You would have had to have been on the moon not to have heard or seen the coverage of the story about the Duchess of Cambridge volunteering for Scouting.  This was a great opportunity to get the message across about flexible volunteering – a concept we must continue to embrace and extend if we are to engage even more volunteers.  Our ability to reach those who want to take part in Scouting will depend significantly on our ability to involve volunteers in new and flexible ways and to promote this to prospective volunteers. With flexible volunteering there are a great many advantages and benefits and also some challenges to our traditional thinking and ways of operating.  I know we’ll all work hard on how we can embrace this challenge and remain relevant and connected to modern society.

I was also impressed recently to see that Scouting is developing its own i-Phone game app – also a sign of the times.  What I like about this is that it meets young people on their own terms, where they’re at and tries to excite them in a way they understand and appreciate about what Scouting can offer and what our unique adventure is about.  I think we can learn a thing or two from how technology companies think about user interface and applications.  If you think about it, Scouting has a core with lots of different ‘applications’ which we need to present with different ‘interfaces’ for different users.  The smarter we get about targeting what we do to the needs of different people, the more successful we will be in our mission. I’m keen to hear what young people think about the app when it goes live.  Whilst we’re on the subject of all things technological, you may like to know that Scouting is supporting the safer internet day to encourage responsible and safe internet use; a range of resources are available.

Of course, we make the adventure in this app real every day of the week.  One forthcoming example is the Rickard Shield which is a night time navigation competition over 11 miles open to teams of 4-6 Explorer Scouts.  The event has a great pedigree and is bound to be enormous fun again this year.   Don’t forget to sign up, Explorer Scouts! And, well done to the dedicated and inspirational team of volunteers that make it happen every year in memory of a loved and inspirational friend and colleague.

During the first month of the year I have visited hundreds of Scouts across the County in different sections and groups and I have continued to be inspired by what you do.  It is exceptional that this year we have nearly 30 new Queen’s Scouts.  They’ll be taking part in our very special joint presentation with Gloucestershire Scouts at Berkeley Castle.  I have also been delighted to be able to present a large number of special good service and meritorious conduct awards to some very special volunteers. Their enormous dedication never ceases to wow me.  Like so many of our volunteers – they’re unsung heroes who make a massive difference in young people’s lives.  This was reinforced for me only last night when I joined the 133^rd Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Network members.  What a great team of leaders making Scouting very special and accessible for young people with special needs and disabilities!  I am truly grateful for their important and inspiring work. 

Earlier in the month I met with the District team and some Explorer Scouts in Gordano District at their Glenny Wood Campsite.  The team were working to develop several practical ways of brining our vision to life in their District in the coming months and years.  I particularly liked their “open doors” day idea where they’ll be opening their Scouting facilities and welcoming the public taster sessions and to find out about Scouting.  They’re also developing some exciting ways to involve young people in shaping Scouting. There’s already lots of outstanding Scouting happening in Gordano.  Well done to Phil (District Commissioner) and the so many others involved and congratulations to the Explorer Scouts who have a great presentation on their World Jamboree experiences.

I also met with hundreds of Scouts and Leaders in Axe District for their annual awards event to celebrate and recognise the achievements and successes of Scouts and volunteers.  Not only were the things achieved a testament to great Scouting at its best – full of fun and adventure – but everybody including friends, family, special guests, Scouts and leaders, couldn’t have failed to be impressed and enthused by the special effort to share and celebrate these achievements.  This is about how we value people and I’d like to see far more celebration of success throughout Scouting.  You all have so much to shout about.  Well done to Michaela (District Commissioner) and everybody who was involved.  The Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare was ablaze – but thankfully this time with pride.

There’s so many fantastic things to tell you about what’s being going on as I’ve been out and about across the County – and no doubt countless more you could tell me about.  These are thousands of reasons to continue to enjoy Scouting and to remember the great impact you’re making.  So much work goes on behind the scenes to support this by Executive Committees, supporters, parents and others – remember to thank them too for the valuable and important contribution they give to making Scouting a success.  Whilst the census results are still being finalised, I hope we have another bumper year of growth.  Your efforts in taking Scouting to many more will be richly rewarded for many years to come.

