Lincolnshire Scouts - Latest News

District Lead Volunteer needed for Rutland District

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:48:39 GMT

District Lead Volunteer needed for Rutland District

A huge thank you to Katie Smit who will have completed 10 years as District Lead Volunteer in the Autumn. We are now looking for a new Lead Volunteer for Rutland.

This could be your opportunity to make a significant difference to and develop scouting in the District.

Please read the information pack attached about the role and person specification. The role is open to everyone (not just those currently in Scouts) and we are happy to consider individual or team applications.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the role or the process.

Malcolm Moore

Lead, Volunteer Development

Lincolnshire Scouts

2026 Lincolnshire Scouts Roll of Honour

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:08:12 GMT

Our bravest and best. 2026 Roll of Honour - Lincolnshire Scouts

This year, we’re recognising another exceptional group of volunteers who’ve gone above and beyond in so many ways. Our award holders are listed here

All of you have contributed something special – whether that’s passing on your wisdom, experience or expertise, or simply giving your encouragement and support.

When we’re so busy, it’s often hard to see the impact we’re making. However, when we see our young people grow into the confident, generous leaders of the future, we know we’re truly making a difference. Kindness costs nothing – but volunteers like you, are priceless.

Lincolnshire Awards

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:45:04 GMT

Awards Ceremony

We held our annual Adult Awards Evening at Burghley House, celebrating the achievements and dedication of volunteers across Lincolnshire over the past year.

During the evening, we recognised a range of prestigious awards, including the King’s Scout Award, Explorer Belt, Silver Acorn, and the Silver Wolf. These awards are among the highest honours in Scouting and recognise outstanding service, commitment, and the positive impact volunteers make for young people.

A big congratulations to everyone who achieved an award this year.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to supporting and inspiring young people across Lincolnshire Scouts.

Know someone who deserves a bit more recognition? There are lots of volunteer awards available to celebrate the amazing work happening across Scouting. Take a look at all the awards and find out how to nominate someone here:

https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/learning-development-and-awards/awards-and-recognition/

Young Leader Training Weekend

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:09:36 GMT

Young Leader Training Weekend – Book Now!

Are you a Scout Young Leader or Explorer Scout looking to develop your leadership skills? Join us for a fantastic Young Leader Training Weekend at 7th Grantham Scout HQ from 5–7 June .

This weekend will give you the chance to complete Young Leader training modules (A–J) , build confidence, and gain practical skills to support younger sections in Scouting. The Young Leaders’ Scheme helps Explorers aged 14–18 develop leadership skills while volunteering alongside adult leaders in Beavers, Cubs or Scouts.

What to expect
• Arrival Friday evening – collection Sunday afternoon
• Camping available (day visitors also welcome)
• Training modules A–J delivered
• Fun activities and additional skill sessions
• Meet other Young Leaders from across the area
• All meals included

�� Location: 7th Grantham Scout HQ, Earlsfield Lane, Grantham

�� Book your place here:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/E2vdn4ekwA

Places are limited, so please book early and share with Young Leaders in your group or district .

#Scouts #YoungLeaders #SkillsForLife #LincolnshireScouts #VolunteerLeadership

Team Leader County Programme Support Team & County Youth Lead

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:36:58 GMT

Leadership Opportunities in the Lincolnshire Scouts Senior Team

Applications or nominations are open for two important volunteer leadership roles: County Programme Support Team Leader and County Youth Lead.

These opportunities arise as Ellie and Caitlin step down from their current roles. Ellie has made a significant and valued contribution to Lincolnshire Scouts, both in her current role and previously as County Youth Commissioner. Caitlin has also made a great contribution during her time in the role. She will shortly be moving to Australia to begin university and has decided that this is the right time for her to stand down.

As a result, we are now seeking volunteers who are passionate about supporting great programme delivery and youth involvement across the county.

The County Programme Support Team Leader will help coordinate support for programme delivery across Lincolnshire, to ensure young people experience exciting, high-quality Scouting.

The County Youth Lead will champion youth voice and youth shaped Scouting, ensuring young people are actively involved in decision-making and leadership across the county.

Both roles offer a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of Scouting in Lincolnshire and to work as part of the county leadership team supporting over 5,000 young people and 2,500 volunteers.

If you are interested in finding out more please take a look at the application packs:

County Programme Support Team Leader - nominations or applications to https://forms.office.com/e/Xef38esXGn

County Youth Lead - nominations or applications by email to howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Details of how to apply are included in the pack. The closing date for applications is midnight on 24 April 2026 . Conversation dates: w/c 27 April 2026 onwards.

Please get in touch if you would a chat about either the roles - email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

New District Lead Volunteer for Skegness & Spilsby District

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 16:27:58 GMT

Congratulations Andrew!

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Wright as the new District Lead Volunteer for Skegness and Spilsby District.

Andrew brings a strong background in data analysis, community leadership and local volunteering. He has a long record of community involvement, including nearly eight years as a Spilsby Town Councillor, where he also chaired the Finance Committee overseeing the council’s budget. Within Scouting he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for 2nd Spilsby Scout Group, supporting the development of local Scouting and opportunities for young people. Andrew is also the founder of the community website Spilsby Online and is undertaking a part-time PhD examining the role of Scouting in supporting rural young people’s transition to higher education.

Professionally he works at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln as a Planning Officer (Analytics & Intelligence), where he leads recruitment and retention insight and develops dashboards and analysis to support strategic decision-making.

Andrew will be supported by Malc Moore who is currently covering the role. I look forward to working with Andrew as he develops the District.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

County Bulletin: Issue 22 (March 2026)

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:29:56 GMT

Welcome to the latest edition of the Lincs County Bulletin. This is issued on the first Friday of each month. The bulletin will be sent to all adults registered on My Membership and distributed widely. To submit material for the bulletin please email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

County Young Leader Training Weekend

Digital App

First Aid in Scouts

Honoured at Westminster Abbey

Grantham Gangshow

County Programme Team Leader and County Youth Lead Vacancies

Air Rifle Course

Archery Course

16 Hour Outdoor First Aid Course

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:25:45 GMT

As we move into spring, it is an exciting time across Lincolnshire Scouts, with lots happening across the county and plenty to look forward to in the months ahead.

Firstly, we currently have a number of county volunteer opportunities available, including County Programme Support Team Leader and County Youth Lead. These roles are available as Ellie and Caitlin step down from their positions. My sincere thanks go to both Ellie and Caitlin for everything they have done to support young people and volunteers across the county. If you are interested in helping shape the future of Scouting in Lincolnshire, please do consider putting yourself forward for one of these roles.

A reminder as well about the importance of First Response first aid training. Ensuring that volunteers have up-to-date first aid skills is essential to delivering safe and adventurous Scouting. There are several flexible ways to complete the training, including county-run courses, practical validation sessions and online theory modules. If your First Response is due for renewal, please do take the opportunity to book onto one of the courses running in the county. We will be sending out reminders shortly to those that need this vital qualification.

It was also a privilege to see volunteers from Lincolnshire represented at the National Scouts Thanksgiving Service, that recognises the dedication and service of volunteers from across the UK. It is always inspiring to see the commitment of our volunteers acknowledged at a national level, and I know many people across the county contribute huge amounts of time and energy to support Scouting.

Congratulations must also go to everyone involved in the Grantham Gang Show, which once again delivered a brilliant performance. The talent, enthusiasm and teamwork on display both on and off stage were fantastic to see, and the show continues to be a great celebration of Scouting spirit and creativity.

Looking ahead, the camping season is just around the corner, and many groups will soon be heading outdoors again for camps, activities and adventures. It is always one of the highlights of the Scouting year. We are also getting closer to the return of Poacher, which promises to be another incredible event bringing together thousands of Scouts and volunteers for a truly unforgettable experience.

Thank you to everyone across Lincolnshire who continues to give their time to support young people through Scouting. Your commitment makes an enormous difference. I look forward to seeing many of you out and about across the county as the year progresses.

Howard

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Vacancy - County Treasurer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:29:19 GMT

Vacancy - County Treasurer & Trustee

We are looking for a volunteer Treasurer for our Lincolnshire County Trustee Board to start in late September.

Wanted: new Volunteer County Treasurer

We are looking for a volunteer Treasurer for our Lincolnshire County Trustee Board to start in late September.

As a Trustee, you would make a huge contribution at county level to the UK’s biggest youth movement. Now more than ever, our young people need skills for life to prepare them for the future. But for that to happen we need great foundations in place to keep Scouts safe, to ensure we are financially robust, and to deliver fantastic support for our volunteers in Lincolnshire.

We are looking for someone who is familiar with accounting and finance. Although the person who volunteers may be qualified as an accountant, this is not a pre-requisite for the role. We provide induction training and will support anyone in the role. The term of the appointment is 3 years.

Our existing Treasurer remains on the Board and will provide support.

The county has 5,000 young people and 2,000 adult volunteers who support Scouts in Lincolnshire. We are in a strong financial position. The Board meets 6 times a year on MS teams with a face-face AGM each September. There is also the opportunity to attend a county strategy day, once per year. The new Treasurer may wish to make a greater contribution, this is up to them, but not expected.

Our County Secretary looks after input of invoices to Xero, and a firm of accountants prepares our year-end accounts. The Treasurer manages payments (to ensure a segregation of duties), prepares the annual budget and produces management accounts for each meeting. The role provides strategic governance and input to the County.

If you are interested in the role, please get in touch with me at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Closing date 30 April 2026

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer, Lincolnshire Scouts

County Young Leader training weekend

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:29:23 GMT

Save the Date

We are planning a County Young Leader Training weekend at Grantham from Friday 5-7 June. This will be similar to last years event and details will be out shortly.

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Digital App

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:18:01 GMT

The new Lincolnshire Scouts App is coming soon, built to support our volunteers.

The new Lincolnshire Scouts app is currently being tested locally and is designed to give volunteers quick, practical tools that make every day Scouting smoother, safer, and better supported.

What’s inside right now

Assurance tools: Quick access to the essentials you need to keep your section safe, compliant, and confident.
Minimum Ratio Calculator: No more guessing. Work out the right adult‑to‑young‑person ratios instantly, whether you’re planning a meeting, event, or trip (subject to risk assessment etc..
Find Welcome Conversation Volunteers: A simple way to identify Welcome Conversation Volunteers.

What’s coming next
We’re already exploring new features to support leaders, managers, and volunteers across the county, and this is where you come in.

Get involved
If you’d like to test new features, share ideas, or help shape what comes next, we’d love to hear from you. Your insight will directly influence how the app grows to support every volunteer in Lincolnshire.

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

First aid in Scouts

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:15:13 GMT

First Response in Scouts – Flexible Routes to Gain the Required Skills

First Response is the mandatory first aid training required for many adult volunteers in Scouts. It ensures that leaders have the knowledge and confidence to deal with incidents and emergencies while supporting young people in our activities and programmes.

There are several ways volunteers can complete First Response , making it easier to fit training around work and other commitments.

The standard requirement involves completing two elements:

Module 10A – First Aid Theory
Module 10B – Practical Validation (including CPR)

Both parts must be completed for a volunteer to be recorded as compliant, and the qualification is normally valid for three years . ( training.hampshirescouts.org.uk )

Many volunteers complete the training through a county-run First Response course , which typically combines theory and practical learning in a single day or through a blended model with online learning followed by a short practical session.

Another option is to complete online theory modules hosted by Hampshire Scouts , followed by a short facilitated session and a practical validation. The Hampshire resources are widely used across the UK to support flexible training.

Hampshire Scouts First Response e-learning (Module 10A):
https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/firstresponse

Volunteers who already hold a recognised qualification such as First Aid at Work , Emergency First Aid at Work , or Paediatric First Aid may not need to repeat the full training. Instead, they can complete a short conversion or top-up module to cover the additional elements required for Scouts.

Top-up modules include:

Emergency First Aid at Work conversion
https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/efawconversion
First Aid at Work conversion
https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/fawconversion
Child / Paediatric First Aid conversion
https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/childfirstaidconversion

These short modules cover any gaps between workplace first aid training and the Scouts First Response syllabus, after which volunteers may need to complete a short Module 10B practical session if required.

Courses in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Scouts regularly runs First Response courses and practical validation sessions across the county to help volunteers gain or renew their qualification. These courses provide an opportunity to practice key skills such as CPR, casualty assessment and emergency response in a Scouting context.

Keeping First Response up to date helps ensure that safe and adventurous Scouting can continue for the thousands of young people who take part in our programme each week.

If your First Response is due for renewal, or you would like to book onto a course in Lincolnshire , please check the county calendar or speak with your District Lead Volunteer .

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Honoured at Westminster Abbey

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:12:06 GMT

Honoured at Westminster Abbey

Seventeen Scout leaders from across Lincolnshire were invited to the annual Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving taking place in Westminster Abbey. The event brings the Scout family together to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond for young people.

Representing our County were:

Alex Bogan - Chief Scout's Personal Award - Young Person

Yvonne Bull - Silver Acorn

Clare Dunderdale - Silver Acorn

Nichola Lord - Silver Acorn

Valerie Robinson - Silver Acorn

Richard Arden - Silver Wolf

Pauline Jones - Silver Wolf

Neil Onyon - Silver Wolf

Robin Wright - Silver Wolf

Laura Barlex - Silver Acorn

Lucy Copeland - Silver Acorn

Simon Henry - Silver Acorn

Delphine Norton - Silver Acorn

Charles Anderson - Silver Wolf

Eileen Booth - Silver Wolf

Malcolm Moore - Silver Wolf

Nigel Savill - Silver Wolf

It is wonderful to see our leaders invited to the Thanksgiving service and see so many Scout leaders from all over the country coming together and being part of the same movement.

Congratulations to everyone recognised for their incredible dedication to Scouting in Lincolnshire!

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Grantham Gangshow

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:57:26 GMT

What a night at Grantham Gang Show!

For nearly a century, since Ralph Reader launched the first Gang Show in 1932 at London’s Scala Theatre, Scouts and Guides have been singing, dancing and making audiences smile. The tradition is alive and well in Grantham .

Grantham’s show was bang up to date – great music, confident singing, sharp choreography and proper laugh-out-loud moments. The energy on stage was infectious.

It is a real pleasure to thank the cast and the extraordinary adult volunteers who make it all possible. Gang Show does not just happen – it is built on months of commitment, encouragement and quiet leadership.

An uplifting, life-affirming evening. Bravo to everyone involved.

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Team Leader Programme Support & County Youth Lead Vacancies

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:55:44 GMT

Leadership Opportunities in the Lincolnshire Scouts Senior Leadership Team

Applications or nominations are open for two important volunteer leadership roles: County Programme Support Team Leader and County Youth Lead.

As a result, we are now seeking volunteers who are passionate about supporting great programme delivery and youth involvement across the county.

The County Programme Support Team Leader will help coordinate support for programme delivery across Lincolnshire, working with Districts, activity teams and events to ensure young people experience exciting, high-quality Scouting.

The County Youth Lead will champion youth voice and youth shaped Scouting, ensuring young people are actively involved in decision-making and leadership across the county.

Both roles offer a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of Scouting in Lincolnshire and to work as part of the county leadership team supporting over 5,000 young people and 2,500 volunteers.

If you are interested in finding out more please take a look at the application packs:

County Programme Support Team Leader - nominations or applications to https://forms.office.com/e/Xef38esXGn

County Youth Lead - nominations or applications by email to howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Details of how to apply are included in the pack. The closing date for applications is midnight on 24 April 2026 . Conversation dates: w/c 27 April 2026 onwards.

Please get in touch if you would a chat about either the roles - email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Air Rifle course

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:20:29 GMT

AIR RIFLE COURSE

A YPS (Air Rifle) Tutor Diploma course has been booked through the National Small Bore Rifle Association at 7th Grantham Scout HQ, Earlsfield Road, Grantham on the 11 ^th - 12 ^th April. This course is the reccommended course from the Scout HQ website.

The course can take 12 people and will work out at £75.89 per person if all 12 slots are filled.

For more information about the course and putting your name on the list for the course please contact

Rob Hamnett-Day by email on dayr272@googlemail.com

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Archery Course

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:19:43 GMT

ARCHERY COURSE

There are currently spaces on a county organised GB Archery course. This course is a 2 day course which is being run out of 2nd Spilsby Scout Group HQ. There is space for camping if required.

The cost of the course and certification is £218 pp

Anyone who is interested in the course or requires more details, please contact Barrie Jenkinson on Tomahawk@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Payments will need to be made to County Office so please contact Secretary@lincolsnshirescouts.org.uk

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

16 Hour Outdoor First Aid Course

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:55:15 GMT

2- day 16 Hour First Aid Course Training - accommodation available

16hr Outdoor First Aid Training 21-22 March. ** Places available for all Scouting Leaders

This is a specific first aid qualification for the outdoors and for expeditions, especially in remote locations. Not only will it equip you with the skills needed in remote terrains you may find yourself and your young people in, for activities such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards as well as activities you maybe running with your section, but it will also offer the additional sections needed to sign off your Scout first aid as well.

The course will take place at Shacklewell Hollow in Stamford & Bourne District on 21st – 22nd March 2026.

As the course is across two days, we have also booked the indoor accommodation for all participants, which is included. We will put participants in touch with each other once registered, to plan for the evening meal and breakfast, as this will be your choice and is not included in the costs.

Places are strictly limited to 12 people – so if you would like a place, please book ASAP

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2-day-16-hour-first-aid-course-training-tickets-1982456393439

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Boston AGM

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:58:58 GMT

What a great year Boston District has had! At the District AGM Their DLV Rob explained about the great scouting in the district. Congratulations on 9% growth!

March Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Prog Fest 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:48:29 GMT

Prog Fest 2026

�� ProgFest 2026 – Lincolnshire Scouts ��

What a fantastic celebration of programme, people and possibility at ProgFest !

Volunteers from across the County came together to share ideas, explore new activities and strengthen the adventure we offer to young people right across Lincolnshire. From practical skills and adventurous activity inspiration to inclusion, leadership and youth-shaped programme – the energy in the room was brilliant.

�� Helping our leaders deliver even better experiences for young people.

A huge thank you to everyone who delivered sessions, shared expertise, and gave up their time to support others. Your commitment is what makes Scouting in Lincolnshire so strong. ��

The links to the funding presentation is here

County Bulletin: Issue 21 (February 2026)

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:22:13 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

First Response

Growth Support

Soft Fencing

International Pen-Pal Scheme

Nights Away Training

Lincolnshire Youth Shapers Funrun

District Youth Leads and Youth Consultation group

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:18:21 GMT

This Bulletin highlights the breadth of activity and opportunity across the County. It includes updates on growth support available to Groups and Districts, details of upcoming soft fencing courses, and information on the international pen pal scheme, helping young people build global connections. We also celebrate youth voice and participation through the Lincs Youth Shapers Fun Run, alongside ongoing work from our Youth Leads and the Youth Consultation Group, ensuring young people continue to shape Scouting locally.

Poacher 2026 remains on track and planning for this event continues to move forward at pace and remains in a very strong position. Interest in the event is high, with 5,813 participants registered across more than 294 groups, and deposits received from the majority of those groups. Staff recruitment is also progressing well, with over 1,093 applications received and 1,053 staff already confirmed. International participation is taking shape, with confirmed contingents and ongoing engagement to ensure the right support and logistics are in place. Junior Poacher remains a key part of the event, with 1,641 young people already included within the programme. I would like to thank all involved but especially the SLT and in particular Andrew Selby who is leading the event.

I would also like to thank Steve Hartley, Paul Jackson and team for putting on an excellent Explorer Christmas event with over a 100 people in attendance.

Finally, a sincere thank you to all our leaders and volunteers for everything you do. Your commitment, energy and care make Scouting possible week in, week out, and the impact you have on young people across Lincolnshire cannot be overstated.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

First Response - More dates added!

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:05:16 GMT

Scouts First Response – Top Up & Consolidation Sessions

Scouts First Response is the mandatory first aid training required for adult volunteers across Scouting. In addition to completing the full course (Module 10), there are Top Up and Consolidation sessions designed to help volunteers stay compliant.

First Aid Top Up Session

The Top Up session is for volunteers who already hold a valid First Response certificate but need a short refresher to meet the First Response guidance

First Response Consolidation Session

The Consolidation session is designed to reinforce learning after completing First Response training or to support volunteers who want extra practice. This typically follows the Hampshire Online module.

The courses we have are listed below:

Scouts First Aid Top Up session Thursday, 12 March 2026 20:00 Online

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981047782245?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 18 April 2026 09:00 2nd Stamford https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981046486369?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 30 May 2026 09:00 Pecks Drove, Spalding

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984500468322?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Sunday, 31 May 2026 09:00 Altham Terrace

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981373701077?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 20 June 2026 09:00 7th Grantham

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981373765269?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Sunday, 25 October 2026 09:00 Manby https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981048749137?aff=oddtdtcreator

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Growth Support

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:36:27 GMT

Recruiting Leaders was identified by GLV’s as the most challenging part of their role, acting as a blocker to growth of sections, and one which is becoming more difficult. In response County are offering to support projects identified by you with paid expert help.

This will include paid advertising through social media and professional part time support staff paid for by County to make your project a success and support to start or expand sections. We also hope to recruit local volunteers who are interested in recruitment and growth to join in the training provided by HQ to help support the project and once the project is complete, be able to continue using the skills locally. To maximise the use of the funding we are hoping to identify a number of posts located near the projects to minimise travel costs.

This is your opportunity to put forward a project for your Group/ District for consideration. You will need a well-defined project, give some background as to what you have already tried/achieved, the support you can give your project as volunteers, and the project outcomes you are hoping to achieve.

We will scope the project with clear timelines, define and agree the project outcomes with you, and identify the professional who will support you.

We are hoping to start this project in March 2026.

If you want to be considered either for a project, part of the volunteer support team to be included in the HQ training, or you want to be considered for the part time fixed term paid roles, please email me at malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Census 2026

Thankyou for completing the annual Census. County and Region will review the figures to identify areas that require support and we will be in touch with District Leads to discuss their plans for development.

Volunteer champion

Some Districts have identified a lead for Volunteer Development but we are hoping to develop teams in every District that will support best practice in the volunteering process of recruitment, welcoming, induction, and encouraging Learning. If you would like to be considered as a volunteer champion please email me malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk No obligation.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Soft Fencing

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:34:53 GMT

There are still 3 spaces available at the course on 7 ^th March at Earlsfield Rd HQ Grantham for any leaders who would like to learn soft fencing., This is a course taught by GB fencing and certificated by them to allow leaders to run soft fencing for scouts. It is a single day course costing £40 pp.

Please contact Carolyn.Greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if interested

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

International Pen-Pal Scheme

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:33:38 GMT

International Pen-Pal Scheme:

I’m very excited to announce the launch of our International Pen-Pal scheme, working with the youth team from British Scouting Overseas. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved with globalising their scouting journey in an accessible and inclusive way.

Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3tMpbnNAbK1PkS_VErTBfbBUNDJTN1JMMUlLVlUzNDA4SDI5M1IyTVlLTC4u&origin=QRCode

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

NIghts Away Training

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:32:18 GMT

Are you looking at working towards your nights away permit?

Are you looking at running over night experiences? Then look no further we have the course for you

We have two dates this year,

Weekend of the 8th may to 10th May 2026

Weekend of the 18th September to 20th September 2026

The course consists of

· How to plan and run a safe experience, including the skills and knowledge of the documentation required to run the events

· Roles and responsibilities planning and during the event

· Campsite skills and knowledge

The course costs £50 per person this includes all camp fees and meals

To book on please email: secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincolnshire Youth Shapers Funrun

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:30:03 GMT

LINCOLNSHIRE YOUTHSHAPERS FUNRUN

Save the date!
The Youthshapers are organising a charity funrun on Saturday 18 ^th April.

Beavers and Cubs session in the morning, followed by Scouts and Explorers in the afternoon.

More details to follow - keep an eye out for booking links and adverts.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

District Youth Leads & Youth Consultation Group

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:25:59 GMT

District Youth Leads:

We're currently recruiting for district youth leads in Boston, Rutland, South Holland, Skegness and Spilsby and Stamford and Bourne. If you, or someone you know may be a great fit: please speak to your District Lead Volunteer or contact youthteam@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Youth Consultation Group:

Just a reminder that if you don't think you've got time to commit to a full role of a DYL but still want to support and have your voice heard - join our youth consultation group!

You'll be kept up to date with youth opportunities, options to be part of focus groups and be able to help out with running youthshapers events! Email: youthteam@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Nights Away Training

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:23:18 GMT

Are you looking at working towards your nights away permit?

Are you looking at running over night experiences? Then look no further we have the course for you

Nights Away Training

We have two dates this year,

Weekend of the 8th may to 10th May 2026

Weekend of the 18th September to 20th September 2026

The course consists of

· How to plan and run a safe experience, including the skills and knowledge of the documentation required to run the events

· Roles and responsibilities planning and during the event

· Campsite skills and knowledge

The course costs £50 per person this includes all camp fees and meals

To book on please email: secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

First Response Courses

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:12:32 GMT

Dates for First Response Courses

The dates for the next set of courses are listed below. Book by clicking the link.

Scouts First Aid Top Up session Thursday, 12 March 2026 20:00 Online https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981047782245?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 18 April 2026 09:00 2nd Stamford https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981046486369?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 30 May 2026 09:00 Pecks Drove, Spalding https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984500468322?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Sunday, 31 May 2026 09:00 Altham Terrace https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981373701077?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 20 June 2026 09:00 7th Grantham https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981373765269?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Saturday, 26 September 2026 09:00 Pecks Drove, Spalding https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984501682955?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scouts First Response Module 10 Sunday, 25 October 2026 09:00 Manby https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981048749137?aff=oddtdtcreator

District Lead Volunteer needed for Skegness Spilsby and District

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:25:46 GMT

District Lead Volunteer needed for Skegness Spilsby and District

Here is your opportunity to make a significant difference to Scouting in our District. There is a tremendous opportunity to grow the District and develop the campsite (Tom Thumb Holt).

Please read the information pack attached about the role and person specification. The role is open to all.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the role or the process.

Malcolm Moore

Lead, Volunteer Development

Lincolnshire Scouts

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:48:05 GMT

Happy New Year!

Despite the long nights and cold weather, January is never dull in Lincolnshire Scouts, with lots going on to inspire you for 2026. Over the Christmas period, it was fantastic to see local Scouting highlighted in the media, shining a light on the number of young people waiting to join Scouting across Lincolnshire. While there are many excellent resources available via the Scouts website to support growth, more needs to be done to promote the benefits of Scouting within our local communities. If you have something you would like to shout about please contact Abigail at Abigail.Jodhan-Singh@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

January is also census time. An accurate census is not just about County income; it is also vital in helping us understand where additional support is needed – whether that is due to long waiting lists or sections with fewer than 12 young people. This year’s census includes additional questions that will help us identify where units may be struggling, enabling us to offer targeted support through the Growth and Communities team where appropriate. There will be opportunities to help support growth and adult recruitment – but only if we know where the need is. Please also remember to speak with your District Lead Volunteer, who can help signpost available support.

Lincolnshire Scouts has a full and exciting programme of events, training and expeditions planned for 2026. Please share these dates widely within your Groups, Districts and Networks, and encourage early planning and bookings where required.

· Explorers & Network County Camp - Friday 2 January, 4:00pm – Sunday 4 January, 4:00pm

· County First Response Course -Saturday 10 January, Grantham

· County First Response Course- Sunday 11 January, Gainsborough Sea Scouts

· Nights Away Assessor (Module 25) Training - Sunday 25 January – 3:00pm start

· Silver Expedition – First Training Weekend, Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 February

· Lincs Progfest 2026, Sunday 1 March, 10:00am – 3:00pm

· District Lead Volunteers Meeting- Wednesday 11 March, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

· Silver Expedition – Second Training Weekend (including Skills Assessment), Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 March

· Practical Skills Day - Adult Leaders Course - Saturday, 21 March at Sudbrooke Scout Campsite

· Tomahawk Throwing For Young People - Adult Leaders Course - Sunday, 22 March at Sudbrooke Scout Campsite

· Silver Practice Expedition, Friday 17 – Sunday 19 April

· Stamcamp 26 Friday 1 May – Monday 4 May

· Silver Qualifying Expedition, Saturday 2 May – Monday 4 May

· Nights Away Training, Friday 8 May, 6:00pm – Sunday 10 May, 6:00pm, Sudbrooke Campsite

· WOW 2026 - Saturday 13 June, 9:00am – Sunday 14 June, 5:00pm

· District Lead Volunteers Online Meeting - Wednesday 24 June, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

· Lincoln Archery and Shooting Tournament - Saturday 4 July – Sunday 5 July

· Cubs on the Water – Day 1, Saturday 4 July, 9:00am – 4:00pm

· Cubs on the Water – Day 2, Sunday 5 July, 9:00am – 4:00pm

Further details, booking information and any updates will be shared via the Lincolnshire Scouts website, County bulletins

and direct communications. Please ensure leaders and young people are aware of relevant opportunities and deadlines.

I look forward to hearing about your many adventures across Lincolnshire in 2026.

Howard Nelson

Lead Volunteer – Lincolnshire Scouts

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Volunteer Development Update

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:51:35 GMT

Welcome to 2026.

You offer a great programme. Children are beating at your door wanting to join. You are limited by the size of your premises, or more likely by having insufficient leaders to cope with the numbers.

60% of all leaders and supporters come from your parent base. Have you thought of delegating the early evening tasks to greet your parents and take time to talk to them about how they can make a difference.

Do you have an information board that is regularly refreshed and includes vacancies and opportunities in a location that parents gather.

Do you have a link in your closed parent group that they contact you about helping out, and are your opportunities listed there.

Dare I suggest that recruitment should be an everyday thing that all your leaders, trustees, and supporters are involved in. This creates a larger scouting family supporting your group in even small ways that they might build on to become leaders. Adult volunteers like to join a successful team.

Did you know that when parents were asked about why they didn’t offer help to their group, 45% responded that they were never asked.

Just trying to help

Poacher 2026

Poacher still has vacancies for adult volunteers in a number of areas. If you fancy having a go and can spare some time the first week of August, search Poacher 2026 and click on staff vacancies. There is also the build and take down team happening the week preceding and following the Poacher week.

Contact me if you have any difficulty and I will put you in touch with the right person.

Learning Team

We are putting together a tam of adults who can help the county deliver learning to Leaders, Trustees and Supporters. This will involve some additional learning on your part but existing skills will be taken into account. Scouting skills, first aid skills, management skills, team building skills, Leadership skills – all can be used in this team.

Even if you have never taught before, these are skills that can be gained through your own learning.

My last appeal for volunteers resulted in no replies, hence optimistic that this new appeal might be different.

Malcolm Moore

Volunteer Development Lead

Lincolnshire

Malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

07402504818

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 20 (January 2026)

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:06:19 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Programme Event - Progfest

Duke of Cornwall Awards

Nights Away Assessor Course

Tomahawk Throwing course from BushScout UK

Bushcraft course from BushScout UK

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

International Scout Pen-Pal Scheme

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:36:01 GMT

The idea behind this scheme is to connect people from different places, with different experiences in scouting. We want to make this a free, accessible way to globalize your scout journey and meet scouts from around the world. If you’re interested, please apply through the form below. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis pairing people up so get your application in!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3tMpbnNAbK1PkS_VErTBfbBUNDJTN1JMMUlLVlUzNDA4SDI5M1IyTVlLTC4u&origin=QRCode

Wishing you a happy new year from the Youth Team (Caitlin, Emma and Jess) and please feel free to contact us on YouthTeam@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any feedback or questions about youth opportunities this year!

Caitlin Hall

Lincolnshire County Youth Lead

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincolnshire Programme Event - Progfest

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:00:11 GMT

Calling all section based and programme support volunteers!

This Spring, our amazing Programme Team will be running a support events for you, our Section Team Members!

This event will give you an opportunity to:

refresh your programme basics including running a quality programme and keeping our young people safe;
pick up tools, resources and programme ideas; and
tell us about the programme support you need to offer exciting and adventurous activities and enable all our young people to achieve their section top award.

We would love to see as many of our Section Team Members as possible in attendance.

The event is designed for Section Team Leaders and Team Members (formerly Section Leaders, Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants) as well as District Programme Support roles (formerly Assistant District Commissioners District Explorer Scout Commissioners and teams).

The events is being held at The Stanhope Hall in Horncastle. Address is The Stanhope Hall, Boston Road, Horncastle, LN9 6NF

JOIN US: Sunday 1 March 2026 – Arrival 9.30am for 10am start. Departure 3.30pm.

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Nights Away Assessor Training Course

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:00:07 GMT

Duke of Cornwall Awards Ceremony – June 2026

Liam Nelson, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Officer for Lincolnshire, has confirmed that the Duke of Cornwall Awards ceremony will take place on 13 June 2026 at Waddington Training Centre, running from 0900 to 1300 hours. Any changes to arrangements will be communicated in due course.

The ceremony provides an opportunity for young people who have completed the Duke of Cornwall Award during the year to enjoy a morning of blue-light service activities and to receive their certificates from the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and the Chief Fire Officer.

Due to the popularity of the event, a cap on numbers may be required depending on demand. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Liam is asking groups to confirm whether they have young people wishing to attend, along with approximate numbers by award level (Home, Neighbourhood, Community), as early as possible to support planning.

Contact:
Liam Nelson, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Officer
Email: Liam.Nelson@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Office : 01522 843401 | Mobile: 07711 17714

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Duke of Cornwall Activity Day and Awards Ceremony

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:53:11 GMT

Duke of Cornwall Awards Ceremony – June 2026

Due to the popularity of the event, a cap on numbers may be required depending on demand. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact:
Liam Nelson, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Officer
Email: Liam.Nelson@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Office : 01522 843401 | Mobile: 07711 17714

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Tomahawk throwing course from BushScout UK

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:48:16 GMT

Tomahawk Throwing For Young People - Adult Leaders Course - Sunday, 22 March '26 9:30am – 4pm GMT at Sudbrooke Scout Campsite, Unnamed Road, Sudbrooke, Lincoln, over 18 years only

Overview:

Our Tomahawk Throwing Course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of tomahawk throwing techniques, knowledge, skills, and confidence to safely deliver this exciting activity to our young members at The Scouts.

Course Highlights:

Rules - Prioritise safety as you learn the fundamentals of safe tomahawk handling and throwing techniques.
Types of hawks - Learn how to choose the right tomahawk for your needs and how to maintain it for optimal performance.
Targets & Stands - Explore different target and stand types and what wood to use.
Activity area - Understand what you need to do to create a safe and effective range.
Risk assessments - It's not all play, understand the risks and how to mitigate them.
Duration and session types - Adapting your training for different ages is an important part of running the activity.
Games - Engage in friendly competitions and games that challenge your accuracy and enhance your tomahawk throwing abilities.

You will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

£40 per person

The course will start at 9:30am and finish at 4pm.

You will need to bring a packed lunch with you, Tea and Coffee will be provided.

Booking details at https://www.bushscout.org.uk/courses

Please note: to attend a Bushscout.UK course you must be a current adult member of The Scout Association. Group bookings are welcome, but all attendees must be named at the point of booking. Placeholder bookings will be cancelled.

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Bushcraft course

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:42:06 GMT

Practical Skills Day - Adult Leaders Course - Saturday, 21 March '26 9am – 5pm GMT at Sudbrooke Scout Campsite, Unnamed Road, Sudbrooke, Lincoln, LN2 2QZ for over 18's

Learn simple, safe and successful practical skills techniques that your young people of all ages will love, in a supportive, low-ego environment, with experienced volunteers and plenty of time to practise, ask questions, and build confidence. Modules include fire lighting, knives, axe and saw, campfire cookery and tarpology.

Details

Are you a leader lacking confidence in Safe use of Knives? Do you need to demonstrate competence to convince your GLV to allow you to teach Beavers Fire Lighting? Are your Cubs saying “no more s’mores!”.

Come along to a Bushscout Skills Day and we will teach you skills around traditional practical skills that your Young People will love to learn. We will show you safe techniques, as well as progression that will allow you to apply these skills to all ages.

Bushscout.UK, delivering safe Practical Skills, is running a course on 21st March 2026 at Sudbrooke Scout Camp Site, Sudbrooke, Lincoln LN2 2QZ

The day will cover:

Fire Lighting
Axe & Saw
Tarpology
Knife Safety
Campfire Cooking

Come along and see why Bushscout is the fastest growing trend within UK Scouting. The day will cost £40 per person. You will need a packed lunch and suitable clothing for being outdoors all day. Tea/Coffee will be provided.

Booking details at https://www.bushscout.org.uk/courses

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Programme Update

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:19:16 GMT

Soft Fencing Course Update

I now have 4 dates for the soft fencing course and will be contacting venues to check availability today.

Proposed dates are

25 ^th Jan Market Deeping Scout HQ

31 ^st Jan Lincoln (Checking)

7 ^th Feb Lincoln (Checking)

7 ^th March Earlsfield Rd HQ, Grantham

Everyone who contacted me about the courses will be getting individual emails this weekend with a suggestion of your closest course and further details.

If anyone else is interested, please get in touch with carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk and I will try to fit you in.

Archery Course

There are 8 spaces available for a GB archery course on 21st & 22nd June at Spilsby Scout HQ. Costs for the course are likely to be £230 pp which can be supported by group, District or County funds if necessary.

More details once final HQ and mileage expenses are known but please contact Barrie Jenkinson at tomahawk@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for further details.

Save the Date, It's our Birthday!

Sunday May 17 ^th at Boston Wings Meadow, we are looking to hold the first of our Birthday bashes for Squirrels who are 5 years old, Beavers who are 40 and Cubs who are 110 years old. We are looking at running more events over the year across the county but hope you will join in celebrating these 3 big birthdays with us.

Lincoln Target Tournament.

On 4 ^th and 5 ^th July, Lincoln Archery will be running their target tournament again featuring Archery and Tomahawks. Cost is £6 per person, per sport to be held at Sudbrooke Campsite.

Entries open this month so watch social media for more information coming very soon.

Carolyn Greig

County Programme and Adventure Team Lead (with Ellie Broome)

14-24 Support | Top awards | Activity Teams | Events

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 19 (December 2025)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:59:01 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Explorer Christmas Camp

POR updates

Nights Away Assessor Course

Lincs Fest 2026

Duke of Cornwall Awards

LCVYs Grants

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:18:06 GMT

From the County Lead Volunteer – December 2025

December always brings a flurry of festive preparation and some fantastic Scouting events across the county. I’ve already attended a brilliant awards evening in Boston, and I’m looking forward to joining Sleaford’s awards ceremony at Tattershall Castle, as well as seeing the International Peace Light in Gainsborough and Stamford.

