After an extensive Review, to which many young people and adult volunteers contributed, the Scout Association is now about to undergo the biggest change since 1966! This will bring us bang up-to-date to meet the needs of young people into the 21st century!
By the end of 2003, fundamental changes will be completed to the way we provide for young people. The underlying philosophy is to provide for the individual development of young people by providing a wide range of opportunities across the Sections, and made available in ways which young people today can access.
Recently, District Commissioners and other members of the County Team attended a Headquarter briefing outlining the recommendations now agreed by the Committee of Council of The Association.
The information we have will be given to you soon by your District. We will also try to answer the questions which come to mind and here the feedback you give will be important in determining the detail of the programme and in planning the resources needed for its implementation.
Nationally, volunteers are hard at work in providing this detail. Over the next months and years, we will give you more information as it arrives.
Please note that no provision or support will be available for the new programme until The Association is fully prepared - and this will not be until 2002. Implementation is not a race - there is much careful planning to be done before we get to that stage!
Each District will (or has) appoint an experienced person as 'Change Agent' with the sole job of assisting and advising you on become involved in making the changes. County have appointed Stuart Ballard as County Change Agent to co-ordinate support here.
The new programme and new age range structure is the most exciting and relevant thing to happen in Scouting for over 30 years! There will be challenges for us the adults - 'no change' is not an option - but the rewards of more young people enjoying better Scouting are within our grasp.
Editorial
"All change"
Do you sometimes think - Oh! Why can't they leave things as they are? or are you the type that would say - We now have an opportunity for getting better!
I'm sure that you will agree that Roger's early departure is unfortunate for the Scout County of Avon. Of course it is sad to see a friend leave us, especially one who has worked with us and for us tirelessly over a considerable number of years. In his new role, Roger will be supporting Scouting across a much wider spectrum than 'Avon' so our local loss is wider Scouting's gain.
At times like this we should say a heartfelt thank you, which surely we all do.
Even those who do not know Roger personally have benefited from his dedication, hard work, dry wit, and genuine concern for the needs of our young people.
His will be 'a tough act to follow' as they say.
But - and there's always a but - we do have an opportunity to look at things differently, to redouble our efforts to work together, to support the new boy or girl. It will be a fresh start for Roger but also a fresh start for the Scout County of Avon too.
Are we 'up for it' I wonder?
And what about the Uniform and Programme changes?
I do hope that you are as excited about the prospect of the improved look and new way of working as I am. I am certainly not in total agreement with all the changes that are suggested or agreed. That's democracy though, isn't it?
It's a time to put personal issues aside and throw our support behind the improvements that the changes will bring for our young people. We should aim to make it work in spite of any 'mistakes' that we might perceive as individuals. After all, nothing is perfect. The recent Presidential elections across 'the pond' come to mind to illustrate that point.
Carol, Doug and Elaine join with me in wishing you have an excellent Christmas time and best wishes for a bigger and better year of Scouting in 2001.
Peter Hanna, County Secretary
Outward Bound
Outward Bound have been running a series of Outdoor Activity Leadership
Courses in Scotland this year. These can lead to a BTEC in Outdoor Activity Leadership, and certificates in MLTB Single Pitch Climbing and Level 2 kayak
Coaching Training for 18-40's, and are particularly useful for Venture Scouts wanting to read Sports Science at University.
6 Avon Venture Scouts have completed the Courses this year: Ali MacFarlane (Warwick), Bryan Parsons (Polar), Richard Breed (Polar), John Buckell (99th), Andy Postlethwaite (Polar) and Paul Shepherd (90th).
The Courses next year are:
6th May- l5th June, 1st July-l0th
August, 26th August-5th October.
Candidates go on a selection weekend at Ullswater OB Centre, and need to have experience in Hill Walking, Lead Climbing and Kayaking. Any Venture Scouts who are interested should make sure that they get their training organised in advance, and apply to me by around Christmas, as the early Courses get booked up fairly quickly. The cost depends on how much a candidate can afford.
It is difficult to get anyone to get 5 days off to supervise a Queen's Scout or D of E Gold Award Expedition, and Outward Bound now run 3 special 12 day Courses which include, among other things one practice expedition, and arrangements for enabling them to do the 50 Mile Qualifying Expedition at the end. Participants also qualify for the "Residential" Section of the Gold Award. Again these Courses get booked up fairly quickly, as they are targeted at anyone who has just taken A Levels, and are on 2nd, 16th and 30th July.
Avon Outward Bound Association can get price reductions in the cost of Courses, so, anyone interested should contact me.
Doc Grimaldi
0117 9501735
Awards for All
| The following extract of an article
written by Suzannah Marsh in a local Newspaper, may be of
interest to you. Lottery funding for the Millennium will carry on after the end of this year and that means community groups can keep on applying for grants. If you want help, here's where you will get it |
 |
AWARDS for All aims to:
* Support community activity - by helping communities to meet
their needs through voluntary action, self-help projects, local
facilities or events
* Extend access and participation - by encouraging more people to
become involved in local groups and projects and by supporting
activities that are open and accessible to everyone who wishes to
take part
* Increase skill and creativity - by supporting activities which
help to develop people and organisations, encourage talent and
raise standards
* Improve the quality of life for local people. Under Awards for
All each region has its own set of priorities used to help
deliberate when there are more eligible applications than they
can fund.
