hotliner - april 2011
DESCRIPTION
Hotliner - clwyd scouts area newsletterTRANSCRIPT
1! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
STEPSTOFAME!
How much coverage does your Group, Unit or Network get in the media? Do you bother about such things or do you prefer to just get on with running the programme?
Getting Clwyd Scouts more coverage in the media is the job of Moz, the Media Development Manager for Clwyd, assisted by Gareth Sandilands in Vale of Clwyd (Denbighshire) District.
Recently, to help with this job, and also to better make use of the team of Explorer Scouts in the Area who’d been on a media training course, a Clwyd Scouts Media Team has been set up.
The Team has been working on several projects to ensure that Scouts are seen & heard more in the media.
One of these is a campaign to show Leaders how easy it is to get the amazing things that their Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Network get up to week in, week out.
The Explorer Scouts who make up the Media Team came up with an easy 3 step way to get your Section in the papers:
News & information for everyone in Clwyd Scouts - Issue 26: April 2011
31.TAKEIT2.SENDIT3.READIT
XCHANGE - SEE PAGE 5
2! Clwyd Area Scouts HotlinerAbove: just some of our newspaper clippings from the last 6 months
3! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
1. Take itThe starting point to a good piece of press coverage is a decent photo. Most of the papers love pictures of kids doing things because it means that parents, relatives, neighbours, go out and buy the paper.
They also make people much more likely to read the accompanying story.
But we need a good photo. Hereʼs some things that make for a decent pic...
• HAPPY FACES - Scouts genuinely looking like theyʼre enjoying themselves, looking AT the camera and smiling, looking excited, whatever, as long as theyʼre not looking bored or silly!
• NOT TOO MANY - yes, we know all the kids will want to get in on the act, but youʼve got to persuade them otherwise. Photos have more of an impact if there are less than 5 faces. Many more than that and if the picture is small in the paper you wonʼt be able to see the faces. Do a big group shot, then a few in smaller groups. Use the smaller groups for media work, keep the group shot for internal use.
• USE A PROP - a photo of them all there standing doing nothing doesnʼt really tell much of a story. If itʼs about a grant to buy some canoes, sit a few Scouts in the canoes, or get them to hold a paddle. Please - no ʻcomedyʼ cheques!
• HIGH QUALITY - if you can, we need a high resolution picture - anything above 1024 x 768 should be fine.
BAD
GOOD
4! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
2. Send itOnce youʼve got your photo, send it to your Group media contact or direct to Moz ([email protected]) or Gareth if youʼre in Vale of Clwyd ([email protected]).
But we also need some information to go with the photo so we can write an article about it. Basically just answer these questions:
WHEN: when did the event take place?WHERE: where did you do it?WHO: who took part, who helped out, who organised it, who did you meet?WHAT: what did you doWHY: why did you do it?HOW: how did you organise it?
We also need two more things:First we need a quote - this brings the article alive and saves the papers a job. Preferably from a young person: Jane Jones, 11 from Llanwherever said: “My favourite bit was the abseiling. Iʼve not done that before. It was scary but I enjoyed it!”
To get a young person to give you a quote, ask them questions such as, ʻwhat was your favourite bit?ʼ, ʻtell me what you didʼ - not things like ʻdid you enjoy itʼ as the answer will just be yes or no!
Finally, we need the full names of the young people in the photos. The papers wonʼt print it unless we have this. Remember to get parental permission.
With these pieces of information, the we should be able to write a good story.
3. Read itThe last step is the easiest! Hopefully if the photo was good and the story was interesting, the papers will print it and your Section will be in the papers. Youʼll be famous!
Have a look at the clippings on page 2 to see some examples of our successes, and also online at www.clwydscouts.org.uk/media to see much more.
Why bother?Itʼs worth it simply because good media coverage will make your life easier.
• If youʼre struggling for numbers of youth members, a good story in the papers may result in people queueing up to join.
• If you need more adults, a story about how much fun you have may just encourage someone else to give it a go.
• If you need funds, next time youʼre bag packing in the supermarket if a shopper has seen the stuff you get up to, they may be more inclined to donate.
• If you need support, maybe from a company or group, if they know what good you do theyʼll be more inclined to help.
Too busy?We know that when youʼre running a busy Section, the last thing on your mind is getting a good photo for the papers.
So delegate! Perhaps you can task one of your Young Leaders to take photos and get the story, or perhaps one of the parents would drop in now and again when youʼre doing something good.