We recently held our second successful County Team Day, bringing together the County and wider District teams. My thanks go to everyone who contributed, and in particular to Andrew Lloyd (Deputy Lead Volunteer, England), from Team England who outlined the new Scouts Strategy.

I have also just received the latest Good Service Awards data from HQ and am very pleased to report that a total of 73 awards were presented to volunteers across Lincolnshire this year. The Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service was the most common, with 32 recipients — a strong reflection of the everyday contribution volunteers make in every district. A further 18 volunteers received the Award for Merit , and 10 were honoured with the Silver Acorn for sustained, high-quality service.

Our higher-level awards were equally impressive: 3 Bars to the Silver Acorn and 4 Bars to the Award for Merit recognised exceptional ongoing commitment. At the very highest level, 6 volunteers received the Silver Wolf — the highest award in UK Scouting. Personally approved by the UK Chief Scout, the Silver Wolf is awarded only for truly exceptional, long-term service that far exceeds what would normally be expected of a volunteer. It marks individuals who have made an outstanding and sustained impact on Scouting, often over decades, through remarkable commitment, leadership and dedication to young people and the wider movement.

In late October, Malcolm, Jacob and I attended the LCVYS AGM. Lincolnshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (LCVYS), a county-wide umbrella body for voluntary and community youth services, continues to offer important support to groups like ours. Their work includes:

Grants and financial support: Small grants (typically up to £750) for youth activities, equipment, building costs and new projects.
Training and capacity building: Courses such as safeguarding, first aid and governance — including an upcoming first aid course for Boston District.
Networking and shared learning: Opportunities to connect with other youth organisations, share best practice and collaborate on county-wide initiatives.

Looking forwards, we are planning to celebrate the milestone birthdays of Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs in 2026 and of course looking forwards to an excellent Poacher 2026.

Finally, may I wish you a very Happy Christmas and my very best wishes to you and your families for the New Year.

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Explorer Christmas Camp

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:11:00 GMT

To book your tickets visit or click - buytickets.at/lincolnshirescouts1/1947705 .

Camp being held at Holwell Pastures Scout Campsite, LE14 4DJ. Tickets are £15 per person with limited numbers available

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

POR updates

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:54:40 GMT

POR Updates

As you know, Headquarters regularly review POR and implement updates as needed. A few key changes have been made in the latest edition that we would like to bring to your attention. Some of these changes are to simplify wording and others are changes to reflect charity commission guidance. As always we would strongly recommend you review the updated rule changes directly.

InTouch System (POR 7.1.1.1)

Clarifies that if an adult is to be the ‘InTouch’ point of contact, they must be an adult member of The Scout Association with a full appointment. (Please also note this cannot be a non member -needs disclosure [occasional helper in old money], as this is not a adult member of the scout association)

Swimming supervision (9.13.1.3(d))

Is updated to allow supervision of swimming to be by suitably skilled persons aged 16 or over, whereas previously it was 18 or over.

Role endings (POR 16.8.1.3 and 16.8.2.1)

The reasons for ending roles on the membership system have been reviewed and are now aligned to ensure wording consistency. This includes provision of several new reasons for both the satisfactory and the unsatisfactory ending of roles.

Scrutiny of accounts (POR 5a.1.7.1, 5a.1.8.2 and 5e.3) .

Transition arrangements are included. The ‘Scrutineer’ option is no longer available in England and has been replaced by

Independent Examiner.

Recording of income and expenditure(POR 5e.2.2.2) .

Transition arrangements areincluded.

Certain income, including membership subscriptions, must be recorded on a gross basis, rather than net.

Digital applications(5c.1.8.7, 5c.2.8.7, 5c.3.8.7, 5c.4.8.7)

Digital applications other than email are generally not appropriate to be used for such decision making. This includes WhatsApp, Doodle and similar tools, which should only be considered in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Group Chair. For such decisions taken between meetings, a minimum of 75% of the total number of

Trustees must approve the matter and must be referenced in the following trustee meeting.

Pre payment Expenses cards (POR 5e.5.1.9)

Pre payment expenses cards must have a clear limit set by trustees, they must be in the groups name, issued to named individuals. Trustee Boards must have a policy for Prepaid Expense Cards.

Data Protection policy (POR 2a.4)

The Data Protection policy has been simplified and clarified. Trustee Boards must ensure that their charity has an up-to-date Data Protection Policy and an up-to-date Data Retention Policy.

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Nights Away Assessor Training Course

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:51:54 GMT

We’re pleased to confirm that a Nights Away Assessor (Module 25) training course will be taking place on Sunday 25 January 2026 .

This course is ideal for volunteers who want to support high-quality residential experiences across the County by becoming accredited Nights Away Assessors.

The session will cover everything you need to confidently assess leaders working towards their Nights Away Permit, including: understanding permit requirements, what good practice looks like on residentials, safety and safeguarding considerations, and how to carry out assessments in a supportive, developmental way. It’s also a great opportunity to meet others involved in residential Scouting and share ideas, experiences, and challenges.

Full joining details, timings, and the venue will be circulated shortly. If you are interested in attending, or would like more information, please get in touch with the Training Team.

If your section or district is expanding its residential offer in 2026, this is an excellent time to strengthen local assessment capacity—so please do share with any volunteers who may benefit. To book a place use this link https://forms.office.com/e/2ZrcuJX604

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

LIncsFest 2026

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:39:14 GMT

LINCSFEST 25 Feedback

We'd love to gather your thoughts and feedback on LINCSFEST 25. We're looking forward to building on the event for 2026 and need your views to help do that! There's also the opportunity to join a focus group to support us provide a vision for LINCSFEST 26!

Please take a few minutes to share your valuable thoughts and help us make 2026 better than ever! We'd love to hear what you enjoyed as well as what you'd like to see improve or grow as we head into our next event!

LINCSFEST 2025 Feedback – Fill in form

More information about the event will be shared to all members in 2026.

Thank You!

The LINCSFEST Team

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Duke of Cornwall Awards Ceremony

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:22:59 GMT

Duke of Cornwall Awards Ceremony – June 2026

Due to the popularity of the event, a cap on numbers may be required depending on demand. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact:
Liam Nelson, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Officer
Email: Liam.Nelson@lincolnshire.gov.uk
O ffice: 01522 843401 | Mobile: 07711 17714

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

LCVYS Grants

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:05:47 GMT

LCVYS SMALL GRANT FUNDING ROUND 2 OPEN NOW FOR APPLICATIONS

LCVYS are pleased to announce the Second round of this year’s Small Grants will be live for applications from 2 ^nd December 2025. Please fill out your applications and submit them before 5 ^th January 2026 as forms received after this time will not be considered for this round of funding.

Due to the high demand of the last round the form will close once we have reached the maximum number of applications (20) so please apply as soon as possible to ensure your grant is considered for this round. if the link states the form is closed we have reached the maximum number of applications and you will need to wait for round 3 later in the year to apply.

Groups that have already received funding from round 1 will not be eligible to apply again this year as it is one grant per group per financial year.

Please read the attached SLA before making your application as this will explain what can and cannot be funded in more detail, We can only fund for things that benefit the club in general and not for individual members, for example equipment for the club is likely to meet the criteria however consumables such as food or clothing, or trips do not meet the criteria. Please also include an itemised breakdown of what the funding is for and how it will benefit young people.

We are trialling the use of Jot forms for this year, and will not be accepting the old style paper forms. Please complete the jot form using this link:

https://form.jotform.com/253343065598363

The closing date is 5 ^th January 2025 so please ensure you have submitted the form before that date. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

If you are not a member of LCVYS please complete a membership for before submitting a grant application. Applications will only be considered from members. Scout groups in Lincolnshire are members of LCVYS.

Members will receive confirmation of their application after the closing date of 5 ^th January 2026 and will receive the outcome in due course after the Grants Panel have considered all applications.

If you have any questions please get in touch!

Good Luck!

LCVYS Team ��

Helen Featherby

LCVYS Admin Officer

December Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincolnshire Explorers / Young Leaders Christmas Camp

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 12:03:55 GMT

Lincolnshire Explorer / Young Leader Explorer Christmas Camp- 3rd to 4th Jan 2026

To book your tickets visit or click - buytickets.at/lincolnshirescouts1/1947705

Camp being held at Holwell Pastures Scout Campsite, LE14 4DJ

Tickets are £15 per person with limited numbers available

Explorers and Leaders 13:00 Saturday to 12:00 Sunday

County Bulletin: Issue 18 (November 2025)

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:34:19 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra

Duke of Edinburgh Celebration award event

Makaton videos

Volunteer Development

Free Cash!!!

Programme Team

Tomahawk and rifle shooting

LCVYS Christmas card competition

Visual supports

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:34:04 GMT

As we move into the final quarter of 2025, I want to thank every leader, supporter, and young person across our county for the energy and commitment you’ve shown throughout the year. We’ve seen real momentum in our programmes, more volunteers stepping forward, and exciting progress in several areas of growth and support.

December gives us the chance to pause, celebrate, and prepare for the year ahead. Many sections will be marking the end of term with festive activities or community events, and I encourage everyone to take a moment to recognise the difference our volunteers make. It’s also a good time to reflect on lessons learned, share ideas, and plan for 2026.

This autumn has also seen some fantastic new developments across the county, with nine new Explorer Units opening — including Bourne, Excalibur (Lincoln), Normans (Louth), Arctic, Spinnaker, Jollies, Smugglers (Skegness & Spilsby), Sea Dragon (Rutland), and Spalding (South Holland). It’s brilliant to see so many young people gaining new opportunities for adventure and leadership. We’ve also welcomed new Squirrel Dreys, including an exciting new provision in Gainsborough, helping more young children take their first steps into Scouting.

The County Calendar has now been updated on the website — please take a look and note key training dates, county events, and opportunities for 2026.

I’m pleased to welcome Rosie Flint as the new District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford, taking up the role from 4 November 2025. Rosie brings great experience from her work with local sections and trustee teams, and she’ll be an excellent addition to our county leadership. At the same time, I would like to thank Adam Jacklin, who is stepping down from the role after guiding the district through a period of real progress. Adam’s contribution has been significant, and I am grateful for his leadership and ongoing support.

As we move towards the end of the year, let’s continue to keep young people at the centre of all we do, celebrate what’s been achieved, and look forward to another year of growth and adventure in 2026.

Howard Nelson
County Lead Volunteer, Lincolnshire Scouts

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:31:54 GMT

The National Scout & Guide Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band

We are pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 summer course of the NSGSO and NSGCB are now open. The residential course will again take place in Stourbridge at Old Swinford Hospital School and will culminate in two concerts in the Birmingham area.

The course runs from Sunday 26th July - Sunday 2nd August 2026 and the closing date for applications is 9am on Sunday 30th November 2025 . To find out more about our course, visit our http://nsgso-nsgcb.com/

The course is hosted by Birmingham Scout County in conjunction with Girlguiding Birmingham but is open to applicants from across the UK who meet the selection criteria .

To apply for the 2026 NSGSO or NSGCB course and to find out more details, please click https://forms.office.com/e/YzjXbfYrmp

For anyone wishing to use this course for their DofE, KSA or QGA residential then this year must be the first time that they have attended.

You will hear by mid December 2025 if your application has been successful or not.

Please email with any queries that you have.

The closing date for all applications is 9am on Sunday 30th November 2025.

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Duke of Edinburgh Celebration Event

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:31:51 GMT

Hello DofE Supporter / Leader

The Lincolnshire County Duke of Edinburgh Team would like to invite you to join us for a celebration of the last 12 months.

The event will be taking place on the 16th November 10am – 3pm at 3rd Sleaford HQ (4 Reform Place, Sleaford, NG34 7QR), we will be providing light refreshments, but please bring your own lunch.

Agenda for the Day

What has been achieved in the last 12 months?

Update from across the county

National Update

eDofE session (please bring a laptop or similar which you will be able to access your account)

What’s to come in the next 12months

Training

As part of the day, we will be launching some new training for leaders including a 16hr Outdoor First Aid course, giving you the training needed for you to be able to effectively deal with any situation you may be faced with during an expedition.

We very much look forward to seeing you there.

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Makaton videos

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:31:49 GMT

The Lincolnshire Scouts Inclusion Team is launching a new project to create a series of Makaton signing videos to help volunteers use simple signs with their young people. These short videos will be available on the county website and potentially on YouTube, providing a practical and inclusive resource for sections across the county.

The team is now looking for volunteers to feature in the videos — from young people across Lincolnshire to members of the County Team. Filming will begin soon, with some clips being recorded at upcoming county meetings and events.

Anyone interested in taking part or finding out more is encouraged to get in touch with Tracey Everatt from the Inclusion Team.

Contact: tracey.everatt@sleaforddistrictscouts.org.uk

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Volunteer Development

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:31:46 GMT

Vacancies

Last month County signed up to the Royal Voluntary Service charity recruiting service where we can upload our vacancies for exposure across Lincolnshire and wider. All you need to do is send me details of your vacancies showing role, postcode of meeting place, contact name and email. This works for Trustees, supporters and Leaders. We have only 11 vacancies uploaded at present.

In addition, there is the volunteering section of your membership login which shows at the bottom left-hand side. These vacancies are visible to anyone visiting the Scout website. Please use this facility to advertise your current vacancies. When I see volunteer applications, I then duplicate the notification process to make sure that both the section Lead and GLV are aware and that someone responds to the volunteer. There is a progress section which needs updating by you as you complete the contact through to completion of the volunteering process.

County Learning Team

In preparation for the next stage of the Learning transformation we need to add experienced and skilled volunteers to join our learning team.

The latest Scout strategy envisages mixed delivery of online and face to face learning opportunities to give volunteers flexibility to choose what suits them best. There are also skill-based learning opportunities that need to be delivered in person.

We work very much as a team led by our County Learning Manager Lucy and we need to be organised for when Branching Out learning is launched so that volunteers can achieve their Wood Badge in a way that suits their learning styles.

For our learning team volunteers there will be additional learning and skill recognition which currently includes presenting, facilitating and learning team leadership opportunities. We will start this process early next year and if you feel that you would like to be involved, please let me know.

Volunteering development team

Finding volunteers for our Groups and Districts is the number one task identified by Leaders as the biggest challenge for those volunteers in Lead positions. I want to develop a team of volunteers who are prepared to support the county in this important role. It is likely you already have a role in Scouting, but that is not essential, so if you know someone who might be interested in such a role, let me know.

I plan to run recruitment workshops across the County and also use social media to advertise available positions in a positive way to encourage responses. We will also use paid advertising focused on particular postcodes where need is identified.

Please let me know if you are interested in knowing more about joining my team and the way we plan to work. The role can fit around existing commitments.

My contact details

07402 504818

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Free cash!!!

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:31:03 GMT

�� Free Cash – Claim Your Group’s Gift Aid!

Every Scout Group in Lincolnshire could be missing out on free cash from HMRC — and it’s easier to claim than you might think!

All Scout Groups are either registered charities or classed as “excepted charities”, which means they don’t need to register separately with the Charity Commission to claim Gift Aid. As long as your Group has a bank account in its own name, keeps proper financial records, and is recognised as part of The Scout Association, you can make a claim directly to HMRC.

Gift Aid allows your Group to reclaim an extra 25p for every £1 of member subscriptions or donations paid by eligible UK taxpayers — turning ordinary subs into a valuable source of extra income. Even small Groups can boost their finances by hundreds of pounds each year, while larger Groups often see four-figure sums returned to support local Scouting.

To get started, your Group Treasurer or Trustee Board can register with HMRC Charities Online, gather records of payments and Gift Aid declarations from parents or supporters, and submit a simple online claim. Once set up, future claims are quick and straightforward.

Your Scout Group does not need a charity number but you will need to be recognised as a charity by HMRC. ‘Excepted’ Scout Groups : you can’t use or cite the District, County or The Scout Association’s charity numbers as your own. HMRC will provide you with a unique Gift Aid registration number which you can use for fundraising platforms too.

�� Find out more: https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/support-scouts/gift-aid/

Don’t leave free money on the table — every Scout Group can benefit. Claim what you’re entitled to and make every pound of support go further for young people in your community!

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Programme Team

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:21:29 GMT

Programme Section support teams

We are proud to announce that we now have new leaders in place to support sections with some ideas to assist you with programmes. These individuals will soon have access to shared mail boxes for each section to keep your eyes peeled and if you think that you could share your expertise with new leaders, get in touch with programme@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Tomahawk throwing and Rifle Shooting

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:20:16 GMT

Tomahawk throwing trained leaders

Please could any leaders who have undertaken the range master course either with Barrie Jenkinson, Bush Scout or elsewhere take 5 minutes to complete the attached form so that we can keep a register of those able to assist with Tomahawk throwing across the county as this is not currently covered by the Adventurous activity permit scheme.

Air rifle trained leaders.

Thank you to the 5 people who have already submitted the form showing that they hold air rifle qualifications. If there are any other leaders across the county who have a certificate to run air rifles, please could you fill in this attached form so that we have a complete list for the county.

If you know anyone who does not regularly read the bulletin, please could you share these forms across your groups so that there is a complete list moving forward.

Thank you so much.

Carolyn Greig

County Programme and Adventure Team Lead

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

LCVYS Christmas Card Competition

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:04:46 GMT

It is that time of the year again!

LCVYS is pleased to announce our annual Christmas card contest! The Winning entry will be printed and used as LCVYS official Christmas card and the winning design will be awarded £20 voucher plus £50 for the member group they are part of! This is open to all scout members in Lincolnshire.

We ask that entries that are on paper are scanned individually so that each entry is separate and digital images can be emailed directly but NO AI! It must be the young person’s own work �� Also please drawing’s only as we cannot use anything but a flat image- no sticking things on unfortunately.

Please get your entries in quickly as if it is like last year we had a really tough time trying to choose a winner because they were all so amazing!

If you have any questions please get in touch at admin@lcvys.co.uk !

Please feel free to share this email among members, we want to see all the groups amazing creativity!

Good Luck!

LCVYS Team

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Visual supports

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:27:39 GMT

Use our visual stories and resources to support young people and adults.

Scouts UK have created some fantastic visual resources for Squirrels to Explorers. These include visual timetables and social stories. If groups need anything that's not available please look at the websites listed or speak to the County Inclusion Team who have access to some resources.

Please click here for more information.

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New Lead Volunteer appointed for Sleaford District

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:45:24 GMT

Rosie Flint appointed as the new Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rosie Flint as Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District. Rosie has done a range of roles in the District including Youth Lead, Programme Team Lead and Trustee in the District and brings a wealth of scouting experience. She recently completed her Kings Scout Award.

I would like to express my thanks to Adam Jacklin who has done an excellent job as Lead Volunteer and left firm foundations for Rosie to build on. I am looking forward to working with Rosie as she builds on Adam’s work. Rosie will start the role on 4 November.

Please join me in welcoming Rosie to the role.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

County Bulletin: Issue 17 (October 2025)

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:46:47 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Skegness and Spilsby District Success

Census 2026

Data Protection Reminder: Using Email Safely

Scouts Future Leader Programme

HQ Leadership Opportunities

Lincoln District Shooting Tournament

ProgFest

Shooting activities

New County Brand

County First Aid Courses

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:40:58 GMT

September was a busy month across Lincolnshire Scouts, with a wide range of events and activities showcasing both youth engagement and the strong commitment of our volunteers.

The month began with our Annual General Meeting, which gave us the chance to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and set our priorities for the year ahead. I was grateful to Tom Morton for chairing the meeting, and delighted to welcome both Liz Henderson (Chief Volunteer, England) and Paula Evans (East Midlands Lead Volunteer). The AGM took place as part of LincsFest, our large county event that brought together more than 200 adult volunteers for a day of celebration, skills activities, workshops, and socialising. We were pleased to welcome Sarah Baumber and Jess Duffield to the Trustee Board.

Our young people have also been busy making the most of Scouting opportunities. SplashLincs in Stamford gave members the chance to enjoy water-based adventure at Whitewater Reservoir, while Lincub brought together almost 400 Cubs for camp. Alongside this, nearly 170 Squirrels and Beavers took part in Little Lincs, a brand new event which we look forward to running again. Lincub was thoroughly enjoyed by those attended and we were particularly pleased to receive some excellent feedback. I have also enjoyed visiting district AGMs and presenting awards and hearing about all the great activities that have taken place locally.

Looking ahead, the Young Person Selection Event for the World Scout Jamboree will take place soon at Sudbrooke Park. This is a very exciting opportunity to identify the young people who will represent Lincolnshire at the Jamboree. And in October, our ever-popular Rabbit Run returned, offering a fun and inclusive challenge for Scouts – helping to build teamwork, resilience and confidence.

Together, these events highlight the strength and energy of Scouting in Lincolnshire, as well as the dedication of our volunteers in delivering such a diverse programme of opportunities for young people. I’m grateful to everyone who has given their time, energy and encouragement to make these opportunities happen – we simply couldn’t do it without you.

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Skegness & Spilsby District Success

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:39:05 GMT

6th Skegness Sea Scouts were honoured to attend BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Make a Difference awards ceremony, as a finalist in the community group award category.

With over 500 nominations across the categories they made it to the final 4 and got a Highly Commended award which will take pride of place at their Scout Hall.

A huge congratulations to them and all the finalists and winners on the night.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Census 2026

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:35:43 GMT

Preparing for the 2026 Census

The 2026 Census will run from December 2025 to February 2026. This annual process provides a detailed record of youth and adult membership across the movement.

For 2026, adult data will be drawn directly from My Membership, removing the requirement for local teams to collect and input this information. Youth and governance data will continue to be collected and entered manually through the Census system.

In preparation, local teams are encouraged to:

Ensure Group and Section data in My Membership is accurate, including any recent openings or closures.
Review and update youth data in local records.
Encourage volunteers to complete their My Membership profiles, ensuring that roles are accurate and diversity data is submitted.
Further details, including updated online guidance, will be issued over the coming months to support a smooth Census process.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Data Protection Reminder: Using Email Safely

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:33:34 GMT

As volunteers, we often need to share information quickly and easily – and email is one of the most common ways we do this. However, it’s important that we handle people’s personal information carefully and follow good data protection practice.

One key point to remember is never to include personal email addresses in the “To” or “Cc” fields when sending group emails . Doing so means that every recipient can see everyone else’s contact details, which is a breach of data protection.

Instead, always use the “Bcc” (Blind Carbon Copy) field when emailing multiple people. This hides recipients’ email addresses from each other and helps to keep their information safe.

By making this small change, we protect people’s privacy, comply with data protection rules, and show respect for the trust others place in us when they share their contact details.

Thank you for helping to keep Scouting safe, secure, and professional in everything we do.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Scouts Future Leader Programme

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:21:19 GMT

Future Leaders Programme (FLP) 2025/26 – East Midlands Region

What is FLP?

The Future Leaders Programme is designed to support volunteers aspiring to step into senior volunteer management roles. Through FLP, you'll develop key leadership skills and gain the confidence to lead impactful projects and teams across the East Midlands region.

What’s it like to be an FLP participant?

“I signed up for FLP after my volunteer manager recommended it as a way to grow my skills in managing and supporting others. Over the year, I learned from experienced presenters, collaborated with peers on a project, and had guidance from a dedicated mentor. I gained insights into managing change, building culture, and strengthening emotional intelligence. FLP built my confidence and gave me the tools I needed to apply for the DLV role when the opportunity arose. Now in post, I see just how invaluable FLP has been in preparing me—and I still feel supported by my cohort, who’ve become a lasting network across the East Midlands.”

Alisdair Rolt, DLV Daventry & District | FLP, 2019/20 Cohort

What’s the time commitment?

FLP includes:

1 briefing day
4 in-person weekends
Online update calls between sessions for ongoing project support
Participants typically spend a couple of hours per week working on their project—whether
meeting with sponsors or progressing tasks independently or with stakeholders. Your
schedule is flexible and can be tailored around your availability. The more you invest, the
more you'll gain—with the support of an inspiring regional volunteer network.

Thinking about applying but feeling unsure? Speak with your CLV (Howard) or reach out to the FLP team. We’re here to help you explore whether the programme is the right fit. It’s a rewarding opportunity, but it’s okay if it’s not the right time for you. Many past participants started out unsure, but finished with the confidence and skills to enhance their volunteer

roles—and beyond.

Ready to take the next step? Contact Howard or Michael

You’ll be asked:

How do you meet the personal considerations outlined in the application pack?
What are your greatest achievements as an adult volunteer?
Why would you like to join the Future Leaders Programme?
Who is your Scouting Line Manager? (Please include their email address.)
Once submitted, we’ll contact your County Lead and confirm your spot on the briefing day.

Got questions? Reach out by email to Howard or Michael

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

HQ leadership opportunities

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:12:07 GMT

Take part in a new leadership opportunity at Scouts!

UK Scouts are inviting volunteers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to join a mentoring pilot, launching in the autumn. You’ll connect with a UK Scouts Volunteer for 6 months to share your perspective of Scouts, strengthen leadership skills and discover more about UK Scouts Volunteering.

'I'm so inspired by the energy and commitment behind this mentoring pilot. It's a brilliant way for our incredible volunteers to support each other and help our movement continue to thrive.’ - Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout

As this is a pilot, numbers are limited.

Find out more and express your interest by Friday, 10th October. https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteer/uk-scouts-volunteering/scouts-mentoring-pilot

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincoln District Shooting Tournament

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:11:19 GMT

Lincoln District Shooting Tournament

Save the Date - 4th and 5th July 2026

The Lincoln District shooting tournament is returning to Sudbrooke Park Scout campsite on 4th and 5th July 2026

This is open to both youth and adult members across the county.

More information will be shared as soon as it is available and will also be on the Lincoln District and county Programme team's Facebook pages.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

ProgFest

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:11:16 GMT

Progfest is a day's event where we want leaders to find out ways to inspire their young people to achieve more.

The original date just wasn't feasible and we have re-arranged it for Sunday 1st March 2026 at Stanhope Hall in Horncastle.

Everyone is welcome but do look out for personalised invites for newer members of your volunteer teams with the hope that we can inspire them to reach for the stars with an adventurous and exhilarating programme for your youth members. We hope that newer members will bring along some old hands who just might find out something new too.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Shooting activities

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:11:12 GMT

Lincolnshire county scouts are trying to ensure that they have an up-to-date list of all volunteers who hold qualifications which allow them to lead shooting activities for our young people. Rifle shooting (including air rifles) is not currently a permitted activity and is covered by external qualifications.

In order for us to direct any of the queries which we receive about rifle shooting activities or the need for extra leaders to support an activity, we would like to hold up to date details of those with qualifications.

Please follow the link and complete the short form about your qualifications for our reference. All information will be stored in accordance with scouting GDPR regulations.

https://forms.office.com/e/fUXETPeQqh

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New County Brand

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:09:39 GMT

We’re excited to share with you the new Lincolnshire Scouts brand & guidelines .

This brand has been created to sit seamlessly alongside the national Scouts identity, using the approved colours, fonts and the national fleur-de-lis. Just like other counties , it gives Lincolnshire a recognisable way of showing who we are while still keeping the strong, unified Scouts look and feel.

The idea isn’t to move away from Scouting, but to celebrate Lincolnshire within it. The brand reflects our heritage, our community spirit, and the unique character of Scouting across our county. By pairing “Scouts” and “Lincs” together, we make it clear that we’re proud members of the national movement, while also standing out locally and at events where Scouts from across the country come together.

It’s important to remember this is an evolving brand . The rollout will be gradual, and it will take time for new assets to fully integrate with existing Scouts branding. As volunteers, we’ll be learning together how best to use it, and constructive feedback will help shape its future.

We’re grateful for the hours of work our volunteers have put into this project, and we hope you’ll join us in bringing the new Lincolnshire Scouts identity to life – strengthening both our county and our shared Scouting brand.

Here is a link to the Brand guidelines giving you a better look and future guidance on how the brand will be used as well as a pitch deck that gives greater insight around the rational of the brand. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/e6cebcxd0gymqxly0dl60/ANRb_hWRqI0yS1MSiLuy2Rg?rlkey=unih5khoxq0gyke94nbzakrvj&st=tghv8f4m&dl=0

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County First Response courses

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:04:26 GMT

The next set of First Aid courses for Scout leaders are now available to book on by clicking the links below.

Dec 7 Wake House Bourne 9am-4pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766651354759?aff=oddtdtcreator

Dec 7 Wake House Bourne 9am-4pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766660712749?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jan 10 7 ^th Grantham, Earlsfield Lane, Grantham https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766673541119?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jan 10 7 ^th Grantham, Earlsfield Lane, Grantham https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766681304339?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jan 11 6 ^th Gainsborough, Love Lane, Gainsborough https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766681845959?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jan 11 6 ^th Gainsborough, Love Lane, Gainsborough https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1766682939229?aff=oddtdtcreator

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Gainsborough Awards

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:27:08 GMT

Congratulations to Julie and Dany on their awards!

Julie has been recognised with the Award for Merit, a distinction that reflects her consistent commitment and the positive example she sets within Scouting. The award acknowledges the significant difference her contributions have made to her group and the wider movement.

Dany has received the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service. This honour highlights the dedication and energy she has shown over time, demonstrating the value of her work and the impact of her continued service. The awards mark an important recognition of Dany’s achievements and her contribution to Scouting.

Well done!

Lincub and Little Lincs 2025

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:18:43 GMT

Cubs Take Over Sudbrooke Park as over 400 young people and volunteers join together for an unforgettable County Cub camp.

This past weekend, our district campsite at Sudbrooke Park was alive with energy, laughter, and adventure as we welcomed more than 400 Cubs and volunteers for LINCUB , Lincolnshire Scout's County Cub camp.

From the moment the camp opened, the site was buzzing with excitement. Cubs from across the county joined together to enjoy a huge variety of activities, from climbing walls and adventurous challenges to bouncy inflatables that kept spirits soaring. The smiles, teamwork, and enthusiasm on display truly captured the spirit of Scouting.

Saturday was made even more special with the arrival of Beavers and Squirrels, who joined the fun for Little Lincs . This day event gave our youngest members the chance to experience the magic of camp alongside the Cubs. From their first taste of adventurous activities to simply soaking up the excitement of such a big gathering, it was wonderful to see so many young people taking part and beginning their own Scouting journeys.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of our site team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. From ensuring facilities were spotless to maintaining the grounds throughout the weekend, their efforts made a huge difference and allowed everyone else to focus on making memories.

We’d also like to extend our thanks to the owners of the adjoining site, who generously allowed us to use their field and lake. Having that extra space meant young people had even more room to explore, play, and take part in outdoor adventures.

Lincub was a shining example of what happens when volunteers, leaders, and young people come together with a spirit of adventure and community. We’re proud of every Cub, Beaver, and Squirrel who took part, and grateful to every volunteer who gave their time and energy to make the weekend such a success.

Here’s to the next LINCUB – we can’t wait to do it all again!

< Older Post

Congratulations to 6th Skegness Sea Scouts

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:28:27 GMT

6th Skegness Sea Scouts were honoured to attend BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Make a Difference awards ceremony, as a finalist in the community group award category.

With over 500 nominations across the categories they made it to the final 4 and got a Highly Commended award which will take pride of place at their Scout Hall.

A huge congratulations to them and all the finalists and winners on the night.

6th Skegness (Sacred Heart) Sea Scouts is part of the Skegness & Spilsby District of Lincolnshire Scouts. They run the three standard youth sections: Beavers (6-8 years), Cubs (8-10½ years), and Scouts (10½-14 years), meeting during term time at the Sea Scout Hall on Wainfleet Road Playing Fields in Skegness. Pictures are Ian and Chelle Hall.

County Bulletin: Issue 16 (September 2025)

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:05:08 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Award Nominations

Are you looking to get a nights away permit

Hykeham Scouts come to the rescue

Lincolnshire ProgFest Saturday 12 October

LincsFest - Don't miss out

Splashlincs - last few places available!

District Lead Volunteers

Jamboree Young person Selection

Membership fees explained

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:58:49 GMT

Welcome Back!

I hope that you have all enjoyed a restful summer and are now looking forward to the start of a new term. Although autumn brings shorter days and darker evenings, it also provides many opportunities to engage in new and rewarding activities with your sections.

From Squirrels through to Network, the enthusiasm of our young people is evident – whether they are embracing new challenges, working towards badges, or simply enjoying time together within their section. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of leaders across the County, our members are consistently offered opportunities to develop confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

As we enter the autumn term, there is much to anticipate. With County events, training opportunities, and group activities ahead, this is the season when Scouting truly comes into its own – providing structure, fun, and adventure at the heart of our young people’s experiences.

We continue to volunteer in an increasingly demanding environment, where time is often stretched. I would like to extend my sincere thanks for everything you do to ensure young people gain valuable Skills for Life. At the same time, it is vital to remember the importance of training in keeping our young people safe.

If you are asked to complete training or a DBS check, please do so as promptly as possible—or reach out if you encounter difficulties. None of us became involved in Scouting to spend our time chasing others about compliance, and it is worth remembering that those who are reminding you are themselves being reminded by others. A little courtesy and cooperation makes a great difference.

Finally, I would like to express my deep thanks to all our volunteers. Your commitment ensures that every meeting, trip, and activity contributes to brilliant and life-shaping experiences for our members.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring new term of Scouting!

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

September Bulletin

New Lead Volunteer appointed for Louth District

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:23:06 GMT

Kate Marnoch appointed as the new Lead Volunteer for Louth District

I am sorry to announce that Andy Merrikin is no longer Lead Volunteer for Louth District. I would like to thank Andy for his service as Lead Volunteer.

I have appointed Kate Marnoch as the new Lead Volunteer and she will take up the role immediately.

Kate has been supporting the District for some time and I am looking forward to working with her.

Please join me in welcoming Kate to the role.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

Award Nominations

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:42:50 GMT

We’re excited to celebrate the amazing contributions of our scouting community! To make

sure every deserving volunteer is recognised, please log any nominations for this year’s

Scouting Awards on the new database by Wednesday, 25th September.

This is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the dedication, creativity, and

commitment that keep scouting thriving. Don’t miss the chance to put forward someone

who has made a real difference.

Submit your nominations today and help us ensure every achievement is celebrated!

September Bulletin

Are you looking to get your Nights Away Permit

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:18:59 GMT

Are you looking at getting your nights away permit? Are you looking at running over night experiences? Then look no further we have the course for you Nights away training The next course is on the Weekend of the 19th September to 21st September 2025

The course consists of

How to plan and run a safe experience, including the skills and knowledge of the documentation required to run the events
Roles and responsibilities planning and during the event
Campsite skills and knowledge

The course costs £50 per person this includes all camp fees and meals To book on please email secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

September Bulletin

Hykeham Scouts come to the rescue!

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:16:11 GMT

Hykeham Scouts rescue a ‘vessel in distress’ in the North Sea

While out on the water on a recent trip in the North Sea with Adventures Offshore, the young people and leaders of the North Hykeham based 15th Lincoln Scout group received a ‘PAN PAN’ radio call and a request for the Dover Coast Guard. "Pan Pan" is an internationally recognised radio call used to signal an urgent situation that is not a life-threatening emergency but still requires attention as soon as possible. The group took decisive action and immediately went to assist, recovering the vessel which is believed to have run out of fuel. By leading this rescue the scouts have been able ensure the safety of all without the need of a lifeboat being launched, giving emergency services better capability to respond to other potential emergency situations.

Well done Hykeham Scouts!

September Bulletin

Lincolnshire ProgFest Sunday 12 October

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:01:32 GMT

Calling all section based and programme support volunteers!

This Autumn, our amazing Programme Team will be running a support events for you, our Section Team Members!

This events will give you an opportunity to:

refresh your programme basics including running a quality programme and keeping our young people safe;
pick up tools, resources and programme ideas; and
tell us about the programme support you need to offer exciting and adventurous activities and enable all our young people to achieve their section top award.

We would love to see as many of our Section Team Members as possible in attendance.

The events is being held at The Stanhope Hall in Horncastle. Address is The Stanhope Hall, Boston Road, Horncastle, LN9 6NF

JOIN US: Sunday, 12th October 2025 – Arrival 9.30am for 10am start. Departure 3.30pm.

BOOK AT https://forms.office.com/e/2F2LQwHK9p

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

LincsFest - Don't miss out!

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:54:49 GMT

LincsFest - Don't miss out!

The county over 18s only camp, training and social event is back from 13th - 14th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

The event is running from Saturday 13 September (with activities starting 10am) to Sunday 14 September (Lunchtime) and also the option to just come for the day on the Saturday. Full information and details will be shared with all participants before the event.

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association.

All scouters, including Trustee Board members and Helpers are welcome. Cost includes badge, travel mug, access to the event and all activities and tea/coffee/squash facilities throughout the event.

Booking Link = https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3q-HEZPLrxVCm8sIMQEi9TVURUo1OVBETERETE5NTzVMUlY0MVJOMTlBSS4u

September Bulletin

Splashlincs - last few places available!

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:44:54 GMT

Splash Lincs - Last few places available on 21 September £20 per scout per day

We are holding two Splash! days for the Scout section at Whitewater, near Stamford that will include Sailing, SUPs and paddlesports. These events are open to Scouts 10-14 years old. The events are only open to members of Scouts. You can book for 1 day or both days. The events are designed to get more experience or have a taste of watersports. The link to book is https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1533761886089?aff=oddtdtcreator

September Bulletin

District Lead Volunteers

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:42:49 GMT

Kate Marnoch appointed as the new Lead Volunteer for Louth District

I am sorry to announce that Andy Merrikin is no longer Lead Volunteer for Louth District. I would like to thank Andy for his service as Lead Volunteer.

I have appointed Kate Marnoch as the new Lead Volunteer and she will take up the role immediately.

Kate has been supporting the District for some time and I am looking forward to working with her.

Please join me in welcoming Kate to the role.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

September Bulletin

Jamboree Young Person Selection

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:35:44 GMT

Bookings are now open for the Young Person Selection event for Jamboree

Apply now to be part of the Lincolnshire Unit & UK Contingent to the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Poland from 30th July to 8th August 2027.

Is your birthday between 30th July 2009 and 30th July 2013? Do you want to have the adventure of a lifetime? Then apply now via the link https://forms.office.com/e/jzrW1JxiZk

The deadline for applications to attend the selection event is the 30th September 2025. This is due to take place at Sudbrooke Camp Site on 4-5th October 2025.