While applications from all sectors of the community are welcome, they are especially looking for projects led by or for the benefit of
* Disabled peopl
* Black and ethnic minority groups
* Children and young people
* Older people.
In the South West, applications are especially welcome from areas with limited access to services including inner city districts, coastal towns and isolated rural areas.
They want to encourage projects that allow people to improve their skills through training with professionals and applications from communities that have not received Awards for All funding before.
For more information, visit the website at www.awardsforall.org.uk or call 0845 600 2040 for an application pack.
Lake District Winter Hillwalking
Weekend
23-25 February 2001
Would you like to broaden your hill walking skills and gain experience in winter hill walking? This is a chance to experience the higher mountains in winter and to learn the techniques necessary to safely lead parties in these regions at this time of year. If we have the right weather (hopefully), then basic snow craft skills can be learnt.
The weekend is intended to give further experience and skills to leaders or older Venture Scouts who already have summer authorisations and are working towards winter authorisations. It is also intended for those leaders who already have some experience of walking in the Lakes or Snowdonia and are working towards an authorisation.
We can also carry out assessments for those wishing to gain winter (or summer) Hill walking authorisation for the Lake District and Snowdonia. For this early application is essential. Please contact me for details and an assessment application form.
On the Sunday there will be an option of a day on the hill or a choice of a concentrated session of either ropework, micro navigation or Party Management.
The weekend will cost £25, This includes two nights accommodation, breakfasts, afternoon tea and evening meal. If snow conditions prevail we will also provide you with an ice axe and crampons should you require them. The centre is fully equipped with hot showers, you will only need to bring a sleeping bag, personal kit and outdoor gear.
The weekend is an informal one and we try to tailor it so that YOU can gain the experience you feel you need.
Further details can be obtained from ADC's (Activities), the County Office, www.avonscouts.org.uk/forms, or
Judy Walters
Assessor and Co-ordinator (01275 849236)
judy.walters@avonscouts.org.uk
PRI - Programme Review
Implementation
Key Facts
National Scout Air Rifle Shooting
Competition
at Wilton Firs, 20-22 October 2000
I am pleased to let you know that 1st Keynsham entered a team in the competition and performed extremely well.
The team retained the Team Pistol Trophy with the following scores: Adrian Hunt (95), Mike Hall (92), Ashley Cole (83), Brian Hunt (96). All gained Gold Medals for the team trophy.
In the Junior Connaught Trophy (Grand Aggregate) all the team gained gold medals reaching total scores (of 250) for three disciplines Adrian Hunt (209), Ashely Cole (195), Mike Hall (180)
In the Team Six Yard Air Rifle event, which was the main event of the tournament, we achieved second place overall. The team was made up as follows:- Adrian Hunt (team junior); Ashley Cole (team junior); Neil Ingram and Brian Hunt. All gained Silver Medals for the team trophy
Individual medals were gained as follows:-
Gold Medals: Adrian Hunt - Pistol (junior);
Brian Hunt - Pistol (with a new event record of 96); Ashley Cole
- Own rifle class (junior); Brian Hunt - Own rifle Non-recoiling
(with a new event record); Mike Hall - Knockout competition
(junior) and Rob Evered - Knockout competition.
Silver Medals: Adrian Hunt - 6yd team junior;
Ashley Cole - 6yd team junior; Neil Ingram - 6yd team and Brian
Hunt - 6yd team
And finally, Bronze Medal: Mike
Hall - own rifle (junior)
Brian Hunt
Shooting Instructor/co-ordinator
brian.hunt@avonscouts.org.uk
Scouting at Bristol Children's Hospital
| It is proposed to open a Scout Group at
Bristol City Children's Hospital. It is hoped that this
will commence at the same time as the opening of the new
hospital. To achieve this your help is needed! We now urgently require warranted Leaders and non uniformed helpers. |
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Special Training will be given where necessary. Hospital Play Leaders have offered their services initially. The numbers attending will vary considerably, according to the number of patients available at any one time.
The day of the meetings has not been decided, however Tuesday is popular.
If you feel that you can help out and would like more information, please contact me at home (0117 962 4920) or at work (0117 991 2081).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Margaret Harvey
Assistant County Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
Announcements
County Office has been advised that the following Awards have been made by the Chief Scout
Medal of Merit
Mr D Godden, Stage Director, County Gang Show
Mr S Ballard, ACC (Venture Scouts)
Chief Scout's Commendation For
Good Service
Mrs W Midgeley, Member - Group Executive Committee, Bath
City Centre Scout Group
Five Years Service Certificate
Huw Boyce, Sarah Evans - Axe; Lynne Duffett, Christine
Arnal, Steven John Bell - Bristol North West; Mark Douglas
Clements, Kenneth Haynes, Peter David Odell -Bristol South East
;Alan George Dorrington, Steven Jeffrey Paddock, Sharon Louise
Smith - Bristol South West; Penelope Frances Dove, Nigel Shore
-Bristol West Melanie Jane Pike, Christopher John Wells - City of
Bath; Lynda Anne Milkins - Gordano; Stephen John Flower, Geoff
Hartland - Kingswood; Susan Ann Grace Victoria Paula Johnson,
Andrew James Wybrow - South Cotswold; Tracy Ann Price - Wansdyke
Ten Years Service Certificate
Sally Ann Seaborurne - Bristol North East; Pauline
Winifred Holmes - Bristol North West; Edward Derrick, John
Hampton, Pamela Kingscott, Paul James Palmer Bristol South East;
Peter Thomson - Kingswood; Robert David Burdock - Severn Vale;
Patricia Margaret Spokes, Cheryl Annette Stickley - South
Cotswold; Darren Paul Wyatt - Wansdyke.