The Media Team are also here to help. We can run PR badges for Scouts & Explorers, or take photos for you. Let Moz know if you need help.
5! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
XCHANGEArea Leaders weekend
9th/10th JulyCox Wood
All adults in Clwyd are invited to join us for a relaxed weekend that we’re calling Xchange - your chance to Xchange ideas, Xchange skills and Xchange gossip!
ARCHERY/BACKWOODS COOKING/SHOOTING/CLIMBING WALLABSEILING/WATER BASED ACTIVITIES/MAPPING/ORIENTEERING
TRACKING/CAMP SKILLS/CRAFT SKILLS/KNOTS & LASHINGSPIONEERING/CAMP CRAFTS/COMPETITIONS
The event will run from 10am Saturday to lunchtime on Sunday and is free! We’ll provide a barbecue on Saturday evening - just bring any other meals, and a tent.
If you’re coming, please drop us an email to [email protected] and tell us what skills you have to Xchange
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Training feedbackHereʼs some of the comments that Pat has received about various courses that have been put on at Gladstone:
Module 15 – “Very informative”; “what to do with challenging kids”; “helpful hints”; “who to turn to if you need help”
Module 16 – “helpful worksheets”; “new rules for 2011”; “thinking outside the box about all aspects of a camp”
Module 17 – “learn what is allowed/not allowed to do with outdoor activities”; “lots of forms to check before you go”; “everything was covered”; “associated information – factsheets”; “enjoyed it, thank you”; “very informative course”
Module 18 – “loved this course, best one yet”; “enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, smashing pancakes”; “practice first, have everything ready before you start”; “very interesting evening”; “I now know how to play chess”
If you want to broaden your knowledge in a particular area, or need to attend a course to gain your wood badge, check out the training dates on page 15 or online at www.clwydscouts.org.uk/training
Census newsClwyd is the 7th fastest growing County or Area in the UK. Numbers are up again this year by a whopping 7.5%, with our 4th consecutive year of growth, making a total of 28% increase since 2007! Well done everyone for all your hard work.
Bye ShirleyShirley Myall, Manager Central Service at Scouts Wales, for many of us the face of the Welsh Scout Council - if not voice at the other end of the phone - retires in the summer. Clwyd Scouts would like to
thank Shirley for all her hard work. If youʼd like to send a card the address is Scouts Wales, The Old School, Wine Street, Llantwit Major, CF61 1RZ
Safeguarding & CRBA reminder that every Leader must attend a Safeguarding course. If youʼve not, please contact Pat Royle. Also, despite some coverage on the news, please be advised that there have been no changes to CRB rules in Scouting.
It seems lots of Leader haven't heard of the Democracy Challenge badges that were launched recently by Scouts Wales, working with the Welsh Assembly to help young people find out more about democracy. Find out more at www.scoutswales.org.uk/programme/democracy - hopefully we'll soon see lots of these badges on the arms of Clwyd Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers!
7! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
Chhhhanges!Recently I went down to the Wales Team day in Builth Wells. The highlight of the day, as usual, was lunch - but I also got to 'find out stuff'... There've recently been some quite big changes to the way UK headquarters at Gilwell and Scouts Wales are organised. Formerly things seemed to be done a lot more with Sections in mind. We used to have National Commissioners for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Network. Each National Commissioner had a full time member of staff who looked after their Section at Gilwell. In Wales, we had roles (not always filled) for Commissioners Wales for each of the five Sections. All these people looked after their Sections, concentrating on things which were of concern and looking at how best to develop. For Explorer Scouting and the Scout Network this was great as they were new Sections and needed a lot of support.
Things have changed. Over the last few months, it seems like both Wales and Gilwell have swept aside these Sectional divisions. And perhaps divisions was the word, and this compartmentalism was stopping common issues being addressed in a joined-up way. Now at UK level we have a UK Commissioner for Programme, supported by two Deputy UK Commissioners for Programme - one looking after 6-25 provision, the other activities. These three people meet with three HQ staff members to form the UK Programme Team. Rather than looking separately at each Section, this team looks at anything that needs work, and forms a temporary project team to complete the work. These project teams are made up of volunteers from across the UK, some need 10 people, some just three. Projects can range from rewriting fact sheets or a young person's handbook to reviewing the entire programme or developing a new adventurous permit system. They could be involved from one month to three
years work. I think this is a great idea. Really flexible and making the best use of the volunteers available. At Wales level, there are to be five Assistant Chief Commissioners: for Programme, Activities, Training, Global, Events and Youth Involvement. It's early days with this and I'm not sure how they'll work, but these seem to be sensible headings. I'll admit as I travelled down the A483 at the weekend I was a bit worried at what 'they' were doing with the Wales Teams, but as I returned up North I was optimistic about the future. We are a Movement after all, and while change should never be for change's sake, we can't stand still.