For any questions please contact international@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there,

Georgia, Dawn, Kev and Shaun

September Bulletin

Membership Fees Explained

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:59:17 GMT

Every year every youth member is required to pay a membership fee, this membership fee

is made up of 3 elements.

The fee is made up of 3 parts

The National Fee
The County Levy
A district Levy (if there is one)

The National Fee for 2026/27 will be £44, £43.50 if paid to HQ before 23rd April. https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/august/membership-fee-for-2026-27/

The county has a Trustee meeting every November in which it decides how much the

county levy will be. This county levy includes payment of OSM for every group and section,

paid administrative support to operate the county, free first response and leader training,

support and further development of our activity units. As soon as we have decided the levy

for next year we will notify District Lead Volunteers and District Treasurers.

Each district can then apply a levy, this will depend on the number of activities the district

provides for free and if it has any assets. Your district will notify you of the levy that each

youth member has to pay.

The county and all districts are mindful of the ever increasing costs and if you are opening

a new section please consult your District Volunteer to ensure that you do not find yourself

with a bill you can’t afford.

If you are concerned about anything financial please ask.

September Bulletin

Perfect Permits

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:38:32 GMT

Perfect Permits: The Ultimate Skills Weekend for Activity Permit Assessors

Oxfordshire, 10-12th October 2025

Get ready for mud, maps, and mastery with CPD workshops (new sessions offered for 2025), hands-on activities, and real-world scenarios to sharpen your skills in assessment planning, specific activity skills, and tackling tricky environments. You'll also have exclusive access to the HQ Safety Team through targeted workshops and our networking sessions. Designed specifically with Activity Permit Assessors in mind, these events are a great opportunity to connect, learn and develop your assessment practice.

Times:

Arrival from 16:00 on Friday, departures from 14:00 on Sunday.

Pricing:

£80 per person for general admission with arrival on the Friday - includes workshops, catering and camping.

Upgrade to shared indoor accommodation for £30 per person (male and female dorms available).

To find out more, please visit:

https://www.scouts.org.uk/national-events/perfect-permits-the-ultimate-skills-weekend-for-activity-permit-assessors/

To secure tickets for the event, please visit:

Perfect Permits Oxfordshire at Youlbury: https://scouts.eventsair.com/perfect-permits-youlbury-2025/booking/Site/Register

If you have any questions about Perfect Permits, please email: training@scoutadventures.org.uk

We can’t wait to see you there!

Scout Adventures

September Bulletin

New Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:43:43 GMT

We are looking a new District Lead Volunteer roles for Sleaford District

Adam Jacklin will be stepping down from his role as District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District on 4 November 2025. On behalf of the County and the District Trustee Board, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of Adam's hard work and dedication in the role. He has done a great job and I am very grateful.

As a result we are now recruiting for its next inspirational volunteer (or team of volunteers) to lead Sleaford District. Please click to download the pack which contains detailed information about the role as well as 2 application forms which volunteers can use to either express their interest in the role or to nominate someone else for consideration.

We would love to hear from you if you would like to apply or if you would like to find out more information about the role. The deadline for all applications is 30 September 2025. Interviews will be held in October.

Please contact howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

Applications should be sent to howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 30 September 2025

County AGM 2025

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:45:57 GMT

We are pleased to invite all members of Lincolnshire Scouts to attend the County’s AGM to held at Sudbrooke Park Scout Campsite on Saturday 13 September 2025, starting at 16:30. More details can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/agm

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 15 (August 2025)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:45:28 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Lincs Fest

Kinder Hike

Lincoln Pride

Jamboree Young person Selection

Splash Lincs

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:22:29 GMT

I hope you’re all enjoying your summer camps and taking the opportunity to have a well-deserved break!

It’s great to hear about so many adventures happening across Lincolnshire this summer. I’m looking forward to seeing some of y ou at Kandersteg and Norjam – both amazing experiences and a fantastic chance to connect with Scouts from far and wide.

I’m also really excited to be attending the National Scout & Guide Symphony Orchestra and the National Scout & Guide Concert Band at Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Thursday 7th August, where we have some of our own Lincolnshire Scouts performing – a huge well done to them!

A quick reminder that Jamboree participant selection is underway – make sure to check the details if you or someone you know is interested in being part of this life-changing event.

Don’t forget about Splash Lincs, coming up soon – a brilliant chance for some water-based fun and a highlight of the county calendar.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone for completing the mandatory safety training. Your dedication to spending more of your time supporting young people and fellow adults is really appreciated, and I look forward to seeing and hearing all about your Scouting adventures in the coming months.

Finally, I’m really looking forward to seeing many of you at LincsFest – it’s shaping up to be a fantastic event.

Thanks to everyone – volunteers, leaders, young people and supporters – for all you do to keep the adventure going.

Wishing you and your family a safe and fun summer holiday.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Howard

County Lead Volunteer
Lincolnshire Scouts

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Splash Lincs 2025

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:19:37 GMT

Bookings are now open!

Joining instructions can be found here

Lincs Fest

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:43:35 GMT

Get your booking in for LincsFest!

The county over 18s only camp, training and social event is back from 13th - 14th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association.

All scouters, including Trustee Board members and Helpers are welcome. Cost includes badge, travel mug, access to the event and all activities and tea/coffee/squash facilities throughout the event.

Booking Link = https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3q-HEZPLrxVCm8sIMQEi9TVURUo1OVBETERETE5NTzVMUlY0MVJOMTlBSS4u

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Kinder Hike

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:33:40 GMT

Are you looking for a challenge for your section?

The Kinder Extreme & Kinder Challenge are hill walking events in the Peak District, open to Scouts, Explorers, Network & leaders. This year’s events are on Sunday 12 ^th October with both starting and finishing at Chapel-en-le-Frith in the High Peak. The Kinder Extreme set over 30km whilst the Kinder Challenge is shorter at 16km and is ideal as an introduction to hill walking for the Scout section.

To book teams onto either event or to find out further information please visit www.derbyshirescouts.org/kinder . Teams entered and paid for by the 18 ^th September will also be eligible for a free, exclusive Kinder t-shirt.

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincoln Pride

claire.burt@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Claire Burt) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:29:11 GMT

�� Calling all Lincolnshire Scouts ��

We've been asked to run the family zone at Lincoln Pride on Saturday 16th August. This is a fantastic opportunity for Lincolnshire Scouts, we've got lots of fantastic activities planned and we're looking for awesome volunteers to make this happen.

�� Want in? Fill in this form before the 2nd August:

�� https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=eJc076Q6OUyDg_nogt65SNjjUYyExfpPjaBQ6e4r2D9UQlhNU1A4RzZVOVdGRVJBVU1PMDVYUklJNS4u

�� Want to order a Pride polo- shirt? Contact the County Office shirley.burt@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk before the 31st July.

Already signed up but happy to do more than one 'shift'? Email claire.thompson@lincolnscouts.org.uk

Let’s show our colours and make it a Pride to remember! ��❤️

Under 18's are welcome to support us but MUST be accompanied by an adult (parent/ carer or leader).

Claire Thompson (she/ her)

County Inclusion Team Lead- Lincolnshire

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Jamboree Young Person Selection

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:26:12 GMT

Bookings are now open!

Apply now to be part of the Lincolnshire Unit & UK Contingent to the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Poland from 30th July to 8th August 2027.

Is your birthday between 30th July 2009 and 30th July 2013? Do you want to have the adventure of a lifetime? Then apply now via the link https://forms.office.com/e/jzrW1JxiZk

The deadline for applications to attend the selection event is the 30th September 2025. This is due to take place at Sudbrooke Camp Site on 4-5th October 2025.

For any questions please contact international@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there,

Georgia, Dawn, Kev and Shaun

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

SplashLincs

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:24:43 GMT

Splash Lincs - Bookings are now open! 20/21 September £20 per scout per day

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Jamboree Young Person Selection

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:24:15 GMT

Apply now to be part of the Lincolnshire Unit & UK Contingent to the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Poland from 30th July to 8th August 2027.

Is your birthday between 30th July 2009 and 30th July 2013? Do you want to have the adventure of a lifetime? Then apply now via the link below.

https://forms.office.com/e/jzrW1JxiZk

The deadline for applications to attend the selection event is the 30th September 2025. This is due to take place at Sudbrooke Camp Site on 4-5th October 2025.

For any questions please contact international@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there,

Georgia, Dawn, Kev and Shaun

Apply now to be part of the Lincolnshire Unit & UK Contingent to the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Poland from 30th July to 8th August 2027.

Is your birthday between 30th July 2009 and 30th July 2013? Do you want to have the adventure of a lifetime? Then apply now via the link below.

https://forms.office.com/e/jzrW1JxiZk

The deadline for applications to attend the selection event is the 30th September 2025. This is due to take place at Sudbrooke Camp Site on 4-5th October 2025.

For any questions please contact international@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there,

Georgia, Dawn, Kev and Shaun

World Scout Jamboree Team selected

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:11:52 GMT

Following a competitive selection process, I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Lincolnshire Scouts Jamboree Team:

Unit Leader – Georgia Galloway (Stamford & Bourne)

Unit Deputy – Dawn Fear (Lincoln)

Team Member – Kev Wrenn (Lincoln)

Team Member – Shaun Gill (Sleaford)

I think we have appointed a fantastic team of dedicated leaders who will guide and support our young people on this incredible adventure:

Congratulations to all four – I am so pleased to have such a strong team in place.

The Young Person Selection event for the World Scout Jamboree will be run in October, and further details about this will be coming out very soon so that you can encourage young people from your District to apply.

Howard

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

The Scout Association

County Bulletin: Issue 14 (July 2025)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:31:58 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Vacancies in County Section Support Team

Funding opportunities

Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre - Available for Group Bookings

World Scout Jamboree & International Trips

Sensory bags

Trustees needed

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:42:01 GMT

County Lead Volunteer Update – July 2025

As we approach the end of term, I want to take a moment to say a thank you to all our incredible volunteers for everything you have done this year. Your dedication, energy and commitment continue to make a real difference to the lives of young people across Lincolnshire.

After my first year as Lead Volunteer for Lincolnshire Scouts, it goes without saying I am thankful for all your

support, suggestions, feedback, encouragement and indeed your commitment to supporting our young people.

I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You. I would also like to thank our Group and particularly our

District Lead Volunteers who have been battling the new systems for the last few months to keep all those

behind the scenes things like Disclosures and compliance happening despite the challenges.

The deadline of 14th July is fast approaching for the new safety learning to be completed. Firstly, my sincere thanks to the great many of you who have completed the learning. Those who still need to, please don’t leave it to the deadline. BE PREPARED and get it done now. If your group is camping (or you are camping) after 14th July and you’ve not got the learning complete, you won’t be able to go to camp! Those who still need to complete the learning are being emailed regularly. If you’re not sure, please ask your Group Lead Volunteer.

Congratulations to everyone who was recognised in our Brew It Forward campaign. The nominations were fantastic to receive and read – it was genuinely inspiring to hear how so many of you are making such a positive impact across the county. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate someone.

I recently enjoyed visiting Louth District recently attending their district cub camp and Grasby's family camp. It as clear that great scouting is going on at both events. Pictured below the Grasby leadership team who are doing a great job.

I was really pleased with the successful launch of our new International Team – it was great to see such energy and enthusiasm. If you’re interested in being part of this exciting group and helping shape international Scouting in Lincolnshire, please get in touch via international@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

This summer, I’m particularly looking forward to visiting Kandersteg, where I’ll have the pleasure of seeing those taking part in Discover Europe, as well as Lincoln’s Sea Scouts (Bailgate) who are also visiting. It’s always brilliant to see our young people enjoying international adventures and making memories that will last a lifetime.

I’m also looking forward to seeing many of you at your AGMs over the coming weeks where I’m able to attend – these are always great opportunities to reflect on the year and look ahead.

And finally – bookings for LincsFest are now open! LincsFest is set to be a fantastic celebration of everything we do in Scouting across the county, and I’d encourage everyone to book their place and be part of what promises to be a memorable day.

Thank you once again for all that you do – have a restful summer when it arrives, and I look forward to seeing many of you soon.

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Funding Opportunities

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:42:49 GMT

The County has a number of funding opportunities for groups and members - find out more at www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/funding

Congratulations to the Amazon's Explorers (who are pictured below) who have been awarded funds towards their Discover Europe Trip.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Vacancies in County Section Support Team

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:43:00 GMT

Section Support teams

We are looking to build a section support team for Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, and scouts. Each team will be headed by a team leader. We are looking for people with a range of skills and experience, therefore are happy to be flexible around individual’s commitments. The purpose of these roles is to be able to offer support to section leaders across the county by sharing ideas/advice and being a port of call for section specific enquiries. These teams will also co-ordinate hight quality programme opportunities for their section.

Key responsibilities (Team Members)

· Be a friendly point of contact for section leaders needing ideas, guidance, or signposting.

· Share good practice and fun programme ideas through online platforms, newsletters, or visits.

· Help organise and support section-specific events

· Attend occasional county meetings to share updates/feedback with relevant stakeholders.

· Champion inclusive, safe, and accessible programme delivery.

Additional responsibilities for Team leaders

· Coordinate and support the section team members in planning and delivering support and events.

· Represent the section team at county programme team meetings.

· Oversee planning of section specific opportunities.

· Ensure communication between the section team and wider county structures is strong and effective.

· Support the development and induction of new team members.

· Develop new initiatives to enhance programme provision for section.

Get Involved

If you have any questions about these roles please feel free to email: Ellie.Broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

If you are ready to apply, please go to https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3l_z5r9vTwtKnAKsJXuW_E1URTU0WjUwU1AxNU9LWFVZSk83TFo3M0JYRi4u where you can select which section and role you are interested in and complete the application form.

Ellie Broome

County Programme Team Lead (Joint with Carolyn Greig)

4 – 14 Section Support | Young Leaders | Youth Shaped | Community Impact

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre - Available for Group Bookings

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:40:01 GMT

Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre is available for Uniformed Organisations Letting including those from Lincolnshire

Visit their website for more details https://dchc.org.uk/weekend-lettings/

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

World Scout Jamboree & International Trips

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:30:45 GMT

Our County International Team Leads have been busy these last few months supporting International Visits that will be going out over the summer holidays, including a Group trip to Kandersteg and Discover Europe - follow them on Facebook Discover Europe 2025 and at https://www.instagram.com/discovereurope2025/ and find out what and where their adventures are taking them.

Recently they ran our first Adult Selection weekend held at Shacklewell campsite. A number of adults attended the weekend where the team was joined by other adults from across the County to form and select teams to take forward the Lincolnshire’s International programme vision for the next couple of years. A part of the weekend the selection was also for the World Scout Jamboree in 2027 in Poland. Lincolnshire will be taking a full Unit to this so 4 adults needed to be selected to run this. Details about our international trips will be coming out as soon as the new teams have got together and have more of their plans confirmed. A huge thank you to Fenland Adventure and Matt Knifton for running our team building sessions over the weekend.

After a very hot and full weekend they have now put together the start of a rolling programme of international opportunities for our Young People across the County. Not forgetting the adults too. Plus, the opportunity for everyone to get involved in the soon to be launched County International Challenge Award.

The Young Person Selection event for World Scout Jamboree will be run in October and further details about this will be coming out very soon so that you can encourage them to apply.

Please say hello and a huge congratulations to all our County International Trip Teams including our World Scout Jamboree Leadership Team.

If you are interested in future international opportunities as a leader, please keep your eyes open in this bulletin, the website and the usual socials as we will be adding more in as time goes on. We would also love to hear from you if you have ideas for international trips too.

Kevin Compton & Michelle Nelson

international@linconshirescouts.org.uk

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Sensory bags

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:50:43 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts Sensory Bags

6 Sensory bags are available from the county office, these bags are free of charge to use and can be collected at no charge or posted out for a small expense to cover the cost of postage.

How to Hire

To hire the bags please email Secretary@LincolnshireScouts.org.uk and make sure to confirm the name of the group/district using the bags, how many you want and the dates you wish to use them. If you require postage, please ensure to give plenty of notice to enable time for delivery. Bags are hired on a first come first served basis so more notice is preferable.

Returning the bags

Before returning the bags, please make sure to use anti-bacterial wipes to sanitise the items that have been used. If any items break, please let us know so we can seek a replacement before they are used again. Bags can either be returned to the county office or posted back to the county office at your expense.

Each bag contains:

1 pair of ear defenders
Textured gel stress ball
Foam hard stress ball
Tangle
Fidget spinner with built in pop it
Fidget cube
Mini Rubik’s cube
Stretchy string
Track fidget
Mesh with marble
Sensory Key ring with:
Small pop it
Pea popper
Reversable soft octopus
Communication Wrist band
Communication cards
Regulation activity cards

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Youth Shapers Quiz

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Charity Quiz - This quiz has been designed and written by the Youth Shapers. It’s purpose is to be used as a starter/game activity in a scouting meeting with the idea being that to participate all scouts would make a small charity donation.

This quiz has been designed and written by the Youth Shapers. It’s purpose is to be used as a starter/game activity in a scouting meeting with the idea being that to participate all scouts would make a small charity donation. The quiz is available here

The suggestion is either that all scouts would bring in a tin (to be donated to a local foodbank) OR make a small donation to either Lincolnshire and Notts Air Ambulance (a county charity) or Centre Point (a charity for UK youth homelessness).

There are 3 quizzes here – for different age groups.
Quiz 1 – Squirrels and Beavers
Quiz 2 – Cubs and younger scouts
Quiz 3 – Explorers and older scouts

If you do use these quizzes as a starter please do encourage your young people to bring in a tin or a small donation! Thank you very much.

Trustee needed

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:49:59 GMT

What Trustees do, really makes a difference.

Lincolnshire Scouts are looking for a new Trustee for a 3 year term starting from September 2025. We need your experience and wisdom to help us make sure we’re well governed and managed.

The role of our Trustee Board is to make sure that we are strong enough to inspire a generation of young people to step up, dream big and gain skills for life.

As a trustee, you would make a huge contribution at county level to the UK’s biggest youth movement. Now more than ever, our young people need skills for life to prepare them for the future. But for that to happen we need great foundations in place to keep Scouts safe, to ensure we are financially robust, and to deliver fantastic support for our volunteers in Lincolnshire.

I am looking for someone from a wide range of backgrounds, although I would particularly value expressions of interest from those with skills in Finance, Property or Marketing/PR.

It’s such a privilege for me to lead our County. Every one of us is guided by our Scout values of integrity, respect, care belief and cooperation. If these values resonate with you too, then I would be delighted to hear from you to join our Trustee team.

To find more about these roles, take a look at the role description below or email me at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Nominations / applications can be made by email to Howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk. Please outline your background, skills and why you think you would be a good Trustee for Lincolnshire Scouts.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

Trustee Role Description

Our vision for 2025

By 2025 we’ll have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme. We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities. We’re proud to say we are a values-based movement, and the values of Integrity, Respect, Care, Belief and Cooperation guide everything we do.

Role purpose:

To develop Scouts in keeping with its charitable objectives and in the parameters of good governance.

Main responsibilities:

· With other Trustees, make sure that our policy and practices are in keeping with our aims and The Scout Associations rules.

· With other Trustees, exercise effective control, making sure that we function within the legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation that strives to achieve best practice.

Main duties:

· Reflect the vision, strategy, major policies and values at all times.

· Contribute specific skills, experience and contacts in support of our activities.

· Ensure policies and practices are in keeping with aims.

· Abide by the principles laid down in the person specification (and code of conduct).

· Attend meetings of the Trustee Board (there are normally 6 per year as well as the AGM).

· Monitor and evaluate performance against strategic aims.

· Attend training and development opportunities as appropriate, including The Scouts Growing Roots.

· Work effectively as a team member of the Trustee Board in exercising its responsibilities and functions.

· Fulfil such other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time by the Trustee Board.

Trustee person specification

As a Trustee you should be able to demonstrate the following:

· An understanding of the type of work undertaken by Scouts and commitment to our values and ethos.

· Demonstrable experience of ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives.

· Confidence and effective communication skills with a range of audiences and the ability to challenge in a constructive way.

· The ability to make sound judgments and effective decisions.

· A commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

· Enthusiasm, energy and time to commit to this role.

· Availability and willingness to attend around 6 Board meetings per year (prior notice is given for all Board dates).

County Bulletin: Issue 13 (June 2025)

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:45:31 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Brew It Forward Winners Announced!

Chill Out - Groups and Staff

Lincs Fest - Bookings open

Inclusion Survey

Join the Support Team

New Lead Volunteer for Sleaford Needed

From the County Youth Lead

William Swift - Chief Scout’s Unsung Hero Award Winner

Safety training

Vacancies in County Section Support team

National Scout Archery Competition

From the County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:32:14 GMT

Hello Lincolnshire Scouts,

As we step into summer, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic events we’ve shared recently, and look ahead to an exciting season of Scouting adventures.

Firstly, a huge congratulations to everyone involved in the Boston District Camp, which was a resounding success! This year’s medieval theme truly brought history to life, with impressive activities including jousting tournaments, chain mail making, and the creation of fantastic gates that greeted every participant. It was a brilliant showcase of creativity and teamwork, and it’s clear that everyone involved had a fantastic time.

Equally impressive was Stamcamp, where we welcomed over 800 Scouts and leaders from across the county – and even groups from neighbouring Peterborough joined in the fun. The site was buzzing with energy, and it was wonderful to see so many young people enjoying the camp’s rich programme of activities and challenges.

In addition to these camps, we also saw a full First Aid course delivered in Grantham, with another one scheduled for Boston soon. These sessions are a crucial part of ensuring our volunteers are well-prepared to handle emergencies and keep everyone safe during our many events and activities.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for a busy summer. I’m particularly excited about:

Weekend on the Water, an opportunity for adults to learn and hone their watersports skills.
Chillout Camp, a relaxing weekend for Scouts and volunteers alike to recharge and reconnect.
And of course, many more events and activities planned throughout the county.

Finally please remember to complete the new Scout Safety training by 14 July if not done already . This essential training ensures we’re all equipped to provide a safe environment for our young people. The course is easy to access online and will only take a short time to complete.

Than k you to all our volunteers for your dedication and hard work – you make Scouting in Lincolnshire the thriving, vibrant community it is. Here’s to a fantastic summer ahead!

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New Lead Volunteer for Sleaford Needed

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:32:08 GMT

Adam Jacklin will be stepping down from his role as District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District on 4 November 2025.

As Adam prepares to step down as District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford this November, I would like to take the opportunity to offer my thanks for the energy, dedication, and leadership he has brought to the role. Adam has been a driving force behind many positive developments within the District, always bringing a thoughtful and steady approach to everything he does.

Throughout his term, Adam has consistently put young people at the centre of our work. His collaborative style has helped build strong teams and foster a real sense of community among our volunteers. Whether supporting events, shaping strategy, or mentoring others, Adam has been generous with his time and tireless in his commitment to the values of Scouting. While Adam is stepping back from the DLV role, I know his involvement with the District and County will continue. I look forward to seeing the next chapter of his Scouting journey and extend our warmest thanks for the significant contribution he has made over the years.

As a result, we are now recruiting for its next inspirational volunteer (or team of volunteers) to lead Sleaford District. Please click to download the pack which contains detailed information about the role as well as 2 application forms which volunteers can use to either express their interest in the role or to nominate someone else for consideration.

We would love to hear from you if you would like to apply or if you would like to find out more information about the role. The deadline for all applications is 1 July 2025. Interviews will be held in July.

Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here . Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 1 July 2025

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

William Swift - Chief Scout's Unsung Hero Award Winner

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:32:06 GMT

Sue Newbatt, Group Lead Volunteer of William's group writes.....

‘William’s older sister Evelyn (7th Scout) sadly passed away in April 2022, when he was four. His parents established Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect to spread random acts of kindness in Evelyn’s memory, and William has been actively involved throughout.

He has helped spread kindness in a variety of ways such as baking treats for and neighbours, leaving Easter eggs for people to find, litter picking, and placing flowers on cars for people to find. He has also fundraised for various mental health charities, and was sponsored to climb Mt. Snowden in summer 2024 – raising over £600 for Walking4Hope.

William has earned numerous badges for his activities and was awarded the district Peter Adam Shield for his contributions to the community. Despite his loss, he has shown remarkable resilience and continues to perform acts of kindness to honour his sister, always with a smile despite his heartache’

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

National Scout Archery Competition - 1st Thurlby

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:32:05 GMT

Two Scouts from 1st Thurlby, Charlotte-May & Tilda-Rose Houghton, attended the National Scout Archery Competition earlier this month. The event is hosted by the Hampshire Scout Archery Club and held at Phasels Wood Activity Centre in Hertfordshire. The event is attended by over 300 Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders and allows budding archers to compete over Target, Field and Clout competitions.

Both Charlotte-May and Tilda-Rose shot very close to their personal best scores in the Target competition. Tilda-Rose achieved a fourth place in the Scouts Barebow and Charlotte-May came away as Scout Recurve National Champion!

Charlotte-May and Tilda-Rose thoroughly enjoyed the event and would love to see more competitors from the Stamford & Bourne District or Lincolnshire Scouting attend next year.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Safety training

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:32:03 GMT

One of the things that the system will tell you is what training you need to complete. As a recommendation from the Prevention of Future Deaths Notice that the Scouts received after the Great Orme incident all team members and trustees (leaders, section assistants and Executive members in old money) must complete the new safety training.

This must be completed by the 15th July so if you haven’t done it yet please log on and give it a go. Again if you are struggling please ask, we have supported people with visual impairment, some that can’t read and people who can’t use a computer so do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Vacancies in County Section Support Team

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:59 GMT

Section Support teams

Key responsibilities (Team Members)

· Be a friendly point of contact for section leaders needing ideas, guidance, or signposting.

· Share good practice and fun programme ideas through online platforms, newsletters, or visits.

· Help organise and support section-specific events

· Attend occasional county meetings to share updates/feedback with relevant stakeholders.

· Champion inclusive, safe, and accessible programme delivery.

Additional responsibilities for Team leaders

· Coordinate and support the section team members in planning and delivering support and events.

· Represent the section team at county programme team meetings.

· Oversee planning of section specific opportunities.

· Ensure communication between the section team and wider county structures is strong and effective.

· Support the development and induction of new team members.

· Develop new initiatives to enhance programme provision for section.

Get Involved

If you have any questions about these roles please feel free to email: Ellie.Broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Ellie Broome

County Programme Team Lead (Joint with Carolyn Greig)

4 – 14 Section Support | Young Leaders | Youth Shaped | Community Impact

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County Youth Lead

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:56 GMT

The Lincolnshire Youth Shapers have gained two new members from Boston this month to further our representation in Youth Voice. We are sure they, alongside the other members of the Youth Shapers, will be an asset to Lincolnshire Scouts in providing youth opinion. Please do remember we have a rolling application process for the team and area always on the lookout for new recruits.

Any young people over 12 can apply via the link here: https://forms.office.com/e/GpsWFNP1t2

We have also launched a County Youth Team email: YouthTeam@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk . This email goes to the three adult members of the team so if any young people have any suggestions or concerns they wish to share with us as a team they can use this email.

Kind regards,

Caitlin Hall

Lincolnshire County Youth Lead

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chill Out - Groups and Staff

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:53 GMT

Groups attending Chill out 4-6 ^th July 2025

Please could we ask all groups who are attending Chill out to make sure that they have added their participant details to the EvBoo booking system. The system can then email parents a medical and activities form saving you some admin tasks.

It will also ensure that your payments are correct and receipts can be issued for your treasurers or accounts.

https://bookings.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/chill-out

STAFF for Chill out

Please could everyone who is attending as staff at Chill out register themselves using the following link

There is no charge for staff but we do need to allocate you a camping space and check DBS and training is up to date.

https://bookings.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/chill-out/securepublic/supporters.aspx?guid=a90f8125-9e70-425e-959c-9110b488dfa5

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Support Team

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:48 GMT

Inclusion Survey

�� We want to hear from YOU! ��

The Lincolnshire County Inclusion Team is looking for your ideas, thoughts, and feedback to help make Scouting even more inclusive, welcoming, and brilliant for everyone! �� It only takes a few minutes to fill out our quick survey, and your voice really matters! ��✨ �� https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=eJc076Q6OUyDg_nogt65SNjjUYyExfpPjaBQ6e4r2D9UQVdURk9ONFUzMVJUOFNMTEdPOEdGRlRGNS4u

Let’s work together to make sure Scouting is a place where everyone feels at home. �� Find out more about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in scouting here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Scouts #LincolnshireScouts #InclusionMatters #HaveYourSay

Join the Support Team:

We're looking for current volunteers, or people who may not yet be in scouting, to join our support team. We'd love to hear how you can help us with as we grow the team and there's loads of opportunities from using your technical knowledge in our Digital Team, your excellent creative skills & writing in our media & comms team or your enthusiasm in PRIDE to join our team as they start to launch our involvement in events.

We've created the below form to record your expressions of interest to join our team, and it's just that an expression! it doesn't confirm you to anything but allows us to have your details and start the conversation about how you could be involved, we look forward to hearing from you.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/nTYTLHVgLs

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincs Fest 25

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:35 GMT

Bookings are now open

The county over 18s only camp, training and social event is back from 13th - 14th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association.

All scouters, including Trustee Board members and Helpers are welcome. Cost includes badge, travel mug, access to the event and all activities and tea/coffee/squash facilities throughout the event.

Booking Link = https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3q-HEZPLrxVCm8sIMQEi9TVURUo1OVBETERETE5NTzVMUlY0MVJOMTlBSS4u

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Brew it Forward winners announced

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:39:23 GMT

Brew It Forward Winners Announced!

We were blown away by the incredible response to our campaign, with over 100 heartfelt nominations celebrating our amazing volunteers!

So much so, we couldn’t stick to just 10… we’ve chosen 15 incredible winners! All winners were selected at random from the nominations received, making it a true celebration of our entire volunteer community. Congratulations to everyone but especially the following who won vouchers:

Aga K, Anthony P, Carol I, Carolyn G, Claire C, Dawn F, Debbie J,

Geoffrey B, Kieth L, Leanne W, Robert J, Tabby k, Vic T, Wayne C and Will B

Your stories inspired us all — and now it’s time for a well-earned brew!

Winners, your vouchers are on the way.

Thank you to everyone who nominated — we’ll continue to share more of your incredible entries throughout the rest of

#VolunteersWeek

#BrewItForward #ThankYouVolunteers #LincolnshireScouts #ScoutsUK

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chief Scout's Unsung Hero's

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 12 May 2025 17:29:28 GMT

Congratulations to William of 7th Grantham for being 1 of 20 unsung heroes to receive an award from Chief Scout Dwayne Fields

World Scout Jamboree Leadership Team

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:01:32 GMT

World Scout Jamboree Leader Applications

The 26th World Scout Jamboree will take place in Gdansk, Poland from the 30 July to the 8 August 2027.

The 26th World Scout Jamboree Site is located on Wyspa Sobieszewska within the borders of the city of Gdansk, on the coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland. To participate as a Youth Participant, individuals must be between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the event. This means they should have been born between 30 July 2009 and 30 July 2013.

Lincolnshire Scouts have been allocated 1 unit for the World Scout Jamboree. We are therefore looking for 1 Unit Leader, 1 Deputy Leader and 2 Assistant Leaders within Lincolnshire.

Applications open for leaders on 1st May and close on 30th May – Please note application are via the HQ form which does not open until 1st May and will shut promptly on 30th May. Applications will then be passed to the County to select the successful applicants.

All applications will be required to attend a Selection Weekend on 21st–22nd June 2025. This event will be an opportunity for you to tell and show us more about you, why you would like to take on a leadership role at the Jamboree, find out more about how your skills and experiences (in and out of Scouting) would support you to be a great member of the leadership team.

When you apply, please make sure you read and complete the application form carefully. We anticipate a large number of applications, and we will use what you write in your application form as the basis on which to make a decision about inviting you to the selection event.

Apply Here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5a63b25def5e447b8b355a8c19e4cd8a . – Remember to select your County as Lincolnshire!

APPLICATIONS ARE ONLY OPEN FROM 1st MAY to 30th MAY 2025 via HQ FORM

Information Pack Here : Lincolnshire Unit Leader Recruitment Pack

Brew it forward!

Fri, 02 May 2025 06:13:34 GMT

☕ Brew it Forward – Nominate a Volunteer for a Well-Earned Cuppa!

As we gear up for #VolunteersWeek , we're celebrating the amazing adults who make Scouting possible — the ones who go above and certainly beyond to support young people, their teams, and the community.

To say a big thank you , we’re running a special giveaway:
We’ve got 10 x £10 coffee vouchers to give away to some of our most inspiring Scout volunteers — and we need your help to find them!

How it works:

We’re asking you to nominate a fellow adult Scout volunteer (aged 18+) who deserves a treat.
Maybe they’re always the first to lend a hand, bring the best energy to every camp, or are the glue holding the team together. Whatever it is that makes them amazing — tell us about it!

�� Nominations are now open!
�� Deadline to nominate: Sunday 1 June
�� Winners will be drawn on Monday 2 June
�� Vouchers will be sent out later that week

�� https://forms.office.com/r/zDbcVQQL0T to submit your nomination.

Celebrate With Us

Keep an eye on our social media and website during Volunteers’ Week — we’ll be sharing some of your brilliant nominations and shouting out the fantastic volunteers who keep the Scouting spirit alive.

So go on — let’s Brew it Forward and give someone the warm, fuzzy, coffee-fuelled appreciation they truly deserve! ☕��

County Bulletin: Issue 12 (May 2025)

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:11:21 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Brew it forward!

Chill Out

Membership System

Programme Team

Youth Shaped

Safety

Making plans for the future

New Lead Volunteer for Sleaford needed

Poacher 2026

Jamboree and County Internationals

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

From the County lead Volunteer

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:24:29 GMT

It’s been another fantastic month for Scouting in Lincolnshire, and I’d like to begin by saying a huge thank you for everything you do to keep the adventure alive for our young people. Your time, energy and unwavering commitment are what make our movement thrive.

A particular highlight this month was the wonderful Adult Awards and Explorer/ Network Top Awards Evening at Burghley House . It was an absolute pleasure to see so many of our volunteers and young people recognised for their achievements and dedication. Congratulations to all the award recipients – and thank you to those who helped make the evening so special.

I’d also like to extend my thanks and congratulations to Ellie Broome and her fantastic team for delivering an engaging and inspiring Young Leader Training Weekend . It’s always encouraging to see the next generation of leaders stepping up with such enthusiasm and maturity. If you want to see more of the course see the video at https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15F1nM5Rn6/

Looking Ahead

As we head into the heart of the spring and summer term, I know many of you will be finalising prepara tions for camps and outdoor activities. I wish you all the very best – whether you’re taking on a district expedition or a simple night under canvas. These experiences are so important for our young people, and it’s thanks to your effort that they happen.

Training & Safety Reminders

Please don’t forget that the deadline for completing the mandatory Safety module is 14th July 2025 . This is a vital piece of training to ensure we continue to deliver safe and high-quality Scouting across the county.

We’ve had excellent uptake on our recent Module 10 (First Aid) courses , with sessions planned in Grantham and

Boston. At the time of writing there are still a few spaces left on these dates, and more course dates will be released soon, so do keep an eye on updates on the website and county social media.

Lincs Fest 2025 – Bookings Now Open!

I am excited to confirm that Lincs Fest is back for 2025! This is our over-18s only camp, training and social event, running from Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

Activities kick off from 10am on Saturday, with the option to stay overnight or just attend for the day. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with fellow volunteers, and take part in some fun and informal training sessions. Bookings are now open, and full event details will be shared with participants closer to the time. The booking link is Booking Link https://forms.office.com/e/MgCvcssb19

Once again, thank you for all that you do. I’m incredibly proud of the work happening across Lincolnshire and the positive impact it continues to have on young lives. Wishing you all a safe, fun, and fulfilling term ahead.

Howard Nelson
County Lead Volunteer

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Brew it forward!

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:41:14 GMT

Nominations Are Now OPEN!

It’s time to Brew it Forward – Nominate a Volunteer for a Well-Earned Cuppa!

As part of our run-up to #VolunteersWeek, we’re treating 10 amazing Scout volunteers to a £10 coffee voucher – and we need YOUR help to decide who!

Know someone who always goes above and beyond?

A volunteer who makes Scouting extra special?

Someone who’s earned a well-deserved pick-me-up?

Now’s your chance to say THANK YOU with a nomination!

Nominations close: Sunday 1 June

Winners announced: Monday 2 June

Submit your nomination here: https://forms.office.com/r/zDbcVQQL0T

And keep your eyes peeled throughout the week – we’ll share some heart-warming nominations and celebrate our amazing volunteers here!

Let’s spread some joy, one cuppa at a time!

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chill Out

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:17:00 GMT

Activity courses and non-permitted activities.

We are looking to build and share online lists of individuals who have been on courses and have national accreditation for activities which are not permitted and listed on the new system. If you own a qualification or have completed a course for one of these activities e.g Tomahawk throwing, air rifles, indoor caving at Sudbrooke please could you send an email with either a certificate or something similar with renewal dates to Carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Thank you.

Call for volunteers

If anyone would like to be involved in working with the new cave trailer which was used at the Lincolnshire countryside show, please get in touch with Neil Onyon, or Carolyn Greig for more information. It’s a really exciting opportunity and we had lots of young people and adults try it out at the showground in April.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Just a reminder that all D of E expeditions need to have an expedition number which is issued by the County D of E advisors. In order to issue a number the advisors need to see the route cards, risk assessment and contingency plans for foul weather for each group as well as supervisor and assessor provision. A form is available to submit this information via the Lincolnshire website. Please contact them via DofE@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any additional questions.

Programme team Thank you!

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have been involved in programme weekends for Young Leaders recently as well as all the D of E leaders and activity staff who are making sure that all our activities within Lincolnshire are safe and our contingency plans are robust should they need to be tested. We appreciate all the time that is dedicated to protecting the safety of our young people across the county and training the next generation of scouters.

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Membership system

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:15:42 GMT

Membership System and Safety Updates

Please find below some upcoming deadlines and mandatory requirements. Please, can I ask that you look at your records and check that you are compliant? This will save a lot of wasted time on continually chasing. To all those who have already completed, Thank You.

