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Cheeky chicken All abroad Easter card to make A UK Group in China The magazine for Beaver Scout Leaders April/May 2011 Enter the Most Famous BridgeintheWorld Enjoy breathtaking views of London from the Bridge’s Walkways. Experience the Victorian Engine Rooms. Enter and be amazed. Adults:£8.00 Children: £3.40 Concessions: £5.60 Under 5s: FREE Contact:0845 404 3034 Bridge lift line:0845 165 9815 www.towerbridge.org.uk Special rates for groups, contact 0845 404 3034 for an organiser's pack
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The magazine for Beaver Scout Leaders April/May 2011 Cheeky chicken Easter card to make All abroad A UK Group in China A NIGHT AWAY? We just can’t wait
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Page 1: beavers

The magazine for Beaver Scout LeadersApril/May 2011

Cheeky chickenEaster card to make

All abroad A UK Group in China

A NIGHT AWAY?We just can’t wait

BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 1 09/03/2011 17:25

Page 2: beavers

Tower Bridge is provided by The City of London Corporation - a uniquely diverse organisation in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services,but also provides wider services for London and for the nation as a whole.

Enjoy breathtaking views of London from the Bridge’s Walkways.Experience the Victorian Engine Rooms.Enter and be amazed.

Adults: £8.00 Children: £3.40 Concessions: £5.60 Under 5s: FREEContact: 0845 404 3034 Bridge lift line: 0845 165 9815 www.towerbridge.org.uk

TOWER BRIDGEEXHIBITION

Enterthe Most FamousBridge in the World

Special rates for groups, contact 0845 404 3034 for an organiser's pack

TB_Scouting_Mar_11_260 x 190:TB_Scouting_Mar_11_260 x 190 4/3/11 13:02 Page 1

IFC_BeaversSupp_AprMay2011.indd 2 08/03/2011 13:17BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 2 09/03/2011 17:26

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3scouts.org.uk/pol

INTRO

Contents

Published by:The Programme TeamThe Scout AssociationGilwell ParkChingfordLondonE4 7QWTel: 0845 300 1818

Contributions to:[email protected]

ADVERTISINGRichard [email protected]: 020 8962 1258

Contributors:Alison ChapmanPatrick RookeJenny WinnRose Wells

Cover photo: Chlöe Chapman

View all other section supplements online at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

4 News and information25th anniversary stories

5 Beavers sleepeeezzzy Residentıal experience ideas

6 Ain’t no mountain high enough One Beaver certainly thinks so

8 Explore your adventurous side Two activity badges to go for

12 Look East UK groups abroad

14 Easter greetings Easter cards

16 O� the shelf Bookbridge

17 Sorry, I don’t have the time Flexible volunteering

What you’ve been up to Lightning Beaver Colony, part

of 2nd Brize Norton (RAF) Air Scout Group, have been working

towards their Friendship Challenge Badge. They presented

a cheque for £777 to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families

Association Forces Help, having

completed a sponsored walk.

Between them the 24 Beavers

walked 51 miles.

Deputy UK Commissioner for Programme Graeme Hamilton outlines his hopes for the coming

months – and asks for your help in shaping it

There is some further change in the supplement this issue as I find myself

writing for leaders, commissioners and supporters in all five sections for the first

time. This will be the pattern for the foreseeable future as I alternate with the five

Programme and Development Advisers, who will provide a section-specific focus.

Supporting the range of different needs and challenges of five diverse sections

is not something to be taken lightly and certainly not without support. I rely

heavily on you sending in your thoughts, concerns, ideas and, most importantly,

success stories so that we can share these with others across the UK.

Please email [email protected] if you have anything to contribute.

We’re currently building a network of experienced leaders to form a support

team – all of whom will soon be deployed across the UK. In the months ahead

we’ll also look at how sectional support roles can best support frontline leaders.

I’ll be out and about too. Cumbria has already booked me for a joint Cub

and Scout leader session in May. If I cannot be at your event then we’ll aim to

find a willing person from the support team or staff at Gilwell Park.

I’ve recently attended the Development, Advice and Support day events in

Wales and Northern Ireland so I’ll be maintaining strong links all over the UK

as we work together to deliver a strong, effective and fun programme for

every youngster who has chosen to take part in the Scouting adventure.

There will be more in a future article about how we’re checking out what’s

good and what’s not about the programme and how you can give us your

thoughts.

