A Christmas Message from our County Lead Volunteer

As Scouts, we believe in creating brighter futures. This year, we’ve done that by helping even more young people gain Skills For Life.

Cheshire Scouts continues to grow, across all our sections, with over 300 more young people joining the adventure this year. We’ve focused on two key things: improving our volunteer experience and growing inclusively.

By the end of this year, our local growth officers will have assisted volunteers in opening 11 sections in our most deprived communities.

Through our Programme we promoted ‘OutdoorsIn24’, offering Fundays for over 1,400 Squirrels, Beavers, and Cubs, and delivering our sell-out Cheshire Hike for Scouts and Explorers.

Our Roverway patrol members had a fantastic Norwegian Adventure this Summer. While we also had Scouts in Kandersteg, elsewhere in Norway and attending Red Rose International Jamboree in Cumbria.

Celebrating our Scouts’ successes has been important too. Over 470 top awards were presented to Scouts and Explorers at Celebrating Success this year.

And 16 Queen’s and King’s Scouts were in Windsor, for a Day of Celebration and Achievement.

We have successfully delivered two community engagement days this year, involving young people and parents from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Ukraine, and 150 children in Foster Care, participating in taster sessions at our Activity Centres.

For volunteers, this has been a year of change as we move to team-based volunteering. This’ll make volunteering simpler, more rewarding, and enjoyable. Scouts’ new digital system is also now live for you to access.

As we look ahead to a new year for Cheshire Scouts, and a new strategy, I look forward to engaging our members in shaping it.

There’s also lots to be excited about next year, as we look forward to the selection of our contingent for the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Poland. Our 20 Scout Network members heading off to the World Scout Moot in Portugal next Summer, and bookings opening in the Spring for ‘Chamboree’, our Animal Kingdom themed International Scout and Guide Jamboree taking place in Summer 2026, it’s going to be wild!

I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a joyous festive season filled with warmth and happiness. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions throughout the year.

– Dave Hopley, County Lead Volunteer