Flysheet

The Sutton District Scouting Newsletter – January 2008

Contents

  1. Contents
  2. Chairman’s Notes
  3. Notes from the District Commissioner
  4. Network
  5. PAGGS Youth Leaders Meeting
  6. 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Band
  7. Mountain Skills Weekends 2008
  8. Updated Badge Requirements
  9. New and Updated Fact Sheets
  10. Sutton District Headquarters
  11. Archive Scouting Magazines
  12. Canoe Club
  13. Sutton Youth Service Equipment
  14. Diary 2008

Chairman’s Notes

We will soon be entering the fourth year of the Sutton Scout District and the year in front of us will be seeing a number of changes. The first change is a new District Commissioner as John Perkins steps down on the 31st March. Chris Williams then takes office and there are a number of new appointments to be made, also at the District Annual General Meeting to be held on 19th June new Executive Officers / Members are to be elected. In addition a number of changes within the Groups have or are taking place. But whatever happens, let us always remember that it must be to the full benefit of the young people that we serve. As Leaders we can have an influence that can continue all their lives.

Welcome to Chris in his forthcoming role and I am sure that all in the District will willingly give him as much help and support as necessary to move the District forward on the foundations that John Perkins has put down. Thank you John for all that you have done as District Commissioner for Sutton and we look forward to your continued service in other capacities.

Last year due to the celebrations of 100 years of the Scout Movement some of our development plans have been delayed and the Development Group has now revised the target dates. Although not all have been notified to the District Commissioner, development plans within Scout Groups have received consideration and it is hoped that this year will see positive results. Remember the District and County Teams are available to help with these plans and development.

Good Scouting to all for 2008.

Paul Richardson, District Chairman

Notes from the District Commissioner

A belated Happy New Year to all those I have not had a chance to see before now. 2008 could be a bit flat after all the fun and excitement of Scouting’s Centenary in 2007 but I know the Sections are putting on good programmes over the next few months and I am sure that Groups will be doing the same.

By now you will all be aware that the County Commissioner has appointed Chris Williams as our new District Commissioner. Chris has been a Scouter with 3rd Beddington for may years and comes new to District work. He and I have had several meetings to discuss matters and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the run up to him taking over on 1st April.

I know that you will all join me in wishing Chris well in his new appointment and will do your best to support him.

I am glad to be able to write and tell you that Ray Shaw came out of hospital on Tuesday 29th January. The treatment he has been receiving has improved his condition and we all look forward to him getting back in harness with the Scout section.

Census

GSLs will have been busy over the past couple of weeks getting the figures together for the annual Census and chasing Section Leaders for their numbers. I hope we will show another increase this year. While increased figures no doubt can give a nice warm feeling of achievement, I prefer to see them as a validation of how well we are running our sections and the quality of the programmes we offer. Good, interesting programmes entertain and stimulate our existing members and lead to them talking to their friends about the exciting things they do and so encourage them to join.

Jack Petchey Fund

This is up and running and several Groups have already received their cheques for £200. Some Groups and Explorer Scout Units have been slow in sending in their nominations in the month they have been allocated and this is causing some problems. Our District Administrator for this fund, David Jones, will be reminding Groups on a regular basis that their nominations are required.

Please note that all nominations should be sent to David and not directly to County. This allows the District to keep an eye on how things are going locally and to chase the Groups or ESUs.

Anniversaries

2007 was the Centenary of Scouting and 2008 will be an Anniversary year for several of our Groups. I know that 1st Wallington will be celebrating their Centenary this year. If your Group has an Anniversary coming up please write and let us know so details can be included in the Flysheet. I would remind GSLs that if you are preparing an Anniversary Badge it needs to be sent via District for approval by the County Commissioner.

John Perkins, District Commissioner

Network

Sutton Network had a busy end to 2007 firstly attending the Network Ball hosted by Greater London Middlesex West Network at Thistleworth Tennis Club in Isleworth where everyone got dressed up in their finest ball gowns and suits. Everyone had a brilliant time enjoying a three-course meal followed by a disco.

[Network Picture]
Sutton Network at the Dinner and Dance

The Sutton Network Christmas night out was Ice Skating at the Tower of London followed by a pub dinner. After lots of skating in the magical setting of the castle moat and people making trains on the ice, seven Networkers were invested by the Ice Rink and presented with their scarves and badges. By this time we were starving and all enjoyed our well-deserved dinner.