One vision

Tower Bridge is provided by The City of London Corporation - a uniquely diverse organisation in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services,but also provides wider services for London and for the nation as a whole.

Enjoy breathtaking views of London from the Bridge’s Walkways.Experience the Victorian Engine Rooms.Enter and be amazed.

Adults: £8.00 Children: £3.40 Concessions: £5.60 Under 5s: FREEContact: 0845 404 3034 Bridge lift line: 0845 165 9815 www.towerbridge.org.uk

TOWER BRIDGEEXHIBITION

Enterthe Most FamousBridge in the World

Special rates for groups, contact 0845 404 3034 for an organiser's pack

TB_Scouting_Mar_11_260 x 190:TB_Scouting_Mar_11_260 x 190 4/3/11 13:02 Page 1

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Have you visited Scouts.org.uk lately?The new website is now live, so be prepared to be

surprised. With a fantastic new design, logical

menu, related articles, the most searched-for items

and a one-click ‘email a friend’ option, you will

easily find everything you need to help you in your

Scouting role.

Log in to enjoy the full member benefitsWhen you log in to the website you will see

information and best practice relevant to your role,

as well as the latest updates and badge information.

Signing in using your membership number means

you can also:

• Access the Print Centre, where you can create

everything from personalised posters and

photobooks to signage, stationery and minibus

livery. You’ll also find images, quotes and videos.

• Sign up to relevant e-communications including

Scouting Plus, our weekly email containing news,

information and good practice relevant to your

role.

• Search thousands of activity and programme ideas

on Programmes Online.

• Receive updates and information on the

homepage of the website specific to your

Scouting role.

• Access the membership database, where you can

update your details and anyone else’s you are line

manager for.

How to log inUse your membership number, printed on the

appointment card sent with this issue of Scouting magazine.

News and information

4 Beavers April/May 2011

What’s going on?Let’s celebrateChief Scout, Bear Grylls, wants to know how your

Colony is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the

Beaver section. ‘What an amazing 25 years it’s been

for Beaver Scouts,’ he says. ‘Whatever you’re doing

to celebrate this fantastic anniversary, I hope you

have a fantastic time and continue to enjoy your

Beaver activities. Remember to let us know the

great things you are doing.’

Flag itBeaver leader, Helen Renouf,

suggested making a flag to

celebrate the occasion. ‘The 9th

Lymington Beaver Scouts wanted

something memorable,’ she says,

‘and one of the parents, Anne, took on the task. The

Beavers and Leaders drew pictures of themselves

which were attached to the flag, making it personal,

and we will take it to all our events this year.’

Plant itWith spades at the ready, the 7th Crawley Beavers

got into planting at the District Scout Campsite at

Pease Pottage. They chose year-round colour trees

and made the occasion part of their anniversary

celebrations. The Royal Horticultural Society and the

Woodland Trust donated the trees and the project

is part of the In Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood

campaigns.

If your Colony is planning an event, making a

special souvenir or having an anniversary party, we

want to know about it. Send your stories and

images to [email protected].

Visit www.scouts.org.uk/brand

and have a look at Bear’s video.

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Residential expeRiences

What’s going on? Beavers sleepeeezzzy

R esidential experiences are about being

outdoors and having fun. It’s an opportunity

to take part in activities which would not fit in

a normal meeting. Combine a funday with a

residential experience involving other Colonies or maybe

just join up with a neighbouring one.

You don’t have to go it alone. Enlist help from

parents before and during the event. You could ask

your Cub leaders to help, which would be an

opportunity for Beavers to meet them before they move

on. Your local Explorer Unit or Scout Network might

want to get involved too – it’s worth asking them.

Once you have decided on the venue, which could be

your own meeting place, local Scout campsite or

activity centre, and checked out the facilities, it’s time

to let your own imagination take your Beavers away.

The great outdoorsMake the most of being outdoors, weather permitting,

by going on a wildlife safari. Sun hats are essential and

would be quite novel in the dark. Take binoculars to spot

the animals, following a trail of previously laid paw prints.

A themed residential experience based on well-

known characters such as Robin Hood or Harry Potter is

sure to be a success. Make simple outlaw costumes,

storm the Sheriff of Nottingham’s castle with wet

sponges and build hideouts in the woods and cook

sausages. There are lots of ideas for Harry Potter and

friends. Dress up in hats and robes and use broomsticks

to play quidditch. Potions can be made by mixing

concoctions of fruit juices. Special maps in invisible ink

can lead to hidden treasure and dragons can be found

by hiding laminated pictures over a given area.

