The Viewpoint Newsletter provides information to all the Adults involved in Scouting in the Arundel and Littlehampton District.
May 2003
District AGM 2003
You are all invited to attend the Districts Annual General Meeting on June 26th at Arundel Castle 7.45pm for 8.00pm. Invitations will be sent to Groups Shortly, if however you do not get an invitation in error and would like to attend please contact Prue Payne, District Secretary secretary@al-scouts.org.uk and she will ensure you get an invite.
Viewpoint
Please note that distribution of information in paper form will be sent out by the 15th of each month following the publication of the viewpoint newsletter (monthly deadline for Viewpoint will be the 25th of each month).
Please send any material that may be of interest to the whole of the District to the District Secretary, Prue Payne secretary@al-scouts.org.uk, by the end of each month, who will arrange either inclusion in the next available newsletter or distribution to Group contacts.
Please try and plan the method and timing of how information is sent out to maximise its effectiveness.
Scout Network
West Sussex Scouts have now grasped the issue of Scout Network and are hopefully going to sort out what needs to be done shortly; probably a Network will now cover more than one District to ensure good numbers. It is likely that we will join with Worthing and Adur Valley Districts.
A County Network Leader will be appointed to a local Network for a year to get the operation of the Section going and then they will leave the running of the section to the young people themselves after that.
Could you please ask any 18 to 24 year olds that have not signed up to Network to do so (if they have filled in the form its still might be worth doing so again to ensure their details have been collected), in order that the County Network Team can get in contact directly with those people. Sent with the Group Communications is the Network Information Form for them to fill in.
Wanted Training Advisers
In 2004 the new Adult Leader Training scheme starts, the County needs to have several local Training Advisors in place, in each District, by this time to help new Leaders through their training. Enclosed with this circulation is some information on this role, please see if this would be something you might like to try.
Explorer Activity Badge Downloads
Now available from www.scoutbase.org.uk/6to25/explorer/badges/navigator.htm are the requirements for all 14 Explorer Scout Activity Badge requirements. These print out to fit into the Navigator File.
Explorer Ten Pin Bowling Competition
Welcome to the UNITED KINGDOM Explorer Scouts TEN-PIN BOWLING competition 2003, this is a new competition for the Explorer Scouts and is designed to allow EVERY member of the Explorer Scout Unit and many others to participate without the hassle of Team Size's / Age Restrictions and more importantly Date and Venue restrictions. Quite simply you choose the Venue and Date (providing you bowl between August 1st and 31st December 2003). The Choice is yours. It's that flexible. A great programme idea. !!! Would you like an entry form? Simply Email Richard@cooper8596.fsnet.co.uk or drop him a note together with a stamped addressed envelope (Min A5) to Rick Cooper (TPEF) 40 Groomsland Drive Billingshurst West Sussex RH14 9HB.
As this event is being staged by West Sussex and organised by Rick Cooper, can we please give the event our full support.
West Sussex Scouts - Scout Triathlon
Information about the West Sussex Scout Fellowships 'County Scout Section Triathlon' on Sunday 21st September 2003 is available with the May circulation or from the District Commissioner.
Worthing Gang Show 2004
Please find attached (with the paper version of this newsletter) an audition forms and information on the Worthing Scout & Guide Gang Show for the young people and adults in your Sections. Please note that members of the Arundel & Littlehampton District can now take part in this exciting Scouting creative activity.
As you will see auditions for Scouts/Explorers/Network/Adults and Guides will be held on Sunday 8th June 2003 and for Cubs and Brownies on Saturday 11th October 2003. Both audition days will be at 8th Worthing Scout Headquarters in Glebeside Avenue, Worthing.
Rainbows and Beavers are not included in the Worthing Gang Show.
Please encourage your members to have a go. www.gangshow.com/worthing Email worthing@gangshow.com
Nights Away Permit Scheme
This is due to be approved by HQ in November and will empower adults to take young people (those under 18) away overnight, rather as a driving licence permits holders to drive on all public roads. This will do away with the PC Form procedure and aims to increase camping and all other sorts of residential events in Scouting. There will be a special Event Passport to allow under 18’s to lead these events with appropriate support and supervision. The timetable for introduction is:
Late spring 2003 Districts and Counties/Areas receive support material
Spring 2004 Appoint Nights Away Advisers and design local system
1st September 2004 Full implementation across UK. Current PC Form system ceases
District and County/Area Commissioners will receive information packs with full supporting material in the spring. The Scheme will operate alongside the existing PC Form system until September 2004 when the latter will cease.
DfES Safety at Water Margins
Safety Guidance - DfES have launched a new leaflet "Group Safety at Water Margins" to which The Scout Association made a contribution. It is a useful resource and reminder for all Leaders operating at the water margin. A copy is available for your reference from the Central Council for Physical Recreation website at www.ccpr.org.uk.