[Network Picture]
Sutton Network Ice Skating Train

Our final event before Christmas was to run an evening for Ruskin Explorers. We ran a Ready Steady Cook evening and just like the programme itself each team was given a selection of ingredients with which to cook a meal with a Christmas theme to it. There were some wonderful dishes including breaded turkey with Christmas tree carrots, salmon and sauté potatoes, banoffee pie and Santa meringues.

[Network Picture]
Sutton Network after the investitures

Network were back in action just after New Year with a Volleyball practice session for the up coming County Network Volleyball Competition at the end of January which we will be competing in. Later on this term 6 Network members will be attending the PAGGS YLC in the Czech Republic.

If you are 18–25 or know anyone who would like to come along to Network please contact me claire.dunne@glswscouts.org.uk. Sutton Network meet every other Thursday 8pm–9:30pm at Sutton District HQ. The programme can be found at www.glswscouts.org.uk/network.

Claire Dunne, Sutton Scout Network Leader

PAGGS Youth Leaders Meeting

One event that took place during 2007 and went unreported in Flysheet was the 33rd International PAGGS Youth Leaders Meeting. During the Easter break in 2007 Sutton District organised this twin-town Scouting Leaders meeting at Walton Firs Scout Campsite. 46 participants took part and Lady Baden-Powell, granddaughter-in-law of the founder of Scouting, BP, was a special guest. She loved it. She met the participants of the seven countries: England, Scotland, Holland, France, Denmark, Germany and Czechia.

[PAGGS Picture]
The Youth Leaders Meeting participants with Lady Baden-Powell

As 2007 was the Jubilee year, the Centenary of Scouting/Guiding, the programme was all about places in England where Scouting started in 1907 and later years: Brownsea Island (First Scout camp 1907), Wimbledon Windmill (where BP wrote his famous book “Scouting” in 1907/08), Gilwell Park and Baden-Powell House in London. The future was not forgotten – there was much discussion.

Theo Wetselaar

1st Wallington (Sutton District) Band

On Sunday 11th November 2007, the 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Scout Band again joined with the Wimbledon & Wandle District Scout Band to lead the British Legion Remembrance Day Parade from Mitcham Fair Green to the War Memorial by the Cricket Green and back. It was a bright, autumnal day but very solemn as war veterans laid their wreaths and paid their respects.

[Band Picture]
The combined band leading the Royal British Legion parade

Although based at 1st Wallington Group in Ruskin Road, Wallington, this is our District Band and anyone in the District from Cubs, Scouts, Explorers & Network is welcome to join. Guides are also welcome.

We are always looking for new members, and particularly those who may be learning or even starting to learn a brass or woodwind instrument. We meet on a Thursday evening between 6pm & 7pm during term time. However, players who also have Scouts on this same night are able to leave early to get to their meetings on time.

If you are interested, please contact Ian King on 020 8647 6216 or e-mail king.mail@btopenworld.com.

Ian King, Bandmaster

Mountain Skills Weekends 2008

Would you like to improve your mountain skills? Would you like to enjoy the company of like minded people? Yes? ....

There are two weekend courses running in 2008: Friday 8th February to Sunday 10th February 2008 and Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May 2008. These weekends are fantastic fun based in the heart of Snowdonia run from the well equipped GLSW mountain base! They are run by GLSW and the Surrey Scout County, and are open to all Scout Association members over the age of 16. The weekends are aimed at those who have a general interest in hill-walking, also those who may want to develop their skills further to lead parties in the hills and acquire activity permits (the new authorisations). They would be of value to Explorers wishing to extend their skills base to become leaders and potentially also to obtain an activity permit.

The programme structure is flexible and will depend upon the skills training required by the participants themselves. It is hoped this will be fully discussed and covered at the pre-meet (please ensure that the relevant form section is fully completed so as to let us know what you want from the weekend). Mountain skills covered over the weekend could include the following:

The pre-meet mornings spend time covering the skills syllabus including the Scout Association’s requirements to obtain an activity permit.

The cost of the weekends will be £60, cheques should be made payable to G.L.S.W. Scout Training Account. Applicants are advised to enquire at once of their D.C. regarding the availability of grant aid, payment of grant aid may be dependent upon submitting an application prior to the weekend. Applications should be made on the form available on the GLSW web site. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope for your booking confirmation, which will include a location map for the pre-meet.