Long Service Decoration
Karen Debbie Jane Gilbert, Peter Anthony Hart, Nigel
Dennis Sara - Bristol North West; David Gordon Goodyer - City of
Bath - Christine Jeanette Casey - Severn Vale#
Bar To The Long Service
Decoration
Edwin Bessant - Bristol South East; Mervyn Arthur George -
Bristol South West; David John Hutton - Severn Vale
Chief Scout's Service Decoration
William Peter Hodgson -Avon County; Kenneth William John
Jenkins - Bristol South West
The following Scouts have completed
Chief Scout's Award
Claire Tucker, Laura Dunk - 148 Bristol (1st Stockwood)
Friday Scout Troop; Luke Webb, Alistair Miller, Philip Gibson
-38th Bristol (Latter Day Saints).
Newbury College Accreditation
Congratulations to the following leaders who have received accreditation through the Newbury College scheme and have gained the following Certificates
Youth Leadership Training Award
Julie Toogood (2nd Clevedon)
Working In Your Community
Kevin Chisholm (29th Weston Super Mare), Ann Clarke (1st
Nailsea), Hazel Dean (37th Bristol), Anne Jones (229th St
Aldhelms), Alison Smith (5th Bristol), Sheena Smith (148th
Stockwood), Trudi Webb (56th Bristol), Wendy White (5th Bristol).
It is with regret that we make the following announcement:-
Roger Mollard, GSL 1st Saltford
died, after a sudden illness,
Monday 13 November 2000
County Office Closing at Christmas
County Office will be closed over the Christmas period from 5.00pm on Friday 22nd December 2000 until 9.00am on Tuesday 2nd January 2001.
Please note that enquiries and correspondence for Woodhouse Park Campsite will not be dealt with during this time.
Short Term Deposit Accounts
The interest rates for Short Term Deposits remain unchanged since the previous announcement.
The net rate applicable to depositors is therefore 5.3%. (to the nearest 0.1%)
This Feature was provided by Somerset Youth Volunteering
Network
Millennium Volunteering
Millenium Volunteering is a National initiative which is also supported in your locality.
RECOGNISING COMMITMENT
The Vision
The Millennium Volunteers programme aims to promote and recognise
commitment by young people aged between 16 and 24 in other words
you tell us what you like doing and we'll help you do it.
What is it all about?
So What Is Millennium Volunteering?
In addition: you will get the County award at whatever point you finish, be it 20 hours or 220 hours.
Now I am thinking of taking part in 'MV', what do I get for doing an MV award ?
Awards
There are three awards going on at the same time. Through
Millennium Volunteering you will get an award when you reach 100
hours of volunteering and the Award of Excellence when you get to
200 hours. In addition you will get the County award at whatever
point you finish, be it 35 hours or 420 hours.
Support
When you sign up as an MV you will get a named person at the
project where you are volunteering, to talk to for help and
advice. You will also get a visit from us at least every 4 to 6
weeks to check you are happy with what you are doing, accredit
your hours and see if there is any training you require . There
will also be a 24-hour emergency number, so if something major
goes wrong while you are volunteering there is help on hand.
Money for Training / Travel
People signing up to MV get their own budget of £100. This is
for "travel, getting to and from your volunteering and
training that is relevant to your volunteering. It will be up to
you to decide how and when your money is spent during your 200
hours.
Invitations to County Parties
Twice a year we will be holding a celebration party for everyone
taking part in MV. These events will be where you receive your
awards, followed by a party, (probably a barbecue with live
bands). It will be up to you to vote on what type of party the
next one will be. There will be about 100 people (200+ during
2001/2002) invited to each party !
Power
As someone doing MV you will automatically get membership of
Somerset Youth Volunteering Network and as such you will receive
regular updates and news sheets as to what others are doing in
Somerset, around MV and volunteering.
Also as a member of SYVN you can take part in management
decisions as to how the scheme is run and even stand for election
to become a trustee of the organisation
Remember ... volunteering is something that you want to do and enjoy! if it's not we don't do it
For more information on Millennium Volunteering, please
contact:- Scott, Simon, Dave, Thomas or the two Sue's at:
13 Farm Road Street Somerset BA16 0BJ
Email info@somersetyouth.org.uk
Website: www.somersetyouth.org.uk
Tel: 01458 446703
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am- 5:00pm Thursday evenings :
7:00pm - 8.30
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