March 2010

All adults meeting March 8th 7.30pm

 

Please make an effort to attend this as we are looking at issues that we can discuss openly. I will not be sending any other info so please make sure your Group is represented.

 

I will also be presenting awards: service certificates and woodbadges to Trevor Haughton, Russell, Bernard, Wendy, Avril, Dave Lovatt, Neil Spencer, Russell (Hope), Mark J, Stuart Esp, Phil and Carole Smith

 

Agenda: Safe and Sound; Development, group interest; Training Fund; Skills evening; Centenary events; Training/recruiting adults; St George's Day; Scout Active Support; In Touch; Volunteer awards; Crusaders

 

Scout Shop

 

Please inform parents that the shop does not open until 6.30pm and is open until 8.30pm (there are queues from 6pm). Orders can be made by calling 07457 020883. June would also appreciate additional staff, could be on a rota.

 

Car Park

 

If you intend to leave your car for several days please inform Chris Jones. You might find yourself clamped or towed away.

November 2009

We are now really looking at the Wrexham District Centenary. Everyone on the census on 31st January will receive a commemorative badge; additional ones will be availble to purchase.

 

The all adults meeting enabled all to discuss issues and to update information that is difficult to put in note form. Please note that there will be 2 meetings next year with the District Team. Groups are also invited to send a rep to team meetings.

 

The items covered included:

 

- CRB/Appointments (additional info will be attached to this).
- Appointments Procedure. It is vital that the line manager gets involved with the adult immediately there is interest in an appointment.
- We have deveoloped a District leaflet for new adults; groups should also look at having something to give them. Ask Wendy if you require help.
- 100years ball (venues being looked at)
- SGD: probably split Beavers/Cubs; Scouts/Explorers; possible adult event, camp?
- Training. The adult is responsible for ensuring that training is undertaken but they must be supported by the line manager.
- Activity authorisation. Contact Ian if you require this. Complete a form and give all relevant experience.
- Scout Active Support is replacing Fellowship
- Child Protection Training - will have a date for 2010
- Nights Away - Paul will be contacting those for renewal. An experienced leader can apply for a permit before or after attending Module 16. All applicants should providemen's/programmes and evidence of all planning. Module 16 will need to be validated to complete training - it is desirable to attend. Training to obtain Greenfield and Expeditions is not part of Module 16. We are looking at providing this - contact Gordon/Mat if you require this.

 

Resource Centre

 

Wendy has provided an itinerary of items available (attached)

 

Membership database

 

Nights away permits and activity authorisations can now be entered on this.

 

Start-up grants

 

Groups can apply to HQ for a £100/section grant; the district will consider a £50 grant (payable through the shop) for new sections (those that have closed for several years).

 

Re-Appointments

 

June Smith- Shop Manager; Ian McLean -Coxwood
Chris Jones has been appointed HQ Manager; there is now a board showing where meetings are taking place in HQ.

 

Membership Fee

 

This has been circulated by Malcolm.

 

Team Meeting

 

Notes from this are available in HQ.

 

- Waiting Lists: if you cannot take a prospective member please inform your ADC
- Basic Skills: we are prepared to help leaders with skills they may require-please inform your ADC
- Centenary Camp: This will be held from July 2nd-4th at Bangor on Dee racecourse. Beavers will attend on the Saturday, Leaders will be welcome all weekend. Please ensure that you have necessary CRBs and additional insurance in place if required. Cost will be £20 per head fro the weekend.
- Leader meetings: Attendance is very variable. These meetings are for your benefit to gain info and to take part with others. It is not for ADCs to have another night out!!
- Carol Service. 2010 to be held on Monday 6th (this should be a special for the centenary - any ideas?)

 

Development

 

If your Group wants to develop a new section then you should contact me, not Mark Winson. We are now prioritising for next year. If you want help to develop exisiting sections etc I may be able to work with you but there has to be substantial input from the group

 

Carol Service

 

December 4th 2009 - start 7pm-8pm. Please make every effort to attend.

September 2009

When does our year start? Anyway welcome back.

 

Jottings is intended to keep you up to date in Wrexham - this also appears on the Clwyd website. If you know of anyone who is not receiving it please pass on a copy and inform me and Malcolm Hunt of the e-mail address - thanks.

 

Updates

 

Congratulations to Mark Jones - Queen's Scout Award.
2nd Llay will start Beavers on the 11th; Cubs on 10/10 and Scouts early next year. There is a strong leadership team and a lot of commitment - great.
Matt Lewis has agreed to become ADC Scouts - welcome

 

District AGM

 

Monday September 21st at 7.30pm at HQ. Please ensure that you infrom Malcolm Hunt of young people who have gained awards - Chief Scouts/DofE etc so that we can invite them to the meeting to re-present their awards
Please tell all leaders/chair/sec/treasurer etc - they are all welcome
We need to build the executive so please put your or others names forward for the executive - we meet 4/5 times a year - there will be changes to the way the exec operates during the next year.