Please note that weekends in the mountains can be physically demanding, participants should be fit enough to sustain and enjoy a full programme, this would be particularly relevant to the February weekend. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Ian Tombleson, County Advisor Hill-walking Activities

Updated Badge Requirements

The Badge Requirements PDF files on the district web site have been updated with the latest information from the Scout Association.

Since announcing the new activity badges in September 2006, the Scout Association have made some minor revisions to some of the badge requirements, including:

Emergency Aid Stage 2

Replaced:

  1. Know how to clear an airway, give rescue breaths and place in the recovery position.

with:

  1. Know how to clear an airway and place in the recovery position.

Cub Water Activities

Replaced:

  1. Qualify for the British Canoe Union’s Paddle Power One Young Paddler Award.

with:

  1. Complete two sessions of canoeing and gain the British Canoe Union’s Paddlepower Start Certificate.

Scout Canoeist

Replaced:

  1. Qualify for the British Canoe Union’s One Star Award.

with:

  1. Qualify for the British Canoe Union’s Paddlepower Passport.

Scout Lifesaver

Replaced:

  1. Explain and where possible demonstrate methods of rescue used in cases of ice-breaking, house fire, gas poisoning, car accident and contact with live wire. Show an understanding of the dangers associated with each method of rescue.

with:

  1. Explain and where possible demonstrate actions to take in the following cases:
    1. someone falling through ice
    2. house fire
    3. gas leak
    4. car accident
    5. someone who has touched a live wire

    Show an understanding of the risks associated with each action.

Scout Navigator

Replaced Alternative D ‘Introductory GPS Navigation’ with ‘GPS Navigation’:

  1. Demonstrate an awareness of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to include:
    1. How it works
    2. Ownership and control of the system
    3. Benefits to society
    4. What factors affect accuracy.
  2. Programme a hand-held GPS receiver to perform the following functions:
    1. Find your location (grid reference and latitude/longitude) and record it
    2. Enter the grid reference of a local landmark and navigate to the waypoint
    3. Enter the latitude/longitude coordinates of a nearby point and navigate to the waypoint, checking the accuracy
    4. Walk on a bearing using the GPS and a map.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between Ordnance Survey and latitude/longitude coordinates.
  4. Using an Ordnance Survey map (1:25000 or 1:50000 scale) plan a route of at least 4km that contains a minimum of 10 waypoints. Discuss the features and challenges that exist along the route. Programme the route into a hand-held GPS and undertake the journey.
  5. Sign up to a geocaching website. Find out about geocaching and demonstrate an understanding of what is involved in both locating and placing a geocache.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the safety and environmental aspects of geocaching, e.g. relevant Activity Rules in chapter nine of Policy, Organisation and Rules; Highway Code; Countryside Code and guidelines produced by the Geocaching Association of Great Britain (GAGB).
  7. Find five geocaches using a GPS, at least 3 of which must be ‘multi-caches’ with at least two waypoints. Discuss the accuracy of the information provided and of the GPS receiver you used.
  8. With adult assistance where necessary:
    1. Plan, assemble and hide 2 caches, one of which should be a multi-cache. The planning should involve making sure the location is suitable and that other navigators have proper access to the land and terrain
    2. Either submit your caches to a geocaching website, or give the details to other Scouts to successfully find the caches.

New and Updated Fact Sheets

FS330086 E-mails and text messaging guidance for Leaders (Jan/08 [1] 43KBytes)
FS715501 Notes for New Adults in the Colony (Dec/07 [3] 131KBytes)
FS185086 Funding for adult training through the King George VI Memorial Fund (Jan/08 [8] 48KBytes)
FS250044 Eating Disorders (Nov/07 [5] 42KBytes)
FS250043 Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (Nov/07 [5] 39KBytes)
FS250015 Hearing Impairment (Nov/07 [5] 48KBytes)
FS250060 Speech, Language and Communication Impairments (Nov/07 [2] 87KBytes)
FS250058 Young Carers (Nov/07 [2] 189KBytes)
FS250051 Allergies (Nov/07 [4] 62KBytes)
FS190006 Gift Aid for Membership Subscriptions and Donations (Oct/07 [5] 163KBytes)
FS320005 The right to smoke-free Scouting (Oct/07 [2] 73KBytes)

Sutton District Headquarters

Please note that the Woodcote Road entrance to Sutton District Headquarters is now open and there is no longer access from Shotfield Car Park.

