It's been a while since I updated the blog and I've learnt an
important lesson - if you get out the habit of weekly updates its
hard work getting back into the routine! In truth so much has been
going on over the summer months and certainly in September that it
could be a very long "catch up blog" so I have picked out some of
key points.
Tattonbury
This proved to be a very popular event for Explorer Scouts with
very positive feedback from the participants. One District has
reported that as a result of Tattonbury they believe they have
retained Explorer Scouts who may have left the movement. Another
District has successfully recruited a new leader who was in one of
the bands performing at the event.
WSJ Send Off
The send off party organised for the World Scout Jamboree
contingents was held on Sunday 17 July following the Tattonbury
event. Unfortunately the weather was awful however the
contingent members played their part in making this a memorable
afternoon.
WSJ
All the participants had a fantastic time and each of the three
units enjoyed a very individual experience with home hospitality.
They are now busy planning their reunion events, which will
take place during October. One of the outcomes from these events
should be a presentation, which participants can use at a group and
District level. All DC's have been asked to organise a District
event at which leaders and supporters will be invited to watch a
presentation by their representative members of the contingent. I
believe this could be a significant PR opportunity to promote
Scouting to the local community including local councillors and
local MPs. A schedule of dates will be produced in the near
future.
Summer Activities
There have been an encouraging number of camps and expeditions
over the summer break. Reports on the various events are filtering
through and they will be reflected in next year's annual
review.
Website
The website continues to attract interest from both within the
County and further afield. Parents of the WSJ contingent were very
appreciative of the updates and coverage given to the Jamboree.
Many of them felt they were able to be part of the Jamboree as a
result of the coverage given.
The website has been nominated for a national award and
currently has a link on it to make it easy for those wishing to
vote.
PR
Over the summer months Cheshire has received a significant
amount of local press coverage much of it focused on the Jamboree
contingent members. We have also been very successful in getting a
letter published in most of our local newspapers, which carried the
name of each local DC and basically tries to give a positive
impression of young people following the riots and disorder during
August.
Cheshire Challenge 2012
We have just
completed two weeks of launch events for the Cheshire Challenge
2012. This started with a briefing session for the County Team,
which focused on their involvement and their role in delivering the
key aims of the challenge. This was followed by a similar event as
part of the regular DC meeting and finally it played a significant
part in the sectional team meetings held in Runcorn last week with
the ADC's.
The booklet and supporting material is once again of a very high
quality and the whole scheme has been very positively received. It
is now available on the Cheshire Scouts website which will play a
major part in providing additional programme ideas throughout next
year.
The significant difference between Cheshire Challenge 2012 and
the last challenge event is that next year's challenge is clearly
aimed at being a key part of our retention strategy.
Project - Statistical Analysis
We have started a project where the aim is to bring together the
various parts of statistical analysis, which is available to us,
with the aim of producing helpful reports, which can support both
Districts and County initiatives. For example we have started to
look at the achievement of the Chief Scout Award and using this
data to identify groups who continually fail to produce award
holders so that they can further supported.
Project - Adult Recruitment
This project is now underway and will include input from the
RDS. Two training dates have been added to the County planner for
next year, which will be open to leaders from around the County who
have a responsibility for recruiting adults within their Group or
District.
Forest Campsite
Discussions continue with both our architects and the local
authority in relation to the development of Lake view. Natural
England has raised a number of concerns, which generated about 25
questions from the local authority. Following discussions with the
campsite management team answers have now been sent back to the
local authority who will use this information as the basis of their
response to Natural England. We can only await further
developments.
Joint working - Guides
A second meeting has been held with the Guide Commissioners
covering Cheshire with the aim of finding areas for cooperation.
This reflects a national and regional strategy for greater
cooperation between our two movements. Dates are now in the diary
for two meetings next year, which can be supplemented with
additional meetings if required.
In addition to the joint working at Tatton Park on water
activities two other areas have been identified for closer working.
The Guides will be active supporters of Chamboree in 2014 and will
nominate a Guide representative to serve on the Chamboree
Executive. A project is being investigated with the aim of
combining data on membership numbers to produce a document
detailing the impact our joint movements have locally.
Youth United
This is an initiative is being championed by the Lord Lieutenant
with the aim of bringing together uniformed organisations to see if
expertise and facilities can be shared. A second meeting is planned
for later next week. It follows a successful trial in London.
Orientals win at Marlow
Warrington Orientals 14 & under team Dragon Boat Team won at
the National Youth Championships in Marlow this weekend. They beat
the next fastest team in the final by 0.72 of a second. They have
brought the impressive Dragon Boat trophy back home! Congratulation
to all involved.