Amidst the bustle of festive cheer, I found several moments this Christmas to quietly ponder the future.  Something about this time of year heightens our sense of the preciousness of time.  Approaching the New Year, the memories of this one are concertinaed so the best and worst bits stand out more prominently.  The meaning of those individual experiences and their sum are also somehow sharper in retrospect.  For me, this time of year sensitizes the subtler emotions and sensations and I feel especially self aware.  In these moments we can grow the most because we see ourselves from another perspective.  It is perhaps why we can so relate to the Ghosts of Christmas conjured by Dickens in his novel “A Christmas Carol”.  The possibilities of the future are more obvious and real when imagined alongside the lessons of our past and present. 

A parody of this story was used ten years ago with County Commissioners as the Association set out its vision for 2012.  So much of that vision has been achieved and we’ve even taken possibilities and made them our shared intentions and commitments for 2018 and beyond.  If the impact of a shared and focused strategy and vision is as great on the next ten years as it was for the last, we have every reason to be excited about the future.  The most striking aspect of that 2018 vision for me is the idea that we should “embrace and contribute to social change”.  How we interpret and respond to that challenge will fundamentally define our relevance and success.  Young people in partnership with adults must be at the heart of shaping that response for it to have integrity with our purpose and values.

2011 was an extraordinary year for Scouting in Avon, so I am sure there are many things we can learn from it.  I feel grateful and proud to be part of such a wonderful organisation that quite unassumingly makes such a difference.  Beyond the occasional difficulties and disagreements that inevitably go with leadership and responsibility, a sense of perspective reminds me that we all share a common purpose. Young people need Scouting in their lives (perhaps more than ever) and we all need young people to gain what Scouting at its very best can give them.   I know that change (even evolutionary) is challenging at times but necessary. I know that leadership must never be the exclusive preserve of the few. And, I know that Scouting works best when volunteering is joyful, inclusive, forward-thinking and positive, and when the values we espouse in our Promise and Law are the values we actually live. My greatest Scouting hope for 2012 is to realise our ambition of taking Scouting to far more young people who deserve it in their lives.  As you reflect on 2011, imagine what we might together achieve in 2012.  Thank you for everything you do – our volunteers are an amazing force for good in the world. 

Happy New Year to all of you.

This Christmas I want you to remember how valued you are. Scouting simply couldn’t happen without you.  For all your talents, dedication and inspiration, we’re truly grateful.   I am unfailingly impressed by what you do to make great Scouting possible. Thank you so much.  An enormous thank you also goes to your loved ones for their generous support.

You – our volunteers – give the most extraordinary gift to thousands of young people. With your time and talents you’ve made an immeasurable impact on their lives forever.  Thanks to you, their prospects are enlarged, their lives enriched, they’re empowered to make a difference to others and encouraged to live by great values.   What better, more worthwhile achievements to be proud of this year? And, like me, I hope you’ve had fun in the process.

As we look to 2012, I ask you to join me by doing whatever you can to help Scouting grow even more next year, to help keep Scouting safe and to make volunteering with us a joy for everybody.  It is when we face the greatest challenges that our attitudes and outlooks matter most.  Next year, let’s be upbeat, forward and outward-looking, inclusive and ambitious for Scouting.  Let’s make it a year to remember.

Thank you once again – may you have a safe, joyous and peaceful Christmas.

As if you needed reminding, why does growth matter? Growth matters because young people only stay if they get adventure – growth equals more staying than leaving, thus greater success in our mission. Growth is inextricably linked with the quality of Scouting experiences – where Scouting is outstanding, it grows! Success is also self-perpetuating; volunteers and prospective volunteers join and stay longer in successful organisations which actively support them to feel valued, proud and effective.  Let’s ensure  that everything we do stacks up with this.

No County fees for volunteers  - it’s all about growth

News has probably reached you by now (following my note last week to DCs and District Chairs) that we will not charge any County membership fee for adult volunteers in 2012.  To read a copy of the full letter to DCs/District Chairmen, please email me or contact your DC/District Chairman directly.

