Scouts

Our next District Welcome meeting will be held on Sunday 4th May at WF15 Scout Hut in Truro Drive, Kidderminster. I know this is corny but it has to be said - May the fourth be with you!

Start time will be 10 am and should take no longer than an hour. Scouters new to the District will receive an invitation by email from me just after Easter with full details. Please make every effort to attend.

These meetings are held every six weeks or so. The next one after 4th May will be Tuesday 27th May and that will be held at Rhydd from 7pm to 8pm.

New Scouters are reminded that attendance at these meetings is part of the Getting Started programme and forms an integral part of joining.  By holding the meetings on different days with different times we hope to cater for all new members. Group Lead Volunteers should explain this during their own welcome package.

Julie

Just a reminder with the summer term coming up that we have a laser tag set available for hire (£50 for a session) which is great for use at Rhydd for your section nights. Also we have 10 GPS trackers available for £10 per tracker for an event which show position on full OS Maps, ideal for adding an extra level of safety to remotely supervised expeditions. 

For details, to check availability and request a booking visit:https://www.saintmichaelsscouts.org.uk/equipment-hire/

Yours in Scouting

Mark "Mike" Atkinson
Section Leader
16^th Wyre Forest (St Michaels) Scout Troop

Fellow scouters,

Further to the NOW FULL 1^st course announcement there is another course now on Tuesday 20^th May @ Rhydd Covert. See link below for details and booking.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/risk-assessment-101-tickets-1298939516059

The more advanced course inc Critical Incident Plans also has a date again at rhydd of Tuesday 1^st July. Link below

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/risk-assessments-critical-incident-plans-tickets-1298946486909

YIS

Mark Searl

GLV WF21

Scout / Explorer Section Meeting Minutes 4/3/25

29th March - Jersey getting to know you day - Rhydd

Explorers Monopoly run - good feedback, plan to go again next year 6th - 8th March. Mike to investigate upping capacity to 100.

Six summits - Nantmoor training Ian possibly has few spaces available for explorers, speak to Ian for details

St Georges - Parking drop off not on new road. Drop off elsewhere and walk to new road.

County Scout / Explorer camp - 13th - 15th June - Options to buddy up with another group maybe (https://www.scoutshw.org.uk/county-scout-camp-2025)

Belgium - Few spaces available for young people - Oct half term - Speak to Ryan.

Scout C4 challenge - 24th sept - Teams of 4 - 6 (7 if you only have 7 scouts) - Need to provide and run one base per team entered - Scoring via phones as previous years

Possible scout cooking competition 29th June

World scout jamboree selection camp 26-28th sept - possible date not yet confirmed

Explorer shooting competition possibly early September - Ian to look for possible dates

Explorers Camp Cockerel - Normally 3rd Weekend in November - Awaiting conifmation of dates

Scouts Bald eagle - 10-12th oct

Scout / Explorer Swimming gala aim for date in 2026

Yours in Scouting

Mark "Mike" Atkinson
Section Leader
 

The first bit of good news from me has come from the census data. We have grown just a smidge over 3% over the last 12 months, Explorer numbers are at their highest ever. In terms of numbers, we are still 2^nd largest in H&W. We do however have the most groups and sections.

Quick Review

DofE Launch – Well supported meeting, we already have 4 Young people signed up to the scheme with more joining later. This year we will be joining Redditch district for the expedition aspects with a view to offering our own in Wyre Forest in the next 12 months or so. Thank you to Lauren Wheeldon for organizing this, and please get intouch with her if you want any more information

Cub Founders day – More in Section meeting but another great day, almost 100 cubs had fun doing all manner of Scouting Skills bases and the weather was relatively kind.

Upcoming

District Gangshow – 14^th – 16^th March (More details from MA)

Scouts and Explorers Trip to Ypres – 2 Spaces, more in section meeting.

Jersey – Full

PLOD – Long way away (or so it seems) looking to step down, anyone willing to take it on should see me. Its really easy, honest.

St Georges Day

27^th April.

WF14 to lead this year, Same arrangements as previous years. Parade to the harriers. We are requesting this year please that groups arrange their drop off AWAY from New Road and walk their sections in. Far to many parents dropping off last minute with lots of children around.

As ever we do need Marshalls, I know Kathy has asked the groups already but please keep it in mind and forward any interested names to Kathy ASAP. Parade briefing will be Friday Evening this year

Safety and Safeguarding

Reminder that you should all have the QR code for reporting incidents and near misses.

County have created a poster for display and use in meeting places and first aid kits. Please follow these steps:

1. Print and Laminate
2. Attach to First Aid Kits: Securely attach the laminated form to the outside of all first aid bags and boxes used within your group.
3. Pin a copy to your meeting place wall
4. Include: in all documents for events and camps 

Download the Poster File Here

Young Leaders

Transformation (me)

Permits – Please Email, or text or anything else to let me know you are putting permits through. Currently we get no notification that there is any pending approval so they could be sat there for ages without knowledge.

Training- Check mandatory training, particularly if you did it close to the shutdown. Many peoples haven’t migrated as there seemed to be a top secret training cut off date. HQ WILL insist that it done again and you could risk suspension if you didn’t realise.

New Safety module to be done by everyone before July (for those that haven’t done it yet)

Log in – Check all your information. All training will be at least started online so you will need to get in there at some point.

NAN forms – Still use the county system please, as mentioned above membership isn’t giving notifications until it’s too later

County Dates

Shirehike - Saturday 22nd March 2025, Malvern

Costa Rica Trip - April 2025

County Squirrel Day - Sunday 11th May 2025

County Scout Camp - June 2025

Explorers 'Social Camp' - June 2025

Canada trip (Scouts and Explorers) - Summer 2026