearly the districts commitment to the site. The next Wilverley Working party will be taking place during the weekend of the 31st August and the 1st September. Please come along and help us that weekend.
This has been a very busy month for us all. I have been to the following events.
- 2nd Shirley Joint Cub and Beaver Camp at Fernycroft
- 26th Swaythling Cub Campers badge weekend at Ferny Croft
- 13th Millbrook Summer Fayre
- 11th Freemantle Cub Camp at Wilverley
- 25th and 14th Joint Beaver and Cub Camp at Wilverley
- Network camp at Wilverley
- District Emlyn Competition at Braggers Wood {well done every one who participated and congratulations to the 1st Aldermoor for coming out as the district winning patrol)
- Cubs David’s Challenge at Wilverley
- The Race for Life in support of cancer research
- Beaver Logger Head Competition at Wilverley
SUMMER IS HERE!! For those of you going to summer camps have a lovely time and please take care. I hope you all get a chance to take a rest from scouting and spend some time with you friends and families in August and I look forward to September when we do it all again.
Yours in Scouting
Colin Floyd, District Commissioner