David Morris (ʻMozʼ)[email protected]
Photos & PapersPlease make sure you get parental permission before using photographs of youth members. Issue text such as the following on joining forms: “Sometimes photos and video images of members taking part in activities are submitted to local newspapers, Scout newsletters and websites or put on display for publicity purposes. Please indicate if you are not happy for images of your child to be used in this way by ticking this box ☐ ”
8! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
9! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
10! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
Good PracticeMakesPerfect Scouting
Group FinancesThe Finances of the Scout Group are managed
by the Group Treasurer but the Group
Executive Committee can help support the role
and good communication is essential, as
Trustees of the Group all hold a duty of
responsibility.
The Treasurerʼs Role is an important one and
should not prove too onerous if the guidelines
contained in the rules of The Scout Association
Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) are
followed.
Some key tasks and tips...
• Produce annual budget
• Monitor Group Income & Expenditure
• Ensure sufficient funds are retained to pay annual
membership fee
• Bank money on receipt
• Ensure bank accounts are set up to require two
signatures on all cheques
• Blank cheques should not be signed in advance
• Invoices or expense claims should support any
payments• Expense claims should be accompanied by receipts and
authorised by the Group Executive
• Produce year end accounts in accordance with the
requirements of the Charities Act & POR
• Claim Gift Aid
• Seek help & support from Group Executive & District
Treasurer as soon as any problems are envisaged
Risk Assessment &
Head counts
Recent incidents have highlighted the need for
good risk assessment & frequent head counts:
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment must be carried out for all
activities but this does not need to be a time
consuming process. More important is that a
risk assessment is regularly reviewed both
before and during an activity. Experience
shows it is often the activity which is run
regularly with little perceived risk where
incidents may occur. Regular re-assessment of
familiar activities will allow those running the
activity to identify changes in the risks over
time. Further information can be found in
factsheet FS120000 Activities – Risk
Assessment.
Head CountsIt is difficult to be prescriptive as to when head
counts should be done. It is important that
these are considered for all age groups in all
outdoor activities and, specifically, when young
people are moving as a group. A considered
view is that these should be done when there
is a change of terrain or overcoming a
particular hazard. In the younger age groups
this could be done when a walking group
moves from one terrain to another (eg from
one field to another or from a road to a track)
or crossing the road. For those in adventurous
activities it could be when paddling around a
bend, moving around a rocky outcrop or,
generally, when moving in poor visibility.
Furthermore, for larger groups, it should be
agreed as to who conducts these to remove
the expectation that these will be conducted by
someone else.
11! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
We are the Mad Fluffy Dragons, a group of 27 Explorers Scouts from all over North Wales and we're off to the World Jamboree.
A Jamboree is a huge camp where over 40,000 Explorer Scouts from all over the world meet up. The Jamboree is every four years and this year it is being held in Sweden. We will be spending a few days in Copenhagen before the Jamboree and after the Jamboree we will be spending some time in Finland before coming home.
There will be many activities to do in the Jamboree and we will meet new people from many different cultures however we will all have one thing in common: Scouting.
We are very fortunate to be the only group in Wales to have 9 other Scouts from another Continent. The Continent is the Caribbean and they will be staying with us before and during the Jamboree.
We have had a long journey over the past 15 months and have been doing many fund-raising events to keep the cost of the trip down and to buy equipment. We have also had many preparation camps for us all to get to know each other and to get ready for the Jamboree experience.
We recently went on a preparation camp to Bangor where we did many fun activities in Bangor and Llandudno such as sno-tubing and bowling. Our next and final preparation camp is the All-Wales camp in June where we will meet with the rest of the Welsh contingent for the first time. It's not long now until our Jamboree experience begins!
WE ARE THE MADFLUFFY DRAGONS
by Sion Davies
12! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
Development NewsMy name is Mark Winson. I am your Local Development Officer (LDO) and am part of the Welsh Scout Council development initiative. Funded from outside of the Scout Association, there are six LDOs that now cover Welsh Scouting; I work in Clwyd and Montgomeryshire.