Slow it downHave a good variety of activities for the residential

experience. It’s better to have too much planned in case

some activities are not going well. Beavers have loads

of enthusiasm and plenty of energy but will also need

some quieter tasks which can take place indoors or

outdoors. Use rolls of lining paper for large drawings,

posters or paper projects. If you are planning a

campfire, practise the songs at meetings before you go

so everyone is ready to join in. Remember your Colony

will need to be adequately supervised at all times.

Near to bedtime, play board games or read a story.

The excited Beavers will eventually settle down but do

leave a night light on for those not happy in the dark.

In the last issue, Alison Chapman

gave us ten tips for a successful

residential experience. She now

has some great ideas of what to

do when you get there

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6 Beavers April/May 2011

Ain’t no mountain high enough

One Beaver Scout has high ambitions.

Rose Wells tries to keep up

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Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK

held no fear for Beaver Scout Darwin.

Climbing to the top was the pinnacle of his

mountaineering career so far. And he is only

just eight years old.

Darwin took six hours to reach the summit and

although it was very cold, he didn’t find it a problem.

‘I wasn’t tired at all. I am proud of myself for getting

to the top’, he says.

One Munro, two Munros‘I began climbing when I was very small,’ he says

proudly. ‘My first mountain was Meall Chuaich when I

was 22 months old.’ Meall Chuaich is one of the 283

Scottish Munros. Darwin has conquered 22 already and

has set his sights on climbing all of them by the time he

is 16.

His mum and dad, Sarah and Mark, started taking

him for walks to tire him out. ‘Now he tires us out

trying to keep up,’ Mark says. ‘Yes,’ laughs his son, ‘I

have to wait for my slow dad.’ Darwin is the perfect

climbing buddy, say his parents, as he enjoys the walks

and never complains even when knee-deep in bogs,

being chased by a ptarmigan (which is a bird) or

caught in a storm.

Preparation, preparationBefore each climb, the family studies maps carefully,

making sure the route they have decided on is sensible

and suitable. They check the weather forecast and put

their kit together, including an inhaler for Darwin’s

asthma condition, although he seems to improve in the

mountain air.

Darwin’s own preparations involve a huge breakfast

followed by lots of liquid. Once in his walking gear, he

warms up for the walk, usually by chasing his sister round

the room. Autumn, who is four years old, has started to

join the rest of the family on their climbs, eager to follow

in her big brother’s footsteps. She has already climbed

Mount Keen and mum and dad think it won’t be long

before she wants to tackle Ben Nevis.

ChallengingEvery mountain Darwin climbs he enjoys more than the

last one. ‘Each climb is more challenging and further to

walk,’ he says,’ but I find it easier. My Beaver friends are

all amazed at what I do and I think they should all try it. It

makes me feel free and alive and I like to see the wildlife.’

Sarah and Mark are proud of Darwin’s achievements

and ambitions and support him all the way. The family

are planning to climb the Ring of Steall, a range of four

Munros, in the near future but the veteran climber is

already looking well ahead. ‘My aim in life,’ he says,’ is

to climb the highest mountain in every country of the

world.’

challenge

7scouts.org.uk/pol

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Explore your adventurous side Gaining badges does not

have to be a mountainous task. Jenny Winn provides some less daunting ideas

8 Beavers April/May 2011

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badges

The intrepid mountain climber Darwin (see pages

6 & 7) will have experienced many great

adventures along the way. Although this type

of activity is not for everyone, all Beaver Scouts

can have their own adventures and gain their Adventure

and Explore Activity Badges in the process.

Adventure Activity BadgeAs the name suggests, the

activities your Beavers can do

should be new and

adventurous. To gain this

badge they must take part in

three activities with other Beaver Scouts, two of them

being ones they have not tried before.

If you have an activity centre or campsite nearby,

contact them to see what activities they have that are

suitable for Beaver Scouts to take part in. Most should

be alright as long as the equipment is the right size and

accessible. Over a summer term you could arrange at

least three visits. By the end of the term any Beaver in

your Colony who attended all three will have gained

their badge.

What can we do?Activities at a centre could include abseiling, swimming,

archery, grass sledging, pedal karts, rotating climbing

wall or bouldering, wide games, artificial caving,

snorkelling, boating and trampolining.