Groups engaged in remote area activities (Terrain One and Terrain Two) are reminded of the additional dangers of undertaking river/stream-crossings, which is covered in the Mountain Leader Award. A booklet on this is available from the National Mountain Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, on this subject by calling 01690 720214.
Programme Workshop and Sectional Meeting - 21st May 2003
St John’s Ambulance HQ next to 4th Littlehampton HQ, Linden Park, East Ham Road. 8pm to 10pm. We are going to hold a special meeting to discuss and share ideas and thoughts about the new 6 -25 programme.
This is your chance to find out how others are handling the change in programme, learn about and share good practice, with Sarah Hobbs a representative from the Scout Associations Programme Department at Gilwell Park and Don Wills our Field Development Officer to help answer questions you may have and show what is happening elsewhere in the UK.
Some normal section communications will be also handled so please ensure that your section has at least one representative on hand.
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Appeal 2003
To all the sections that have taken part in the St.George's Day Appeal 2003 I would like to say a big thank you the money is starting to come in.
Can I remind you that the closing date for the competition is 17th May so please remember to return the money and the forms by that date. All money and forms can go to either the District Commissioner or Prue Payne for those on the Yapton/Barnham side of the District.
Badge Sale - May 21st 2003
7pm to 8pm - Get those camp blankets out!!!
On the same evening as the Programme Workshop and Sectional Meeting at the St John’s Ambulance HQ next to 4th Littlehampton HQ, Linden Park, East Ham Road, we are hoping to sell off some or all of the Old Badge Stock from the old programme. ALL badges will be sold at a 75% Discount. Example Proficiency badges will be sold at 10p each.
If you would like to pre order one of each of badges available, please contact the Badge Secretary, Dawn Burgess, badges@al-scouts.org.uk by the 18th May. The cost of this would be around £10 to £15 depending on stock at the time of ordering. NOT ALL BADGES ARE NOW AVAILABLE. First come first served.
National Programme Initiative 2004
Development of easy-to-use programme material around the theme of the Environment is underway in order to encourage uptake of the Group Environment Award. This will include programme themes and items, project work and a competition, all with Web-based support. Look out for the advertisement and flyers for the new package for Section Leaders that will be available, at a low cost, in September for use in programmes during 2004.
WS2004 Update
WS2004 Theme - As always, a common theme is adopted for the sub-camps and other teams on WS events. This time the theme selection has been made by a ballot on our website over the last 9 months www.ws2004.co.uk. By a significant majority the theme chosen for WS2004 is ‘Wild Wild West’.
Registrations - So far there have been 65 West Sussex Scout Groups and Guide Units that have registered for WS2004 and many of these already have international links. Make sure that all of your neighbouring Groups and Units get their registrations in as soon as possible to help make WS2004 bigger and better than any previous event.
Town Twinning - Registered units should contact their Town, District or Borough Council to enquire about twinning. Grants are often available for twinned towns if 10 or more people come to the camp. It might be a good way of establishing an international link if you don't already have one.
Activity Sessions on Sub Camps - In addition to the centrally organised activities there will be three activity sessions run by each sub camp on activity days, with 10 places per activity. A small budget to cover cost of materials will be available. Sub-camp leaders will be glad of ideas for these when you have your first sub-camp meetings.
Quiz on the Website - Keep an eye on the website www.ws2004.co.uk for the new quiz and for further information as it is put there.
West Sussex Scouts County Skills Day
Saturday 30th August 2003, Lodge Hill Campsite, Coldwaltham, Pulborough. A day designed for all leaders and adults with a desire to learn a new skill or brush up on a current one. Cost: £2.50 (Morning or Afternoon without Lunch); £5.00 (Morning or Afternoon with Lunch) £7.50 (whole day with Lunch).
West Sussex Scouts – Pioneering Course
Same venue as above, 30th/31st August 2003. This course is designed for all leaders and adults with little or no pioneering experience. Course Costs £20 (includes food and Camp fee). For more information and application for either of these courses, contact Melvyn Bridger Email: melvyn_skills@yahoo.co.uk
St.George’s Day Celebrations 2003
Before this years parade and service become a distant memory the District Commissioner invites comments and suggestions on this years event in particular how we can make it better next year and make it even more fun for the young people who attend. dc@al-scouts.org.uk. Photos of this years parade can be found at www.al-scouts.org.uk
Diary Dates
For a full 2002/2003 programme see www.al-scouts.org.uk/diary
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NEXT COPY DATE: 25th May 2003 ALL COPY to Prue Payne secretary@al-scouts.org.uk