To open the gate from Woodcote Road, walk or drive up to the gate and stop for approximately 30 seconds and wait until the gate automatically opens, then enter. The gate will close after you. To leave the Headquarters, walk or drive up to the wait line painted on the ground and stop for approximately 30 seconds and wait until the gate automatically opens, then exit. The gate will close after you.

We have been allocated four parking spaces (marked “Private Scouts”) in front of the main door. We cannot park anywhere else on the site.

Jim Dimmock, District Headquarters Booking Secretary

Archive Scouting Magazines

Anyone interested in reading and possibly using some old “Scouting” magazines?

Before I recycle some old issues dating from years 1994 to 2000, not necessarily complete years’ issues, would anyone like to take them and make further use of the many useful articles.

You are welcome to browse and take what you like but I must clear them by the end of January if possible.

Contact Bob Mann (romann@mann332.fsnet.co.uk or 020 8647 0195).

Canoe Club

Pool sessions have been secured on two further dates at Wimbledon College Pool in Edge Hill: 17th February and 16th March 2008. There are also river trips planned for the mornings of Sunday 20th April and Sunday 18th May 2008. Please see the Canoe Club page on the district web site for details.

Sutton Youth Service Equipment

The 2008 London Borough of Sutton Youth Service Equipment List is available on the district web site at www.suttonscouts.org.uk/resources/sutton-youth-service-equipment.pdf. Most of the equipment may be used free of charge by Sutton Scout Groups (as registered voluntary groups in the London Borough of Sutton).

Diary 2008

February 2008
7th Thu District Beaver Leaders’ Meeting
8th–10th
Fri–Sun		 County Explorer/Leader Mountain Skills Weekend
9th Sat District Cub Chess Competition
9th–10th
Sat–Sun		 County Development Conference
17th Sun County Scout Cooking Competition
17th Sun Canoe Club Pool Session
17th–24th
Sun–Sun		 District Ski Trip, Prato Nevosa, Italy
18th–22nd
Mon–Fri		 Sutton LEA Half-Term
22nd Fri District Scout Handball Competition
March 2008
1st–2nd
Sat–Sun		 Croydon Operation Red Flare Explorer/Network Night Hike
15th Sat County Beaver/Cub/Scout Leader Skills Day
15th Sat District Cub Peggy Charman First Aid Competition – postponed
16th Sun District Scout 5-a-side Football Competition
16th Sun Canoe Club Pool Session
29th Sat District Beaver Camp Fire at Park Farm
April 2008
4th Fri Sutton LEA Spring Term ends
5th–6th
Sat–Sun		 County Scout Night Exercise
12th Sat District Scout Leaders’ Camping Skills Training Day
13th Sun District Scout Camping Skills Training Day
20th Sun District St George’s Day Parade
20th Sun Canoe Club River Trip
21st Mon Sutton LEA Summer Term starts
30th Wed District Scout Leaders’ Meeting
May 2008
9th–11th
Fri–Sun		 County Explorer/Leader Mountain Skills Weekend
18th Sun Canoe Club River Trip
26th–30th
Mon–Fri		 Sutton LEA Half-Term
June 2008
11th Wed County Annual General Meeting
13th–15th
Fri–Sun		 District Scout Water Activities Camp
19th Thu District Annual General Meeting
27th–29th
Fri–Sun		 District Scout How Cup Camping Competition
28th Sat District Cub Sports Day (provisional date)
July 2008
11th Fri District Scout Athletics Badge Evening
23rd Wed Sutton LEA Summer Term ends
September 2008
3rd Wed Sutton LEA Autumn Term starts
20th Sat District Cub Mat Ball Competition (provisional date)
25th Thu District Scout Leaders’ Meeting
October 2008
3rd–5th
Fri–Sun		 County Leader Remote Camping Weekend
5th Sun District Scout Cooking Competition
28th–1st
Tue–Sat		 County Souwest Gang Show at the Secombe Theatre
31st–2nd
Fri–Sun		 County Explorer Mountain Skills Weekend
November 2008
15th Sat District Scout Tate Shield Competition
22nd Sat District Cub Challenge Trophy Competition (provisional date)
30th Sun County Scout/Explorer/Leader Orienteering Competition