If you don’t wish to visit an activity centre or live too

far from one, other ideas for adventurous activities

could be:

• an exciting treasure hunt

• following a laid trail

• making a journey using a form of transport new to

the Beavers

• making and sailing a model boat

• an adventure walk around a park

• visiting a pier

The leadership team must arrange appropriate

supervision before the activities take place.

Explore Activity BadgeThis badge requires some

thought before the

exploration. Beavers have to

complete the following:

1. Decide what or where to explore. There are many places

eager Beavers can explore and they don’t have to be

exotic locations. A local park, forest or woodland is ideal.

If you live near the sea, the seashore is full of exciting

things to find. Your own town or village can provide all

you need for an exploration. Arrange visits to the fire

station, police station or a place of worship or simply plan

an interesting route taking in a variety of features.

2. Think about what you expect to find. What type of

trees, birds, animals, or unusual buildings or structures?

3. Go on the exploration. All explorations should be

undertaken under the supervision of a responsible

adult. This is the time to let your Beavers’ imaginations

take over. In my Colony we regularly go for a walk in

the forest. One Beaver saw dinosaurs there and would

go hunting for their lairs and tracks. By the end of the

walk all the Beavers were spotting dinosaurs and fun

was had by all.

4. Tell others in the Colony what you have discovered. Use drawings, poems or stories. The

Beavers could all make a contribution and put them in a

scrapbook or on a noticeboard.

The activities Beavers can take part in towards either

of these badges will broaden their outlook on the world

around them and provide lots to talk about.

9scouts.org.uk/pol

Find out more about the range of badges and

awards available, what they are for and where

to put them on the uniform by visiting

www.scouts.org.uk/memberresources

more info

BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 9 09/03/2011 17:30

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POPThis issue’s theme corresponds with the themes

in the Beaver Scout Join-in-Jamboree resource,

which are Make a Change! Make a Difference!

and Scouting Skills. Compiled by Patrick Rooke

10 Beavers April/May 2011

Programmes on a plate

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For more great ideas visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol

11scouts.org.uk/pol

Opening ceremony

5 mins N/A Introduce the theme by explaining what recycling means.

Recycling game 5 mins Global In advance of the meeting, ask your Beaver Scouts to bring some recyclable and non-recyclable materials with them, such as card, paper, cans, tins, bottles and plastic. Use other objects from your meeting place as well. Alternatively, leaders can make a list of materials on a piece of paper to call out in the game.

Label two pieces of paper with ‘Recycle’ and ‘Rubbish’ respectively and pin them next to each other on a wall. Ask each Beaver to pick up an item and place it underneath the ‘Recycle’ or ‘Rubbish’ sign, to see if they know what materials can be reused and which cannot. Ask if the other Beavers agree. At the end, see which pile has the most material. Talk through with your Beavers about what can be recycled so that there is less damage to the environment.

Make a map of your area

15 mins Global Split your Beavers into groups of six and get them to draw a map of a small area around your meeting place on a large piece of paper or recycled card. Try to include an area with some green space on to the map if possible. Give each team of Beavers a sheet of sticky green and red dots to use for the next part of the activity.

Green fact finding mission

30 mins Global/Fitness

Each group of Beavers can now go outside with a leader on a green fact-finding mission around the area included on the map. For everything that’s green and beneficial to the environment, Beavers can stick a green dot on its map location. ‘Green’ points of interest could include a flower bed, a park or other open space, a cycle lane, woodland path, a recycling bank or a compost heap. Any points of interest which are not good for the environment should be marked with a red sticky dot, such as a traffic junction or rubbish on the floor.

Bring the teams back to your meeting place at the end of the evening and compare maps – are there more red or green dots? See what similarities or differences appear on each map and come to a decision about how green the area around your meeting place is.

Closing ceremony 5 mins N/A Finally, ask your Beavers to each take home a piece of the material brought in to the meeting and recycle it, using a local recycling bank.