Membership System - currently about half volunteers in Lincolnshire have signed into and signed the declaration on my membership, therefore, we have 50% to go. If you are one of those, you can sign in here https://membership.scouts.org.uk/ and follow the instructions

Compass to Membership System queries - There is a deadline for queries on the 31st of May for any information that was on Compass and has not been migrated to the new membership system. After this date, queries will not be investigated. If you have a query, please email support@scouts.org.uk by the 31st May

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Programme Team

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:07:53 GMT

Activity courses and non-permitted activities.

Thank you.

Call for volunteers

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Programme team Thank you!

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Youth Shaped

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:02:49 GMT

In terms of youth shaping, we are actively trying to educate more young people in scouts on their options post-18. This has been done through an online session, and we are currently trying to get this information out to more people for use when they reach 18.

Some of the options you may have include

Network
SAGO
Top Awards
Becoming a leader
District Youth Lead position

Caitlin Hall

County Youth Lead

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

We want to here from you - Inclusion team survey

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 16:29:45 GMT

We want to hear from YOU!

The Lincolnshire County Inclusion Team is looking for your ideas, thoughts, and feedback to help make Scouting even more inclusive, welcoming, and brilliant for everyone!

It only takes a few minutes to fill out our quick survey, and your voice really matters!
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=eJc076Q6OUyDg_nogt65SNjjUYyExfpPjaBQ6e4r2D9UQVdURk9ONFUzMVJUOFNMTEdPOEdGRlRGNS4u

Let’s work together to make sure Scouting is a place where everyone feels at home.
Find out m

Safety

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:53:05 GMT

Emergency procedures ahead of the summer.

As we approach the summer, it’s important to remind ourselves and members of our teams of what our key safety procedures are, and what to do in an emergency:

Purple Card: Explains what to do in emergencies and how to stay safe during Scouts events. Please make sure you have a copy at all activities.

Emergency procedures: Understand how to call for help, notify Lead Volunteers, and inform UK Headquarters in emergencies.

InTouch system: Communication at events and activities is important. We should be assured we can reach people quickly if we need to. Please review your InTouch system, making sure you have up-to-date contact details and establish clear communication channels.

Further safety support for specific activities or roles can be found at scouts.org.uk/safety .

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Making plans for the future

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:51:59 GMT

Making plans for the future of Scouts - 2025 and beyond.

The Skills for Life strategy concludes at the end of 2025. HQ are now planning our future and developing the next strategy for the movement. Since 2024 they've been consulting with different groups of people to understand the views and ideas for the future as Scouts. You can track consultation progress and understand more about how we’re developing the next strategy on our ‘ 2025 and beyond ’ webpage. This includes a report and video from Summit25, the National Scout Conference, that took place at the end of January this year.

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New Lead Volunteer for Sleaford needed

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:49:42 GMT

Adam Jacklin will be stepping down from his role as District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District on 4 November 2025.

We are looking a new District Lead Volunteer roles for Sleaford District.

Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here . Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 1 July 2025

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Poacher 2026 International Jamboree

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:48:32 GMT

Poacher 2026 International Jamboree

Bookings have opened for the adventure of a lifetime in Lincolnshire! Your group can join 5,000 Scouts and Guides from across the world for a huge range of adventurous activities, exciting entertainments and lasting friendships, from 1 ^st - 8 ^th August 2026.

Participant fee: £300

Leader fee: £30

More details can be found at www.poacher.org.uk - bookings are open until 31st October 2025, or until the event is full - whichever comes sooner.

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Vacancy - District Lead Volunteer Sleaford

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:19:56 GMT

Adam Jacklin will be stepping down from his role as District Lead Volunteer for Sleaford District on 4 November 2025.

We are looking a new District Lead Volunteer roles for Sleaford District.

Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here . Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 1 July 2025

Jamboree and County Internationals

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:27:45 GMT

UK Scouts have confirmed their participation in the 26th World Scout Jamboree, set to take place in Poland during the summer of 2027. This decision follows a thorough review of the 25th World Scout Jamboree and the organisation’s strategic planning for the upcoming event.

The UK Contingent will comprise 70 Units and 630 International Service Team (IST) members, ensuring strong representation while enhancing operational management and the overall experience. Due to the reduced size of the contingent, an invitation will not be extended to members of Girlguiding on this occasion. However, UK Scouts remain committed to maintaining a strong partnership with Girlguiding and will continue to explore future opportunities for collaboration both internationally and within the UK.

For this Jamboree, UK Scouts are dedicated to implementing a streamlined and transparent selection process that prioritises representation, efficiency, and accessibility. Additionally, six educational objectives have been introduced for all UK Contingent international events, ensuring that every participant embarks on a journey of personal growth, discovery, and adventure.

We are waiting for confirmation on our Unit Size but need to reserve a date for the adult leadership team for Jamboree and also for a County run international in Summer 2027. The date for this is 21 and 22 June 2025 and will be held at Shacklewell Hollow near Stamford.

Unit Leadership Team Selection

We do not have full details for the selection of the leadership team. Lincolnshire Scouts will follow a structured and fair selection process to ensure the best candidates are chosen in line with the guidelines given by UK Contingent.

National and County-Led Selections: Selections will be nationally led for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British Scouting Overseas (BSO). In England, counties will manage their own selection processes with the support of the UK Contingent.
Set Selection Period: A standardized selection period from May to July 2025 across the UK will help ensure broad advertisement and diverse candidate outreach.
Consistent Selection Format: An in-person selection process will be implemented, including scenario-based activities and structured interview questions. Ballots will not be used for Unit Leader selection.

The link to register interest is at https://forms.office.com/e/p31CrYa9UB

May Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Module 10 First Response Courses

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:18:35 GMT

Module 10 First Response

An opportunity to complete your Module 10- First Aid. During the day, you will complete your First Aid training, meaning you'll have all the skills and knowledge to manage an incident and cover basic First Aid. This is a county-run event, but taking place locally, so if you need to complete your first response training soon, now is the ideal opportunity!

There are two courses, and they will take place at:

1) Grantham - May 10

Scout Hq, Earlesfield Lane, Lincs, NG31 7NT

0900-1600

Link to Book https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1320058754269?aff=oddtdtcreator

2) Boston - June 15

8th Boston (Wyberton): Tytton Lane East, Wyberton, PE21 7HP

0900-1600

Link to Book https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1320060278829?aff=oddtdtcreator

Further dates will be published in due course.

Bring a packed lunch

Notepad and pen

Tea and Coffee provided

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Lincs Fest 2025

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:52:38 GMT

Bookings are now open

The county over 18s only camp, training and social event is back from 13th - 14th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association.

LincsFest

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:51:06 GMT

The county over 18s only camp, training and social event is back from 13th - 14th September at Sudbrooke Park Campsite, Lincoln.

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 11 (April 2025)

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:23:50 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

New District Lead Volunteer - South Holland

Neurodiversity and Special Education Needs (SEN) support

Jamboree and International Save the Date

UK Youth Forum

Message from the Chief Scout – Awards

Earn Extra Money This Summer: Become a Site Lead for a High Ropes Adventure Park!

County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:36:06 GMT

Spring has arrived across our beautiful county, bringing longer days, warmer evenings, and a renewed energy to our Scouting activities. From camps and community projects to creative badge work and adventurous outings, it’s been wonderful to see the breadth of opportunities being offered to our young people across Lincolnshire.

I want to extend my thanks to each and every one of you—leaders, supporters, parents, and young people—for your continued enthusiasm and dedication. Scouting doesn’t just happen; it’s built on the passion and commitment of volunteers like you.

Celebrating Outstanding Service – Roll of Honour

Each year, we take a moment to shine a spotlight on some truly exceptional individuals. I’m delighted to highlight the Silver Wolf and Silver Acorn recipients from the 2024 Good Service Awards—our highest recognitions of service and dedication in UK Scouting. I am also delighted to congratulate our other award recipients who can be found at Good Service Awards

Silver Wolf Award

The Silver Wolf is the highest award made by The Scout Association, recognising service of the most exceptional nature .

We are incredibly proud of this year’s recipients:

Kevin Whitfield
Malcolm Moore
Mavis Margetts
Nigel Savill
Priscilla Lamerton

These individuals have given decades of selfless, inspirational leadership and truly represent the very best of Scouting. Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement.

Silver Acorn Award

Awarded for specially distinguished service , typically after 20+ years of remarkable contribution.

Congratulations to:

Clare Dunderdale
Delphine Norton
Helen Whitfield
Irene Hewitt
Laura Barlex
Lucy Copeland
Oliver Chapple
Paul Woodhead
Valerie Robinson
Yvonne Bull

Their dedication has left a lasting legacy in your groups, districts, and across the county—thank you.

The full list of 2024 Good Service Awards can be found at: lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/2024-good-service-awards

New District Lead Volunteer - South Holland

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Carla Craney as the new District Lead Volunteer (DLV) for South Holland Scouts from 4 April 2025.

Carla brings with her almost ten years of experience in Scouting, having held a variety of roles across multiple sections. This has given her a broad and in-depth understanding of the movement. Carla currently serves as a Group Lead Volunteer (GLV) in Norfolk, and now lives in Holbeach. When she stepped into her GLV role, the group had only two active adult volunteers due to the impact of COVID-19 and the transient nature of its RAF community. Since then, she has rebuilt the team to include 16 adult volunteers from both military and civilian backgrounds. Under her leadership, the group has also launched the district’s first Squirrel section. Carla continues to lead by example, using her experience and knowledge to train and guide others into confident roles.

Enjoy your Scouting!

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Jamboree and International Save the Date

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:33:57 GMT

Unit Leadership Team Selection

National and County-Led Selections: Selections will be nationally led for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British Scouting Overseas (BSO). In England, counties will manage their own selection processes with the support of the UK Contingent.
Set Selection Period: A standardized selection period from May to July 2025 across the UK will help ensure broad advertisement and diverse candidate outreach.
Consistent Selection Format: An in-person selection process will be implemented, including scenario-based activities and structured interview questions. Ballots will not be used for Unit Leader selection.

The link to register interest is at https://forms.office.com/e/p31CrYa9UB

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Message from the Chief Scout - Awards

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:19:20 GMT

Our awards: Recognising our fellow Scouts

Saying thank you and well done is one of the simplest, but most powerful ways to recognise our fellow volunteers. It really does count for so much.

That’s why our award scheme is so important. Recognising people’s contribution in a meaningful way will leave them feeling valued and motivated.

I’d therefore be grateful if you can put people forward for our award scheme. Service Awards are there make people feel even more special – beyond a simple word of thanks.

We know you’re busy with Scouts and your other commitments, which is why we aim to make the nomination process as simple as possible. You should find everything you need here. But remember, our National Awards Advisory Group is also here to help.

It’s also important we recognise those adults and young people who’ve shown courage in adversity and quick thinking in the face of danger. You’ll also find out how to nominate people for Gallantry and Meritorious Conduct, including the Cornwell Scout Badge.

Please think carefully about the most deserving volunteers and make your nomination. An award will mean so much to them.

Thank you,

 Dwayne Fields

Chief Scout

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

UK Youth Forum

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:11:43 GMT

UK Youth Forum

On the 8th March the UK Youth Team hosted the first of its kind youth forum event, bringing Scouts and Explorers from across the county together to help share ideas and shape the future of scouting!

2 Scouts and 2 Explorers from Lincolnshire were chosen to go up to the Etihad stadium in Manchester for the day along with over 150 others scouts from across the county. This was the first every youth forum the scouts have done on a national level and was really amazing to see all the different ideas being shared.

This youth forum event will help the UK team put together a strategy for the next 10 years of scouting. Youth Shaped has always played a key part in scouting and this national youth forum showed us that we should all be listening to the voices of our young members as they have some really great ideas!

A very big thank you and well done to our delegation including Edith, Nathan, Hugo, Sophie, Emma Rock (Leader) and Abigail Jodhan-Singh (Leader).

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Neurodiversity and Special Education Needs (SEN) support.

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:09:48 GMT

Neurodiversity and Special Education Needs (SEN) support.

Throughout May, Scouts will be streaming a series of webinars to help you support young people and volunteers with Neurodiversity and Special Education Needs (SEN). The UK Inclusion Team are running the webinars and they’ll provide you with general support, as well as look at topics such as early years, programme, and mental health.

Supporting Neurodiversity | Events | Scouts

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New District Lead Volunteer - South Holland

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:30:32 GMT

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Carla Craney as the new District Lead Volunteer (DLV) for South Holland Scouts from 4 April 2025.

Outside of Scouting, Carla works as a Day Service Manager in Lincolnshire supporting adults with autism, disabilities, and mental health needs, alongside her role as a Regional Manager overseeing community support services for adults and children.

Her dedication to building strong, inclusive teams and her ability to drive positive change make her a fantastic addition to the District. I am excited to welcome Carla into this role and look forward to the energy and enthusiasm she will bring to the team.

 Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Earn Extra Money This Summer: Become a Site Lead for a High Ropes Adventure Park!

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:19:33 GMT

Wild Pines Park in Market Rasen is seeking 1–2 Site Leads to oversee operations on our busiest days. Ideal for qualified Scouting leaders, this role combines leadership with a love of the outdoors. Based at Linwood Warren, a transformed scout site, you’ll mentor young instructors, ensure safety, and deliver top-tier experiences.

With nearly 40 years of Scouting heritage, we offer a rewarding opportunity to earn extra income while making lasting memories for visitors. If you’re passionate about adventure and want to lead a friendly, engaged team, contact Gary Toward - gary.toward@wildpinespark.com or visit www.wildpinespark.com/jobs for a discussion about the role please ring 07879061486.

April Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Bookings for BOB are now Open

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:23:57 GMT

Bookings open at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bob-beavers-on-boats-2025-tickets-1266630418679?aff=oddtdtcreator

Good Service Awards

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:44:00 GMT

Congratulations to our Good Service Award Recipients

The Scout Association in the United Kingdom offers a series of Good Service Awards to recognize adult volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service. These awards are progressive, each with specific criteria:

Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service : Awarded for a minimum of five years of noteworthy service.
Award for Merit : Granted for outstanding service over at least 12 years (exceptionally after 10 years), reflecting keen, conscientious, imaginative, and dedicated contributions.
Bar to the Award for Merit : Presented after an additional five years of outstanding service following the initial Award for Merit.
Silver Acorn : Bestowed for specially distinguished service, typically after 20 years of exceptional commitment.
Bar to the Silver Acorn : Given after at least five more years of similarly distinguished service beyond receiving the Silver Acorn.
Silver Wolf : The highest award, it is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout, awarded for service of the most exceptional nature, usually after a recipient has been awarded the Silver Acorn.

I am delighted to congratulate the following recipients of good service awards from Lincolnshire who received their awards between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

Silver Wolf

Kevin Whitfield

Malcolm Moore

Mavis Margetts

Nigel Savill

Priscilla Lamerton

Silver Acorn

Clare Dunderdale

Delphine Norton

Helen Whitfield

Irene Hewitt

Laura Barlex

Lucy Copeland

Oliver Chapple

Paul Woodhead

Valerie Robinson

Yvonne Bull

Bar to the Award for Merit

Andrew Peall

James Walker

Jamie Wood

Katie Smit

Kevin Compton

Sarah Temperton

Tracey Everatt

Award for Merit

David McGarry

Karen McGarry

Claudia Rugg

Dawn Prentice

Marie-Jose Blankley

Julian Cooke

Katie Lilly Firth

Mallory Short

Ray Twell

Robert Gibbins

Christopher Cole

Gemma Selby

Heather Maltby

Jacqueline Selby

Simon Thompson

Stephen Woolsey

Thomas Wood

Michael Bentley

Carolyn Greig

Catherine Carrington

Clifford Rowles Nicholson

Lorraine Derrick

Rachel Tupholme

Richard Harvey

Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service

Abigail Kingswood

Adam Vero

Amanda Retford

Andrew Emerson

Ashleigh Bird

Cameron Marnoch

Cameron O’Hara

Clare Plummer

Clare Arthur

Daniel Cole

Danielle Blyth

David Baldwin

Devi Jodhan-Singh

Edward White

Eleanor Stringer

Gary Williams

Georgina Elliott

Hannah Warburton

Harry Elliott

Hazel Brown

Heidi Dixon

Holly Scoffield

Isabel Phillips

James Haydon

Joanna Baldwin

Johanna Fryer

John Garrison

Judith Carter

Karl Fuller-Whelan

Laura Cunnington

Laura Cullen

Laura Shields

Lewis Wilson

Lindsay Freeman

Lisa Faulkner

Liz Walton

Luke Howard-Pask

Margaret Marchant

Matthew Ratcliffe

Matthew Latham

Michael Rowlatt

Michael Kaynes

Michael Reed

Murray MacDonald

Natalie Horne

Neal Wilkinson

Paul Tildesley

Paul Williams

Rebecca Towers

Richard Goodhand

Roger Goodchild

Samantha Bryant

Samantha Roberts

Sharon Smith

Siobhan Newbatt

Thomas Morton

Timothy Giles

Tracy Mcgrath

Wayne Cunnington

William Barlex

Yvonne Lister

VE Day 80 – Thursday 8 May 2025

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:07:28 GMT

Thursday 8 May is VE Day 80 (Victory in Europe Day). This marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe with the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies in May 1945.

The day is an opportunity to remember the 450,000 from the UK who lost their lives in the war (including 70,000 civilians) as well as the millions more across Europe and around the world.

The event will be marked by commemorative events across the UK. Scouts are invited to light beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace at 9.30pm on Thursday 8 May.

If you’re planning to be part of the VE Day Commemoration, you can register your event nationally. You event will be added to the official calendar and a certificate will be issued. Please also let the County Communications tea m know, provide a photo or two plus brief details of the event.

The Royal British Legion is also organising events to mark this anniversary, involving veterans from the UK, Commonwealth and beyond.

Do one thing: Look out for the VE Day 80 – Scouts for Peace Occasional Badge that can be worn on uniform from May to October 2025. More details on this to follow in the membership email.

National VE Day Celebrations – Thursday 08 May 2025

Scouts have been invited to take part in the national VE Day Celebrations, part of which is the special 80th Anniversary concert on the evening of Thursday 08 May 2025. This will take place at the Horse Guards Parade Ground, London. Arrival by 6.30pm and finishing by 10pm. It will be televised on BBC One, but we don’t yet have further details about what will be involved for us.

Lincolnshire Scouts has been allocated 10 places for this event (2 adult and 8 young people). Some 10,000 members of the public are expected to attend and we will

be part of a wider contingent of 500 Scouts from around the UK and British Scouting Overseas. It promises to be a very special evening, part of a moment in history.

Lincolnshire adult volunteers wanting to take part – please respond before Tuesday 25 March 2025

Initially, Howard Nelson -County Lead Volunteer, is looking for two adult volunteers from across the County to lead our contingent of 8 young people of Scout and Explorer Scout age. At this stage, he is inviting expressions of interest from adult volunteers only, to be received by Tuesday 25 March 2025.

Candidates will:

lead and take responsibility for our contingent, travelling into London, whilst at the event and for the return journey.
have section Team Leader or Team Member experience
be working with the Scout or Explorer age range (although preferred this is not essential as long as you have experience in either of these sections)

If you would to take part, then please let Howard Nelson know by Sunday 23 March and provide the following information:

Name
Membership number
Current role, section, Group / Unit
A paragraph about yourself and why you would like to take up this opportunity.

Young People wanting to take part – please respond before Friday 04 April 2025

With 8 May being just 8 weeks away, Howard is also seeking candidates from young people wanting to take part.

Section Team Leaders in Scouts and Explorers, please talk to your young people about this opportunity at your meetings next week and let Howard know your candidates, by providing the name of the young person(s) initially.

If there are too many candidates then it is likely the places will be decided on the basis of ease of transport arrangements or potentially a ballot.

The deadline for submission of names is before Friday 04 April 2025.

Interested or would like more information?

Please reply / get in touch with Howard at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk.

County Bulletin: Issue 10 (March 2025)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:30:52 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

Beavers on Boats - bookings open 1/4/25 at 10am

Post 18 Options Session

Weekend on the Water

Youth Shapers event January 2025

It's time to book on as a staff member at Poacher 2026!

NorJam Activity Staff Opportunities

Uniform days at external attractions

LincsFest - Save the date

New membership system

From the County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:32:56 GMT

As we move further into the year, I want to take a moment to express my huge thanks to each and every one of you. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment make such a difference to the lives of young people across Lincolnshire. Whether you’re running weekly meetings, supporting leaders, organising events, or helping behind the scenes—Scouting wouldn’t be the same without you!

Celebrating Our National Award Winners

St. George’s Day is a time for us to celebrate remarkable achievements across our Scouting community. I want to extend special congratulations to all of our National Award recipients, particularly those receiving the Silver Wolf , the highest award for adult volunteers in recognition of exceptional service. Your contributions have been truly outstanding.

A huge well done also to our King’s Scout Award recipients —your prestigious achievement reflects incredible dedication, perseverance, and commitment and we are so proud of you!

Introducing the New Growth & Development (G&D) Team

We are excited to announce the formation of the County Growth & Development (G&D) Team —a new initiative to support Districts and Groups in boosting volunteer recruitment to help grow Scouting locally.

But we need your help! We are looking for enthusiastic people to join this team and help make a real difference. The team’s aim is to share learning, ideas, and resources across Lincolnshire, supporting volunteers with:

Recruitment Planning – Helping you attract and retain amazing volunteers.
Access to Free Resources – Using ready-made, on-brand materials to support your efforts.
PR & Event Support – Loaning banners, display boards, and promotional materials for open evenings or local events.
Starting New Sections & Groups – Giving you the tools and advice to expand Scouting in your area .

If you or someone you know would be interested in joining this important team, please get in touch —we’d love to hear from you!

A Final Thank You

Scouting thrives because of our volunteers. From all of us at the County Team—thank you for everything you do. You are making a difference, and we are incredibly grateful.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

March Bulletin

Post 18 Options Session

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:32:55 GMT

One thing that we've been hearing in feedback from young people is that post-18, they aren't really sure where their options are for moving forward with scouting. This is backed up by census data showing a huge drop off and retainment rate post-18. To try to fix this, and at least make young people aware of what we are doing, we've decided to run an options session for them, where they can learn more about their choices.

Please do encourage as many of your young people aged 16 and above to join. This session is open to those who will be turning 18 in the next year or two, those who have already turned 18 and want to know more about how they can get involved, and even adults who can come so they can better explain choices to their groups in future years.

The session will be held on Thursday 20th March at 19:00. The teams link is here: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OTA1ZTFkMGItOGE5Ny00OGUzLWEzMWQtMTBjOTgyMTVhNDU4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b1442143-1e27-41aa-974f-f902688050de%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22736e29d3-6c40-4fad-912f-d512b4c17db0%22%7d

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at caitlin.hall@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We hope to see as many there as possible, and thank you for your continued support in making Lincolnshire more youth shaped.

March Bulletin

Youth Shapers event January 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:32:53 GMT

In January, the youth shapers team met at Sudbrooke, joining to share ideas and collaborate on what can be done to ensure Lincolnshire is staying youth shaped. The day itself was fantastic, with young people doing indoor caving and teambuilding activities outside (despite the cold weather) and coming up with some brilliant ideas to implement this coming year. A massive thank you to all involved, and welcome to all of the new members who joined the youth shape team.

If you are a young person between 14-18 and interested in joining the youth shapers, please contact caitlin.hall@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

March Bulletin

Beavers on Boats - bookings open 1/4/25 at 10am

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:32:50 GMT

Your colony is invited to join us for half a day of water based activities on Hykeham Lakes, Lincoln. Planned activities include Bell Boating and Sailing as well as some water themed activities on land. Beavers on Boats (B.O.B) will be held over 2 days at Hykeham Scouts HQ on the 19th and 20th July. Beavers can only attend 1 half day session over the weekend as part of a colony. Beavers can not attend independently.

We will be running two sessions each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon All participants will join together for lunch. Each session is limited to 50 participants so please ensure you get your booking in early! Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and a couple of changes of dry clothing, just in case.

Further information will be sent to leaders one booked in. Cost - £12 per participant. There are no refunds for this event if the Beaver is unable to attend, although places may be exchanged with other Units.

Leaders do not need to pay. When purchasing tickets please ensure you put your group number and district in the box which asks for a name, this way we know which groups have booked onto the event.

Bookings link is here

Bookings held in line with our privacy policy that can be seen at https://lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/privacy

March Bulletin

Uniform days at external attractions

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:32:41 GMT

Please see below for a list of local attractions offering special days/events for uniformed groups. These are all organised by the attractions themselves and not County / District events – Groups interested in attending should book directly with the attractions themselves.

Whilst these are specific event dates - all these attractions also offer other deals for uniformed groups on other dates.

Saturday 10th May – Science Badge Day at Magna Science Adventure https://

www.visitmagna.co.uk/whats-on/science-badge-day/

Tuesday 3rd June and Thursday 3rd July – Matlock Farm Park Evening visits for Uniformed

Groups https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FAXzcBR3n/

Wednesday Evenings in May, June & July – Expedition evenings at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

https://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com/media/5tib5fkt/2022-ywp_1816_expedition-

evenings-poster.pdf

21st / 22nd June and 27th / 28th September – Gulliver’s Takeover at Gulliver’s Kingdom

(Matlock) & Gulliver's Valley (Rother Valley) https://www.scouts.org.uk/supporters/

gullivers-theme-park-resorts

5th / 6th April, 17th / 18th May, 12th / 13th July and 27th / 28th September – Heights of

Abraham https://www.heightsofabraham.com/times-and-tickets/uniform-days

Other attractions offering badge workshops

Pets at Home – Beaver Animal Friend & Cub Animal Carer Badge Workshops (by

arrangement) https://community.petsathome.com/events/the-scouting-association/

RAF Cosford – Air Activities Staged Badge for all sections https://

www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/group-visits/scout-groups/

March Bulletin

Norjam

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:31:23 GMT

NorJam Activity Staff Opportunities ��

Be a part of the most rewarding way to get involved with NorJam, by enabling young people to participate in over 200 activities!

Adult (18+) volunteers are required as Staff to lead and support our awesome activities during the week of NorJam - Saturday 9th to Saturday 16th August 2025.

You could be an Activities Leader, Activity Zone Lead Coordinator or Activity Sub-Camp Coordinator, to name drop a few of the activity-related staff roles available at the event!

You'll also have access to the Staff Only Areas, to relax and enjoy the amazing entertainment with old friends and new ��

Click here to see further Activity Staff info: https://www.norjam.org.uk/be-a-norjam-activities-hero/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH6TCdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHY4onfzzcnWFO_iZc3Koz9uksm0yqNzUsqcQEDu9JuB51k2W2jef-Nm4YA_aem_3U4Wwa8YirvvTtb1_e4gLg

Click here to book your place as an Activity Staff member: https://www.norjam.org.uk/booking/

Any queries, please go to https://www.norjam.org.uk/contact-us/ and a member of the NorJam Team will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Liam Segust - Programme Deputy Director

NorJam 2025

Norfolk Scouts

March Bulletin

Lincs Fest - save the date

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:21:38 GMT

Save the date

Lincsfest 25 is being held over the weekend 12-14 ^th September 2025 at Sudbrooke Park, Lincoln.

All the good bits from last year and much more.

Bookings open shortly. If you have any suggestions for sessions, please let me know at Malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk and we will see if we can include it in the programme.

March Bulletin

Please login to the new membership system

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:16:21 GMT

New membership system

There are still a large number of members who have not logged into the new membership system. If you continue to have difficulty, please reach out to your Lead Volunteer for help or email malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

This is essential to be done as you will then be able to accept the membership agreement and access your learning and members of your team. Regrettably if learning is not done, particularly, safety, safeguarding and first aid, then your membership will be at risk of suspension.

March Bulletin

It's time to book on as a staff member at Poacher 2026!

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:01:04 GMT

Bookings are open for staff members for Poacher 26!

First, have a look at the website and see what your top roles are. There is a wide selection across the event, and the web page gives a short description for each. You can also filter your area of interest, so you don’t just see our long list of roles!

Then, once you’ve chosen, follow the link to book! https://poacher.org.uk/updates/staff-booking-applications-are-now-open/ If you are already part of a team, please wait to hear from your team leader before registering. They will have a special link for you to use.

When completing your booking application form, please fill in all the boxes, if you hover over the question it will tell you what we’re looking for in the answer. Here’s a helping hand:

Appointment: please tell us your current role in Scouting or Guiding. Please also consider how this information needs to be appropriate and outline what your current role is.
Camping location: We’re wanting you to tell us whether you are camping on the staff camp or with a group (if group, let us know which).
Relevant Experience: tell us a little bit about you, but again remember that information needs to be appropriate.
Permits and certificates: Relevant certification for the staff team preferences you’ve chosen. For example, if you have a Scouting and/or Guiding permit for canoeing, or a National Governing Body (NGB) qualification climbing, etc. Please write “none” if you have no relevant Scouting or Guiding Activity permits or NGB certificates.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: tell us why you’re a good candidate for the team, maybe you worked on the same team at Poacher 2022, or it is your hobby outside of Scouting and Guiding.
Don’t forget your membership number!

That’s the form complete! You’ll later receive two emails – one confirming your registration, and another asking you to create a login. Please give it some time for them to come through, but also check it doesn’t accidentally go into your spam or junk folders. If it does, add bookings@poacher.org.uk to your ‘whitelist’ by marking them as ‘not spam’ – this way they always get through and you won’t miss any updates!

If you’re bringing children, please register the same way, and then email bookings@poacher.org.uk with your child’s name, D.O.B, attending parents name, if they’ve got any medical conditions, and gender.

Any questions drop an email to bookings@poacher.org.uk .

March Bulletin

New First Aid dates released

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:59:03 GMT

First response dates for March and April 2025

17th March 7pm-9pm – online - Consolidation session for those that have completed the Hampshire e-learning module. Please send your e-learning certificate to Lucy or Michelle prior to the course.

26th March 7pm-8pm – online – Top up session for those Leaders that have completed an external first aid course that does not include the Scout specific extras on the syllabus.

7th April 7pm-9pm - online - Consolidation session for those that have completed the Hampshire e-learning module. Please send your e-learning certificate to Lucy or Michelle prior to the course.

Bookings at https://forms.office.com/e/Xkvgv51NMQ

March Bulletin

New First Response dates released

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:49:47 GMT

First response dates for March and April 2025

17 ^th March 7pm-9pm – online - Consolidation session for those that have completed the Hampshire e-learning module. Please send your e-learning certificate to Lucy or Michelle prior to the course.

26 ^th March 7pm-8pm – online – Top up session for those Leaders that have completed an external first aid course that does not include the Scout specific extras on the syllabus.

7 ^th April 7pm-9pm - online - Consolidation session for those that have completed the Hampshire e-learning module. Please send your e-learning certificate to Lucy or Michelle prior to the course.

Bookings at https://forms.office.com/e/Xkvgv51NMQ

Weekend on the Water

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:36:08 GMT

The County Water Activities Team are again running Weekend on the Water.

What : Sailing, Powerboating, Canoe/Kayak, Bell Boat and SUP courses.

Who : Scouts aged 13+, Explorers, Young Leaders, Network, all adults in Lincolnshire scouting. For those under 18, a leader will need to attend with the Young people.

Location : 15th Lincoln Scouts Water HQ at Apex Lake, North Hykeham. There is camping on site.

Cost : £45 per participant for Sailing, SUP, Bellboating and Canoe/Kayaking. £60 for Powerboating .

Other

Bring your own tent. Water sports kit needed (wet-suits or old clothes + old trainers. Buoyancy aids provided). The only additional costs will be for any specific assessment/certificate costs.

Food: We will provide food from Saturday am – Sunday lunch. You will need to feed yourselves on Friday night (we will have hot drink making facilities) – you could bring a packed tea, have tea before you arrive, or get something on your way! You may also want to bring supper snacks!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-scouts-weekend-on-the-water-wow-2025-tickets-1266617560219?aff=oddtdtcreator

Places fill quickly, book early to avoid disappointment!

March Bulletin

WOW (Weekend on the Water) - Bookings now open

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 22:15:05 GMT

Bookings now open for WOW (Weekend on the Water). This event is for Explorers (14+), Network and Adult Volunteers.

The County Water Activities Team are again running Weekend on the Water.

What : Sailing, Powerboating, Canoe/Kayak, Bell Boat and SUP courses.

Who : Scouts aged 13+, Explorers, Young Leaders, Network, all adults in Lincolnshire scouting. For those under 18, a leader will need to attend with the Young people.

Location : 15th Lincoln Scouts Water HQ at Apex Lake, North Hykeham. There is camping on site.

Cost : £45 per participant for Sailing, SUP, Bellboating and Canoe/Kayaking. £60 for Powerboating .

Other

Bring your own tent. Water sports kit needed (wet-suits or old clothes + old trainers. Buoyancy aids provided). The only additional costs will be for any specific assessment/certificate costs.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-scouts-weekend-on-the-water-wow-2025-tickets-1266617560219?aff=oddtdtcreator

Places fill quickly, book early to avoid disappointment!

County Bulletin: Issue 9 (February 2025)

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:06:54 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

From the County Lead Volunteer

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:04:00 GMT

It was great to attend Summit25 where Scouts vision is also getting a refresh Our current Skills for Life Strategy had a bold ambition that by 2025 we would prepare more young people with skills for life supported by amazing volunteers that deliver an inspiring programme. Despite a global pandemic and a cost of living crisis the Scouts continues to flourish but it is now time to think about what the world will look like in 10 years’ time. Seven members of the Lincolnshire Scouts team attended Summit 25 in Birmingham to discuss development of the strategy.

Across the weekend there were discussion groups and thought-provoking talks, including a key note speech from the UK Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields and a motivational talk from Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Children’ Society. He delivered some disturbing news about the state of children’s happiness in the UK, it is not great news but also shows the potential that Scouting has to make a positive effect on children’s wellbeing. If you are interested in this their research makes very interesting reading - The Good Childhood Report | The Children's Society

The new strategy will be released in early 2026 but I think we can expect to see more about support for the mental wellbeing of children, volunteers and families. We are aiming to provides mental health awareness training for our adult volunteers, and we will let you know when we have arranged dates. If you would like to be part of the team looking at this please email Claire Thompson at Claire.thompson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We have also added a County Directory to the website so you can see contact the team. This can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/county-team . We will be adding details of our Activity teams next.

There are lots of things happening in the county this year so please take time to look through this newsletter, the county calendar on the website and if there is anything you would like to contribute please email it to me at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Howard Nelson

Lead Volunteer - Lincolnshire Scouts

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Cyber Security

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:03:51 GMT

Cybersecurity Update: Strengthening Our Digital Defences

We are pleased to share an important update regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance cybersecurity across Lincolnshire Scouts. As part of our commitment to protecting sensitive data and ensuring the safety of all users, we have been working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to monitor all the County managed domains. This collaboration brings a range of key benefits, ensuring that we are always a step ahead in the fight against cyber threats.

Key Benefits of NCSC Domain Monitoring:

Proactive Threat Detection: The NCSC uses advanced tools and expertise to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats across our domains in real-time. This proactive approach helps us prevent cyberattacks before they can cause harm.
Early Warning System: By monitoring for suspicious activity, the NCSC can alert us to emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities, allowing for timely intervention.
Enhanced Security Posture: With the NCSC’s guidance and continuous monitoring, we are able to keep up with the latest security trends and threats, ensuring our defence strategies are always up-to-date.

County IT Team's Role: Safeguarding Lincolnshire Scouts

The County IT Team plays a crucial role in monitoring for suspicious emails and protecting all users from cyber threats. Key tasks include:

Email: The IT team actively monitors all incoming emails to detect phishing attempts, malware, and other suspicious activity. Any potentially harmful messages are flagged and blocked to prevent harm.
Incident Response: When a threat is identified, the team rapidly takes appropriate action.
Reacting to NCSC early warnings and working with local volunteers to support their implementation.

Manage your own group domain? Want to benefit from monitoring by the National Cyber Security Centre? Utilise Microsoft 365 Tools without the headache of managing it locally?

Get in touch via the Service Centre - https://scouts.cc .

Upskill in Cyber Security: Free Resources

Stay one step ahead of cyber threats with the National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) wealth of learning resources! The NCSC offers a range of accessible and informative tools designed to boost your cybersecurity awareness, from recognising phishing scams to understanding the latest threats facing organisations today. Whether you're new to cybersecurity or looking to sharpen your skills, their training materials and guides provide practical tips to help you protect yourself and your work. Empower yourself with the knowledge to spot dangers before they strike - because in the world of cyber threats, knowledge is power!

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/charity/resources

Stay safe, stay vigilant!

Visit the IT Hub for more information and support - https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/ITHub.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Places available on Lincs Scouts Open Expedition

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:03:44 GMT

Spaces still available

Open Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025

Hiking Expedition in Yorkshire

Open to all Explorer and Network members

Lincolnshire Scouts are running an open DofE Silver Expedition for any members who would like to participate. The event includes all planning, practice and the qualifier expedition which will take place in the beautiful Dalby region of Yorkshire.

Dates

Planning weekend 29 and 30 March

Practice 19 to 21 April

Planning weekend 26 and 27 April

Expedition 24 to 26 May

Requirements

Participants should be members of Lincolnshire scouting and registered with DofE at Silver level

All participants should have completed First Aid and Navigation badges at level 3

Participants should have access to suitable expedition equipment including boots, rucksack, sleeping bag and clothing. Tents and stoves will be provided.

Costs

The cost for the entire package will be £160 which covers all direct costs including camping fees.

Additional costs will be transport (car share available) to the events and your personal food.

If you are interested or would like to know more please contact murray.macdonald@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New District Lead Volunteer needed for South Holland

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:03:36 GMT

Lorraine Derrick will be stepping down from her role as District Lead Volunteer for South Holland District on 31 March 2025. On behalf of the County and the District Trustee Board, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of Lorraine's hard work and dedication in the role.

As a result we are now recruiting for its next inspirational volunteer (or team of volunteers) to lead South Holland District. Please click to download the pack which contains detailed information about the role as well as 2 application forms which volunteers can use to either express their interest in the role or to nominate someone else for consideration.

We would love to hear from you if you would like to apply or if you would like to find out more information about the role please have a look at the pack . The deadline for all applications is 28 February 2025.

Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here. Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 28th February 2025

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

LCVYS - Young Leader Training

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:03:30 GMT

Lincolnshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services are very pleased to be offering a free 2 day residential course for over 14’s to provide a level 2 Young Leader Award qualification. This will be held on the 7th to 9th April near Doncaster, Free transport from Lincoln or North Hykeham will be provided by train. Although this is not Scouts Young leader Training, it will be still be very worthwhile.

