This years INDABA is getting really exciting, there is so much going one you really don’t want to miss out!

Some people coming along include:
Giwell Internal Communications team
Gilwell Public Relations team
Shelter in a box
with various skills sharing bases:
Small and Large Pioneering project
Camp skills
County Air Activities
County Caving Team
Patrol Camp layout
Drop-in Training Validation
ACC Team Discussions
And much, much more…

We will also be running a Woodbadge Cafe during Saturday, this is your chance to discuss training with one of the County Training Advisor’s or Loal TrainingManagers whilst having a cup of tea.

On Saturday afternoon we will be holding the County AGM and then in the evening our Hog Roast, BBQ and Ho Down!

INDABA is about sharing ideas, skills and working together to make the County stronger and better for everyone.

Book now at www.gls-scouts.org.uk/indaba

As we approach the summer holidays, what a great opportunity to remind the young people in your sections about how to stay safe in the real world and online,  The ‘Stay Safe’ leaflets are section-specific from Beavers- Explorers and are available free of charge from the scout information centre, they Can be found Here

As you plan for the new term over the summer, why not stock up on copies of ‘Safe and Sound’ leaflets for parents with information on ‘how we keep your children safe in scouting’, these are great for all of those new members joining your groups after the summer break and Can be found Here

Please also remember that
‘Yellow Cards’- Child Protection- A code of good practice for adults in scouting and ‘Orange Cards’ guidance for Young Leaders are available from the information centre and that every adult volunteer and Young Leader should have a copy.
Yellow Card: Can be found Here
Orange Card: Can be found Here

Reese Ludlow
Assistant County Commissioner for Safeguarding

Cost is £20 per head for a full day of water activities including dinghy sailing, kayaking and dragon boat racing.

Please contact the ACC Water Activities , Paul Wootton at pswoott57@yahoo.co.uk for more details and application form.

An informal event for leaders from all sections to show what air activities you can run yourselves, and what we can run for you at the Scout Aviation Centre (SAC).

Who is it for? 

All leaders in all sections who think their young people might like to try air activities.  It may particularly appeal to those in an Air Scout Group.

Where is it?

At our purpose-built air activities base – The Scout Aviation Centre, Biggin Hill

When is it?

Saturday 12 May, from 10.30am – 4.00pm

Do I need to attend for the whole time? 

No – how long you attend for is entirely up to you.

What’s on the programme? 

• In the morning we aim to concentrate on air activities for Beavers & Cubs – you can learn to build gliders, hot air balloons, kites etc.
• Around the middle of the day we will run airfield tours and you will be able to try for yourself the new improved Comet and desktop flight simulators as well as the other impressive gadgets we have at the SAC.
• In the afternoon we will concentrate on activities for Scouts/Explorers including the wide range of badges and opportunities for getting into the air.
• But if you would just like to pop in for 15 minutes to collect information then that too is fine.

What does it cost? 

Nothing – although we are happy to accept donations for any materials used or tea consumed!

Do I need to book?

Not vital – but it would be useful to know if you think you might drop in, just so we know how much milk to buy!  So please tell Ian Piper, ACC Air Activities GLS at Ianp@pbmail.co.uk or 0208 663 0796 

How do I find the SAC?

Biggin Hill Airport is on the A233, a few miles south of Bromley.  With one postcode for the entire airport site, SatNav will only get you to the airport gate.

If travelling from the direction of London, enter the Airport by turning left at the roundabout from the main road – do not go to the Executive Terminal or any other entrance. 

Follow the road straight on (there are some direction signs marked ‘Scott-Chard Air Scouts’) until you reach the rising arm barrier.  If you drive right up to the arm it will rise automatically after a few seconds.  Continue straight on to the second barrier and repeat this procedure.

Keep following the road; go through the woods until you come to a double blue portacabin on the left hand side.  Turn left and park in the car park.

It is with the greatest pleasure to formally announce the appointment of three new Assistant County Commissioners to the County Team.

As of the beginning of April, Hannah Bishop takes over the role of ACC Cubs, Darren Lodge as ACC Scouts, and James Etheridge as ACC Explorers.

I would like to welcome them all to the County team and wish them all success in their new appointments.

The ACCs for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Network, Young Leaders, Top Awards and International along with myself, all of the County Youth Programme team, are here to help support all ADCs and Scout Groups from across the County to continue delivering quality programme to our young people.

If you would like any additional support with programme, please contact the relevant ACC or myself via the County website’s ‘People Directory’, We are more than happy to help support you to support our young people wherever we can.

Robert Ludlow
Deputy County Commissioner for Youth Programme

Not blogged for a while, been busy presenting the St George’s awards. We had a great night last week at the GLS gala award evening.
30 members of the county had their awards presented by Peter James & Roger Cooke, Vice Presidents of GLS.

I am still in shock as I was presented by Dean Jefferys (regional commissioner) the Silver Acorn. I am very humbled and proud.

99.99% of the time in scouting we celebrate the achievements of our scouts…,, and rightly so. But this time it was for our scouters! I was so proud to hear the citations, we have some of the best scouters in the UK.

Well Done everyone who got a St. George’s day award this year!

POB

If you have not yet siged up, Please go to www.gls-scouts.org.uk/indaba and register.

The INDABA team

ACC International Simon Emmett who attended the event, also joined in with the fun by, not only completing the mile “3-legged” with James Vallely (ASL at the 27th Woolwich), but both were also dressed up as “Knights of St. George”!

Simon said, “It was fantastic to see so money scouts enjoying themselves, and doing their bit by raising money for Sport Relief. I have to pay tribute to the Stephen Ellis (ADC Scouts) for organising such a great event.”

District Commissioner Chris Ellinson said ‘ It is marvellous that the 15th Sydenham have re- launched and there are not many groups that can boast their own gym, swimming pool and dance studio as part of their meeting place. Garry our development officer has supported GSL Gemma McGill in the re-launch of the group’

Chris went on to say ‘ Scouting in Lewisham is growing at a fast pace, we had an incredible 11.84% increase in our census figures and there are now more young people taking part in Scouting in Lewisham than for a very long time’.

Chris Ellinson
District Commissioner Lewisham District

The Cubs tried abseiling, lots for the first time and some even conquered a fear of heights- very well done!

Cubs were intrigued by the sound of ‘Crate Staking’ but found it was a really exciting activity where they learnt to belay for others and got to see how many crates they could scale. For many, this was their favourite activity.

They took part in some time trials and relay races on the Adventure Course and all did really well even beating the Leaders.

We also met some horses, played games outdoors in the dark, had a campfire with songs from Italy, France, Spain and Kenya, completed the photo trail and had morning exercises run by Raksha!

We also invested our newest Leader Bagheera at Scouts Own on Sunday afternoon!

So many Cubs completed things they didn’t think they’d be able to do, conquered fears and enjoyed the great outdoors, they are already excited about the next camp!

Thanks to our leaders Skip, Skip, Raksha, Raksha, Coxswain, Bagheera, Jacala and Darzee!

leaders morning exercises on camp.