Activity TimeZoneInstructions

Faith and awareness events June/July 2011

June 2011June LGBT Pride Month

1-7 Volunteers’ Week

2 Ascension Day (Christian)

5 World Environment Day

6 Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese)

8-9 Shavuot (Jewish)

12 Pentecost (Christian)

16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev

(Sikh)

19 Trinity Sunday (Christian)

19 Father’s Day

20-26 World Refugee Week

22 World Interfaith Day

23/26 Corpus Christi (Christian)

28 Lailat al Miraj – The Prophet’s

Night Journey and Ascension

(Islam)

July 20113 Ratha Yatra (Hindu)

5 Birth of Guru Hargobind (Sikh)

5-11 Childhood Obesity Week

9 Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’í)

11 World Population Day

15 Lailat al Bara’ah – The Night of

Forgiveness (Muslim)

15 Asalha Puja – Dharma Day

(Buddhist)

19 17th Tammuz – fast day

(Jewish)

23 Birth of Guru Har Krishen (Sikh)

25 Khordad Sal – Birth of

Zoroaster (Zoroastrian)

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12 Beavers April/May 2011

It’s the Chinese year of the rabbit, but it’s Beavers who are

bright eyed and bushy tailed

Look East

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13scouts.org.uk/pol

intro

Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu

province of China and home to the first

Beaver Scout Colony to be formed on the

Chinese mainland. The 1st Nanjing Scout

Group is part of British Groups Abroad (BGA) supports

Groups in eleven countries.

Scouting when living abroad can be difficult if families

are moving around. Not being able to speak the local

language is another problem. BGA is set up as an English

Scout County who operate the UK Programme globally.

Caroline and Matthew Shepherd are leader and

assistant leader of 1st Nanjing Beavers. ‘We started the

Colony because we liked the links to home and the

programme is fun,’ says Caroline.

Diversity Having lived abroad for over 13 years, Caroline and

Matthew have settled in Nanjing with their seven-year-old

son and run the Colony with support from the UK-based

BGA County Team. The team of volunteers provide advice

on training and programme and help with insurance,

badges, awards and other administration tasks.

The 1st Nanjing Beavers all attend the British School

of Nanjing. They meet once a week at the school after

lessons as part of the After School Activity Clubs. The

common language is English, making communication

easy, however, between them the Beavers can speak

nine languages such as Thai, Korean, German and

Mandarin. Fourteen countries are represented in the 1st

Nanjing with Beavers coming from diverse countries

and cultures such as the UK, Australia, Canada and

South Korea.

Wall to wall badgesNanjing is surrounded by an ancient wall and the Nanjing

BGA District badge shows a lion rampant within the

walls of the city. The Beavers are very enthusiastic when

it comes to adding to their badge collection.

‘The activities vary from week to week,’ says

Caroline, ‘but always build towards collecting a badge

to decorate their uniforms’. As part of the Friendship

Challenge, they raised money for the Hopeful Hearts

charity which provides heart operations for sick

children. At the local Winter Fayre, they helped raise

880 yuan (£82) by preparing cookies and cakes to sell.

13scouts.org.uk/pol

british groups abroad

Visit www.scouts.org.uk/bga for further

information on British Groups Abroad

more info

The 1st Nanjing Beavers getting to grips with First Aid

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14 Beavers April/May 2011

Beavers will love making this cheeky chicken card

Easter greetings

Design and colour your Easter card.

Go to www.scouts.org.uk/pol and download

the Easter Card template.

Produce a copy of this sheet for each child. If

possible produce the sheets on thin card.

Cut out the shape ready for use.

Apply glue to the feet of the chick.

StEp 1

StEp 2 StEp 3

you will need• colour pencils• glue• 1 paper fastener.

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15scouts.org.uk/pol

Place the bottom half of the egg on to the

chick and secure.

STEP 4 Use a paper fastener to join the two halves of the egg.

Write your Easter card.

STEP 5

STEP 6

Fun facts to share

• Easter is a Christian religious festival

• People give Easter eggs to represent a

symbol of new life

• The first Easter baskets were made to

look like birds’ nest

• Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus

• Easter falls on a different date each year,

so you have to check your calendar to

find out which date Easter is this year

For more ideas and activity packs that

come pre-cut and creased, complete with

all the required accessories, go to

www.clever-craft.com. You’ll be amazed

what you can do. To receive a free sample

pack, become a member on the website.

Clever Craft was set up by Andrew

Harrold & Craig Bond, both Beaver Scout

Leaders with 7th Sefton East (Melling).

Questions to ask

• Who is your card for?

• What are Easter eggs often made from?

• What date is Easter this year?

www.clever-craft.com. You’ll be amazed

what you can do. To receive a free sample

pack, become a member on the website.