 

Adult/Leader Meetings

 

Tuesday October 6th-7.30pm at HQ. This is your opportunity to meet with other adults throughout the district to look at issues that affect us - you can send items for discussion to me and I with the District Team will add others.

 

- Scout Active Support
- Young Leader Training/Using Young Leaders effectively
- District Development-future use of Mark.

 

First Aid

 

October 3rd-full course
October 4th-refresher
Please let us have a copy of your current certificate

 

Centenary-Wrexham District

 

Sue will be contacting you about the proposed camp.
Who would be interested in a District Ball/dinner-contact me
- District Badge
- Thanks to thiose who entered the badge competition-winner Francis Broadfield 4th Wrexham

 

Adult Training

 

Every adult must complete Getting Started and have it validated. I will be running a course fro administrators on Monday October 5th at 7pm in HQ - please infrom those people in your group.

 

It is the responsibility for every adult to complete appropriate training-the new appointments process (blue AA form) asks fro the line manager ( I have sent a letter to groups about this) but can everyone help to support new leaders/adults-thanks

 

scouts.org.uk/ Clwyd web site

 

Please use these to get up to date with all aspects of Scouting-see for Scout Active Support

 

Scout Active Support

 

You will increasingly hear about this and I will update you when we decide how to proceed in the district - it is about new roles and ways of working-we still want the volunteers that we have - and more.

 

World Scout Jamboree

 

Please give Scouts the information

 

Scout Shop

 

Will close on December 9th until January 6th 2010 - remember you can pre-order 07547 020883

 

Vetting and Barring

 

We have known about this for some time and will be told when and how to proceed so there is no need for panic - see Clwyd website.

April 2009

Group meeting-March

 

This was quite well attended and gave opportunity for discussion that gave rise to the folowing actions:
- To seek to appoint a GSL or Group Administrator for each Group
- To hold meetings twice a year
- Group rep to attend Team Meetings
- Group to be informed of adult training needs and time scales for provisional appointments
- Line managers (usually GSL or DC) to approve Adult Application Forms
- CRB applications to be taken by applicant to Sandra at HQ on Wednesdays (term time) from 7pm-8.30pm (or by arrangement)
NB CRB contain sensitive info and should not be open to others

 

CRB/AA forms

 

Any person not complying by 31.05.09 will no longer be able to attend any meetings.

 

Group AGMs

 

It is essential that a Group holds an AGM every year and appoints officers.
Every new officer has to complete a CRB form; Adult Application Form and attend Module 1.
Please invite me or Sue to your AGM-it does not have to be a special event-it can be part of an evening; camp; outing etc
Group Accounts must be sent to Helen ASAP after the end of your financial year-usually December or March.

 

Personal Activity Permits-www.scouts.org.uk/activitypermits

 

This is aimed at young people being able to lead where they have the relevant qualifications-please read.

 

Wrexham Centenary 2010

 

There will be a camp in July 2010 which we hope that ALL Groups will attend and Beavers will come for at least one day. Anyone interested in joining Sue to organise please contact her.

 

September 12 2010

 

We need an event to celebrate the actual date-ideas please-challenge to Explorers/Network!!!!

 

Young Leaders

 

Only young people who are Young Leaders (Explorer Scouts) can attend section meetings and MUST be registered with Gordon and take part in Module A-think insurance!!

 

Nights Away permits

 

Some will start to be renewed this year- evidence from camps should be available for Paul to inspect when he meets with you- he will be contacting you. (from website)

 

Special Needs

 

Supervision in meetings can be provided by Explorer Scouts but they must be supported by adults-Leader or named persons.
Adult supervision is essential when out and about.

 

Appointments Advisory Committee

 

Please ask parents/friends/business acquaintances etc to take on this roll:
- Attend an evening training
- Complete CRB/AA form
- Attend AAC meetings 3/4 trimes a year

 

Total Fitness has offered sessions for Scouts. Depending on age it would be a circuit training class taken bey a fully qualified gym instructor.
- Each session is for I hour- maximum of 30.
- Monday or Wednesday evening from 6.30pm
- I have to give the gym 2 weeks notice-if anyone is intersested please give me dates before May 7th for the summer term.
You may want to go as a Group or sections combining with another Group.
I have a copy of the guest form which will need to be completed for each Scout-available from resource centre.
Total Fitness may call some of the Scouts after a visit to ascertain their level of enjoyment.