Places are limited so if you know of anyone that would be interested, please use the contact details on the attached picture.

This is a great opportunity for young people and should be a lot of fun.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Transformation

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:47 GMT

Thank you to everyone who has logged in and used the new system. Your support with using the new database has been greatly appreciated. We are pleased that some of the initial issues are now being resolved and headquarters are continuing to work to solve problems.

The new learning modules are working, and a quick reminder that all members need to renew their safety training by 14th July.

Every issue raised with us has been fed back to HQ and they are working through some fixes.

HQ have advised us that the issues with login to the system has improved. They have also resolved some issues around viewing permissions, with more fixes due soon.

We are aware of some issues with the data explorer functions, so your District Lead Volunteer has been sent a spreadsheet of all members.

Please keep raising issues by emailing golive@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for now. We are able to respond to this quickly and provide support where needed. It is likely that we will moving towards a more local base support in the future.

Everyone should have received an email on 10th January with key FAQs and information in, but here is a reminder of the key points below: Key Information:

You can log in via https://membership.scouts.org.uk even if you didn’t receive an invitation from HQ

Your username is your email address and you click 'forgot password' to reset the password and gain access

You can find online guides here https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/

Please email the County - Go-Live Support golive@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for any help.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Learning

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:46 GMT

Manager and Supporter Learning

Achieving Growth - 8th/9th March - Bemrose Centre, Drum Hill

The East Midlands Learning Team are hosting a course as part of the Manager and Supporter learning path. This is a great opportunity to elevate your leadership skills and work towards the Manager and Supporter wood badge.

To book onto this course got to https://bookwhen.com/emrt

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Young Leader Training weekend

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:42 GMT

Young Leader training weekend

11th - 13th April 2025

Key Details:

Arrival: From 6:00 PM on Friday

Collection: By 3:00 PM on Sunday Accommodation:

Indoor accommodation is available on a First-come, First-served basis. Camping is also available (please bring your own tent).

Kit List and Itinerary will be sent out closer to the event

What to Expect:

Training modules A–J to help you progress towards your Young Leader Award. Additional opportunities For skill development and Fun activities.

Food: All meals will be provided throughout the weekend.

Cost:

The event is subsidised by the County; we ask For a £15 contribution per participant. Payment details: Lincolnshire County Scout Council, 09-01-27, 91841993, Payment Deadline: 01.03.2025

Flexibility:

Can’t attend the whole weekend? That’s Fine! You’re welcome to join us for:

A single day

Specific modules

One Night

Please make contact to arrange an alternative schedule.

Accessibility:

If you require reasonable adjustments to participate Fully, please get in touch to discuss your needs. We’ll do our best to support you.

How to Book:

Complete your booking using the link https://Forms.oFFice.com/e/E2vdn4ekwA

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shacklewell Hollow Scout Site, Stamford Road, LE15 8ǪǪ

Contact: Ellie.Broome@LincolnshireScouts.org.uk

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Paracord discount

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:39 GMT

Paracord Discount

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:35 GMT

Any leaders who are currently running the scheme or are interested in finding out more about it to explain to their scouts or explorer sections, please sign up for the Leaders day on Saturday 1st March. During this day the County Duke of Edinburgh’s award advisors will be updating you on their current plans, giving up to date briefings from HQ and supporting you with any problems you may have.

There will be copious amounts of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or squash, but bring a mug and some lunch and find out all you need to know.

7th Grantham Scout HQ, Earlsfield Lane, Grantham NG31 7NT Saturday 1st March from 9.15am till 4pm.

Please follow this link to register for the day. Event registration D of E Google Form

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Scouts of the World Award - Are you between 18 and 25 and have a project you’d like to pursue?

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:24 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts are running a World Scout Organisation Scouts of the World Discovery weekend (SOWA) on Saturday 22nd February and Sunday 23rd February at Ketton Scout HQ.

SOWA is one of the world Top awards for young people and it all starts by finding out about the award at a discovery event. There are options to stay overnight and be fully catered for during the event. Why not find out more and perhaps this could be the start of something amazing.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Are you a petrol head? Would you like to help out occasionally at fun events?

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:23 GMT

The Lincolnshire Go Kart Team are looking to expand their membership and bring ex-members back into their ranks. They are a really friendly fun team who have already recruited some members who have just left explorers. If you would like to find out more about the team, they have some more preparation days on 1st March and 4th April before their busy summer which includes Isle of Wight, Kent Jamboree and Norjam for a start.

For more information or to register an interest, get in touch with Andrew Bailey on bailey-a12@sky.com

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Cave Trailer Activity Team

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:02:20 GMT

Quietly and in the background over the last 18 months, a new behemoth has been developing in the county store. This is our new mobile cave trailer, fully equipped for groups, districts or county activities.

It is almost ready to be released into the wild on April 6th and we are now looking for volunteers who are willing to train on the cave system and be prepared to run the activity at County events. Those who are already trained on the Sudbrooke indoor cave system will just need a familiarisation session with the new trailer to use it, but we are looking for more volunteers to run the trailer. If you would like to get involved please contact either Carolyn Greig Carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or Neil Onyon neilonyon@gmail.com to register your interest.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Pride Team Leader needed

claire.burt@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Claire Burt) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:03:42 GMT

Pride Team Leader needed

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincoln Scouts Target Tournament entries are now open!

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:02:19 GMT

Lincoln Scouts Target Tournament entries are now open!

This is the same as the Archery Competition, but we have now added Tomahawks for people to compete in. Taking place  12th & 13th July 2025

This is open to all Scouts, Explorers, and  Adult Volunteers from all Districts.

It's £6 to enter per sport, this will get you a badge along with if successful a shiny medal.

To book in please follow this link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lincoln-scouts-target-tournament-tickets-1096025926049?aff=oddtdtcreator

Payment can then be made to the team.

To keep up today with any tournament news please follow the new Facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/19utN9ZrFg/

Any questions regarding the tournament please email:  lincolntt@lincolnscouts.org.uk

Entries close 12th June. 

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chill Out Camp 4th – 6th July Walesby Activity Centre

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:02:18 GMT

The Evboo booking system for Chill Out should be live by 9.30pm on Thursday 6th February.

As soon as it is, the Programme Team will share this to section leaders as well as including it on as many social media platforms as possible. Keep your eyes peeled, and Chill Out!

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

King Scout Requirements

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:02:14 GMT

Please could I remind DLV’s and 14-24 Leads that there is a new King Scout Logbook available on the Scouts website.

https://cms.scouts.org.uk/media/1lmlknae/ksa-logbook-completion-form-using-post-010624-ksa-criteria-updated-131224.docx

This must be now used. Once complete, please email to Carolyn Greig as there is a Smartsheet form which needs to be completed for each submission following a review of HQ procedures. This should not be emailed directly to the Awards team any longer.

February Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Pride Team Leader needed

claire.burt@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Claire Burt) — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 21:04:02 GMT

Pride

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Lincolnshire DofE open expedition

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:35:23 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts Open DofE Expedition

Spaces still available

Open Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025

Hiking Expedition in Yorkshire

Open to all Explorer and Network members

Dates

Planning weekend 29 and 30 March

Practice 19 to 21 April

Planning weekend 26 and 27 April

Expedition 24 to 26 May

Requirements

Participants should be members of Lincolnshire scouting and registered with DofE at Silver level

All participants should have completed First Aid and Navigation badges at level 3

Participants should have access to suitable expedition equipment including boots, rucksack, sleeping bag and clothing. Tents and stoves will be provided.

Costs.

The cost for the entire package will be £160 which covers all direct costs including camping fees.

Additional costs will be transport (car share available) to the events and your personal food.

If you are interested or would like to know more please contact murray.macdonald@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

New District Lead Volunteer needed for South Holland District

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:50:00 GMT

We are looking a new District Lead Volunteer roles for South Holland

Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here. Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 28th February 2025

County Lead Volunteer - Welcome to 2025

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:32:07 GMT

31 December 2024

As I pen this message on New Year’s Eve, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the journey we’ve shared over the past year and to look forward to our plans for 2025. The past year has been one of incredible adventures, growth, and learning, and I’m immensely proud of the resilience, enthusiasm, and energy each of you has brought to Lincolnshire Scouts.

Since stepping into the role of County Lead Volunteer in May 2024, I have been privileged to witness a wealth of fantastic Scouting. From County events such as Chiller, Lincsfest, and numerous water activity days, to the brilliant Scouting taking place at a local level, it’s been inspiring to see our community thrive. I’ve also been delighted to note the growing number of King’s Scouts and DofE Gold Award recipients. Achieving the King’s Scout Award or DofE Gold is the pinnacle of a Scout’s journey, and I’d like to extend my congratulations to everyone who earned this prestigious award in 2024.

This year also marked the beginning of significant improvements to the volunteer experience. With the introduction of new digital tools in November and updated ways of working, these advancements are set to enhance our volunteering environment. I’m keen to see further improvements and refinements to these tools in 2025 and am confident they’ll make Scouting simpler and more rewarding for us all.

Looking ahead to 2025, there’s much to look forward to for our Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers. Highlights include the Chill Out Camp in July, as well as LittleLincs and Lincub later in the year. We’re also planning several sessions to support those taking on new Team Leader roles, with the first focused on Programme Team Leads in the spring. Preparations for the return of Poacher in 2026 are now also well underway. You can see details of all events for 2025 on the new county calendar at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/calendar and on the front page of the website .

I recognise that adult recruitment remains a challenge in some areas across Lincolnshire, and addressing this will be a key focus for 2025. Additionally, I’m excited to announce the upcoming launch of a grant programme designed to support the development of our buildings and campsites – more details will be shared on our website soon and in this bulletin.

Scouting simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and support of our incredible volunteers. To every leader, helper, parent, and supporter across the County, I want to express my sincere thanks. It’s due to your hard work and commitment that Lincolnshire Scouts continues to provide young people with opportunities to embrace new challenges, discover their potential, and create lifelong memories. I have been especially pleased to see a good number of adult volunteers receive HQ awards for their service including a record number of Silver Wolf awards, the highest award possible for adults in Scouting.

As we step into the new year, I wish you all a successful and fulfilling 2025. I look forward to hearing about the exciting Scouting adventures that the coming year will bring.

Happy New Year!

Howard
County Lead Volunteer

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 8 (January 2025)

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:48:22 GMT

Welcome to the latest edition of the Lincs County Bulletin. This is issued on the first Friday of each month. The bulletin will be sent to all adults registered on compass and distributed widely. To submit material for the bulletin please email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk.

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

New Lincolnshire IMP grants

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:46:50 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts IMP small capital projects fund

Applications for the Lincolnshire Scouts IMP small capital projects fund will be considered for projects is designed for small capital (improvement / building) projects, to improve (not repair) Scouting infrastructure / facilities. The aim is to support projects that will facilitate the delivery of better-quality Scouting to more young people.

The fund is available to Scout Groups and Districts within Lincolnshire Scouts. Awards to others and individuals are not allowed. The IMP small capital project fund is limited– once allocated funds are spent the fund will be closed.

The IMP small capital project scheme can fund no more than £2,500. Funds must be matched by an equal amount from another source.

Where possible, other sources of development funding should already have been sought, or should be in the process of being sought e.g. Headquarters grants, other grants, fundraising by the applicants or funding from the applicant’s reserves. Lincolnshire Scout County will not support applications where grants/loans from the County are the only source of funding.

Small Capital Project Grants

The capital project should directly benefit Scouting, either through:

The extension of facilities, to allow Scouting to be provided to more young people,
The improvements to Scouting facilities to deliver better quality Scouting to more young people or a more diverse group of young people. This includes the provision of disabled access or improvements to facilities to allow use by minority groups (including gender groups).
In exception circumstances, the reinstatement of Scouting facilities, where the condition of the current facilities is a significant detriment to the delivery of quality Scouting.
The grant application should indicate any target growth in numbers or improvement in the quality of Scouting which the loan/grant will facilitate.
The grant application should indicate how the capital asset or facilities will be maintained.

Timing of Applications

Applications may be made at any time, but are only considered twice per year based on funds available and the following calendar:

For Applications received by 30 April 30 September

Applications reviewed during May October

Applicants advised of outcomes 30 September 30 November

General Conditions

Applicants need to run “safe premises” demonstrated by the safe premises checklist which would need to be submitted at the time of the grant application.
Applicants with reserves greater than 6 months of their income would not be eligible to apply.
Applicants would need to own their property or have a lease with more than 10 years remaining.
Applications will need be endorsed by (as appropriate) the DLV /GLV / Group Chair.
Applicants should have an effective Trustee Board (a minimum of a Chair and Treasurer) and GLV in place.
Applicants must be registered for Gift Aid, or be in the process of registering for Gift Aid.
A project report detailing how the funds were spent including receipts will need to be submitted within 3 months of the end of the project.
Funds must be spent within 12 months of award and any funds not spent must be returned to the County.
Applications will be scored. In the event of applications made at the same time, the application received first will take priority.
Planning and architects fees are excluded.
Lincolnshire Scouts will publicise the grants.
Applicants may only apply once for this fund.
Lincolnshire Scouts reserve the right to decide on how awards are made and to withdraw the scheme at its discretion.

Application forms can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/IMP-grants/apply

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Young Leader Training

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:46:48 GMT

Young Leader training weekend

11th - 13th April 2025

Key Details:

Arrival: From 6:00 PM on Friday

Collection: By 3:00 PM on Sunday Accommodation:

Indoor accommodation is available on a First-come, First-served basis. Camping is also available (please bring your own tent).

Kit List and Itinerary will be sent out closer to the event

What to Expect:

Training modules A–J to help you progress towards your Young Leader Award. Additional opportunities For skill development and Fun activities.

Food: All meals will be provided throughout the weekend.

Cost:

The event is subsidised by the County; we ask For a £15 contribution per participant. Payment details: Lincolnshire County Scout Council, 09-01-27, 91841993, Payment Deadline: 01.03.2025

Flexibility:

Can’t attend the whole weekend? That’s Fine! You’re welcome to join us for:

A single day

Specific modules

One Night

Please make contact to arrange an alternative schedule.

Accessibility:

If you require reasonable adjustments to participate Fully, please get in touch to discuss your needs. We’ll do our best to support you.

How to Book:

Complete your booking using the link https://Forms.oFFice.com/e/E2vdn4ekwA

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shacklewell Hollow Scout Site, Stamford Road, LE15 8ǪǪ

Contact: Ellie.Broome@LincolnshireScouts.org.uk

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Youth Shaped Scouting

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:46:46 GMT

Over these past few weeks, there has been a recruitment drive for the Lincolnshire Youth Shapers, with a recruitment day set to take place on the 11th January to involve more new members in the team. Applications are open for another few days, so if you do want to attend - or let someone who you think would be interested know - the link to sign up is https://forms.office.com/e/9FN3YFUcri .

Any new youth shaping opportunities can be found posted on the Instagram page @youshapelincs and on the county website . In addition to this, I have created a short guide on youth shaped scouting based on the comments and feedback from young people, and how this could be implemented within sections. This guide can be found at here . More information on youth shaped scouting is at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/youth-shaped .

Kind regards,

Caitlin

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Census 2025

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:32:04 GMT

Census

Just a reminder that the census should be completed as soon as possible. You should all have received your access login and passwords. Please contact you Group or District Lead Volunteer if you have not yet got them.

Although the completion deadline issued by HQ is 14 February 2025, we need Districts to have submitted their data by 10 February to enable us to approve the county returns and submit by the HQ deadline own by the above deadline. Districts may set a slightly earlier deadline, but please ask your DLV.

There are two areas for adults, one where the prime role is with the Group or District, and the area to the right to show adults who have main roles elsewhere. Each member must be recorded once only so that we get an accurate count.

An accurate account of all young people is essential as are the ethnicity, etc, of all. This date helps HQ obtain large funding from grant making bodies, and helps HQ, Counties and Districts to identify areas where additional support is needed.

Thankyou to everyone involved in the census this year for your commitment to complete this most important task.

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Awards

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:32:02 GMT

When you access your membership information on the new system, there is an area where anyone can nominate a person for recognition for an award. If you know of a member who has gone above and beyond their volunteering role, taking on extra responsibility, supporting others, building the group or District, or taking on a project that has impacted others, then there is an award available.

Click on the section, find the person, and explain why you feel recognition is necessary. The system does the rest by forwarding your nomination to the next stage automatically. Some awards require a minimum number of years’ service, but in exceptional circumstances, this can be overcome. There is also an opportunity to nominate young people and adults for Meritorious Conduct and Gallantry awards, Cornwell Scout Badge and the Chief Scout’s Personal Awards.

I look forward to seeing many more leaders and young people receiving appropriate recognition.

Malcolm.Moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk Tel 07402 504818

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Welcome conversations

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:32:00 GMT

The new system of welcoming volunteers into their role is a massive improvement. If you would like to get involved in your group, District, or County, you will need to complete the learning online and the outcome will be recorded in your record. Let your lead Volunteer know you are interested. Volunteers are needed in all Groups, Districts and at County level.

Malcolm.Moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Tel 07402 504818

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Learning

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:31:52 GMT

Learning Team

County and some Districts are seeking volunteers to join the learning team to provide face to face learning so that leaders can complete the learning appropriate to their role. This can include practical skills, first aid learning, and delivering modules for Leaders , supporters, and managers. If you feel you can support volunteers on a one to one basis then being a learning mentor may be of interest. If you already have an ability or skill and are interested to know more, please let me know.

Malcolm.Moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Tel 07402 504818

January Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Congratulations - 10th Lincoln

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:10:41 GMT

Well done Waddington Scout Group

During their Christmas Carol Service, 10th Lincoln (1st Waddington) Scout Group received a Station Commander's Commendation. This is an amazing award to receive on their 80th anniversary year. Many congratulations!

King's Coronation Medal

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:19:56 GMT

Well done Georgia!

We were honoured to present Georgia Galloway with her King’s Coronation Medal at Stamford & Bourne District Scouts Young Leader training. It was super to be presented it alongside Explorers and Squirrel Scouts meeting today in the same place as Georgia started Scouting.

From the County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:19:13 GMT

December always sees lots of preparation for Christmas and lots of fantastic events. I have already been to a brilliant gang show at 18th Gainsborough (Haxey) and the superb Lincoln Awards Event. I am also visiting Boston’s Carol Service and looking forward to seeing the International Peace Light in Stamford.

We have recently held a successful County Team Day, including our County and wider district teams. Our SLT ran a series of talks and activities, getting us all to review where we are and where we would like to be in 2028. We even got to have a look at our new Cave maze trailer, which is nearing completion and will be available for use soon! Thank you to everyone that took part.

We have also moved into the next phase of transformation with the introduction of a new database to replace Compass. This will make administration much easier and will require everyone to log in to complete their learning (previously known as training), to submit Nights Away Notifications and also nominate someone for an award.

Everyone will receive an invitation to log on to the new system, so please make sure you do. Everyone will be required to complete the new safety training by July 2025 so a good reason to log on and check it out.

Finally, it just remains for me to say have a very Happy Christmas and the very best wishes to you and your families for the New Year.

Howard

County Lead Volunteer

December Bulletin

Well done - Willingham Group!

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:03:10 GMT

From Robin Wright of Willingham group:

" As well as a huge collection at Harvest Service, our young people have done their own fundraising, by walking, climbing steep hill a number of times, cycle rides and small pop up shops in schools. All their own ideas.

On Monday and Tuesday they will shop at Morrisons and buy the guided food for the local community foodbank. It was a nice job to take out scout Groups contribution to the Salvation Army Foodbank. My van was full from passage seat to seats. Very very proud of our young people, who raised the money through their individual ideas and then shopped for the goods.

Incredible achievement Willingham Scouts Group".

Well done from all at Lincolnshire Scouts too!

December Bulletin

County Bulletin: Issue 7 (December 2024)

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:57:39 GMT

Download as a PDF

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In this issue:

Assessors Day

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:43:39 GMT

County Activity Assessors 1st February 2025

We have an Assessor’s day at 7th Grantham Scout HQ, Earlesfield Lane, Lincs, NG31 7NT on Saturday 1st February for all county activity assessors.

This will run from 9am until 3.30pm with a break for lunch and some healthy competition in the afternoon. It is a chance for everyone assessing permits to ensure that we all comply to the same rules and standards when granting permits. Please do your very best to attend.

December Bulletin

DofE update

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:42:23 GMT

Duke Of Edinburgh’s Leader Update day 1st March 2025

Lincolnshire DofE day

The new team of Lincolnshire DofE Advisors would like to invite all adults involved with DofE, and any thinking about starting or just wondering what it is all about, to a meeting on 1st March 2025.

Venue is 7th Grantham HQ, Earlesfield Lane, Grantham NG31 7NT.

10am – 4pm. FOC, but packed lunch required. Tea, coffee etc will be provided.

Whatever your experience you are very welcome. There will be opportunities to share your ideas, get the latest updates and information, and engage with support in the county, with breakout sessions and workshops to suit everyone.

More information, including booking, will follow shortly.

Lincolnshire Scouts DofE Advisors

Dave Relton dave.relton@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Heidi Latronico Ferris heidi.latronico-ferris@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Murray Macdonald murray.macdonald@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

December Bulletin

Programme Team

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:39:49 GMT

It’s a busy time at the moment, planning for 2025 and wrapping up all of 2024’s event.

Chiller 2024

It was brilliant to see so many Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Young Leaders and even Leaders enjoying themselves at Chiller last month. Thank you to the whole team who made such a great event happen again and to the weather gods who smiled on us once more keeping the worst of the rain, high winds and freezing temperatures at bay at least for the day.

The team aren’t resting on their laurels though and not only are they busy collecting your feedback about the event, but they’re also very busy planning an all section camping event Chill Out 2025 for next summer as something a little different for you all to enjoy. Prices were circulated on the maps at Chiller and the flyer is attached for anyone who didn’t see it at Walesby. Booking forms should be out in the next few weeks so do start thinking about next summer and whether you would like to join the fun. Explorers will be doing their 24 hour stint again at Chill out with lots of wild things to do during the night.

Feedback can still be submitted through: https://bit.ly/49pvjwH

Cave Trailer for Hire

Some of you may have heard that the County , and particularly the amazing Neil Onyon have designed and built our own cave trailer which is almost ready for hire.

We will be running a couple of familiarisation sessions for anyone who wants to use it, similar to the system run by the indoor cave at Sudbrooke. We also have to finalise details of it’s towing weight, but by next spring, it should be ready to be used at events and groups across the county. This is such a useful resource to promote scouting and I’m sure it will be well used. Thank you so much to Neil and Ian Cawsey for all their hard work on this amazing resource.

That’s all from me apart from thanking you all for all your hard work throughout 2024 and for all that you do for our young people. May you all have a very restful and joyful Christmas time and a happy and healthy new year.

Carolyn, Ellie and the Programme Team

December Bulletin

County Young Leader Training

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:01:28 GMT

Young Leader training weekend

11th - 13th April 2025

Key Details:

Arrival: From 6:00 PM on Friday

Collection: By 3:00 PM on Sunday Accommodation:

Indoor accommodation is available on a First-come, First-served basis. Camping is also available (please bring your own tent).

Kit List and Itinerary will be sent out closer to the event

What to Expect:

Training modules A–J to help you progress towards your Young Leader Award. Additional opportunities For skill development and Fun activities.

Food: All meals will be provided throughout the weekend.

Cost:

The event is subsidised by the County; we ask For a £15 contribution per participant. Payment details: Lincolnshire County Scout Council, 09-01-27, 91841993, Payment Deadline: 01.03.2025

Flexibility:

Can’t attend the whole weekend? That’s Fine! You’re welcome to join us for:

A single day
Specific modules
One Night

Please make contact to arrange an alternative schedule.

Accessibility:

IF you require reasonable adjustments to participate Fully, please get in touch to discuss your needs. We’ll do our best to support you.

How to Book:

Complete your booking using the link below or Scan the ǪR:

https://Forms.oFFice.com/e/E2vdn4ekwA

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shacklewell Hollow Scout Site, Stamford Road, LE15 8ǪǪ

Contact: Ellie.Broome@LincolnshireScouts.org.uk

December Bulletin

Greetings from Scotland

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:53:51 GMT

Greetings from Bonny Scotland!

Moving from Stamford and Bourne and settling into Scottish Scouting has been fun, and the campsite at Bonaly has been somewhere I have really enjoyed getting involved. Just like Shacklewell and other Lincolnshire sites, but on a bit bigger scale! Camping, bunkhouses, and cabins available, and open all year round.

This is a real accessible place for you to plan to bring your Scouts – with great facilities on the edge of the Pentland Hills (hike out the back of the site), yet in easy reach of the big city attractions of museums and historical buildings (Edinburgh Castle!) and even a fantastic Zoo. Late summer has the famous Edinburgh Festival and Fringe……hard to get accommodation in the city then, but usually plenty of room at Bonaly.

Getting here from Lincolnshire is an easy rail trip up the east Coast main line, and when you arrive at Waverley Station, just catch the No 10 bus on Princes Street to get out direct to Bonaly, with a bus stop just down the road!

If anyone would like more information, have a look at the website or email as above….or if you want a more personal chat, please give me a call or text– 07776 247981

Yours in Scouting

Doug Cobbold

December Bulletin

Inclusion - would you like to be part of the team

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:50:15 GMT

We’re growing our Inclusion Team!

Are you passionate about ensuring as many people as possible get to experience Scouting? Do you have experience working with children or adults with additional needs? Have you supported children or adults with mental health problems? Are you eager to help make Scouting in Lincolnshire more diverse and support people from under represented communities to become members?

We’re building a team to support adults and young people across the County to ensure Scouting in Lincolnshire is inclusive and accessible to all. We hope our team will include members who are able to support:

Additional needs
LGBTQIA+
Mental Health
Equity and Diversity including Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Groups (BAME) and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Faith and Beliefs.

As well as helping to:

Support events around the County to be accessible and inclusive.
Support leaders to make their programmes accessible and inclusive.
Deliver inclusion training and workshops across the county.

If you feel you are able to support this team in anyway please get in touch with Claire Thompson- Inclusion Team Lead- claire.burt@lincolnscouts.org.uk

December Bulletin

SOWA course

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:18:22 GMT

Scouts of the World Discovery Event 18 – 25 year olds

On Saturday February 22nd and Sunday 23rd, Lincolnshire Programme team are running a discovery event for the SOWA Award. This is an award run by the World Scout Movement WOSM and involves an 80 hour project to leave our world in a better place based around sustainability, peace or the environment. However, to start the award, you do need to attend a discovery event and ours will be in person at Ketton Scout HQ, Pit Lane, Ketton PE9 3SZ

Booking is via the form attached https://forms.office.com/e/FxkWpcwu8r

More general information about the SOWA at https://www.scouts.org.uk/network/awards/scouts-of-the-world-award/

December Bulletin

Lincoln Scouts - Christmas Peace Light

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:18:20 GMT

On 1 December Lincoln Scouts were proud to light Lincoln’s peace light at Lincoln Cathedral, with district representatives of all ages coming together at the Choral Evensong.

Lincoln Scouts are honoured to be a part of this ceremony and encourage all to join us in spreading peace and hope this festive season.

December Bulletin

Autism Support

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:45:38 GMT

The National Autistic Society has some great resources to help support adult volunteers, who in turn may be supporting autistic young people within their group.

As a starting point, there is a free e-learning module available up to the end of February 2025 located here: Click here for more information . You just need to crease an account on the eLearning site and then can access the module for free.

In addition, the National Autistic Society have a set of free resources aimed at Scout and Explorer Scout Age range aiming to support autistic teenagers to understand what being autistic means to them. This is a series which will be updated over the coming years, however the first four topics focusing on ‘understanding yourself’, ‘energy accounting’, ‘exploring your identity’ & ‘setting yourself up for success’ are available now at www.autism.org.uk/KnowYourself

We are exploring further support on this topic and will let you know more when we know.

December Bulletin

Go Live Support

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:41:56 GMT

The new Scouting database will make volunteering in Scouting easier as all learning, permits and records will all be in one place. Young People data in OSM will not change – the new database is for adult members only. You should now have received your login details for the new system – these were due to be sent by 2nd December for all members.

What do I need to do?

There is a useful 'First Steps' checklist around what to do when your first login. When you get your details you will need to:

1. Log into the new system and reset your password

2. Complete the ‘declarations form’

3. Check that your personal details are correct

4. Review your training and activity permits (if you have them) to ensure they have migrated across correctly.

How can I get support with the new system?

There are user guides and FAQs on the new system 'help' function
If you have any questions or need support please email the Transformation Team at golive@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

December Bulletin

Vacancies on County Youth team

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:48:06 GMT

We are looking for two new volunteer roles for Lincolnshire Scouts

County Youth Team Member (acting as the Youth Shapers Lead)

Supervise and lead meetings with the youth shape team
Attend and help run YST camps
Support the work of the YST on various projects across the year
Be a face for the Youth Team within the county
Support small YST meet ups at county events such as Chiller
Promoting the YST to scouts all over the county

County Youth Team Member (as a District Youth Lead Coordinator)

Help with a rollout of a promotion plan for more district youth leads
Help to run online support meetings for DYLs
Support with the planning of DYL meet ups and camps
Be a face for the Youth Team within the county

Both roles will also include:

Other projects and plans that you are interested in implementing for youth shaped scouting across Lincolnshire
Attending in person meet ups and events to get Youth Shaping more well known in the community
In person and online team meet ups between us to keep up to date with progress and support
Networking and attending events to promote youth voice within the county
Attending some youth forums
Other small jobs related to raising youth voice onto a large platform within the county

Please contact caitlin.hall@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

Link to application form: https://forms.office.com/e/f4P4q7da8A

Thank you for your application.

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 Monday 16th December

December Bulletin

Go Live Support

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:34:37 GMT

Our Go-Live Support Team

We have a team of experienced Scouters on hand to provide the first line of support for local volunteers as we get to grips with our new digital tools. We can help with:

How-to queries to support both the local processes and questions about the new digital tools that support those local processes.
Help resolve any issues with volunteer’s profiles.
Escalate issues to second line support.
Report any potential system bugs or functionality issues.

Once the new tools are available to use, use the online form to raise any issues/queries and we will direct them to the best person to provide you with support or escalate where appropriate.

Step One:

Before contacting the team, we suggest that you check out HQ’s “Online guidance (and FAQs)” which can be found via the link Check out the Digital Tool guides

Step Two:

If the Online guidance doesn’t help, then please contact the team’s shared mailbox using the link below. You will initially receive an automated message confirming receipt of your request. We aim to reply to reply to all requests within 24 hours, sooner if possible.

Need Support? Contact us here

Changes to our Volunteering Experience

We are looking for County Youth Team Members

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:31:20 GMT

Great opportunity to join the County Youth Team!

We are looking for two new volunteer roles for Lincolnshire Scouts

County Youth Team Member (acting as the Youth Shapers Lead)

Supervise and lead meetings with the youth shape team

Attend and help run YST camps

Support the work of the YST on various projects across the year

Be a face for the Youth Team within the county

Support small YST meet ups at county events such as Chiller

Promoting the YST to scouts all over the county

County Youth Team Member (as a District Youth Lead Coordinator)

Help with a rollout of a promotion plan for more district youth leads

Help to run online support meetings for DYLs

Support with the planning of DYL meet ups and camps

Be a face for the Youth Team within the county

Both roles will also include:

Other projects and plans that you are interested in implementing for youth shaped scouting across Lincolnshire
Attending in person meet ups and events to get Youth Shaping more well known in the community

In person and online team meet ups between us to keep up to date with progress and support

Networking and attending events to promote youth voice within the county

Attending some youth forums

Other small jobs related to raising youth voice onto a large platform within the county

Please contact caitlin.hall@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions.

Link to application form: https://forms.office.com/e/f4P4q7da8A

Thank you for your application.

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 Monday 16th December

County Team day

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 12:58:14 GMT

County Team Day

We have recently held a successful County Team Day, including our County and wider district teams.

Our SLT ran a series of talks and activities, getting us all to review where we are and where we would like to be in 2028.

We even got to have a look at our new Cave maze trailer, which is nearing completion and will be available for use soon!

Thank you to everyone that took part :)

County Bulletin: Issue 6 (November 2024)

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:02:33 GMT

Download as a PDF

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In this issue:

County Lead Volunteer Update

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:15:59 GMT

I have been delighted to visit a number of great scouting events over the last few weeks and it reminded me of what great scouting is going on around the county. I visited Grantham & District Scouts cubs on water day at Rutland Water. The cubs were canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding and having lots of fun! It was also a pleasure to meet many of you at the recently held LincsFest.

I also had the real honour of seeing Rosie Flint awarded her Kings Scout Award by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire at Sleaford 's AGM. Well done Rosie! I was also pleased to have the chance to join South Holland at their AGM when they presented a number of adult awards and a Chief Scout's Award.

The team have also been out and about - Ellie Broome popped into the nights away training weekend. She was very impressed and said it looked like a really comprehensive training course! Thank you to all the volunteers who attended with a big thank you to the team who continuously run these events!

We have an important few weeks ahead of us with the announcement of the "go-live" for the new membership system. This looks really good and please do read the emails from HQ saying what you need to do to make this as successful as possible.

Thank you for all you do for Scouts.

Howard

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Lead Volunteer Update and the International Peace Light

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:22:41 GMT

Every month I write about how fabulous Lincolnshire Scouting is, what amazing activities we are getting up to and always that reminder to complete your training to keep our young people safe. This month for my introduction I thought I would write something a little different.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organised by the Austrian Broadcasting Company - ORF (Linz) - and was part of a large charitable relief mission - Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1986 there has been a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides in many countries which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe, such that the light is passed on to 30 European Countries and for the past few years, on to North America, Mexico and Canada .

Each year, a child from Upper Austria kindles a flame from the "Eternal Flame" from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries for use at ecumenical services throughout the Continent. Scouts and Guides can then take the light on to other churches, hospitals, old people homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural and political importance - to anybody that appreciates the significance of the "gift". In past years the light has been presented to Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, the former King Hussain of Jordan, EU President and other member of the European parliament in Strasbourg, the UN Troops in Kosovo and continues to be taken to Ground Zero, New York.

UK Scouts and Guides (and members of other Youth Organisations) have been involved with the Peace Light since it first came over to these shores. For over 35 years members of individual countries Scout and Guide Associations, and other similar groups have acted as couriers, working in conjunction with the organisers "ORF", taking back the Light to their own places of worship or meeting places. Each year, the light is collected from a Service of Dedication in Vienna and then transported across Europe by representatives of the Associations. On its journey it is collected by other members of that countries Scouts and Guides to be distributed far and wide, delivering with it the Peace Lights dedication and message of goodwill. More details can be found at https://www.peacelight.org.uk/

Last year we were pleased to have the peace light in Lincolnshire, through the good work of Robin Wright and others. We hope again to have the Peace Light in Lincolnshire from 16 December and if you are interested in having the light in your location, please contact howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Transformation Update

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:40:41 GMT

You will have received an email from Headquarters with the dates for the launch of the new Digital Tool. The Lincolnshire Transformation Team would like to share what we are doing in the County and how the ‘Go Live’ will affect you.

What are the dates for launch?

In Lincolnshire the new system will be launched on 28th November (‘Go Live Date’) In order to transfer data across (personal details, training records and permits) Compass will ‘freeze’ from 7th November.

Compass Data Freeze

From 7th November Compass will ‘freeze’ and data cannot be changed or accessed – you will not be able to add any new members, change roles or update training or DBS. A spreadsheet of key information (password protected) will be sent from HQ to all District Lead Volunteers to still allow for essential work e.g. approving NAN forms.

For DBS’s that expire during November and December we are asking you to complete them early, a full list will be available if you are affected.

What is being replaced?

The new Digital System is replacing ‘Compass’ which is the adult database.

The new database will be the location for the following:

Adult personal details
Adult training (Learning) records
Adding new adults and requesting new DBS applications (Atlantic data will remain for the DBS application).
Nights Away Notification (NAN) forms
Activity permits

From the launch of the new database all essential learning e.g. safety and safeguarding will be carried out on the new system, which will update records automatically.

What is not being changing?

Online Scout Manager (OSM) and young people data is not affected in any way.

Atlantic data will remain for DBS processing

How do I log into the new system?

Around 2 weeks before ‘Go Live date’ every member will get a personalised email with the login details for the new system. The login will be via the Scouts.org.uk website.

What happens to Compass?

All data from Compass will migrate across to the new system. Compass will be accessible to HQ staff after Go Live date to correct any errors or omissions.

What do I need to do?

Very little as most of the work is happening in the background.

Please ensure that you have a valid, accessible email address on Compass or ‘no email’ selected. 1 member, 1 email.

What about my training record

What you need to do for your role will be changing as we move from training to learning. The learning you need for your role will be on the new digital system with it automatically recorded when completed.

For all leaders with a wood badge it will transfer to the new digital system and ongoing mandatory learning will be on the new digital system

Only training that is validated (signed off by a training adviser) will be recorded on the new membership system

For leaders without a wood badge for their role and to avoid having to do learning in the 5 months after ‘go live’ you need the following validated

Getting started ( modules 1,2,3, safety, safeguarding, GDPR)
Scouting for all ( Module 7)
Delivering a quality programme ( Module 12a)
For section and group assistants you will become members of the group or section leadership team and as such will be required to complete the learning for all members as above.

What support is the available for the ‘Go Live’?

Headquarters will be running a series of online familiarisation sessions of the new database which will be run during go live week and beyond. These will be during the day and evenings. Dates are available and were in the national e-mail

Lincolnshire have a team to support the ‘Go Live’ process who will support all members who have queries or need support to access the system. We are also planning to run a series of road shows across the county to support members to familiarise themselves with the system.

There will be a dedicated ticket system set up for any questions – login at https://scouts.cc/login

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Stamcamp 25

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:10:01 GMT

The dates for this year’s event are  Friday 2 May 1900 – Monday 5 May 1300. We are once again camping in the amazing grounds surrounding Burghley Park, Stamford and we have some amazing activities for you all to participate in at this annual event.

Bookings are open to Scout and Guide groups both from within Stamford and Bourne District and from other Districts and Counties outside Stamford and Bourne. Please encourage your Scout and Guide friends from around the District and further afield to book on and join in with the fun.

New for 2025 - we will also be running an Explorer and Ranger sub camp. This will be for Explorers and Rangers to camp together in their Groups and to be part of the Stamcamp team not only to be able to have fun enjoying and participating in activities but to help run activities, crafts and even help with the site services to give them an introduction of what being part of a camp team is like. There will also be a special evening programme for them to take part in.