Clever Craft was set up by Andrew

Harrold & Craig Bond, both Beaver Scout

Leaders with 7th Sefton East (Melling).

MAKE AND DO

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Page 16: beavers

Being able to read can open doors for

employment and a better future. For people

in Mongolia, the charity Bookbridge has so

far provided four teaching libraries at

education centres. English is taught to students through

the use of books, picture books and dictionaries and

there are plans for more libraries to be set up this year

both in Mongolia and Cambodia.

The latest issue of Scouting gives details of a national

collection being organised between The Scout

Association and Bookbridge between 20 June and 3

July. The aim is for UK Scouts to collect 30,000 books

for two libraries in Cambodia. There will be activity

ideas on Programmes Online during this time –

www.scouts.org.uk/pol. The following bookbinding

activity will help Beavers think about the importance of

books and how they can help by donating.

16 Beavers April/May 2011

Mongolian bookbindingTell your Beavers about Bookbridge who have set

up libraries in Mongolia. If you have a globe or

map, you could show them where the country is. In

Mongolia they have hardly any books because it is a

poor country and paper is very expensive.

Mongolians take care of their books and never put

them on the ground.

you will need• Sheets of strong paper (such as sugar or

watercolour paper), large square pieces of fabric, pens, crayons, PVA glue, ribbon and any other craft decorative items.

Tell the Colony how Mongolian books are made

from loose sheets of papers folded in beautiful

woven fabric and tied in a bundle with string. Split

the Colony into lodges or teams and give each a

few pieces of paper. Ask them to write a short story

and add some drawings on their pieces of paper.

Make sure the paper is landscape format and they

only write on one side.

Stack the pages together in order and place in the

centre of the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the

pages and tie together with a piece of ribbon.

Off the shelfMolly Fassbender says dust off your old books and

give them a second life

Copyright © 2010 The Scout Association

Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

18-19 June 2011www.scouts.org.uk/fundays

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Page 17: beavers

Copyright © 2010 The Scout Association

Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

18-19 June 2011www.scouts.org.uk/fundays

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Page 18: beavers

Busy lifestyles and demands on time can make

getting much needed help from adults

difficult. Research has shown that the main

barriers to volunteer recruitment are time

pressure and concern over the demands placed on new

volunteers. Scouting needs to recognise time restraints

placed on individuals and accept help when it is available,

by approaching volunteering in a flexible way.

Lists, lists and rotasMake a list of tasks you would like help with so you

can concentrate on running the Colony. You could ask

several parents to take over a task from your list for a

set period of time, which will appear more attractive

than leaving it open-ended. Doing a task as part of a

team will also seem less daunting.

• You may find a parent who would enjoy running a craft

activity for the Colony either as a one off or on an

occasional basis. Other ideas could be teaching a

simple dance routine or acting. Learning about a range

of faiths and traditions may be something that parents

can help you with.

• Is there a parent who is a keen hiker, swimmer or

cyclist? See if they will get involved in helping you

organise an outdoor activity and maybe give a talk

about their hobby, suitable for the age range.

• If you are holding a residential experience you could

ask adults to help organise different aspects such as

the catering. Planning the whole menu or taking one

meal each.

• Is there someone who could manage the badge

records for you? With a copy of the programme and

attendance records, they can work out which

challenges/badges have been completed.

Over 40 per cent of new volunteers to section roles

come from the parents of youth Members (or prospective

youth Members).

An adult rota is a great way to initially involve parents

and other adults in your meetings. Co-ordinating the

rota is a task you can hand over and is a great way for

the Colony to benefit from the increased help without

requiring the adult to make a weekly commitment.

We’ve all heard about flexible volunteering, but can it work for you?

‘�Sorry,�I�don’t�have�the�time.’

There are a number of resources to help you

with encouraging parents to support the section

in a flexible way. Don’t forget the Big Adventure

is a great way of getting parents involved –

www.scouts.org.uk/bigadventure

more�info

18 Beavers April/May 2011

kIt’s

Call Unity now on 0845 0945 703www.scoutinsurance.co.uk [email protected]

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FRN 312976. Unity Insurance Services is a trading name of Scout Insurance Services Limited.

Unity can cover it

We offer a range of policies designed specifically for Scouting, whatever you need protecting, from property and equipment to travel and fundraising events. Plus, if something should go wrong, we’ll help you get reimbursed as quickly as possible.

Let Unity look after all your Scout insurance needs.

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