If you complete the “Expression of interest form” opposite, I will make arrangements to come and visit you. Alternatively, you could run a development project of your own, run by your group with my advice. Just give me a call.
Hereʼs whatʼs been happening recently...
Success has come from the spring project at 1st Rhuddlan where Carol and Malcolm Boynton have been working miracles with the Beaver and Cub sections with so few leaders. The project to boost leaders in the Beaver Colony started with a series of local displays of Scouting, promotional articles in the local newspapers and distribution of leaflets and letters throughout the town and school.
The following open nights in the Beaver section and the Cub section (intending only to recruit additional Beaver leaders) were received well by the community and resulted in the recruitment of two new Beaver leaders, Amanda and Shaun and three new cub leaders, Gerry and husband and wife - Ken and Nikki - welcome one and all.
We also recruited a further five occasional helpers to help with the multitude of outings and events that the group run. The Beaver & Cub sections are now both flush with support and will be able to better cope with all the boys and girls - maybe even reducing their waiting lists. 1st Llangollen A second project; to recruit on behalf of this group resulted in the recruitment of three ACSL's and four ASL's, but unfortunately many of these adults were lost the following week and the group remains reliant upon the few existing leaders it has. The issues that surround this project are being examined and reviewed. Despite this disappointment this district showed a 17.1% increase in total membership - WOW!
1st Sandycroft and Mancot This excellent group consisting of family run Beavers and Cubs have been desperate for a Scout troop to be added to the group for some time. Steve and Abbey have welcomed the promotional work done in the local community and the funding that has been secured for starting up this section from HQ.
However, the work required in the school has been delayed by the dreaded Estyn Schools Inspections and delays have caused the project to be rescheduled for the autumn term. The District and Group are happy for this to happen and have a second bite at the cherry. Flintshire District have been busy with the me creating their own development plan. The DC Pat and new deputy Sheila Jones, having done some preparatory
work held a meeting for some key people in the district who also had an input and are now completing the final plan. It was also pleasing to see that for such a large District, Flintshireʼs census figures were positive and averted any fall in total membership. Wrexham District have been doing the same. The new team here continued from where Sue and Jan left off last year and completed their plan with the help of a well attending consultation meeting. Lets hope that this following year compliments their increase in membership this year, being 13.2% up on last year. 1st Denbigh Alan Hesford has secured development assistance to create a brand new Beaver Colony to compliment the existing Cub Pack and Scout Troop. This group is also in the process of benefiting from the creation of their new development plan, facilitated by myself as development officer. 1st Esclusham Carol and Alan Orchard have been successful in applying for development assistance to boost their Beaver Colony with new leaders and children. 1st Rossett Further development planning work is going on at 1st Rossett, where Phil Bentley and group are looking forward to where they would like to be in the next year.
Mark [email protected]
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Name Appointment
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM
Use this form to register an expression of interest for Local Development Officer involvement in a development project; it can be completed by any Section leader, GSL, ADC or DC in Scouting.
This form should be returned to the Scouts-Wales office at;The Old School, Wine Street, LLANTWIT MAJOR. CF31 1RZTel; 01446 795277 Or [email protected] you need any help or advice in completing this form, please contact Mark Winson (see back page) or your District Commissioner.
AddressAddress Contact detailsContact detailsContact details
Daytime Evening
Landline
Mobile
Postcode
Area CLWYDCLWYD DistrictDistrict GroupGroup
Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.Brief description of development need e.g. Open Beaver Section.
Preferred Day for Section meeting (tick)
M T W T F S S
Signed Date
14! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
How training worksHere's a quick guide to how the Adult Training Scheme works1. Recruitment A new adult is recruited into Scouting and agrees a Job Description. The job description will underline that there is a commitment to training. They will initially be given a provisional appointment.
2. Training Advisor The new adult will be allocated a Training Advisor (TA). This person will guide the new adult through the process of training.
3. Stages of Training Within 5 months of provisional appointment, the new adult should complete 'Getting Started' which consists of Modules 1, 2 and 3, and attend an Appointments Committee interview. They will then receive their full appointment. Within 3 years they should have completed the next stage of their training and e awarded the Wood Badge. There then follows a commitment to Ongoing Training of five hours a year.
4. Modules and Validation Module 2 is the Personal Learning Plan. The new adult will sit down with their TA and put together a plan of what training they need to do. There may be some Modules where the new adult can move straight to validation without attending a course. Validation checks that the adult has the knowledge covered by the Module. The TA will complete the validation with the new adult and the Module will be signed off.