Bookings close on 31 January 2025.

The booking forms for groups at the link below.

https://forms.office.com/e/8CTQjBgZKK

(groups, not activity staff)

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Nights Away Assessors

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:42:52 GMT

Night Away Advisor Update 14 December 2025 10am-1pm Wellingore

This session is for Nights Away Advisors who need to attend an update session. Those that have previously attended a session with Trevor or Howard do not need to reattend.

The link for booking is at https://forms.office.com/e/p3vafL3JWQ

Nights Away Advisor / Assessor Module 25

We are running a Nights Away Advisor Module 25 - 11 Jan 2025, 10am to 3pm at Wellingore. This course is needed for anyone who wishes to be a Nights Away Advisor / Assessor. Bookings at https://forms.office.com/e/2ZrcuJX604

November Bulletin

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Grantham Scouts go to Paris

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:24:33 GMT

Grantham Scouts had a very successful visit to Paris at half term. On our way home from Paris they stopped off at Vimy Ridge , Canadian War Memorial and had a scouts own. There was also a group of Canadians who stopped to observe what we were doing. Apparently they were part of the Canadian ice hockey team and the coach came to say thank you to them all, also gave all the young people a Canadian pin badge. Scouting at its best

November Bulletin

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Rabbit Run 2024

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:07:56 GMT

Another brilliant event with record numbers from the team at EGXS Unit, for Scouts aged 13+, Explorers and even leaders who enjoy hunting Rabbits held in October at Dunholme. Next year's date is set for Oct 18-19 2025.

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Well done to 1st Caythorpe and Dukes Covert

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:56:07 GMT

Well done to all involved at 1st Caythorpe and Dukes Covert Scouts who helped at their village litter pick.

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Patrol Leaders Training

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:54:00 GMT

Our Patrol Leaders were absolutely amazing at the PL Training! A huge well done to all the Assistant Patrol Leaders and Patrol Leaders who got stuck in, gave everything a go, and integrated so well with other leaders from across the county. Now with a deeper understanding of their roles and newly developed skills, we’re excited to see them take on more proactive leadership within their Scout troops! Leaders watch this space for some scout shaped content from the PL’s!

A big thank you to the incredible Leadership Team for organizing such a fantastic event. During the training, we asked Patrol Leaders to share what their role really involves and what Scout Leaders need to know to support them better. Based on their feedback, we’ve created this guide to help leaders understand the PL role from the young people’s perspective!

November Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Scouts Youth Member Survey

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:29:03 GMT

Scouts have launched a Youth Members Survey to understand what young people want to be included and prioritised at Scouts over the next ten years. For more information and to take part in the survey, please use the link below.

https://forms.office.com/e/r3T5qqGkgz

T h e survey is open to all youth members from 4-24 (under 14s can complete with a parent/carer) .

Scouts UK

November Bulletin

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Launch of the new space badge

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 22:12:45 GMT

Lincolnshire scouts attend launch of new space badge!

Last weekend, on Sunday 6th of October 2nd Grantham Scouts had an opportunity to take part in the launch of a new Space badge for Scouts at the National Space Centre in Leicester alongside 500 Scouts from all over the UK.

"The day began with an inspiring talk from Meganne Christian, a UK Space Agency Astronaut Reserve, and was packed with activities that gave us a glimpse into the physical and mental skills astronauts need to live and work in space. The planetarium show blew us away, and we learned the explosive science behind rockets and participated in hands-on workshops while exploring the Centre's galleries.

Though we were tired by the end, we were thrilled to have been part of this amazing experience!"

Welcome Conversation Training

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:46:48 GMT

Please do start encouraging your future Welcome Conversation Volunteers to complete the Welcome Conversation learning , and make sure this is recorded on their PLP on Compass so it migrates to our new digital system.

October Bulletin

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County Bulletin: Issue 5 (October 2024)

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:20:11 GMT

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

Congratulations to Rosie Flint

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:26:04 GMT

Well done Rosie!

We are delighted to congratulate Rosie Flint awarded her Kings Scout Award by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire at Sleaford 's AGM. Well done Rosie!

Coastal' s Gilwell Takeover

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:23:06 GMT

Gilwell Takeover Camp Report

This summer, many of Coastal and Manby Scouts, from the sleepy Louth District, had an adventure many miles from Lincolnshire at Gilwell Park, headquarters of Scouts UK. From August 11th to 18th, 151 miles and four hours away from where they started, 12 Scouts and two tired leaders spent a full seven days at one of the largest permanent Scout sites in the world, and made a trip to the capital as well. And perhaps most exciting for the leaders and parents, this camp was fully funded by Scouts Adventures for us!

The Scouts began by helping spruce up Gilwell with a spot of fence painting and gardening, before taking on a range of adventurous activities across the site, including fencing (of the sword variety this time), archery, climbing, rafting, hiking and fishing, alongside more calming activities such as a morning of crafts, and some coding with the Raspberry Pi team. Mid-week they learnt about the cultures of many volunteers at the site, trying Brazilian sweets, Mexican salsas, playing Kenyan marble games, Korean paper throwing game and the Argentinian Necker Stealing Game!

But of course, the big day followed, a trip to London on the Overground and underground trains, to enjoy a boat cruise on the Thames. We saw many buildings from the cruise, including the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge, before spending an afternoon with creatures from across the world in Sealife London including the popular penguins.

In the evenings Scouts watched movies and scavenger-hunted their way through the historic park, but also a lot of time was spent mixing with other Scouts from across the UK. We had one Scout finish the week with a different accent to the one she started with! One of the most popular spots was the Quick, a hill that overlooked an estuary and part of the London area, where Scouts went for their own private time to talk amongst themselves. And if they felt peckish, Gilwell had many blackberry bushes ripe for the plundering.

But food wasn’t a concern with the fully-catered meals becoming a welcome change from other camps for Scouts and Leaders. We had hot meals with a pudding for lunch and dinner, and even began the week with a full roast! We didn’t even need to do the washing up, which I think adults appreciated even more than Scouts.

At the end of the week, after an invigorating campfire and a busy night of necker trading (including with some visiting German Scouts), it was no wonder that all but one Scout slept on the ride home. But they all perked up in time to tell their parents of their many, many adventures.

We couldn’t have had this trip without the generous funding from Scouts Adventures, for which we extend warmest thanks, and encourage other eligible groups to apply in the future. We weren’t expecting to receive it either, and here we are!

Other News from Across the County

Chiller

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:58:02 GMT

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Gilwell Takeover

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:54:28 GMT

Gilwell Takeover Camp Report

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Events

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:48:38 GMT

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Top Farm Enterprises

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:46:25 GMT

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Shape the next Generation

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:44:55 GMT

We’d love your help in sharing an exciting opportunity with young people aged 18-25 in your network!

The Scout Association is shaping its new strategy for 2025 and beyond, and we’re seeking insights from young people who are not currently involved in Scouting.

We’re hosting a 90-minute workshop where they can share their thoughts and experiences on key topics, including the relevance of Scouting in today’s world, as well as climate change, the cost of living, accessibility, and inclusion.

Our goal is to develop a strategy that embeds youth voice, ensuring it reflects the views of those both inside and outside the movement.

Why participate?

• Collaborate with Key Members – Work directly with the UK Scout Programme team to brainstorm and problem-solve.

• Shape the Future – Have a direct say in Scouting’s strategy on key issues.

• Build Skills – Enhance your communication and collaboration skills in an interactive, engaging session.

• Make a Difference – Ensure Scouting remains relevant and inclusive for future generations.

• Receive a £20 voucher

Workshop Details:

When: Thursday, 24th October 2024

Time: 18:30 – 20:00 (90 minutes)

Platform: Zoom and Mural (an interactive whiteboard, Laptop suggested)

Sign-up form https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx...

Thank you for helping us connect with young voices!

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincoln Pride

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:37:29 GMT

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New membership system for Scouts

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:30:57 GMT

New Membership System - Final actions to take

You will have now received an email from HQ with our go-live date of 28th November 2024. This will be phased based on roles for around 7 days so you may not have access from the start, it is also important to note that compass will freeze on 7th November‌ 2024 and you can find more information about this here: https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/interim-processes/

It’s really important that you have a unique and personal email address recorded on Compass, without this you won’t have a username for the new digital system. Read our guidance pages for more detail on how to record email addresses on Compass.

Training and support

From the end of October, we’ll be running online training sessions for all members to familiarise themselves with the new digital tools. Sign up for some introductory training on the tools. There will also be additional training sessions for Lead

Volunteers and Team Leaders.

In Lincolnshire we want to support the digital go-live as much as possible and to aid that we will be hosting all member webinars, you can register on the links below. We'll also be using our newly formed go-live support team and you'll receive more information about that over the coming weeks as we get closer to compass freeze.

Lincolnshire Transformation Call 1 - Wednesday 13th November 2024

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/63ff2e9a-112e-4f8a-9de6-490ed3ca55a6@b1442143-1e27-41aa-974f-f902688050de

Lincolnshire Transformation Call 2 - Monday 9th November 2024

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ae634e66-426e-410e-921a-a6597daf1df6@b1442143-1e27-41aa-974f-f902688050de

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Training Module Validations

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:27:39 GMT

Module Validations

If you have any modules which have training completed but the module hasn’t been validated it will not transfer into the new learning. Please contact a Training Adviser to get those modules validated.

If you have completed a course recently, a register has been kept and it will be added to your record on the new learning system when it goes live.

For more details or help please contact Lucy at lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

October Bulletin

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First Aid

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:25:33 GMT

First Aid

Any First Aid Course advertised on the County Website is open to all volunteers in all Districts regardless of whether the venue is in your district or not.

First Aid – Blended Model (Hampshire Scouts) - *New Date Added*

The county will be running another online session to support the Blended Model (Hampshire Scouts).

This will be run on:

· Thursday 17th October 2024, 7-9.30pm

To book a place on the session, please visit the Training page on the County Website:

https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/training or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1037875602867?aff=oddtdtcreator

Once you have booked a date, please head to the Hampshire Scouts Website to complete the e-learning before you attend your booked session. https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/firstresponse

At the end of the e-learning you will have a form to complete, and a certificate will be available to download. Please keep a copy of the certificate and send a copy to lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Then you can complete the short Practical validation session (10B).

Face to Face Consolidation sessions

In addition to the online sessions, we will be offering some half day sessions where the consolidation part of the Blended Model will be run face to face combined with the practical part (10B). The courses will be advertised on the County Website as soon as trainers, dates and venues are confirmed.

10B

Unfortunately, due to other commitments, the First Aid Training Team are unable to offer 10B sessions at Chiller 24. Apologies to all.

However, some of the Team will be attending the Rabbit Run and would be on hand if anyone would like to complete the practical session whilst the event is on (Saturday only). Please ask a member of the team/Michelle Nelson on the event.

Volunteers who require 10B can always drop in on the face-to-face sessions to complete the practical.

Also, if you know you need to complete First Aid soon, you are welcome to come along to one of the face-to-face sessions to complete the practical before doing 10A. A record of you completing 10B will be kept and added to your record when 10A is completed.

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Great achievement from 10th Lincoln (Waddington) Group!

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:21:06 GMT

A HUGE thank from Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance to Graham and all the 10th Lincoln Scouts for all their amazing support and fundraising over the year, as they've chosen LNAA as their chosen charity of the year

Their amazing donation of £1412.76 is the equivalent to the average of one mission in our critical care car.

Read the full story here

https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/.../10th-lincoln-scouts.../

LNAA Community Fundraiser, Jac Sutherland recently spoke to the group and was amazed by this achievement. She said: “A huge thank you to Graham and all the 10th Lincoln Scouts for their incredible support and fundraising efforts over the year. This donation is the equivalent to the average cost of 1 mission in our critical care car. It is only with the support of people, businesses and organisations in Lincs & Notts that our crews are able to deliver life-saving care to people living in our counties 24/7. seven days-a-week.”

October Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Volunteer Development

malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Malcolm Moore) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:20:56 GMT

Volunteering Developments

Key dates Compass unavailable from 7 November

Go Live from 28 November but watch for further info as this will be phased.

Online introductory training on digital tools from the end of October.

Local support will be available when go live happens. Further information about contacts soon.

During closedown Districts can prepare for the new welcoming process for new Volunteers. There will be online training available on the Scouts website. Happy to support the formation of welcoming teams if required.

The new POR with all appropriate amendments to incorporate all the changes to volunteering and administration will be advised in an email to all members during November.

Districts will be forming their own Learning teams as will the County to support smaller Districts with face to face learning and to validate training. If you feel you can offer skills in this area please contact your DC or email me at malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Growth plans have been discussed with Howard and your DC’s and once the new membership system has been embedded, we will be in touch to help you achieve your objectives. Again, if recruitment, retention, and growing the movement are a priority for you, then I will be adding to my team such interested volunteers. Let me know.

Malcolm Moore

Team Leader, Volunteering Development.

October Bulletin

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County Bulletin: Issue 4 (September 2024)

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:01:59 GMT

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Lincs County Bulletin. This is issued on the first Friday of each month. The bulletin will be sent to all adults registered on compass and distributed widely. To submit material for the bulletin please email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

County Calendar

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:00:01 GMT

Below you will find a list of dates for County Events over the next few months. I am delighted to include booking details for Chiller and Lincs Fest and we hope to see many of you at these events. The bookings links are below.

Lincs Fest - 20-22 Sept 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/lincs-fest-2024

County AGM - Sudbrooke Park 21 Sept 2024

Nights Away training at Sudbrooke - 27-29 Sept 2024

Open to all Leaders Bookings secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

East Midlands regional assessor's day at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre Saturday - 5th October

PL Camp, Sudbrooke - 4–6 October 2024

Chiller - 16 November 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/bookings-open-for-chiller24

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Transformation

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:45:55 GMT

Transformation / Go-Live Support Teams

Transformation is now taking it's final shape and more details are being rolled out nationally, specific webinars for Lincolnshire will be delivered over the next few months as well as at LincsFest. More details regarding dates and sign up details will follow soon.

Districts are now forming their 'Go-Live Support Teams' who will form part of the initial local support for transformation with people who are able to answer with specific local knowledge around who may be in what role and how your local teams are structured. If you're interested in joining your local team please reach out to your District Lead Volunteer or Jacob.Wand@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk who'll have more information.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

New Chief Scout

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:28:36 GMT

Callum meets new Chief Scout!

We’re excited to announce Dwayne Fields, adventurer and TV presenter, as the UK’s new Chief Scout. Dwayne's been appointed to lead our half a million young people and adult volunteers for his values, commitment to help young people, and outstanding leadership qualities. During his time as Chief Scout, Dwayne aims to inspire even more young people and adult volunteers to join from all backgrounds. Two Explorer Scouts and two leaders from the East Midlands were selected to attend the momentous occasion at Scout Park in North London. Explorer Scout Callum Selby from the Deepings joined in the activities and got to meet the new Chief Scout.

New Flexible First Aid Training

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:21:21 GMT

First Aid – Blended Model

The county will be running a couple of online sessions to support the Blended Model (Hampshire Scouts). Please note that you are required to attend 1 of these sessions not both.

These will be run on:

· Weds 18th September 2024, 7-9.30pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1010370524437?aff=oddtdtcreator

· Weds 13th November 2024, 7-9.30pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1010376030907?aff=oddtdtcreator

To book a place on a session, please visit the Training page on the County Website:

https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/training

Once you have booked a date, please head to the Hampshire Scouts Website to complete the e-learning before you attend your booked session. https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/firstresponse

Then you can complete the short Practical validation session. There will be opportunities to complete this part at Lincsfest

24, Chiller 24 and during any face to face First Response Courses. If these opportunities are not suitable, we can look at alternative ones.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Training Update

lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Lucy Copeland) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:18:26 GMT

For information on training courses please contact Lucy Copeland at lucy.copeland@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Courses - BSO Partnership

We have a partnership with British Scouting Overseas, which means Lincolnshire adults can attend their online training. The Modules being run by British Scouting Overseas, UK timing are:

Sunday 15th September 2024, 9-11am – Module 14, Supporting Young People

Friday 20th September 2024, 6.30-8.30pm - Module 18, Practical Skills

Friday 4th October 2024, 6.30-8.30pm - Module 17, Running Safe Activities

Monday 7th October 2024, 6.30-8.30pm, Module 16, Introduction to Residential Experiences

Friday 11th October 2024, 6.30-8.30pm, Module 8, Skills of Leadership

Sunday 13th October 2024, 9-11am, Module 15, Promoting Positive Behaviour

Wednesday 16th October 2024, 6.30-8.30pm, Module 11, Administration

Friday 18th October 2024, 6.30-8.30pm, Module 19, International

Saturday 19th October 2024, 12-2pm, Module 11, Administration

To book on to a course please click on the following link: https://www.britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk/members/training/courses

Other dates

Nights Away - Sudbrooke

9-11 May 2025

19-21 Sept 2025

Managers and Supporters Training - East Midlands Regional Training (Managers & Supporters) - Booking by Bookwhen

26th Oct 2024 – Achieving Growth – Nottinghamshire

27th October 2024 – Meeting the Challenges – Nottinghamshire

Managers and Supporters Training - East Midlands Regional Training (Managers & Supporters) - Booking by Bookwhen

9th Nov 2024 – Meeting the Challenges – Northamptonshire

10th Nov 2024 – Achieving Growth – Northamptonshire

11th & 12th Jan 2025 – Skills of Management (2 days) - Leicester

8th March 2024 – Achieving Growth – Derbyshire

9th March 2025 – Meeting the Challenges – Derbyshire

13th September 2025 – Skills of Management (2 days) - Nottinghamshire

15th Nov 2025 – Meeting the Challenges – Northamptonshire

16th Nov 2025 – Achieving Growth - Northamptonshire

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Lead Volunteer September Update

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:12:35 GMT

I hope this Bulletin finds you all well-rested and ready for an exciting new chapter in Scouting! As summer winds down and we transition into autumn, I hope you are looking forward to getting back to your Scout groups after what I hope was a refreshing and adventurous summer break.

I trust you had the chance to relax, explore, and recharge over the summer, whether through holidays, camps, or personal time spent outdoors. I know lots of groups were also at EIJ, Larkin and elsewhere - I hope you had a great time. Michelle and my summer was full with attending the Essex International Jamboree (EIJ), DofE assessing in the Lakes, attending Lincoln Pride and of course a new granddaughter.

Now, as we gear up for the next Scouting season, I can’t help but feel the excitement that comes with new challenges and friendships that Scouting brings. I hope we will see you at LincsFest, but if not good luck with the year ahead!

County Media Team

Are you interested in Photography, Video Editing, Social Media, Radio, Web sites, Journalism etc?

If yes then we want to hear from you.

Lincolnshire Scouts are looking to build a Media team so we can share our adventures to the widest audience. The roles within the media team are available to Explorers, Network and Adults. Joining the media team will not only look good on your CV but can be used to complete badgework or awards. We have many roles available so If you are a wiz on the computer, with a camera or on social media please visit the vacancies page and get in touch.

We are especially looking for someone / a small team for the following tasks:

Web Editors

Make sure the website has lots of interesting and up to date content.
Able to man the ticket system and distribute accordingly.
Ensure the layout and design of the website is maintained and updated.
Act as a point of communication for people to come to regarding the website.

Bulletin Editor

Collect Information from across the County Team.
Compile and distribute the monthly bulletin.

Social Media Team Members

Gather media posts from Group and District pages.
Create posts on Social Media for County events and Information.
Respond to comments on County media accounts.

The roles can be undertaken remotely as well as if you live in Lincolnshire. For those at Uni, being an active member of our Media team could also help boost your study portfolio. For more information, please contact Jacob Wand at jacob.wand@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Howard

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Youth Lead

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:48:01 GMT

Online Youth Forum's

I’m very excited to announce that before the end of this year, online youth forums for scouts and explorers in Lincolnshire will be being held.

These will allow scouts and explorers to share their views on worldwide and local issues and network with people outside of their district.

The three topics will be

Sustainability and Scouting - Tuesday 8th October (7pm)

Equality and Scouting - Thursday 7th November (7pm)

Global Scouting - Monday 2nd December (7pm)

This will be a great opportunity for scouts and explorers alike. Limited spaces available - more information on sign up to follow in the next week or two.

Caitlin Hall

County Youth Lead

Caitlin.hall@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Programme Team

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:48:30 GMT

New Programme Team

Where has the summer gone? It seems only a moment ago that I was planning what needed doing over the summer break and now we are almost ready to start a new term. I hope that you have had a refreshing break and feel energised for a new term. If you do need any support with a section or programme items, please get in touch with either Ellie or Carolyn and if we can’t help or provide answers, we will put you in touch with someone who can help you.

carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We have divided up the huge area which covers programme and adventure, but both still work closely together so support leaders across the county and each other to help everyone as much as possible. We are still recruiting for some roles so if you are interested in joining as a team member please get in touch.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Waddington, 10th Lincoln, celebrate 90 years of scouting

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:46:57 GMT

Visit to Brownsea

Waddington Scout Group was formed in 1934 and the leaders decided that it was time to celebrate this momentous achievement. So, very early at the start of a August bank holiday, leaders from Waddington along with several other scouting friends from across the county set off towards Poole Harbour for a weekend on Brownsea Island. Packing light was the word of the day although some people packed lighter than others. However, as we were on the 3.30pm ferry onto the island, there were very few other passengers making their way out at that time of the day so we had sufficient space for all of our luggage and food. We were greeted at Brownsea Quay by National Trust Staff and, with our kit transferred on a trailer we began our walk to the wonderful South Shore Lodge. We were delighted to see not one, but two red squirrels during our walk across the island. Not everyone had their eye in yet, but it was a good omen which saw us all seeing red squirrels at various points over the weekend.

We soon decided to explore more after a bit of a rest and a sort out and took a short walk to the “Scout stone” which is situated above the Outdoor activity centre and the site of Baden-Powell’s first experimental scout camp on the island in 1907. However, whilst out, several squirrel leaders showed their hoarding tendencies “pocketing” numerous huge pinecones for section activities in the forthcoming term. There was some serious squirrel giggles as hoods were filled with pine cones to carry more home and set the tone for the whole weekend of fun and friendship.

Saturday started wet, but didn’t dampen our spirits. Some of us took advantage of the Squirrel Shuttle, an electric bus which provided a guided tour of the island for less mobile visitors whilst others chose to walk and explore more of that experimental campsite, the old Pottery and its pier as well as the calm of Cambridge woods on the north side of the island. As the sun came out in the afternoon, we took full advantage of our beach access for a refreshing swim in the sea even though some people took a dive into the briny sooner than they expected to do!

Other highlights of the weekend were our evening quizzes and lunch in the Harbour Café with the seagulls who certainly had a taste for any leftover coffee. We had a resident peacock, visiting us all day on Saturday and some of Sunday as well. He was much happier when the sun came out and he could dry his glorious plumage. Many of us also managed to visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserve on the north side of the island. The video cam in one hide helped those of us less certain of the birds, to identify birds which were spotted whilst others watched the deer, birds and squirrels in isolation in one of three bird hides.

The final part of our visit was of course to the Scout Trading Post, the volunteer run shop at the camp site where everyone spent their “pocket money” on Brownsea mementoes and more camp blanket badges. It was wonderful to look at all of the neckers of visiting groups, read the signs brought to the site and see other scouting memorabilia stretching across many decades and from across the world. The main aim of the visit was fulfilled on a sunny Sunday evening when we renewed our promises as leaders to continue to do our best, serve our King and help other people for a few more years yet.

If you’ve never been to Brownsea Island, it’s certainly doable in a day, but with 1300 visitors on a warm summer day, we all highly recommend a night on the island with just a few other visitors and lots of wildlife which comes so close to surprise and delight you in equal measure.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Essex International Jamboree

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:19:56 GMT

Horbling & Billingborough Explorers at EIJ

Essex EIJ

It's amazing how the world can be so small and yet united through Scouting.

This International Jamboree was attended by approximately 8,000 Scouts and Girl Guides and Staff from all around the world. In fact there were over 40 contingents who were international and some of our neighbours on The Ganges Subcamp were from Kenya, Ukraine and Tokyo.

Our morning began with a sub camp Yoga session to get everyone stretched out, followed by a day of activities from an Alan Sugar style Enterprise Experience, to Clay Pigeon Shooting, to Kayaking to Talent Competitions. We attended an international Food Fair where we all took our own traditional/local style food and shared this with others. We took Lincolnshire Plum Loaf and this was very well received. I tried a Beetroot Soup from the Ukraine Contingent and spent some time talking to their Scouts who had sadly lost Leaders and fellow scouts in the War. It was incredibly moving. We also held a Carnival Day were we created a Fair Game and took turns in playing each other’s.

In the evenings the young people had many options to attend a cinema, live music on stage, craft tents, mocktail bar, disco and lots more. Every day was different and shared with Explorer Scouts and Guides from around the world. We’ve eaten together, danced together and made many friendships as well as experiencing different cultures we might not have been able to do without attending an event like this. We’ve swapped neckers and badges with others and made friends which will be treasured for life.

Where will the H&B ESU be heading next I wonder?

Helen Robinson
Explorer Team Leader
Horbling & Billingborough Explorer Scout Unit

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chiller 2024

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:40:11 GMT

Early bird prices end on 30 September

Remember to advertise and book your places for your young people for Chiller on November 16th. We have activities to suit all the age ranges as well as some new activities which we haven’t seen at Chiller before.

Early bird prices end at the end of September and bookings finally close at the end of October. Remember, Walesby is open for any sections who want to camp for the weekend. Book directly with them. If there are sufficient numbers staying over, Walesby are willing to run activities in the evenings.

Click https:/ /irp.cdn-website.com/0a64bc63/files/uploaded/Chiller_Booking_Form_2024.docx to book

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

First Aid

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:26:50 GMT

First Response Revalidation

Following on from the Prevention of Future Deaths report, The Scout Association has highlighted some objectives to work towards. One of these is the consistency of external certificates (e.g. First Aid at Work [FAW]) being used to validate the Scout First Response criteria.

As a result some individuals who have used external certificates may be asked to revalidate their First Response Module. As a County we are working closely to minimise the number of people that this may impact.

We will be contacting these people over the coming weeks. Below is a summary of what you will be asked to do if you are affected.

Option 1: If your external certificate covers all of the below then please pass on a copy of your External Course certificate and syllabus as proof, and this is your revalidation completed.

Child CPR
Fractures & Sprains
Head Injury
Dental Incidents
Asthma
Anaphylaxis
Heart Attack
Stroke
Diabetes
Sepsis
Meningitis

Option 2: If option 1 does not apply and you have completed the Hampshire Scouts EFAW/FAW Conversion course, then please forward a copy of your conversion certificate, and this is your revalidation completed. The link for this is https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/efawconversion

Option 3: If neither option 1 or option 2 apply, then please complete the Hampshire Scouts EFAW/FAW Conversion course; it usually takes around 30 minutes to complete. Once complete, forward your conversion certificate, and this is your revalidation completed.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Swan Sailing Expedition

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:20:57 GMT

What is SWAN?

Be an active crew member, sailing a yacht around the Norfolk Broads on an exciting week-long adventure. No prior sailing experience is needed – we’ve got fantastic people who will help you “learn the ropes”. There are also pre-expedition training sessions run during the winter so you can know what to expect and what to bring with you.

There can be early starts and sometimes it can be tiring but the way everyone works together creates friends for life and an amazing experience!

Is SWAN popular?

Yes! There is often high demand for places. Applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been successful by 1st December 2024. Deposits will be refunded to unsuccessful applicants.

Pre-expedition training

Our experience shows that training prior the expedition can really help everyone get the most out of it. So whatever level you are at you will be expected to attend the pre-expedition training provided in your area.

Is SWAN open to young people and adults not in Scouting?

Sadly not. All participants on SWAN must be an active member of Scouting prior the expedition. If you register for SWAN and subsequently leave Scouting we’re afraid you will be unable to attend and you may lose your deposit and any payments made.

What if I can’t afford the fee but would like to attend?

SWAN is open to everyone. If you are likely to struggle with the cost of the expedition please let us know when you register. We’ll then be in contact with you on a confidential basis to see how we can support. We have a limited fund available to support both young people and adults who are actively contributing to the running of the expedition.

I’m worried I won’t know anyone, is that going to be a problem?

SWAN brings together young people and adults from around the country. During the expedition everyone is split into crews of people they are unlikely to have met/sailed with before. SWAN is a great way of meeting new people.

I have a question before I apply, who do I contact?

Please send any general queries to steven.tupper@swan.peterboroughscouts.org

Please send area specific queries to the SWAN area coordinators:

Peterborough Explorers: Aly Royle: aly.royle@swan.peterboroughscouts.org
Peterborough Scouts: Greg Jones: greg.jones@peterboroughscouts.org
Cromwell: John Nicoll: john.e.nicoll@btopenworld.com
Cambridge: Graham Steed: raptors@12thcambridge.org.uk
Winchester: Remus Sawyerr: remus.sawyerr@swan.peterboroughscouts.org
Cumbria: John Mason: john@meremountains.co.uk
Mid Wales: Lisa Stead: lisa.danycoed@btinternet.com
Shropshire: George Jones: georgeedjones@gmail.com

Interested?

Applications are welcomed from Scouts aged 13 and over (at 11th April 2025); Explorers and assisting adults. The cost for the week including food, boat hire and mooring fees is £340. Transport to and from the Broads is organised locally and there may be a small additional cost for this.

Make sure you’ve registered before 1st October 2024, by completing our online application form and sorting your deposit.

To book your place please complete the form found here and pay the £100 deposit. https://forms.office.com/e/PzzFLC2cyb Applications close on the 1st October 2024.

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County AGM

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:31:13 GMT

We are pleased to invite all members of Lincolnshire Scouts to attend the County’s AGM to held at Sudbrooke Park Scout Campsite on Saturday 21 September 2024, starting at 16:30. More details can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/agm

September Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 3 (August 2024)

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:39:03 GMT

Welcome to the third edition of the Lincs County Bulletin. This is issued on the first Friday of each month. The bulletin will be sent to all adults registered on compass and distributed widely. To submit material for the bulletin please email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Download as a PDF

View historic Bulletins

In this issue:

County Calendar

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:51 GMT

Trustee Support Webinar - 17 July 7.30pm

As part of the transformation process we have developed a webinar open to all current and potential Trustees (Previously Executive Committee Members) in Lincolnshire, it will take you through best practice and current AGM procedure. There will be the opportunity to ask questions and we’ll record the meeting for anyone who can’t attend. https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6ff1e4ce-dba6-4d8c-a041 3d2ee898c139@b1442143-1e27-41aa-974f-f902688050de

Nights Away Advisor Update Meeting - 21 July at 3rd Sleaford (St Deny's HQ) from 10 12noon or 1-3pm

Book in at https://forms.office.com/e/u8qM6zQapG to confirm attendance.

Lincoln Pride - 17 Aug 2024

For further information relating to the event/timings of the day please contact Ellie Broome ( ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk ) or Claire Burt ( claire.burt@lincolnscouts.org.uk )

Gilwell Reunion - 30 Aug -1 Sep

Booking detail at https://www.scouts.org.uk/national- events/gilwell-reunion

Skills of Management (Weekend Course) - Sat, 7 Sept 2024 Sun 8 Sept 2024

The Hub (National Centre for Art and Design), Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, NG34 7DW.

Book at https://bookwhen.com/emrt/e/ev-sv4r-20240907093000 9:30am – 4:30pm each day.

Lincs Fest - 20-22 Sept 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/lincs-fest-2024

County AGM - Sudbrooke Park 21 Sept 2024

Nights Away training at Sudbrooke - 27-29 Sept 2024

Open to all Leaders Bookings secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

East Midlands regional assessor's day at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre Saturday - 5th October

PL Camp, Sudbrooke - 4–6 October 2024

Chiller - 16 November 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/bookings-open-for-chiller24

RYA Safety boat training (Explorers, Network, Leaders) - 7 & 14 December 2024

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Rabbit Run 2024 – 12/13 October 2024

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:50 GMT

Rabbit Run is a challenge hike, where you plan your own route to complete in a set time, in the dark and answer questions on the way. The twist is the chasers who cause you to lose points.

Anybody aged 13 or over, so it can be used as a linking activity for Scouts to Explorers, Explorers, Network and leaders. You just need to be competent in navigation and walking!

Participant – Take part in a team of between 4 and 7 people to plan and walk your route, gain as many points as possible and win the trophy. The team with the least points will win the toilet seat!

Chaser – Small teams of over 18’s walking, hiding and trying to catch participants. This year there is a chasers competition for the first time. Chasers chose a start location in the playing area, they have the same time as participants to get back to the site, while hunting for teams of participants, which will cost points for the team and gain points for the chasers.

Leader – Bring your young people along, enjoy good food and company, drink coffee, support your teams.

The event is being held at Dunham on Trent Village Hall, NG22 0FJ

Booking

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/egxsexplorerscouts/1315711?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR04JuWj1oNdOccKzqrw_4DKWmayxWva5_uj7xGiSxPyfALpNXagHYQgbP8_aem_THNUNbTDQRQpAjtmMudqow

August Bulletin

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Coastal Sailing Anyone?

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:48 GMT

My mate Nick, who said one day “Come on we are going sailing for the day”. He had a laser dinghy in a local sailing club. “Sailing?” I said, “why do you want to go sailing?”. I went along and was hooked within a couple of trips out! Nick has cost me a small fortune (on boats) over the years but hey what a journey! That’s the point…. The journey, with you, the boat and the wind and nothing else to power you round the lake. It really gave me a chance to clear my head of all the rubbish, enjoy the freedom, the thrills but learning a skill and if you don’t concentrate then you are upside down! After a considerable amount of time being spent upside down and bailing out the boat again and again, I started to get more competent and progressed to a reasonable standard, sailed in a few different places, and spent many a happy hour messing about in boats!

I have been a Scout skills instructor for some 15 years now, helping Scouts learn to sail at 15th Lincoln group. We push them quite hard…. but it is a joy to see a fleet of toppers sailing round the lake after just 6 weeks of training. It is just them, the boat, and the wind now!

How to take Scouts a step further?

Scouting is about trying new things, making and taking opportunities. I felt that the journey was important, not just to go around a lake, with their new skill. With the support of our group leaders, we planned a coastal yacht sailing trip with some of our Scouts that showed a talent for sailing, or tried hard, and those that were clearly enjoying it! Not enough room for everyone but a full boat of eight Scout places was immediately snapped up!

Adventures Offshore take groups out on 2 boats with highly trained Skippers and crew on short weekend trips and also longer passages and tall ships races. https://www.offshore.org.uk/

We arrived at Ipswich Beacon Marina on a Friday afternoon and after the initial safety briefing off we went through the lock and into the River Orwell to spend the night at anchor. All scouts helped with everything on board….. the ropes and lines, steering, fenders and sails on deck. Cooking, cleaning and the washing up! There was also plenty of time to enjoy the experience, the views and take in the sea air! There were also opportunities to look at navigation and filling the ships log.

We travelled 60 nautical miles over the weekend taking a trip out to Roughs Tower, off Felixstowe and a short tour into Hamford Water to do some seal spotting followed by an overnight stay in Titchmarsh Marina. We returned to Ipswich on Sunday afternoon having tacked up the River Orwell giving the whole crew a good workout! The boat was then cleaned, and sails stowed away leaving it as we had found it. A thoroughly interesting and enjoyable weekend! Our team particularly enjoyed being up front looking over the bow of the boat whilst at sea, steering, and it was “cool” to be on board and watching the waves hitting the boat….(it wasn’t that rough by the way…..but much rougher than a lake!) The boat had plenty of space for everyone to move around and take part in all activities.

Leaders

Whilst it is not necessary to have any experience, the crew do enjoy having people on board that contribute and have a little knowledge of some basic knots, an interest in sailing and good volunteering skills! Basic knowledge of buoyage and a bit of home work about onboard safety gave our Scouts the chance to get so much more out of the trip than if we had just walked on board with no knowledge at all. This is a very hands-on trip with no deck chairs to catch the rays!

To Tim, Chris and Sally, (Adventures Offshore Team)

Thank you for making the trip such a pleasure. Very well organised and thoroughly enjoyed by all our team….. Can we come again next year please?

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Cubs on the Water

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:47 GMT

A huge thank you to everyone who helped deliver a brilliant Lincolnshire Scouts Cubs on the Water event at North Hykeham and to 15th Lincoln (North Hykeham) for allowing us to use their HQ. Lots of happy cubs!

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Transformation

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:46 GMT

As we move towards the new digital system and team-based volunteering (yes, it will happen before the end of the year!) we need to prepare.

Compass will close and we will move to a new digital membership system. To ensure that all details are transferred correctly and that we can all log on to the new system, all members need to log on to their Compass records and ensure that emails and telephone numbers are correct. The link for this information and guidance can be found here - Everyone | Scouts

All learning that has been completed and validated must be shown as validated - please speak to your GSL/GLV or LTM if you need any help with this.

Going forward all Districts and Groups will be working as Volunteer Teams; the link below will give you some more information on how this works. The Transformation Team will be doing some work with Groups in the autumn.

Setting up and building new teams

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Share Summer Holiday Camps

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:14:43 GMT

With the start of the summer holidays, there will be some groups attending the Essex Jamboree and Larkin. Remember to take plenty of photos of your camp adventures of young people and leaders trying out new activities and crafts. Please share your photos and stories with me, along with a short story about what you have been up to, including any quotes from your camping team.

August Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

First Response

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:38:16 GMT

It is great to see that so many people are completing First Response inside and outside of Scouting.

The Scouting First Response Course has a specific set of learning objectives, which not all external courses cover.

These are mainly Child CPR, Meningitis, Sepsis, and other areas.

If you have completed an external First Response Course, you do not need to do all of the Scouting one, you can convert it using the conversion course found here: https://hampshire-scouts.thinkific.com/courses/fawconversion

August Bulletin

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Urgent Product Recall - Vango Folding Stove

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:31:07 GMT

We’ve been made aware of a product recall on two models of Vango Folding Stoves. The stoves affected are Folding Gas Stove ACXSTOVE DAKZ36 and Folding Stove with Windshield and Piezo ACXSTOVE DEWZ36.

The products have been recalled due to risk of fire, explosion and burns. It has also been identified that the gas hose may degrade over time, leading to a gas leak and possible hose ignition. With camping season now in full flow, safety should be at the forefront of your planning. Please check your equipment before your nights away activity to make sure you’re not using one of these models. If you own one of these models, please stop using it immediately and follow government advice .