This decision signals our huge appreciation of the amazing contribution that adult volunteers make.  We believe that “paying to volunteer” for Scouting should become a thing of the past, although we recognise that it may take some time for this to become a reality across the whole organisation.  You may already have seen our longer term vision and goals for how we want to support and develop positive volunteering experiences. Increasing the number of adult volunteers is crucial to growing youth membership. We know over 1,000 young people are currently registered as wanting to join and that far more could join if there were more adults to provide and support Scouting. Unsurprisingly, there is a strong correlation between increased numbers of volunteers and youth membership growth.

No County fees for newly formed Groups and Sections – it’s all about growth

In addition to not charging a County fee for adult volunteers, we will not charge any County membership fees for any youth members of newly formed Groups or Sections that fall within the definitions used by Headquarters for the award of Development Grants. Opening new Groups and Sections are amongst the highest impact ways to grow Scouting. Just one extra new Group in each District would mean c. 600 more young people benefiting from Scouting in Avon (c. 7% growth). We know too that not all our Sections are operating at capacity for a variety of reasons. If every Section were able to take in just one additional young person, over 400 more would benefit from Scouting across the County.  Coeducation and girls in Scouting is another key to growth and development - if 30% of our Beaver, Cub and Scout membership comprised females with no loss of male membership, 1,600 more young people would benefit (16% growth).   If we were more proactively inclusive in this way, it might even help us recruit new and different volunteers who currently discount us. I know that not all of this can happen overnight, though there can be some quick wins in Groups/Sections such as the "one additional person" per Section challenge.  I know also that adult volunteers/leaders and their approaches are crucial to addressing these challenges.  That’s why “adult volunteers” linked to growth are my top priority. Let’s join together in growing Scouting.

Changes that have helped make this possible – it’s all about growth

We have been able to make these changes in County membership fee charges with no impact on the County’s overall finances which we invest in services and support to help develop and grow Scouting.  These changes have largely been made possible by ceasing the subsidy to Avon Scout users of Woodhouse Park (£12k) and uplifting the youth membership fee by 3.7% to £9.50 (i.e. less than inflation).  Woodhouse Park is now a National Activity Centre (NAC) managed by The Scout Association (HQ).  According to the stats, the County’s Woodhouse Park subsidy very disproportionately favoured particular Groups/Districts. So, in view of this and the fact that it is now a NAC, we decided to spread the benefit more fairly and to link our policy on County fees more explicitly with our goals for growing and developing Scouting. The value of the removal of adult volunteer County membership fees (£19,285) is greater than the combined value of previous subsidies.  We know that more adult volunteers means we can improve and grow Scouting and research is also rightly clear that parents believe Scouting is very good value for money.  Gilwell, who operate Woodhouse Park, tell us that they are not concerned about the removal of the County subsidy for Avon users.  The Association’s National Activity Centres (NAC) have worked well across the UK and have a pricing model for Scouts and non Scout users that make them financially viable, enable investment in their development and improve Scout usage and satisfaction with quality in relation to value for money.  News is just in that the site will benefit from real investment during next year including the installation of a High Ropes Course, Climbing Tower and refurbishments to key facilities.  The strategic decision of my predecessors on the 50 year lease of Woodhouse Park to headquarters for operation as a NAC is clearly paying dividends already. Not only do we not hold the risk whilst retaining a Scout site (and ownership) in the County (whereas before we made losses in a number of years) but the site also gets much needed investment in its development.

Other measures – they’re all about growth

The finance sub-committee has also been tasked with exploring the creation of a ‘hardship’ fund to provide targeted financial support in cases of particularly pressing need.  In addition we will promote better use of the various headquarters development grants and support those wishing to apply for them.  Our approach is also to influence Districts and Headquarters to consider similar measures which would amplify the effect of our decisions.  As well as tightening our financial and risk management arrangements to ensure we make best use of the funds we have, over the medium to longer term we also aim to diversify our income streams and gradually reduce reliance on the membership subscription.  We will also develop more transparent reporting so that members and other stakeholders can see more easily how and why we invest our funds the way we do.

Send your stories and comments on growth and development

Why not share what you’re doing on growth and development?  At our recent County meeting Axe District shared some examples of what they are doing to recruit and retain younger leaders (e.g. from universities) and to train a more flexible pool of volunteers with Scouting skills.  At the County level I also met with Network members recently.  We’re now looking to recruiting a new lead volunteer and team to manage the Network and provide support across the 14-25 age range.  More on this soon.  In Brunel they’re near opening a new Explorer Scout Unit following the recent growth success story at Bradley Stoke.  A partnership with the local Council also means they have a fantastic new headquarters.  However big or small, share your success stories to inspire others!  Keep up the fantastic work and thank you for everything you do.