5. Courses There will be several Modules which the new adult will need to attend a course for. Dates of courses already planned are on the facing page, and also on the Clwyd website. TAs will inform the Area Training Manager of which courses are needed so they can be put on. Once the adult has attended the course, they can be validated by their TA.
6. Booking If the new adult needs to come on one of the courses, they should contact Pat Royle, the Area Training Manager, in plenty of time. Email [email protected] or phone 01244 543920.
7. Payment All Adult Training courses are now free of charge due to funding obtained by the Welsh Scout Council.
8. Regular Modules will be repeated throughout the year on different days and times
9. What to Bring Bring pen and paper to take notes. Uniform is not necessary, but activity wear is usual, and something warm is needed in cold weather. Ladies, please don't wear heeled shoes. Bring a packed lunch if the course is all day. Refreshments are provided.
10. Questions Contact Pat if you have any questions.
Remember, all Leaders are now required to undertake a minimum of 5 hours training a year, and hold a First Aid certificate (the minimum being First Response). First Aid training can count towards the 5 hours. All Leaders can do the training courses, even if they have a Wood Badge.
15! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
CLWYD BEAVERS CUBS SCOUTS EXPLORERS NETWORK TRAININGAPRAPR
MAY
JUN
22-25 National Network Gathering
29-1 Wye Canoe Cruise3 Freedom Night Hike
3 Module 1 Wrexham7 Mods 8 & 14 - Chester
8 Flintshire Monopoly Run
8 Assorted Modules - Eryri & Mon9 Module 3 - Wrexham
10 Wrexham YL Training Module J
11 Wrexham SLs' meeting
13-15 Module 38 - Chester
14 Jamboree on the Trail 14 Module 25 - Chester20-22 Module 38 Eryri & Mon
21 Cox Wood activity day25 Wxm CSLs' meeting
28-29 Sail training, Brenig3-5 Freedom Network - The Festival
3-5 Module 38 - Flintshire
6 Module 12 - Chester
10-12 Flintshire Camp
11 Mods 19,15 & 9 - Wrexham
12 Mods 16, 17 & 18 - Wrexham
14 Wrexham District AGM 18/19 Gilwell Fun Days
18/19 Gilwell Fun Days
18 Modules 1, 2, 3/4 and 6 - Chester
18 Wxm Greenwd Forest
19 Module 19 - Chester
25 All Wales Cub Fun Day
16! Clwyd Area Scouts Hotliner
AREA TEAMAREA TEAMAREA TEAMAREA TEAM
Area Commissioner David Jones [email protected]
Area Training Manager Pat Royle [email protected]
AAC Cubs Nicola Gamlen [email protected]
AAC Communications David Morris (Moz) [email protected]
AAC International David Morris (Moz) [email protected]
Activity Permits Mike Dawson [email protected]
Area Chairman Vacant
Area Secretary Vacant
Area Treasurer Vacant
Field Commissioner Clive Bracewell [email protected]
Development Officer Mark Winson [email protected]
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERSDISTRICT COMMISSIONERSDISTRICT COMMISSIONERSDISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
Flintshire Pat Royle [email protected]
Llangollen Roger Cragg [email protected]
Vale of Clwyd Andy Collin [email protected]
Wrexham Sue Lister [email protected]
CAMPSITE BOOKINGSCAMPSITE BOOKINGSCAMPSITE BOOKINGSCAMPSITE BOOKINGS
Gladstone Eric Gardner [email protected]
Coxwood Brian Doyle [email protected]
Cae Llwyd Gerry Kellett [email protected]
Rowallan Tracey Johnston [email protected]
Chirk Bunkhouse Denise [email protected]
RESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCES
Scout Information CentreScout Information Centre 08453001818 [email protected]
Wrexham Scout Shop and Resource Centre
Uniform, clothing, equipment, publications, badges & programme materialOpen Weds 6.30-8.30 Wrexham Scout HQ, Station Approach, WrexhamUniform, clothing, equipment, publications, badges & programme materialOpen Weds 6.30-8.30 Wrexham Scout HQ, Station Approach, WrexhamUniform, clothing, equipment, publications, badges & programme materialOpen Weds 6.30-8.30 Wrexham Scout HQ, Station Approach, Wrexham
Clwyd website www.clwydscouts.org.ukwww.clwydscouts.org.ukwww.clwydscouts.org.uk
© Clwyd Area Scouts 2011Hotliner is edited by Moz, AAC Communications