Beaver Scouts

Annual Great British Spring Clean – 21^st March to 6^th April

So here is your annual reminder of the Keep Britain Tidy's national campaign dates, equipment is at the back of the hut in the shed code 769 and we now have the bright orange bags too. Please can you book the equipment out with me directly on 07811949049 WhatsApp if you can as it makes it easier for leaders planning. 

Need to know

1. Scout group name
2. section
3. How many children involved for equipment purposes
4. Area you are planning your litter pick.
5. log your litter pick here for bag collection by council  Community volunteer litter picker | Wyre Forest District Council

(wyreforestdc.gov.uk) 

Karen

I'd like to start by saying a huge thank you to all those that have offered me support and congratulations on my new role. I feel also that I should thank those that nominated me,

Over the coming weeks and months, I will be looking to putting together my own teams within the district, and that includes bolstering some of the teams we already have in place. I am very pleased to announce that, so far, the following appointments have been agreed:

District Program Team leaders

Squirrels- Emily Denton

Beavers - Melaine Williams

Cubs – Kelly Mayall

Scouts – Ryan Clarke

Explorers – Ian Wood

Nights away – Mark Atkinson

Michelle Brooks – DDLV (program team lead and leadership team member)

I am very fortunate to have been handed a strong and successful scouting district, Many people have already asked me what changes I will be putting in place and the answer is very few. For now, I want to continue with the excellent work Julie has put in during her term and continue to grow the district.

Julie and I have met on a number of occasions to discuss the handover, and she has also agreed to assist me with some administrative jobs while we all get use to the new, transformed Scouts. I am extremely grateful for Julies continued support during this period, finally I will speak for all of us in this room when I express our gratitude to Julie for her outstanding service throughout. I think its fair to say the challenges she has had to overcome, particularly in the most recent months would have been enough to make most of us throw in the towel, her commitment to scouting is truly admirable.

On that note I am please to say that Julie has agreed to take on roles on the Welcome, Awards Training, and Rhydd service teams, as well as continuing to sit on the District Trustee board

Quick Review

Remembrance day parade - Went well, very well supported in all aspects but once again WF came out in force,

Camp Cockerel – Great Support again and Wyre Forest excelled on home turf. 4 Local units attended. With St Micheals claiming 1^st and 3^rd Places on Both day bases and night bases and then going out to have team “TTTTTEAMMMMM” claim the trophy as overall winners and there team “60% normal” coming 3^rd overall.

Beavers Santa Safari, over two nights this year and again well-organized with a great turnout.

Christmas post - another great year, review and rework for forthcoming year. More from JS later.

Andy, DLV

First Aid Courses

Faith has added the following dates for everyone to book on.

NEW! !NEW!! NEW!!

18th January 2025 9.30am to 4pm at WF15

16th March 2025 9.30am to 4pm at WF17

24th May 2025 9.30am to 4pm at WF15

20th July 2025 9.30am to 4pm at WF17

All the above will have an opportunity to complete the Practical session at 4pm.

For those who wish to complete the Blended approach there is an opportunity to complete Part 2 on 21st January or 19th March. Both sessions will run 6.30 to 9.00pm.

Faith

Please book directly with Mark Strain at County, when they are available on the County  website. A link is below.

Those dates not suitable, then please go here First Aid Training | Scouts Hereford & Worcester (scoutshw.org.uk)  and you will see courses elsewhere in the County or the "Hampshire Model" an online session to cover module 10a. The next module 10b can be completed locally. Demand for these FREE courses is bound to be high as we move into Transformation so please take the opportunity to book early. Check your compass record to see when your renewal is due.

Contact Faith directly faith@westoaks.org.uk for further information or look in the Training Diary page on Hereford and Worcestershire Scouts website for alternative FA courses outside of the district.  Remember to check when your FA expires and book in good time to avoid travelling.

Reminder that under Transformation, First Response will be mandatory for:

• Group Lead Volunteers
• Section Team Leaders
• Section Team Members
• District 14-24 Team Leaders

• In other words, ALL face-to-face leaders and team members.

• There are a small number of volunteers in the District who are not compliant, please contact Faith if you are unsure about your status.

Little litter warriors and Wyre Forest scouts (organiser Mark Searl WF21) have joined the Kidderminster Bid project to help improve Kidderminster town centre. I have attached the area in question. We are looking for sections to get out and about in these areas to help us clean up but also somewhere different and educational to pick. The Kidderminster Bid has offered us donations however I’m leaving that part to Mark. I am running these sessions in Kidderminster and happy to join your group litter picks if can. This activity can then fall under fundraiser, community and part of environmental badge works. It would be great to know where you intend to pick too so that we can cover other areas that won’t have been picked.

Wyre Forest District council are working with me in making sure we have enough equipment to supply the demand. There are also wanting to be more efficient in helping our activity run smoothly. Here is a link to how you can report where you have left your litter filled bags. Reporting this after your pick will ensure a quick collection response. Community volunteer litter picker | Wyre Forest District Council (wyreforestdc.gov.uk). There is also a section where you can let them know how your pick went, filling in this is easy and they may do a social post on their platforms about your achievements, this always is great for promoting scouting in a community.

Karen Blanchfield

Assistant Scout leader