 

Coxwood

 

Extensive work has taken place over the winter months including a new toilet block. Can someone design a picnic bench to cover a stump?!!
Electricians wanted -please contact Ian

 

Membership Enquiries

 

Volunteer required to take enquiries from HQ-contacting a Group and informing the person.-contact Sue

 

Recycling

 

Wrexham has 4 recycling officers- programme ideas-contact Pride in your streets-01978 298989

 

Please ask if you do not have contact details

March 2009

Appointment Process

 

Thanks to all of those who attended - if your Group was not represented (Bangor; Bishop's Own; Brymbo;Bwlchgwyn; Esclusham; Hanmer; Atlas) please try to attend one of the other Districts' meetings as you need to know.

 

We will be training adults (Module 37) to be part of the Appointments Advisory Committee - if you are over 18 you can be part of this process-please let me know- we can now use Leaders and we need a balance of appointed Leaders and lay people.

 

Once the process is fully implemented appointments will need to be updated by review- we have started this; any appointed Leaders who have not completed training will have the appointment changed to section assistant- I will be contacting GSLs and Group contacts about this but Training is the responsibility of the learner. (no more now-please discuss or contact me).Trading dates are on the Clwyd website.

 

Validation

 

If you have completed modules for validating please contact Colleen or a training adviser that you may have seen previously.

 

St.George's Day

 

The District team have gone for a traditional parade at Gresford Church on Sunday April 26th meet Gresford Scout HQ (by the lake) at 2pm for 2.30pm service- we will dismiss from the HQ at about 4pm.

 

Supervision

 

We can't be behind our members all of the time but supervision should be such that they are not left alone long enough to project tea bags onto the ceiling of the kitchen!!

 

CRB Forms

 

These are not an option- deadlines were give for 31.12.08 for existing adults and some have not been done (letter following from District Exec). -appointments will be cancelled and/or invalid if not done

 

Winge time
Various people who do jobs in the District repeatedly have to follow up because people do not respond- is it any wonder that we cannot find people to do jobs-please try to reply.

 

Activity Funding
The District Exec has made an annual budget available to assist with costs for activity courses and too attend events etc. We will need to know who wants to benefit from this so please notify Ian by 31.3.09 with the details of the course/event costs and then a panel will decide on funding. More details from Ian.

 

District Directory

 

This was sent to all Groups in December for all chair/GSL/section Leaders/commissioners/ District officers-if you did not receive one please ask within your Group and let Malcolm H know if still have not received one. Additional copies are available for 50p from the resource centre. Any amendments should also be made with Malcolm.

 

Area Levy

 

At a recent Area exec it was decided that a fund would be set up (levy of £1 per person/year) to be used for special events- we do not have details yet. We strongly opposed this action both verbally and in writing but we were the only District that did so it has gone ahead. The District Exec still opposes it and will be making further representation. Please let me know how you feel about this increase in the annual membership fee.

 

E-mails and text messaging

 

Please refer to factsheet FS 330086

 

No nonsense Parents' guide to Scouting

 

CD and copies available from Wendy

 

The Big Adventure

 

Scouting -Feb/March2009

 

Some Groups do this but it is till worth reading and implementing-please let me know if you do try it

 

Leader movement

 

Leaders should not change Groups without discussing it with their present Group; with the proposed GSL or me if there is not one. It is also a matter of courtesy if you are just helping out- we need to know where you are for insurance purposes.

 

Carol Service

 

Please let us know through section meetings if you would prefer a Friday or Monday for this event.

 

District centenary- 2010

 

Badge competition -closing date 26.04.09- to Sue
District Camp- we are looking at venues( DRY!!)- any ideas; who is prepared to help Sue with planning, budgets and delivery of this event?

 

Coxwood

 

Massive amount of work going on - have received some grants to achieve this as well as the District making money available; should have electricity in the next few months.- can then use my electric lawn mower that I suggested years ago!!-help required with various tasks please contact Ian to find out how you can help. Projects for adults and/or young people are available.

 

Scouts to Explorer Scouts

 

New transition arrangements that Gordon will let you have but basically all Scouts should have moved by age 14½ years.

 

Hemer Scouts from our twin town in Germany

 

They will be camping at Coxwood from 1-15th August- is anyone prepared to lead/help out with the hospitality arrangements-please contact me. If you have any Group plans during this time please consider an invite for some of the German Scouts to join you.

 

In Case of Emergency

 

Apparently it is a standard procedure all paramedics follow at the scene of an accident when they come across your cell phone.

 

ICE - 'In Case of Emergency'
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

 

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign
The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell(mobile) phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).
The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored as 'ICE.'
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!
Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Jan's Jottings

Jan George is District Commissioner for Wrexham District