Date post: | 09-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | the-scout-association |
View: | 213 times |
Download: | 0 times |
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
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
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
IFC_BeaversSupp_AprMay2011.indd 2 08/03/2011 13:17 BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 3 09/03/2011 17:26
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.
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 4 11/03/2011 15:39
5scouts.org.uk/pol
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 5 09/03/2011 17:26
6 Beavers April/May 2011
Ain’t no mountain high enough
One Beaver Scout has high ambitions.
Rose Wells tries to keep up
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 6 09/03/2011 17:26
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 7 09/03/2011 17:27
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 8 09/03/2011 17:27
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
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 10 09/03/2011 17:30
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)
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 11 09/03/2011 17:30
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 12 09/03/2011 17:31
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 13 09/03/2011 17:31
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.
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 14 09/03/2011 17:31
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
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 15 09/03/2011 17:31
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
144.12 AC funday supplement ad 2011.indd 1 09/09/2010 09:13BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 16 09/03/2011 17:31
Copyright © 2010 The Scout Association
Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).
18-19 June 2011www.scouts.org.uk/fundays
144.12 AC funday supplement ad 2011.indd 1 09/09/2010 09:13BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 17 09/03/2011 17:32
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.
unity_scouting_page_v2.indd 2 4/3/11 13:54:45IFC_BeaversSupp_AprMay2011.indd 2 08/03/2011 13:18BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 18 09/03/2011 17:32
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 19 11/03/2011 15:40
CTS_Scouting_AW:190x260 7/3/11 10:54 Page 1
BeaversSupp_AprMay2011Final.indd 20 09/03/2011 17:32