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Global Adventure Activity Team

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:29:27 GMT

Do you have a large building which will be vacant for a week during the summer months? If so, could you get in touch with Carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk as the Global Adventure Activity team are looking for somewhere to leave their pool to dry cure after repair. It would need to be left out for 7 days. The pool is 50ft by 40ft.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincolnshire Scouts Emails

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:28:09 GMT

You may already be aware, but over the last 6 months the IT Support Team have been doing a great deal of work in the background. Thank you for your patience and support whilst they have worked to resolve several IT related issues. We know it has not been an easy time and that the changes have caused some frustration and inconvenience. Below is just some of what they have been up to:

Migrated approx. 200 users to another Microsoft Tenant and transferred as much data and historic e-mail as possible or given access to the data. We are extremely grateful to the volunteers and external professional support we have received to achieve all of this, with challenging timescales. Without their invaluable support with their time, resources, and knowledge we would have been facing an annual cost more than £25K for the Microsoft licensing alone.
Monitored all mail delivery failures to capture any issues caused by the changes as early as possible to reduce the impact.
Reviewed all e-mail addresses on the County managed systems to ensure they are up to date and that any inactive users have been archived.
Worked to update all County owned Domain Names and cancel any that are not used, or we have been unable to update contact information for.
Recovered access information for old district Microsoft Tenants and cancelled any chargeable licenses, removing any liabilities their Trustees were potentially unaware of.
Acted against multiple brute force cyber-attacks on Lincolnshire Scouts users.
Improved integration with Districts with their own Microsoft tenants to improve collaboration.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincolnshire Scouts Self-Service IT Hub

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:27:10 GMT

To improve the support for volunteers, we have also developed some new self-service processes to better support you in your Scouting roles and make it easier and quicker for things to be done.

We have updated the IT Hub on the website to include request forms and further information about the services we offer.
Enabled the ability for District Lead Volunteers (District Commissioner) (or their nominee) to self manage Aliases and Distribution Lists.
Enabled the County/District Lead Volunteers (District/County Commissioners) to self-manage access the Microsoft 365 services in the event of restrictions being required.

https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/ITHub

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the IT Hub? Raise a Support Ticket on the Service Desk - https://scouts.cc

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Silent Disco

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:25:46 GMT

The kit of approx. 55 headsets belongs to Girlguiding Lincolnshire South and is available to hire by local Scout & Guide groups for a fraction of the commercial prices.

Collection Cherry Willingham (or previous group if they're nearby and it's a tight turnaround).

Plenty of capacity for June if anyone still needs to fill a fun night. For questions and booking, email me at LWalker_GGLS@outlook.com

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Lincoln Pride on Saturday August 17th

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:24:47 GMT

We are proud to take part in the parade and hold a stall at this event. If you are interested in join the parade or helping on the stand please complete this form ASAP as we will be closing applications soon. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QyFEsSceqkGXT_kCaIBQ3l_z5r9vTwtKnAKsJXuW _E1UREwyT0RWMlFGODBRSTdONFpNRVgxWEtSWS4u&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2 x95HxpdBnTBqWYNcxqkZ-zkyacbmarArvsGdYc6WeJk0NtPPbcZs-ro_aem_V6Wauh27vHzGGVFIEEkYUw

Under 18s are welcome to join us but MUST be accompanied by a sensible adult. Others attending will not be able to take responsibility for younger members.

For further information relating to the event/timings of the day please contact Ellie Broome ( ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk ) or Claire Burt ( claire.burt@lincolnscouts.org.uk )

August Bulletin

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Leadership / Patrol Leader Camp

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:23:17 GMT

For Scout Patrol Leaders and their APL’s we have our PL leadership camp taking place at Sudbrooke on 4 – 6th October.

This details for this camp can be found by any member of Lincolnshire scouting at County PL Camp – Boston District Scouts ( bostonscouts.org.uk ) and scouts do not need to attend with a leader, although you are more than welcome to come and join in and support all the young people to improve their leadership skills and the way your troop works in future.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Changes to Training

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:22:32 GMT

Following a release from HQ after reviewing the findings of Great Orme, the new Growing Roots training (Getting Started Post Transformation) has been expanded to include the content from the Modules 7, 12A, 12B, and 17.

If a person has already completed these modules, then they will not need to complete the new Growing Roots equivalent post-transformation.

We wanted to let you know about this change first before we email all Section Assistants with the full details. If you have any questions or concerns, then please do let us know.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Manager of the Activity Permit Scheme

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:20:25 GMT

I am pleased to announce the appointment of James and Lisa Walker to the role of Manager of the Activity Permit Scheme.

Their role is to support our assessors in the delivery of the permit scheme. Thanks to Wayne Barrett who was recently doing the role. If you are looking for an assessor or advice please get in touch with James or Lisa.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Support Team Update

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:19:47 GMT

Following the move to the new teams-based structure the County Support Team has started to take shape, encompassing some of our current teams and SASUs and also identifying where we can offer further support to the county.

More information about the teams and roles available will be going out over the summer so please keep your eye out.

Any questions in the meantime please feel free to get in touch with jacob.wand@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Visits Abroad

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:18:30 GMT

International adventures are an amazing part of being a Scout with endless possibilities to meet Scouts in other countries, explore new cultures and plan exciting expeditions. Your International Joint Team members (ACC- International) are Kevin Compton and Michelle Nelson.

There are a very clear rules and processes to follow, and Kevin and Michelle have lots of international Scouting experience to guide you on your journey.

Details of the approval process are at https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/going-abroad-with-scouting/the process-and-planning-for-your-trip/the-visits-abroad-process/ and Form VA should be sent to Kevin or Michelle.

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Calendar

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:17:12 GMT

Trustee Support Webinar - 17 July 7.30pm

Nights Away Advisor Update Meeting - 21 July at 3rd Sleaford (St Deny's HQ) from 10 12noon or 1-3pm

Book in at https://forms.office.com/e/u8qM6zQapG to confirm attendance.

Lincoln Pride - 17 Aug 2024

For further information relating to the event/timings of the day please contact Ellie Broome ( ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk ) or Claire Burt ( claire.burt@lincolnscouts.org.uk )

Gilwell Reunion - 30 Aug -1 Sep

Booking detail at https://www.scouts.org.uk/national- events/gilwell-reunion

Skills of Management (Weekend Course) - Sat, 7 Sept 2024 Sun 8 Sept 2024

The Hub (National Centre for Art and Design), Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, NG34 7DW.

Book at https://bookwhen.com/emrt/e/ev-sv4r-20240907093000 9:30am – 4:30pm each day.

Lincs Fest - 20-22 Sept 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/lincs-fest-2024

County AGM - Sudbrooke Park 21 Sept 2024

Nights Away training at Sudbrooke - 27-29 Sept 2024

Open to all Leaders Bookings secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

East Midlands regional assessor's day at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre Saturday - 5th October

PL Camp, Sudbrooke - 4–6 October 2024

Chiller - 16 November 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/bookings-open-for-chiller24

RYA Safety boat training (Explorers, Network, Leaders) - 7 & 14 December 2024

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Digital Team Vacancies

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:08:50 GMT

Would you be able to support one or more of the tasks below?

Support volunteers accessing Digital Tools (password resets etc.).
Monitor system usage and ensure compliance and good governance.
Help maintain the County website.
Develop new digital tools & processes to better support our volunteers.
Identify opportunities improve County/District processes to save volunteer time.
Help implement digital system changes as part of Transformation.

Contact via the Service Desk - https://scouts.cc or e-mail support@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

DofE Advisor Vacancy

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:05:26 GMT

We have a vacancy for a volunteer programme team member(s) supporting DofE for the county.

More details of the vacancy can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/volunteer and the link for the application form is https://forms.office.com/e/Z1gXm8z5Qy .

The closing date for the role is 31/7/2024 .

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County AGM 2024

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:02:55 GMT

Please note that the County AGM is on 21 Sept 2024 at Sudbrooke Park, Lincoln. There will be more information later but please get the date in your diary and if you know anyone that should be going please make sure it is in theirs!

Everyone who is interested in Scouting in Lincolnshire can attend but especially if you are a member of the County Scout Council – which means you are one of the following:

Regional Lead Volunteer;
County Lead Volunteer;
County Youth Lead Volunteer;
All adult members with a role in the County – see County roles in the Chapter 16 Roles Table of POR
Trustees of the County;
District Lead Volunteers;
District Youth Lead Volunteers
District Trustee Board Chairs;
District Trustee Board Treasurers;
District Scout Active Support Managers;
Representatives from each District Scout Council selected by the District Scout Council at their AGM;
Representative of the County Troop Leadership Forum, selected from amongst the membership of the Forum;
A representative of the County Explorer Scout Forum, selected from amongst the membership of the Forum;
A representative of the Scout Network, selected from amongst the membership of the District Scout Networks in the County;
President or Vice President of the County;
Silver Wolf Award Holders within the County.

August Bulletin

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

First 30 days and a huge thank you to all Leaders

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:00:28 GMT

Following my appointment at the end of May, I have seen lots of great scouting going on in Lincolnshire. The highlights are too numerous to list, but the Lincoln District Camp at Lost Village and meeting Mike Haynes at 5th Boston who has more than 60 years of service to scouting are memorable. If you would like a visit from the county team, please do let me know.

I also want to thank everyone who has completed their mandatory safety and safeguarding training. Don’t forget to get your training renewed before it expires.

Howard Nelson

Lead Volunteer (County Commissioner)

Lincolnshire Scouts

July Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 2 (July 2024)

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:38:23 GMT

Lincs Scouts County Bulletin July 2024

You can find the bulletin here

New District Lead Volunteer for Gainsborough

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 20:42:16 GMT

Bill Hurst appointed as District Lead Volunteer for Gainsborough

I am very happy to to share with you the appointment of Bill Hurst as District Lead Volunteer for Gainsborough, taking over from Malcolm. Bill has held number of roles, most recently as Deputy District Commissioner and previously at Haxey as Group Scout Leader. Bill is well known to most Leaders in the District and I am confident he will have the District's full support during this time of change.

Howard Nelson
County Lead Volunteer

Trustee's needed

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 21:17:42 GMT

What Trustees do, really makes a difference.

The role of our Trustee Board is to make sure that we are strong enough to inspire a generation of young people to step up, dream big and gain skills for life.

Lincolnshire Scouts are looking for Trustees. We need your experience and wisdom to help us make sure we’re well governed and managed. I am looking for people from a wide range of backgrounds, although I would particularly value expressions of interest from those with skills in Finance, Safety, or Marketing.

To find more about these roles, take a look at the role description or email me at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Nominations / applications can be made to https://forms.office.com/e/z5994WnHXi

I look forward to hearing from you.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

Trustee Role Description

Our vision for 2025

Role purpose:

To develop Scouts in keeping with its charitable objectives and in the parameters of good governance.

Main responsibilities:

· With other Trustees, make sure that our policy and practices are in keeping with our aims and The Scout Associations rules.

· With other Trustees, exercise effective control, making sure that we function within the legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation that strives to achieve best practice.

Main duties:

· Reflect the vision, strategy, major policies and values at all times.

· Contribute specific skills, experience and contacts in support of our activities.

· Ensure policies and practices are in keeping with aims.

· Abide by the principles laid down in the person specification (and code of conduct).

· Attend meetings of the Trustee Board (there are normally 6 per year as well as the AGM).

· Monitor and evaluate performance against strategic aims.

· Attend training and development opportunities as appropriate, including The Scouts Growing Roots.

· Work effectively as a team member of the Trustee Board in exercising its responsibilities and functions.

· Fulfil such other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time by the Trustee Board.

Trustee person specification

As a Trustee you should be able to demonstrate the following:

· An understanding of the type of work undertaken by Scouts and commitment to our values and ethos.

· Demonstrable experience of ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives.

· Confidence and effective communication skills with a range of audiences and the ability to challenge in a constructive way.

· The ability to make sound judgments and effective decisions.

· A commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

· Enthusiasm, energy and time to commit to this role.

· Availability and willingness to attend 6 Board meetings per year (prior notice is given for all Board dates).

Big Help Out 2024

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:02:28 GMT

Big Help Out 2024

Thank you for supporting The Big Help Out.

The Big Help Out 2023 saw us bring the country together for the UK’s biggest ever day of volunteering. An amazing 7.2 million people were mobilised to help out in their communities. Lincolnshire Scouts was proud to be part of the The Big Help Out 2024, which took place from Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June - coinciding with Volunteers’ Week. We are proud of all Lincolnshire Groups who took part.

The Deeping Apache Cubs (top picture) have one of our groups that have been out and about today across The Deepings, litter picking as part of the #TheBigHelpOut Weekend.

Scouts (and a beaver) from 10th Lincoln did some weeding and tidying on the driveway of a local care home on Friday evening. They will be returning to do some more work there at a later date.

Let us know and send us a picture if your group has taken part in the #TheBigHelpOut

Scouts Speak Up

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:07:24 GMT

Explorers and Scout Network members, are you passionate about Scouting? Do you care about your community? Want to learn new skills?

Scouts Speak Up is a great opportunity for 14-25-year-olds to improve their communication skills, learn more about social media, influence local representatives, and represent us in the media.

Please share this event with Explorers and Scout Network members, and encourage them to apply for Scouts Speak Up today!

Date: Friday 11 October - Sunday 13 October 2024

Venue: Gilwell Park, Chingford, London, E5 7QW

Expenses: A travel bursary of up to £50 will be provided to successful applicants

Applications: Open to any member of Scouting between the ages of 14 and 25

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 11 September 2024. Early applications are welcome. https://www.scouts.org.uk/events/2024/october-2024/scouts-speak-up/

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Chris Maslin Memorial Rally 11th – 13th October 2024 @ Grantham

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:05:49 GMT

Christopher, who sadly lost his life in October 2020 was a keen scouter who took every opportunity that was given to him. His most memorable trip was definitely Kandersteg International Scout Centre.

In his memory, his family have created a yearly event that has something for everyone, based around Christopher's favourite things. This year, there is camping available all weekend and a car and bike show on the Saturday and Sunday alongside trade stalls, craft fair, fairground rides and inflatables. On the Saturday, they have an amazing line up for the music festival and on the Sunday local youth groups will be performing for the family fun day. There will also be wall climbing, axe throwing and archery available.

The event will raise funds that will allow local Scouts to access experiences and camps making it truly accessible to everyone. Christopher got so much out of Scouts, the family want many more young people to have the opportunities he did. Please bring your families along for a fantastic weekend. See www.cmmrally.co.uk for more information and information on ticket sales.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Gilwell reunion 30 August – 1 September

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:04:23 GMT

Gilwell Reunion is a weekend of programme ideas, practical skills and support for your role - with plenty of fun and friendship throw in too.

Booking detail at https://www.scouts.org.uk/national events/gilwell-reunion

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Team Appointments - Transformation

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:03:08 GMT

I am now restructuring the County Team into the new transformation model. The new model will have three teams - Programme, Volunteer Development and Support. I am pleased to advise that the following appointments have been so far made.

Team Leaders:

Volunteering Development Team Leader – Malcolm Moore
Support Team Lead and Transformation Lead – Jacob Wand
Programme Joint Team Lead - Carolyn Grieg
Programme Joint Team Lead - Ellie Broome

Programme team appointments:

International Joint Team members - Kev Compton / Michelle Nelson
Supporter of the Nights Away Scheme - Trevor Watson (in addition to his DC role)
Team member – Heidi Latronico Ferris
Team Member - Lead, SASUs -Neil Onyon
Team member - Paul Jackson
Team member - Stephen Hartley Volunteer Development team appointments:
Team Member – Lead for Learning - Lucy Copeland has agreed in the continue with the County Training Manager role which will become Team Member - Lead for Learning on transformation.

Support Team Appointments:

Team Member - Communications -Abigail Jodhan-Singh
Team Member - Lead, Digital – Ian Kingdom

I will be making more appointments as I discuss this with individuals. I will update on further appointments and include a structure chart in due course.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Team Vacancies

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:01:15 GMT

We have a vacancy for a volunteer programme team member(s) supporting DofE for the county.

More details of the vacancy can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/volunteer and the link for the application form is https://forms.office.com/e/Z1gXm8z5Qy

The closing date for the role is 31/7/2024 .

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Calendar

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:59:33 GMT

First Aid Course @ Wake House Bourne - 22 June 2024

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/834280524507?aff=oddtdtcreator

First Aid Course @ Wake House Bourne - 23 June 2024

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/834280644867?aff=oddtdtcreator

Lincoln Pride - 17 Aug 2024

For further information relating to the event/timings of the day please contact Ellie Broome ( ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk ) or Claire Burt ( claire.burt@lincolnscouts.org.uk )

Gilwell Reunion - 30 Aug -1 Sep

Booking detail at https://www.scouts.org.uk/national- events/gilwell-reunion

Skills of Management (Weekend Course) - Sat, 7 Sept 2024 Sun 8 Sept 2024

The Hub (National Centre for Art and Design), Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, NG34 7DW.

Book at https://bookwhen.com/emrt/e/ev-sv4r-20240907093000 9:30am – 4:30pm each day.

Lincs Fest - 20-22 Sept 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/lincs-fest-2024

County AGM - Sudbrooke Park 21 Sept 2024

Nights Away training at Sudbrooke - 27-29 Sept 2024

Open to all Leaders Bookings secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

PL Camp, Sudbrooke - 4–6 October 2024

Chiller - 16 November 2024

Details and Booking form at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/bookings-open-for-chiller24

RYA Safety boat training (Explorers, Network, Leaders) - 7 & 14 December 2024

We will launch a calendar with dates for next year in due course to enable planning for next year.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

Congratulations to 1st Cranwell and 5th Boston (St Botolph’s)

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:57:01 GMT

Congratulations to 1st Cranwell in Sleaford District who are celebrating 75 years, being formed on 7 May 1949 and 5th Boston (St Botolph) who are celebrating 100 years.

June Bulletin

Other News from Across the County

County Bulletin: Issue 1 (June 2024)

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:29:02 GMT

Issue 1 of the new Lincs Scouts County Bulletin June 2024

Welcome to the Lincs County Bulletin

Welcome to the first edition of the Lincs County Bulletin. This will be issued on the first Friday of each month. Click here to access the bulletin.

The bulletin will be sent to all adults registered on compass and distributed widely. To submit material for the bulletin please email howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

In this issue:

Congratulations to 1st Cranwell and 5th Boston (St Botolph’s)
County Calendar
County Team Vacancies
County Team Appointments - Transformation
First Response
Gilwell reunion 30 August – 1 September
Chris Maslin Memorial Rally 11th – 13th October 2024 @ Grantham
Scouts Speak Up

Howard Nelson

Lead Volunteer, Lincolnshire Scouts (County Commissioner)

Vacancy Alert

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:36:12 GMT

Vacancy Alert - Programme Team Member (s) DofE

Programme Team Member – Duke of Edinburgh Award (Advisor)

We are looking for a county programme team member who could fulfil the volunteer role of County Duke of Edinburgh Award Adviser for Lincolnshire Scouts. The role could be undertaken by an individual or a team.

Role description here

Apply https://forms.office.com/e/Z1gXm8z5Qy

Closing date 31/7/24

Lincoln District Camp

Fri, 31 May 2024 19:48:59 GMT

Lincoln and Gainsborough Lost world camp

Last week 24/05/24 marked the start of Lincoln district Lost World Camp, which provided activities for over 1000 young people over the bank holiday.

The long weekend had a packed programme ranging from bushcraft skills and inflatables to water activities and mountain biking. We even had a very special rendition of Colin the Caterpillar at the evening campfire featuring our onsite medical team.

We would like to thank everyone who volunteered to give up their weekend, whether this was coming as a section volunteer supporting your group, as staff to run activities and those who came to cater for staff. Additionally a massive thank you to the event management team for making everything possible and their commitment beyond just the weekend.

We hope everybody had a great time and enjoyed the lost world camp.

If you would like to see more photographs from the weekend, feel free to check out the Facebook page.

New County Youth Lead (Commissioner) appointed

Fri, 31 May 2024 10:32:50 GMT

Caitlin Hall appointed as County Youth Lead

I am delighted to announce that Caitlin Hall has been appointed as County Youth Lead for Lincolnshire Scouts. Caitlin is tasked with driving our youth-shaped agenda across the County. I know that Caitlin will do an amazing job of supporting our volunteers, helping to shape our programme, influencing decisions that we make at the County level and working alongside our brilliant team of District Youth Commissioners to help embed the ideas and decisions of young people into local scouting.

Caitlin said "I'm Caitlin, the new county youth lead and I'm incredibly excited to get going after having been to the World Scout Jamboree last year and having had an amazing twelve years in scouting myself. Over the next few months, I plan to gather as much feedback from scouts as possible to truly making Lincolnshire Scouting Youth Shaped. Thanks to Ellie and Jacob, we've already got an amazing Youth Shaped Team who I've been having monthly meetings with working on making young people's voices heard".

I would also like to thank Ellie and Jacob for the fantastic job they have done as Youth Commissioners.

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer (County Commissioner)

Bookings Open for Chiller24

Fri, 31 May 2024 09:49:23 GMT

Chiller 24 Bookings are now OPEN

Click https://irp.cdn-website.com/0a64bc63/files/uploaded/Chiller_Booking_Form_2024.docx to book

LINCS FEST 2024

Thu, 30 May 2024 13:47:01 GMT

LINCS FEST 2024 - Bookings now open

We welcome you to join us at Lincs Fest. This is Lincolnshire's very own version of Gilwell Reunion, including seminars and workshops, practical skill development opportunities, fun and adventurous activities, and lots of opportunities to socialise with fellow scouters.

The event is running from Saturday 21 September (with activities starting 10am) to Sunday 22 September (Lunchtime) and also the option to just come for the day on the Saturday. Full information and details will be shared with all participants a month before the event. We would encourage people to bring a tent for camping, but there is the option to bring a caravan/camper van if required. Electric and water hook-up is not available however.

One form needs completing per participant. Booking Link = https://forms.office.com/e/dp3e6NZg5M

The cost of the event is £7 for member within Lincolnshire Scouts and £10 for any other member of the Scout Association. All scouters, including Trustee Board members and Occasional Helpers are welcome. The event is STRICTLY over 18's only. Cost includes badge, travel mug, access to the event and all activities and tea/coffee/squash facilities throughout the event. You are encouraged to bring a pack up/picnic for Saturday lunchtime and purchase dinner from the range of street vendors that will be onsite for the Saturday evening. Sausage baps, bacon baps and a vegetarian/gluten free option will be available Sunday money at a small cost - with profits going towards our world Scout Jamboree Unit Leadership Team. There will also be a full bar open and available Saturday night at an additional cost to participants.

Payment must be made as soon as possible after submission of the booking form. This can be either posted or dropped into the County Offices, or paid via bank transfer.

For Bank Transfers please ensure the reference is "FEST-Surname and first initial”

Any questions then please direct these to secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or call 01522 217346.

We look forward to seeing you!
Happy Scouting

Message from County Lead Volunteer

Fri, 24 May 2024 11:11:55 GMT

Message from Howard Nelson

Hello

I wanted to write and introduce myself as the new County Lead Volunteer (County Commissioner) for Lincolnshire Scouts. I feel very privileged and honoured to have been appointed and am very much looking forward to working with and supporting you.

For those of you who do not know me, I have been involved in Scouting as an adult with roles in the Scout and Explorer sections, county roles in Lincolnshire as DCC Activities and using my skills on the water within Scouting and beyond with RYA. More recently, I have been a Deputy Commissioner in British Scouting Overseas, looking after programme, activities, and training adults. I live in the Stamford and Bourne District and was the District Chair until recently. I have many happy memories of being a member of with 24th Lincoln (Saxilby), starting as a Cub and completed my Queen’s Scout Award a Maverick Venture Scout.

My plan for the next couple of months will be to learn more about the county and understand how we can better support scouting across Lincolnshire. I will be out and about to give people an opportunity to chat and meet me. I will also be working with our Comms Team to launch a county bulletin (issued on the first Friday of each month) and a newsletter, so we can keep you better informed. Our priorities for the Autumn will be about Transformation, Safety Management and how we improve support for grassroots scouting. I will share details of these as time progresses.

I am looking for support with a few different areas and would be delighted to hear from you if feel you might be able to help by joining one of our teams:

• Programme – working with districts and groups across Lincolnshire supporting the delivery of safe, engaging, suitable programmes for young people.

• Learning - ensuring compliance with learning modules and building a community of volunteers who can support and deliver training across the county, ensuring provision and completion of all learning for all adults.

• Communications - building a campaign of internal communications for Lincolnshire to ensure consistent, engaging communications, as well as ensuring communications from UK HQ are shared across suitable platforms.

• Volunteer Experience – supporting transformation across Lincolnshire and engaging the adult volunteers there with the volunteer experience changes.

I want to make sure anyone who volunteers feels supported, empowered, and that everyone enjoys their time volunteering. If you’re still reading, I would love to hear from you!

Finally, I would also like to place on record my huge thanks to Amy for all the hard work in supporting the delivery of quality scouting in the county and the enthusiasm she has shown in the role to take Lincolnshire to where it is now.

If you have any questions or good ideas, my email is Howard.Nelson@Lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Howard Nelson

County Lead Volunteer

Lincolnshire Scouts

Howard Nelson appointed as new County Lead Volunteer (CC)

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:27:49 GMT

As many of you may be aware we have recently completed the search for a new County Lead Volunteer for Lincolnshire, after an extensive and comprehensive national volunteer appointment process, I am pleased to announce that Howard Nelson has accepted the role of County Lead Volunteer for Lincolnshire Scout County effective from 24th May 2024.

For those of you who do not know Howard, he has been involved in Scouting as an adult with roles in the Scout and Explorer sections, county roles in Lincolnshire as DCC Activities and using his skills on the water within Scouting and beyond with RYA. More recently, Howard has been a Deputy Commissioner in British Scouting Overseas, looking after programme, activities and training adults. He has held a number of roles in Stamford and Bourne and is currently the District Chair. In his professional life he has held Chief Executive and Operating Officer roles in Multi-Academy Trusts and other educational institutions.

I am sure that you will all support Howard in his new role as he continues to lead the development of Lincolnshire with the county and district teams, to continue to grow and develop especially with the Transformation journey we have embarked on as a Movement sharing our ambition of supporting more young people to gain #skillsforlife.

I would also like to thank Amy for all the hard work in supporting the delivery of quality scouting in the county and the enthusiasm she has shown in the role to take Lincolnshire to where it is now.

I look forward to seeing Lincolnshire Scouting continue to flourish.

Paula Evans

Regional Lead Volunteer East Midlands

Awards at Burghley House 2024

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:36:33 GMT

2024 Awards

On 24/04/24 members from across the County were invited to Burghley House to celebrate their achievements over the past year. This consisted of a tour around the house, a meal and a small awards ceremony. These awards ranged from King Scout, and Silver Wolves along with recognition of the hard work put in by Jamboree members and those who helped with the king's coronation.

Congratulations! To everyone who earned an award and thank you to everyone who helped organise the event.

Vacancy for District Lead Volunteer, Gainsborough

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 22:33:45 GMT

Gainsborough District Lead Volunteer

Your opportunity to be the Lead Volunteer for Gainsborough District. Contact Malcolm if you want a chat about the role. Please pass it onto anyone you think might be interested. Volunteer pack for more details is here .

Latest Training dates released

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:21:09 GMT

Latest Managers and Supporters training dates

The dates of the next courses are:

Skills of Management course (2 days) - Derbyshire, 2nd/3rd March 2024

Skills of Management course (2 days) - Lincolnshire, 7th/8th September 2024

Meeting the Challenges course (1 day) - Nottinghamshire, 26th October 2024

Achieving Growth course (1 day) - Nottinghamshire, 27th October 2024

Meeting the Challenges course (1 day) - Northamptonshire, 9th November 2024

Achieving Growth course (1 day) - Northamptonshire, 10th November 2024

Information for all of these courses can be found and booked using the link below:

https://bookwhen.com/emrt#focus=ev-s3lt-20241109093000

Lucy Copeland

County Training Manager Lincolnshire

Ctm@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or

trainingcourses@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Cubs on the Water 2024

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:31:15 GMT

Cubs on the Water 2024

Saturday 6 July or Sunday 7 July

Cubs on the Water is a full-on day of water based activities for Cubs. Throughout the course of the day, the Cubs will be able to take part in a multitude of different activities; such as Canoeing and Sailing. Cubs on the Water allows the Cubs to gain their time on the water badge and get to meet other cubs from all around the County! This year you will get the choice of one of two dates, a Saturday or a Sunday.

Your pack is invited to join us for a day of water based activities on Hykeham Lakes, Lincoln. Planned activities include Sailing, Canoeing, Paddling, Bell Boating and an onshore craft activity as well as some water themed activities on land. Cubs on the water(C.O.W) will be held over at Hykeham Scouts Water Centre. Cubs can only attend 1 day session over the weekend as part of a pack. Any Cub may attend as part of their pack alongside their Leader. There will be no individual bookings from Cubs taken. Cubs Packs are welcome to bring Young Leaders to help them, however, there will be no activities provided for them. Cubs can not attend independently.

All participants will need to bring lunch. Each session is limited to 50 participants so please ensure you get your booking in early! Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and a couple of changes of dry clothing, just in case. Further information will be sent to leaders one booked in.

Cost - £12 per participant - booking at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cow-cubs-on-the-water-tickets-834373281947?aff=oddtdtcreator

Leaders do not need to pay. When purchasing tickets please ensure you put your group number and district in the box which asks for a name, this way we know which groups have booked onto the event.

Places usually go very quickly - so please book soon!

Bookings held in line with our privacy policy that can be seen at https://lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/privacy

Weekend on the Water

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:12:34 GMT

Water SASU - Weekend on the Water is back for 2024!

Friday 31 May - Sunday 2 June 2024

The County Water Activities Unit are again running Weekend on the Water.

What : Sailing, Powerboating, Canoe/Kayak and SUP courses with assessments for NGB qualifications if appropriate / Scout permits.

Who : Scouts aged 13+, Explorers, Young Leaders, Network, all adults in Lincolnshire scouting. For those under 18, a leader will need to attend with the Young people. Event Passports may be held for Explorers / Young Leaders, please include a copy of the event passport.

Location : 15th Lincoln Scouts Water HQ at Apex Lake, North Hykeham. There is camping on site.

Cost : £45 per participant for Sailing, SUP and Canoe/Kayaking. £60 for Powerboating .

Other

Bring your own tent. Water sports kit needed (wet-suits or old clothes + old trainers. Buoyancy aids provided). The only additional costs will be for any specific assessment/certificate costs (e.g. RYA / British Canoeing).

Booking at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-scouts-weekend-on-the-water-wow-tickets-834372409337?aff=oddtdtcreator

Places fill quickly, book early to avoid disappointment!

Beavers on Boats is back!

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 18:32:02 GMT

Beavers on Boats - a half days water activities for Beavers at North Hykeham on Sat 15 July / Sun 16 July 2023

The Lincolnshire Scouts Water Activity Support Unit delivered a highly successful Beavers on Boats at North Hykeham on Sat 15 July / Sun 16 July 2023 . 200 Beavers had a great day doing water activities. Thanks to all that helped.

Latest County First Aid & Training Courses

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:45:57 GMT

Latest County First Aid and Training courses

County First Aid and Leader Training Courses

Dates have just been released for the latest County Leader Training Courses:

Scouts First Response - module 10a (first aid learning) Thursday, 9/16/23 March 2023 19:15 Online

Running Safe Activities Thursday, 16 March 2023 20:00 Online

Fundamentals of Scouting Thursday, 13 April 2023 20:00 Online

Introduction to residentials Thursday, 11 May 2023 20:00 Online

Scouts First Response Module 10a/b Sunday, 14 May 2023 09:00 South Lincs

Scouts First Response Module 10a/b Sunday, 11 June 2023 09:00 North Lincs

Administration Thursday, 15 June 2023 20:00 Online

Practical skills Thursday, 13 July 2023 20:00 Online

Scouts First Response Module 10a/b Saturday, 23 September 2023 09:00 South Lincs

Scouts First Response Module 10a/b Sunday, 24 September 2023 09:00 North Lincs

Scouts First Response - module 10a (first aid learning) Tuesday, 14 November 2023 19:15

Bookings at Lincolnshire Scouts Events | Eventbrite

Leaders Lincs Fest a great success

carolyn.greig@stamfordbournescouts.org.uk (Carolyn Greig) — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 16:22:11 GMT

Leaders training and social is always a great idea

Following on from Lincs Goes Live, our online event which allowed seminars and workshops last year, it was decided that we should all get together and have an opportunity to socialise as well as learn new skills this year, and Lincs Fest was born. Huge thanks go to the Sudbrooke Campsite team for allowing County to take over the whole site for the weekend as well as the adjacent field to accommodate leaders staying over. Over 240 people signed up to attend the events and activities ranged from trying out new activities without young people to supervise such as crate stacking, climbing, abseiling, tomahawk throwing and archery, through to learning new skills fire lighting and backwoods cooking. There was also a chance to brush up on navigation skills, learn about geocaching, practice your axe and saw techniques with a watchful eye to keep you safe as well as partake of the many seminars which were held.

These included a chance for leaders of sections to get together and plan out some future events for each section, hear the ups and downs of setting up and running a new squirrel drey, find out about the Youth Shape award and how to set the wheels in motion to achieve this with your section and learning about Autism and also the changes which are coming within Scouting over the next year.

It wasn't all hard work though as the quiz proved. The competition was fierce and some of the costumes were questionable, but much fun was had by everyone, so Thanks to Amy and Ellie for organising that initial social. The campfire was a rousing affair with lots of participation and happy smiling faces aglow around the fire. Our usual campfire hosts weren't available so I was drafted in at short notice. Thanks to everyone for supporting me.

Finally it was time for our live music provided by James Woodliffe outside Coulson's Cabin which was absolutely fabulous and made even better by being able to partake of a little liquid refreshment. We should also say, the pizza van and party delights were a huge hit with many people having some fabulous food causing them to sell out. Others chose to bbq or cook their own food on the fires provided which meant that everyone could accommodate their own requirements.

Sunday dawned with the smell of bacon and sausage and the WSJ leadership team provided a fabulous breakfast for everyone to boost their own fundraising efforts. With the opportunity to continue with more rope making, networking, learning and trying Sunday was another full on day and once all the marquees were down, it was agreed that it had been a fantastic weekend.

Same again next year?

Thank you to all who organised the event.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:35:39 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts extends its deepest condolences on the death of our patron, monarch and sovereign - Queen Elizabeth II. As we remember Her Majesty, we give thanks that she has been Patron of The Scout Association since she came to the throne 70 years ago. We also recall with gratitude the support she has extended to Scouting throughout her long reign.

Most especially we remember her strong commitment to duty and service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Our sympathy and prayers are extended to the entire Royal family. The loss of such a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother will be deeply felt.

Calling 13-17 year olds who want to be change makers!

ellie.broome@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Ellie Broome) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:55:05 GMT

Apply today to join the Youth Forum.

Do you want to shape scouting across the whole of Lincolnshire? Are you confident offering feedback and making decisions? If the answer is yes then join the County Youth Forum! As scouts you are offered opportunities and exciting activities, however the activities are only exciting if it's something you want to do. That's why we need a youth forum , so we can ensure the activities we offer are exciting for young people like yourself, not just us old folk! As a member of the county youth forum you will get a say in some of the decisions that affect you such as the activities we spend money on, you will also have the opportunity to work with the county team on projects , while having fun, making friends and gaining #SkillsForLife.

If you would like to apply then download the application form below.

Successful DofE Gold / Queen's Scout Expedition Video Blog

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:21:55 GMT

Take a look at the video blog from our recent Network Gold DofE / Queens Scout Expedition. There are lots of opportunities to get involved in the DofE award and gain your Queen's Scout Award in Lincolnshire. For more information please contact Michelle.Nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Wave Water Activities Days

howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk (Howard Nelson) — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 16:52:39 GMT

Water Activity (WAVE) Days 2021

We held two Water Activities Days at 15th Lincoln (Hykeham) Scouts this September with lots of leaders and young people attending on each day. Activities included Stand Up Paddle boarding, Kayaking, canoeing, sailing and powerboating. The aim of the day was develop skills and work towards permits.

Barrowby Cubs and Scouts Canoeing Taster Session

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:19:38 GMT

For the last night of term both Barrowby Cubs and Scouts had a canoeing taster session which took place on the Grantham Canal. For most of them this was the first time on the water. Cubs were really excited about taking part. As this took place in July it also meant that we could contribute the Scouts Paddle the Amazon Challenge as well as gaining time on water.

We are hoping to do a longer session once we return in September and have another go on the water in which they can earn more time on the water.

We also invested new members into the group at the end of the session.

A fantastic evening was had by all a perfect way to end the term.

County Commissioners Challenge - Order form for badges

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:47:41 GMT

The order forms for the County Commissioner's Challenge are available here

Lincolnshire Goes Live!

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 19:13:48 GMT

Bookings are now open for Lincolnshire Goes Live 2021. The link will be sent out via email. Have a look to see if you want to start to think about which training modules, development workshops or fun social sessions you would like to join.

You can opt in to as many or as few sessions as you want to do, and take up the opportunity to complete some formal training, undertake some development workshops, or partake in some fun social events. The are no costs for the event, except for one workshop (the final one of the evening, Art for Everyone) this does have a £5 cost attached to it but promises to be great fun and worth every penny. Each adult member who registers for the event will be sent a delegate pack with some lovely treats, which you will be sent in the week leading up to the event. Therefore, do remember each member needs to register individually.

The link below should take you to the booking site. Take care not to double book yourself on workshops running at the same time. We look forward to seeing you online on the 22nd May!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-goes-live-2021-tickets-151704419001

Thank You! - #ThankTwo

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 15:51:44 GMT

#ThankTwo

This year's been challenging for all of us, but it’s been so inspiring to see everyone who’s stepped up to support their community. Our volunteers have been no different, helping young people across the County to develop skills and see their friends at a time when they’ve otherwise been so isolated.

Today, we want to say thank you. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to #ThankTwo people and/or groups of people who’ve gone above and beyond this past year.

If you’d like to show your gratitude to our Scout volunteers or any other heroes in your local community, you and your child can get involved by taking part in these fun activities – all themed around kindness and saying ‘Thank you.’