I have been tardy in recent weeks at keeping my blog up to date so I write this week with a bumper edition packed full of information.  From time to time we all have to prioritise other things.  You’ll be pleased to know that I have been working hard along with the District Commissioners and others to address development issues.  I’ve continued to meet and speak with a large number of volunteers and young people.

In this time, we’ve also heard the extremely positive news coverage surrounding Community Scout Week.  This looks to be a great opportunity for all of us to raise our visibility and profile in the community and to promote volunteering and the difference Scouting makes to “helping others”.  You may also have seen the material promoted in support the Diamond Jubilee year.

For the first time we’ve also seen the results of a serious impact study on the difference we make with resources produced to help us tell this story far and wide.  And, what an extraordinary story it is!  If ever anybody needed even more compelling reasons to volunteer, this provides them.  A number of volunteers with support from the Regional Development Officer attended recent events to promote volunteering including at the University of the West of England and a Diversity Jobs Fair.  Tens of volunteers came forward and they are all now being followed up and targeted to roles where they can be effective. 

I think we value “gamers” more than “aimers” in our Scouting culture.  I’ve borrowed these words from Tom Wylie (former Chief Executive of the National Youth Agency and Scout) and hope I haven’t bent them too far from their original intended meaning. 

I’ve used them here to describe those of us who are naturally inclined to the “game” aspects of Scouting, with its customs and rules, and its paraphernalia.  They play the game in the here and now and understand the purpose of Scouting first through its method. 

Then there are the “aimers” who understand Scouting’s method starting with its purpose. They like explanations and guidance about why we do certain things, whereas the gamers are more focussed on how we do certain things. 

Gamers and aimers can be impatient with one another for obvious reasons so we need to work hard for a peaceful co-existence and balance between these perspectives.   

Naturally, we need both aimers and gamers to be successful.  Gamers are great for getting things done and aimers for making sure overall that it is the right things that are getting done.  When we work with each other, we might think how our styles and preferences can be adapted to best support these different inclinations.  Are you primarily a gamer or an aimer?

The centre benefits from a prime location on Phoenix Wharf, below Redcliffe Parade on Bristol’s Harbourside.  The building is set over two floors with the lower used for boat maintenance and storage and the upper as an Activity and Training facility.  The large first floor room has beautiful views over the waterfront and there is a kitchen, small adjoining room, toilets and showers.  I commend it to you and suggest that you consider building water based activities into your programme.  You can find out more on the website.

It’s Steve here, just borrowing Dan’s blog for a moment.  I’m sitting on a train going to work as I write this, with a strong cup of coffee next to me, because at two o’clock this morning I was at Woodhouse Park to welcome home our Jamboree unit after nearly three weeks away on their adventure of a lifetime.

Everyone who came off the coach was tired, having had far less sleep over the last three weeks than they probably should have done.  They were happy to be seeing their parents and loved ones again. They were excited to tell us all about their adventures, and of course sad that it was over, and to be saying goodbye to the unit that they have trained with for the last 18 months, and lived with as a family through the last three incredible weeks.

Although I’m not personally part of the unit, it all brought back memories of my own jamboree experience eight years ago.  It was quite emotional even as a bystander to watch the reunions, thank yous and goodbyes, and to see just how close the unit have grown together, and what a profound and life changing experience the jamboree has been for them.

I can feel a lump in my throat sitting here on the train as I remember watching the young people, many in tears, queuing up to hug the unit leaders, and thank them for everything that they have done for them.  It will take some time for everything to sink in as they come back down to earth, but even last night there weren’t enough adjectives to explain just what the jamboree experience has meant.

For me, it brought home once again just what an amazing thing it is that we do every week, and what an impact we have on the lives of the young people we work with.  OK, so the experience and the emotions are more intense with a world jamboree, not to mention at two o’clock in the morning, but the experience that scouting has given to those 36 young people, and the way that it has changed their lives is reflected in our huts and halls for our 10,000 members all over Avon, and it is very special. Thank you.