New and Improved County Calendar

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 15:51:42 GMT

County Calendar

Since the launch of the new website we have been conscious that there has been no Calendar function (although over the last year, there has been very little to include). We were keen to provide this functionality but we wanted to make a solution that works for our members, including all feedback received on the previous site.

We are pleased to say that we now have an improved calendar available on the website, though Microsoft 365 and as a subscribable version too. This allows you to access the full County calendar in a way that suited you, whether it be at home or on your phone.

Subscribe/View Shared Calendar

Visit the calendar page on the website to find out how to add as a Shared Calendar in Microsoft 365 or to subscribe on you phones/tablets and/or home computer.

Direct Link to Event/Training/Meeting Information Pages

The majority of events within the calendar also have their own deticated information page. This allows you to share links for specific events. For example, if you want to share a training course within your group of leaders, you can and they will be able to access all the information and book for the event (e.g. https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/meetings/allmembersmay21 )

Event Listings

Do you prefer to see a list of all future events?

Distributable Calendar Files

Have you ever added an event to you calendar but copied the detailes down wrong? We have enables downloadable calendar files for each event which include full details. These can be downloaded from the events page and included as attachements in emails.

Add and Event

We also wanted to make it easy for events to be added to our calendar. And as pard of a wider improvement, events can now be added through a simple online form which following review, is automatically added to the calendar with full details (inc. calendar invite and direct URL).

The County Calendar is for all County Events and other events which are open to the wide County.

County Commissioner's Challenge 2021

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 23:09:38 GMT

Hi All,

I invite you to complete my 2021 Challenge! It is designed for you to have lots of fun and do a few things you may not have done before. It can be completed individually, at home, or mixed with sessions on zoom with your group. To earn this badge Beavers and Cubs need to complete one challenge from each of the six zones. For older sections you need to complete a total of eight challenges with at least one from each zone. Remember to choose activities that will really challenge you, and if you want to you can get the rest of your family involved in doing them as well. It is important you comply with COVID Government Guidelines whilst you do these and stay safe. Please share with me photos and videos of what you achieve either on social media or via email… I will be giving out some extra special prizes for outstanding effort and achievement on completion of some of these activities, so get stuck in!

Amy

County Commissioner

Meet Our New Youth Commissioner Team

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:59:49 GMT

County Youth Commissioner Team Appointments

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of our next County Youth Commissioner Team. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the contribution that Vicky Clipson has made in the current role of County Youth Commissioner. Vicky has now reached the end of her tenure and over coming weeks will handover to Ellie, who will officially commence the role on 1 ^st February 2021. This is an exciting time for Lincolnshire Scouts as we take our next steps, championing and further embedding a youth shaped approach.

Ellie Broome

CYC

Ellie has been a member of the UK Community Impact Group since the aged of 15 years old and has supported and contributed to the development of the Million Hands Project. For the past 2 years, Ellie has also represented UK Scouting at the British Youth Council and is very passionate about youth shaped scouting, ensuring the voice of the young person is heard and able to influence Scouting in Lincolnshire and nationally. She is a huge asset to the County Team.

Jacob Wand

Deputy CYC

Jacob is a very active leader in Grantham District, currently working as a Cub Scout Leader and he has also helped organise and run District Events. He was formerly a young leader and is currently working towards his Gold Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Scout Award.

Thomas Thorne

Deputy CYC

Thomas is currently a District Youth Commissioner and Beaver Scout Leader in Gainsborough District, and is passionate about championing and empowering the voice of young people so that they can have a meaningful voice in their programme and future opportunities.

Amy Gilbert

County Commissioner

Stay Safe Online this Christmas

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 21:23:08 GMT

• Our seasonal celebrations are a favourite time for scammers to send fraudulent emails, texts or DMs, or post fraudulent offers on social media. with Christmas looming and an increase in internet shopping, fake parcel firm delivery notifications are commonplace attachments or links, as are emails and other messages featuring ‘special offers’ and ‘prizes’. Don’t click on links in emails, texts or posts that you’re not expecting, and don’t open unexpected email attachments.

• When shopping on the internet, confirm websites you visit are authentic by carefully checking the address is spelt correctly. Consider typing it in, rather than clicking on a link in an email, text or post. It is easy for scammers to set up fake websites that are very similar to the real thing.

• Make sure payment pages are secure by checking that addresses begin with ‘https’ (‘s’ is for secure) and there is a closed padlock in the address bar (the padlock means that the page is secure. WARNING the site could still be operated by fraudsters.

• Many advertisements for items such as gifts, holidays and events on social media and online forums are genuine, but be aware others may be fraudulent. Be extra vigilant about checking advertisements are authentic.

• However desperate you are to buy that late gift or an item that is in short supply, do not pay for anything by transferring money directly to people or companies you do not know. If it is a fraudulent supplier, it is doubtful your bank will be able to recover or refund your money. If you can, pay by credit card. The same goes for holidays, travel and tickets.

• Log out of the web page or app when payment is completed. Simply closing it may not log you out automatically.

• When you are out and about don’t use Wi-Fi hotspots when logging in or paying, they could be insecure or fake. Look after your devices as they make attractive targets for thieves and be wary of people looking at your screen over your shoulder.

• Fake or counterfeit goods are of inferior quality, contravene copyright law and affect the livelihoods of workers who make the real thing. They can also be dangerous to users. Do not buy them intentionally, however cheap or ‘authentic’ they make look, and do all you can to make sure what you are buying is authentic.

• Avoid ‘free’ or ‘low-cost’ trials whether it is for the latest handset or slimming pills. Without thoroughly reading the small print and trusted reviews, you could be signing up for large monthly direct debits which are very hard to cancel.

• If you are thinking about a winter holiday or short break, check what you are booking online is genuine by doing thorough research. Look for independent reviews, and make sure travel agents / tour operators are genuine by checking for an ABTA/ATOL number. Pay by credit card for extra protection.

• Never use your Lincolnshire Scouting email account to set up personal online store or other accounts.

• If you think you have fallen victim to fraud, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk .

• If you have received a suspected phishing email, forward it to the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC’s) Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk .

For information on shopping safely online, visit www.getsafeonline.org .

Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of information and advice on online safety and security, for the public and small businesses. Established in 2006, it is a not- for-profit, public/private sector initiative backed by a number of law enforcement agencies and leading organisations in internet security, banking and retail.

For more information and expert, easy-to-follow, impartial advice on safeguarding yourself,

your family, finances and devices, visit www.getsafeonline.org .

New County Commissioner announced

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:44:54 GMT

A message to Lincolnshire Scouts members from Paula Evans, Regional Commissioner, East Midlands

As many of you may be aware we have recently completed the search for a new County Commissioner for Lincolnshire and following a robust search and interview process I am pleased to announce that Amy Gilbert has been appointed as the new County Commissioner. The appointment will be effective from 1 ^st November 2020, this will give Amy the opportunity to work alongside Ellie between now and then.

For those of you who do not know Amy, she has been involved in Scouting as an adult with roles in the Beaver and Cub section, ADC Beavers and more recently Deputy District Commissioner in Lincoln district. She is also a manager in her professional life having worked in the probation service and led and managed change within the sector and now works as a Regional director in the private healthcare sector. Through her own family she still has active links to the sections.

I am sure that you will all support Amy in her new role as she continues to lead the development of Lincolnshire with the county and district teams to continue to grow and develop in line with the Scout Association vision and offer the opportunity to give skills for life to as many young people as possible.

I would also like to thank Ellie Compton for her incredible efforts over the last two years as the County Commissioner. I know that she will continue to support Lincolnshire Scouting in one role or another. In the short term she will work with Amy during this transition period.

I look forward to seeing Lincolnshire Scouting develop and continue to flourish.

Paula

Queen's Birthday Honour for Lincolnshire Scouter

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 21:38:11 GMT

We are very proud to hear today that Alan Scott, a long service member of our county, previously CC, the chairman of Poacher International Jamboree and Lincolnshire Scouts has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours!

He has been involved with scouting for more than 50 years, holding the role of county chairman for 12 years and chairing the county's international jamboree camp Poacher for 15 years. He has also travelled abroad four times with the World Scout Jamboree. Today, he is still involved with the Stamford and District scouts and runs the scout camp site in Empingham Road. Now retired, Alan previously worked as the clerk of works at Burghley House and it was during his time there that Alan and his first wife Margaret held craft fairs, fundraising for the scouts.

As well as his scouting commitments, Alan also finds time to be a church warden at St Martin's Church in Stamford, a role he has held for 35 years, as well as volunteering twice a week at Nene Valley Railway in Wansford. "Since I retired, I think it's really important to keep busy," said Alan, 72. Alan is convinced it was someone involved in scouting that nominated him for his honour, although he has no idea who.

Prestigious National Awards for Gainsborough Volunteers

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 09:09:11 GMT

Margaret and Alan Clapham from Gainsborough have both received prestigious Silver Wolf awards from the Chief Scout, Bear Grylls for their outstanding commitment to Scouting totalling over 75 years between them. These awards are the highest available in Scouting for adult volunteers and are the Scout equivalent of the MBE's.

Through their commitment and imagination, they have been instrumental in delivering magical Scouting moments from themed camps to adult training for countless members. They have inspired young people and adults to start/continue on their Scouting journey to reach their potential.

Alongside all the hours spent directly supporting the delivery of Scouting there is the unseen time spent ensuring all activities and events are carried out safely. More recently they have taken supporting roles with both 1st Gainsborough (Morton) and 14th Gainsborough Scout Groups. Being the dependable pair of extra hands when required whilst also continuing to support the development of adults new to Scouting.

The timing of their awards was also extra special as their grandson Harry, also achieved his Chief Scout's Bronze award around the same time.

Saying Thank You to Volunteers

At the Scouts we want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to Scouting - it's an important way to make sure people stay with us and to recognise their achievements.

Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of members and recognise volunteers in your team. You can use an award to recognise:

gallantry and meritorious conduct
outstanding and excellent service
long service

Anyone can put a volunteer dorward for an award. Visit https://members.scouts.org.uk/awards for mor information.

But formal awards are just one way to say thanks! For details on why saying ‘thank you’ is important please click here and for more ideas on other ways to say thank you, please click here .

County AGM

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 19:46:35 GMT

This year, under the present restrictions, the County Annual General meeting is to be held online on Sunday 27th September, commencing at 2pm

All are welcome to join this meeting, however only those who hold roles within the Scout Council can vote.

If you would like to participate in the AGM, please contact the County Office, with your email address. Invitations to join the meeting will be sent out, the week prior to the event.

County Office email address:- secretary@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

JOTA-JOTI 2020 (Jamboree On the Air/Jamboree on the Internet)

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:45:07 GMT

Join the Worlds Largest Digital & Radio Scout Event

JOTA-JOTI or Jamboree-on-the-Air-Jamboree-on-the-Internet is the world’s largest digital Scout event taking place on the Internet and over the airwaves.

Taking place from 16th - 18th October the event connects millions of young people around the world for a full weekend of online activities that promote friendship and global citizenship. JOTA-JOTI enables young people and volunteers to participate in fun and engaging group activities over the Internet and amateur radio focused on developing 21st century skills through Scouting.

The programme includes:

Webinars
Global Campfires
Talent Shows
Live Shows and much more.

Applications Now Open: World Scout Moot 2022

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:54:04 GMT

Applications to join the UK Contingent for the 16th World Scout Moot have reopened for a limited time following the event dates changing (see below).

For anyone who didn't manage to submit an application first time round, can now attend due to the new dates in 2022 or have had a change in circumstance, UK Scouts are delighted to be able to provide an opportunity to submit an application as either a Participant or IST member.

The second round of applications will then be entered along with the first round into the ballot which will be drawn using our Scouting Criteria . Places will be confirmed no later than the end of October 2020.

Submitting an application is super easy! There's three simple steps to let us know you'd like to come to Ireland in July 2022. They are:

Completing a contingent application form
Filling out an anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form
Visiting the grants section of our website and considering completing an application for our Inclusion Fund.

All the information on submitting an application and more is available on our How to apply page. Applications close at midnight on Sunday 20th September, so don't leave it too late!

A reminder that if you've already applied - you don't need to do anything! Please don't submit a second application, but check your emails for the latest update around your next steps.

New dates, same adventure

The organisers have now confirmed to us that the World Scout Moot will take place from Monday 18th to Friday 29th July 2022. We’ve broken this down below to show you all of the dates for our UK Contingent experience:

Participants:

Pre-event experience (optional) – Saturday 16th to Monday 18th July
The Moot - Monday 18th to Friday 29th July
Post-event experience (optional) - Friday 29th to Saturday 30th July

International Service Team:

IST Arrivals - Saturday 16th July
The Moot - Monday 18th to Saturday 30th July
IST Post-event brunch - Saturday 30th July

We realise that these dates may unfortunately fall within the school term which will be disappointing for some applicants. We recommend checking with your school/local authority to see if this affects you.

Age ranges

We know an important aspect of the postponement announcement for many was to confirm the age ranges for the event. Following consultation, the organisers have confirmed that participant age range has been extended to include those aged 18 – 26 years old on the first day of the Moot. The following age ranges will now be applicable for the event:

Participants: Aged 18 to 26 on 18th July 2022
(Born between 19th July 1995 and 18th July 2004)

International Service Team: Aged 27 or over on 18th July 2022
(Born on or before 18th July 1995)

2021 Training Dates

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 18:22:55 GMT

The 2021 Modular Training course dates are now available on the training pages .

Virtual First Response Course

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 18:19:57 GMT

There will be 3 sessions lasting about 2 hours on 17,24 September and 1 October followed by a practical session on 25 October (subject to Covid19 restrictions and green status). Start time is 7.15pm for the zoom sessions.

All sessions must be attended to gain the qualification. The practical session is subject to Covid19 restrictions and will be done as soon as possible. We will also run practical sessions on different dates and across Lincolnshire.

HQ have said that First aid training can be delivered virtually whilst face to face training is not an option, however this will not cover the full syllabus as there are some aspects which are required to be demonstrated by the learner. An attendance will be maintained locally so that when we reach readiness level Green, those requiring it can do the top up and complete their course.

As an interim measure, Scouts are accepting the virtual first response as acceptable in order for people to complete their Wood Badge (by updating module 10 as complete). However, once face to face training restarts, you will need to complete any elements not covered virtually in order to fully complete. At this point your Compass record can be updated for first aid ongoing learning.

There is a small charge of £5 for this course to cover the cost of the first response book from HQ.

If you would like to book please go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/117108266979

Taking the Lead! - Volunteering Opportunities with the UK Contingent Team for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in South Korea

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 15:22:07 GMT

World Scout Jamboree 2023 - find out about UK Contingent opportunities

The next World Scout Jamboree takes place in South Korea, in Summer 2023. The Scouts will send thousands of young people to this amazing event, and we will be looking to recruit a diverse, motivated team of volunteers to lead this trip.

Join the UK Contingent webinar for a presentation and Q&A with Scouts volunteers who have worked on previous international UK Contingents to world scouting events - and loved it! This is your chance to find out what it's like to be on the Contingent Management & Support Team (CMT/CMST) for a World Scout Jamboree, so you can decide if the opportunity is for you.

Come and hear from panelists such as Caroline Pearce, who led the UK Contingent to the World Scout Jamboree in North America in 2019, and from members of her team who did various planning roles. You can then ask any (serious or silly) questions that spring to mind, such as:
"How did you pick the jamboree mascot?"
or "How much £££ does this cost? How did you fundraise for this?"
or "Are you all still in touch? Was it easy to make friends on the team?"
or "How easy/hard is it to get selected?"

The UK Contingent welcomes volunteers from all walks of life, even if you are brand new to scouting. A world jamboree trip is an incredible thing to be part of, and we'd love to have someone like *you* on the next incredible planning team.

[The webinar will be recorded for the benefit of anyone who cannot make it live. Please join us live if you can though - we want to hear your questions!]

New Webinar: Mental Health & Wellbeing

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 15:11:18 GMT

Webinar Description:
Tim Kidd talked about why resilience matters in his Blog of 3 December 2019 (read the blog here) and reflected that he had just been listening to Bear Grylls on Radio 2.

Bear was asked what he’d take on an expedition and his answer, Tim thought, was quite brilliant: ‘That never-give-up spirit.’ Tim felt that summed up everything we’re doing as volunteers. Giving young people the courage, positivity and resilience to keep going, even in the toughest times.

Here Lyn Harte from Resilient Rutland talks about resources that could help leaders in this area https://resilientrutland.co.uk/.
View the webinar here.

New Webinar: Sustainable Development Goals

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 10:11:12 GMT

Tony Malone - World Scouting, Diversity and Inclusion volunteer speaks to Lincolnshire Scouts about how Scouts can be the agent that fosters change and in changing times, how we leave no one behind.
View the webinar here.

Lincolnshire Scouts at Lincolnshire Show

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 11:11:27 GMT

The Great Indoors - for members and non members

Our digital stand at the Lincolnshire Show featured the nationwide opportunity for anyone to enjoy Scouts and achieve a badge.

While we normally love the great outdoors, Scouts have pulled together some inspired indoor activity ideas for all to enjoy in The Great Indoors .

You don’t have to be an existing member, and you can either browse the activities yourself or we can send activities straight to your inbox.

Even if you don't pick up regular activities, you can get involved by joining The Great Indoors Weekender , the UK’s biggest digital summer camp 11–12 July .

With surprise celebrity guests, cooking, crafts, music and UK-wide campfire, 6–18 year olds will have fun while giving stuff a go, thinking, and playing.

You can register as an individual or as a section, group or even district.

The weekend is completely free so we can keep helping young people gain #SkillsForLife

This year the Lincolnshire Show moved online and Lincolnshire Scouts were proud to be part of the new format.

Click here to land in our area and from there, if you didn't watch live, you can explore the dgital showground - watch main arena displays, view interviews and browse exhibitors.

Below are pictures of our award winning stand in 2019.

Scouts of the World Award (SOWA) Discovery Event

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 16:05:26 GMT

Scouts of the World Award (SOWA) – Discovery Event

On the 17th, 18th and 25th July 2020, Lincolnshire Scouts are holding a virtual Scouts of the World Award Discovery event. This event is open to Scout Network members from across Lincolnshire.

Please Note: We have adopted the guidance from UKHQ allowing Scout Network members until their 26th birthday to complete the top awards (SOWA, QSA and Explorer Belt) due to the current restrictions caused by Coronavirus.

All sessions will be run through Zoom, so you will need access to the internet for the duration of the sessions as listed below;

Friday 17th July 19:30 - 21:30
Saturday 18th July 09:00 - 16:15
Saturday 25th July 09:30 - 13:45

If you rely on mobile data or have a capped download limit and attending these sessions could exceed these, please get in touch with programme@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Throughout the event, you will learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and how you can complete your own 80-hour project to earn you the Scouts of the World Award.
To register for the Scouts of the World Award, Network members must have attended a Discovery event of 14 hours.

There is no cost for the Discovery event but places are limited

(If, after booking, you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket to allow someone else to benefit from the place).

To find out more about the award visit: www.scouts.org.uk/network/awards/scouts-of-the-world-award/

Millie's Lockdown Rainbow Bears

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 23:54:53 GMT

After watching a programme on television that showed families visiting elderly relatives in care homes, former Scout Millie decided to do something to help others during lockdown.

Shielding routines meant that those who were more vulnerable had very little physical contact and no visitors inside their homes. When Millie saw the elderly relatives only able to watch their visitors through closed windows, she decided to use her sewing skills to make them a little friend to receive as a visitor they could welcome in.

N eil, Millie’s dad, is a leader at 27th Lincoln, Thorpe on the Hill where her younger brother is also a Beaver. Mum Laura, an occasional helper with the group, says, ‘Millie has a big heart and really cares for other people’s wellbeing. She’s made us very proud with her idea of wanting to help others who may be feeling lonely during these uncertain times.’

Calling them Millie’s Lockdown Rainbow Bears, each unique bear is made with a little rainbow heart and are donated free of charge. Millie hopes the bears will make their new owners smile, knowing that they are not alone and people out there still care about them.

Local donations of fabric are keeping Millie stocked with materials and she has already adapted her design to turn some of the tummies into pockets to hold photos and ‘memories’ for those recipients who might suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The family have been taking requests from people who may wish to nominate a care home or the name of elderly people who would love to receive a special bear hug in the post. Millie has so far sent 32 bears to Scarborough Hospice, 27 to a care home in Gainsborough and posted 18 individual orders – including a request from Australia for UK family members. Currently, Millie is creating 23 bears for a care home in North Hykeham and has a nomination waiting for 72 bears to another care home in Lincoln.

County Commissioner, Ellie Compton says, ‘This kind of initiative provides one of those moments that suddenly show how bright our young people shine in times of difficulty. Noticing problems, determining action and not shying from the sheer scale of making a difference. These little bears are sewn so beautifully around a stuffing of care and kindness that, in turn, can fill another person with love and hope. What an absolute superstar. Bravo, Millie.’

It was with great pleasure that Millie was registered as one of the Scouts 10,000 acts of kindness for care homes nationally.

Millie is happy to share her pattern, create an individual bear or group of bears to be sent to a nomination of your choice. If you would like to make a request or find out how you can donate funds for supplies or fabric to bring more bears to life, please email cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

We’d love to share your story. If you have been busy while face to face scouting has been paused please let me know by emailing cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

2nd Stamford Second Helpings

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 21:59:41 GMT

2nd Stamford Beavers and Cubs create video to introduce people to the wonderful work of Second Helpings

Second Helpings is a charity making a real difference in reducing food waste, getting food to people who really need it and offering a community cafe facility.

The initiative is supported by a number of leaders in 2nd Stamford and the Beavers and Cubs have made a fabulous stop animation to show how the charity made use of available food at the start of lockdown.

#feedbelliesnotbins

Lockdown with 1st Waddington

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 14:49:07 GMT

And so face to face Scouting ended in mid March but did that stop us?? Not a bit of it.

The Leaders and the Parents at the Waddington Scout Group have really stepped up to the mark and supported the children in all sorts of ways. Not only have the children completed a massive amount of badgework at home they have also taken part in various virtual activities together with other families. There has been the ‘Camp at Home’ where 55 of the children either made indoor dens to sleep in or braved a night in a tent in the garden. This event was planned and coordinated by the Northumberland Scouts and was with ‘Biggest Camp Ever’ with 95,000 participants from sixty eight countries. Thirty eight of the children took part in a virtual ‘Camp Fire’, some indoors and again some in the garden and then there was the ‘Hike to the Moon’. We were unable, this year, to participate in the annual JOTT, Jamboree on the Trail and so as an association wide event we asked the children to get out and hike and to record their distances which were all centrally collated and reached the moon and back. I have to add that the Leaders and some brave parents also took and active part in these activities.

The number of badges awarded and the spread of activities is indeed impressive. All of the badge awards have been verified by photographic submissions from the parents;

So far the Beavers have received sixty badges covering such activities as Outdoors, Book Reader, Animal Friend, Builder, Cook, Cyclist, Navigator and Nights Away to name but a few, whereas
The two Cub sections have had forty two badges awarded for Martial Arts, Artist, Astronomer, Photographer, and Environmental Conservation among others.
Scouts have achieved their badges covering, in addition, Meteorologist, Model Maker, World Faiths and Chef.
These badges are not exclusive to any one section and neither are they all covered by each section. As a result of cumulative work on Challenge badges we have been able to award Five Chief Scouts Gold and Two Chief Scouts Bronze Awards during this period.

All sections have been meeting regularly on Zoom - To find out more about delivering your programme online visit - https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/staying-safe-online/digital-platforms-for-scouts/

New Webinar: DofE with a Difference

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 20:47:09 GMT

View the DofE with a Difference webinar here.

New Webinar: Programme on the Web

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:45:34 GMT

View the Programmes on the Web webinar here.

Volunteers Week - Sunday

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 07:16:18 GMT

Congratulations. You are amazing.

UK Chief Commissioner Tim Kidd said, ‘I’m acutely aware of the importance of the millions of volunteers in the UK who give up their time every single day to help others. With the majority of volunteers saying they feel more motivated, confident and more skilled as a result of the work they do with us, it’s not just those they’re helping who benefit.

Steve Reed, Shadow Minister (Civil Society) said, ‘A huge congratulations to the community heroes who deliver Scouting locally, week in, week out. Employers should do all they can to support their staff to volunteer with such fantastic organisations like Scouting. Not only does it benefit the communities they are based in, it leads to healthier, more motivated workforce.’

The following volunteers have been nominated for a Commissioners Commendation. Bravo to all of you

Mathew Jordan

Alicia Cole

Alison Elwess

Bridget Palmer

Howard Nelson

Carolyn Grieg

Heidi Latronico-Ferris

Jan Simmonds

Paul Scholes

Lisa Stevenson

Claudia Rugg

Gillian Cocker

Agnieszka Kozlowska

Laura Roberts

Kieran Morris

Robert Cox

Sue Newbatt

Amanda Maslin

Liane Johnson

Sue Baxter

Ben Read

Gary Chisholm

William Baldock

Richard Harvey

Father James Titley

Andrew Taylor

Rupert Capleton

Katie Symonds

Marian Barton

Jenny Higgs

Gary Swift

Peter Bonner

Maddie James

Sara Mathieson

Claire Thomas

Rebbeca Warren

Amy Knychala

John Aidley

Jo Dawes

Leslie Romans

Claire Collier

Jenny Wynn

Leanne Wrentmore

Wendy Smith

Ben Leaver

Scouts of the World Award - Information Session

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:46:51 GMT

Scouts of the World Award (SOWA) is a Scout Network only award that gives Scout Network members the chance to undertake a project of their choice within the themes of Peace, Environment and Sustainability and take action on their chosen issue.

Lincolnshire Scouts are going to be running an information session on June 10th at 7.30pm to outline what the award is and what is involved. Following the session, if there is the demand then the team will put on a Discovery Event for those Network members to start their award.

This session is open for any Network aged member and any adult who supports this section.

Volunteers Week - Saturday

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 06:34:13 GMT

Scouts only exists because you make it happen.

We know how lucky we are that we have dedicated volunteers to make the business end of Lincolnshire Scouts happen.

Whether it is helping manage finance, support administration in the county office, delivering IT, sharing communications, making sure governance is in place and we meet the requirements of Scouts HQ and the Charities Commission.

All of these high-quality corporate functions from our volunteers

Not only that but you help us appoint our adults into their roles, train them and make sure they are recognised for their commitment with awards. You really are spectacular.

There is a massive amount of financial management required to make sure that accurate Finance records are maintained. It is everyone’s responsibility but some of our volunteers take roles that have more accountability. Whether it is maintaining records of monies received (e.g. for activities, camps, membership subscriptions, donations) and money spent (e.g. on bills, fees for activities, volunteer expenses, approving payments from a Scouting bank account or contributing to the creation and management of a budget.

To carry out these tasks effectively you will need to ensure that you keep relevant receipts, invoices, bank statements and balance sheets as appropriate, to ensure that there is a clear audit trail to explain any financial records

You can find an easy Budget Planner here to use with your teams to get more information on planned spend and income from their events and activities and information on bank accounts, funds and online banking here .

Our use of IT has never been greater and for all our volunteers who help others to access emails and services such as Workplace , Teams and Microsoft 365 . Our Digital Support page will show you how to access some of those and we will be providing regular updates for user tips on our new look website.

Lincolnshire Scouts has provided a scouting email for every member. Not only will this help you keep all your Scouting information together and provide a recognisable, trusted address to your families and contacts but it will also act as the username key to additional digital tools.

If you have any questions or problems with the current technical options, please do register on the service desk and submit your ticket which will be passed to the most appropriate person to answer.

If you are helping support IT in your District do let us know and we will link you as a support contact for any queries that are received on the service desk for your group or district. If you are happy to help fellow volunteers across the county please do consider the current tasks we need assistance with and get in touch.

Did you know that subscriptions for OSM are now being paid by Lincolnshire Scouts. If you haven’t yet moved onto the county agreement, please contact the county office for instruction on how to do this and find out if you can claim back costs to 1st August 2019.

If you haven’t signed up for OSM yet, please contact the county office to find out how to do this, save time and change the way you complete your admin for the better, for good.

Internal and external Communications with our members, families, the wider public all take some time to put together and coordinate. If you already take care of communications where you are let us know so we can publish the network of like-minded volunteers. We’re soon going to be looking for people who can help us with some projects and tasks across the county so keep a look on our update on how you can help us .

Scouts publish branding guidelines which can help style your messages and updates and the brand centre you can customize and download lots of different types of publication to help inform and celebrate your local scouting.

None of our volunteers do what they do for the recognition but we do find ways to say thank you with Awards for service and special recognition for those who stand out as being extra special.

Awards Advisory Groups support and provide guidance to local Scouting with awards and recognitions of service, as well as considering the applications for specific awards and making recommendations to the Chief Scout. They will also monitor rules and procedures concerning awards and recognition.

If you would like to nominate someone for an award consider the citation masterclass notes to help you make a nomination that stand out as much as the nominee.

Many key decisions are made through our Governance processes, ranging from deciding where to hold the next event to appointing the UK Chief Scout. Governance in Groups, Districts and Counties refers to the Executive Committee, who are the Board of Trustees responsible for Scouting in that area. On a national level, The Scout Association is governed by the Scout Council and the national Board of Trustees.

Ensuring the voices of young people influence each of these processes is vital to help the decisions we make stay true to the needs and priorities of those they affect. District and County Youth Commissioners provide that voice for the all the young people within our membership. In 2021, Lincolnshire will be appointing the next Youth Commissioner, if you'd like to find out from Vicky what is involved or would like to be a youth representative in any of our support functions, please do get in touch .

Adult volunteers in certain roles are required to complete Training which is rewarded by the receiving of Wood Beads, taking inspiration from a necklace brought back from Africa by Scouting’s Founder, Robert Baden-Powell.

Training Managers in the County or Districts will help provide training opportunities to meet these module requirements and a network of training advisors can either validate your learning or identify where your skills already show that you are competent in that area. Volunteers who hold manager roles, must be validated by a Training Advisor for Managers and Supporters. Remember, training is optional - validation is mandatory. You can demonstrate your skills by being observed, writing down your knowledge or talking it through to see if previous experience helps you through.

In the Scouts member emails you will have seen a request to make sure you are up to date with Mandatory Training . Safety and Safeguarding of all our members remains our number one priority. Any of your team members who have overdue mandatory training on their compass record should complete this and submit their certificate for validation as soon as possible. You can read the request from Chief Commissioner Tim Kidd here and read more about the reasons why here .

Whether you are new to Scouting or taking on a new role as an existing member, the Appointments process is the same. You apply, we make sure the disclosure check is in place, we follow up on your references, you visit the appointments panel and then you are approved (or not) for that role by the Commissioner.

It's not a scary procedure, we want you to be a volunteer! We just make sure that you know what you are taking on, what our expectations are, what your requirements and ideas might be and if there are any areas where we might agree that additional support would be beneficial.

The County Office is where our one staff member works from. The County Secretary makes sure that the County and District teams are connected and informed.

Here you can find out all you might need to know about Scouting in the county, borrow banners and obtain recruitment materials. The office is open Monday to Friday and you can call 01522 546390 or email your enquiries for response or allocation.

If you are interested in any of the information or roles we have talked about this week, whether or not we are actively recruiting in that area, please do get in touch and let us know what you are interested in and we can link you with the right team.

Scouts HQ at Gilwell Park provide the central coordination for all the federated charities across the country. All the Counties and Districts pay towards and rely upon HQ functions which amongst others includes branding, legal services, safeguarding support, provision of policy, organisation and rules, linking us with the World Organisation of Scouting Movements, answering all our queries about Scouting activity, property advice and lobbying nationally and beyond for UK Scouts to be noticed and represented amongst youth organisations.

Member calls and emails are not just for those who Scout directly with young people. Please make sure that your contact details are correct on Compass and if you can join or listen later on membership calls. The next call is on 24th June and there are some great signposts to information that is relevant to support volunteers, especially now.

If you are an adult member you do need a DBS check. At the moment we can't complete the checks but we can invite you to join us and find out what you would like to help with. We just won't leave you with young people who are not your own until that has been completed.

You may have received recently, or will soon receive, an email from the Scout Association advising you that DBS checks are overdue and non-completion could lead to your membership being suspended.

Please disregard this message and any subsequent reminders. You will not be suspended at this time, even though your DBS has expired.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to reprogram the membership admin system to stop sending these emails but you are assured membership status is secure.

The range of expertise all our support volunteers bring to Lincolnshire Scouts is broad and professional. While our focus is on the young people of our membership, we know that to be this good we couldn't do it without you.

Thank you

Volunteers Week - Friday

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 23:46:02 GMT

You don't have to commit to every week, every camp or every fundraiser to be a Scout volunteer.

Occasional helpers are a really important part of our team. When you can't commit to a regular task but can be there 'as and when', especially for the things you like doing, occasional volunteering offers a flexible way to enrich young lives.

Young people wouldn't make it to Scouts without the encouragement, uniform, kit, transport and confidence they are given by their parents and carers. Thanks for being there for them and especially recently, for us too.

The Lincolnshire Scouts website provides lots of information for members but this also gives parents and carers an opportunity to view and see what our volunteers do and how they are supported to bring Scouting to your young people. If you have any questions about content on the website or would like to see particular information made available please do let us know .

Occasional helpers, are just that, people who help out occasionally to make sure Scouts happens. Whether you are the trailer tower, the sandwich maker, the newsletter author or the nominated point of contact for updates during a trip away, your input is invaluable.

•    you don't have to have children in Scouting
•    you don't need to come every week
•    you don't have to wear uniform or make a promise
•    you can pick and choose what you help us with
•    you do need to let us know you are willing

Please speak to a local leader or email us so we can match you with your local group, activity team or support lead.

The most precious resource our volunteers have is time and the more we can give them back, the better off our most prized resource - young people - will be.

If you are an occasional helper you do need a DBS check. At the moment we can't complete the checks but we can invite you to join us and find out what you would like to help with. We just won't leave you with young people who are not your own until that has been completed.

If you are already an occasional helper you may have received recently, or will soon receive, an email from the Scout Association advising you that DBS checks are overdue and non-completion could lead to your membership being suspended.

Please disregard this message and any subsequent reminders. You will not be suspended at this time, even though your DBS has expired.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to reprogram the membership admin system to stop sending these emails but you are assured membership status is secure.

Training is not mandatory for occasional helpers but you might want to have a look at the basics here to get an idea of what Scouts is all about and the safety and safeguarding that we hold as a priority for our members.

You can read the policy that all adults agree to follow for putting the safety of our young people first in The Yellow Card .

During the current period where Scouting cannot happen face to face we have a few unexpected stars of the show - our parents and carers.

We know that it is difficult and some days, instead of not having enough to do you have too much to do with homeschooling, homeworking, caring for others and caring for yourself too. However you help your young person to keep in touch with their Scout friends and keep enjoying their adventures is fantastic.

We don't know yet when we might be able to return to face to face meetings and even when we can, it is likely that digital scouting will also continue for a time. Your support in the meantime is appreciated so much and we'd love your involvement to continue. You'll have seen over this week the different ways our volunteers help us keep your young people busy. You've all got skills to share and we've got just the people for you to share them with.

If you have seen an update about one of our volunteer roles that you think you could do, or you'd like to suggest a way you could help - please email us and let us know and keep an eye on the What can I do to help? area for the things we are particularly looking out for.

Our national scheme to introduce adults into Scouting is the Four Week Challenge . If, while your young person is online, you'd like to suggest an activity or have a go at leading an activity and help the young people join in with you, let your local leaders know. They would love to have input from their families and give them a quick break.

If you don't want to lead the whole group you can certainly lead in your own homes. The programme and activity ideas are all available on the Scouts website and the new Staged Indoor Activity badge is for Scouters and non-scouters so there's opportunity to involve all the young people in the household. Be sure to let your leaders know what you do so they can record it on their badge records.

Parents Guide to Beavers Parents Guide to Cubs Parents Guide to Scouts Parents Guide to Explorers

If your group uses Online Scout Manager (OSM) you might also be able to use the parent portal to update the records directly and see what your young person has already completed. Lincolnshire Scouts are offering the opportunity for all groups to use OSM and they can add the parent portal locally so ask your leaders whether it is available yet.

We know if you’ve got a child in your care with Additional Needs , doing something new can be scary – for both of you! There’s a lot of flexibility within the Scouts programme to meet individual needs and your local leader can arrange a chat with you to find out more about your child. This isn’t an interview or screening process, it’s simply to make sure we understand your child’s needs and how we can make adjustments to make sure your child will get the most out of Scouts. We appreciate things are constantly changing and you’re welcome to speak to your leader at any time.

Thank you for all you do to help young people become the best they can be in Scouts.

Volunteers Week - Thursday

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 22:24:00 GMT

Our volunteer managers support other adult volunteers so they are motivated, get the most out of their contribution and are inspired to provide first class scouting opportunities for young people.

Whether it’s someone to talk to or thank them, or practical help with recruiting other volunteers, Scouting is about making life better, and this approach comes from the top.

It is a tricky but important and rewarding role.

Thank you for taking the lead, our volunteers need you and Scouting needs you.

The managers section of the UK Member Resources area gives you easy access to a wide range of resources to help you with the challenging aspects of your vital role, from carrying out reviews to dealing with disputes, and from developing your Group Executive to recruiting new volunteers.

As a manager, your role is to provide direction and to help people see the bigger picture by providing great leadership for the future.

During the current period where Scouting cannot happen face to face there are a number of additional considerations, risks and financial impacts to consider

The Coronavirus area on our website will help navigate through the key areas that have been affected. You’ll find a button to this area in the bottom right of the screen, wherever you are on our website at the moment but the first reference is always the government advice and Scouts UK direction.

In the Scouts member emails you will have seen a request to make sure members are up to date with Mandatory Training . Safety and Safeguarding of all our members remains our number one priority. Any of your team members who have overdue mandatory training on their compass record should complete this and submit their certificate for validation as soon as possible. You can read the request from Chief Commissioner Tim Kidd here and read more about the reasons why here .

One key change that will happen at the start of June is that you and your deputies will be able to validate a member's safety and safeguarding training on Compass . To validate a member, they’ll need to share their completed e-learning certificate with you, and you can then update their record for their safety or safeguarding mandatory ongoing learning. This will help support our great local training teams and the central pool of volunteers to get members’ records validated as quickly as possible helping to increase the rate of compliance. If you need guidance on how to update records, find support here .

Some of our members will be key workers who are unable to undertake their training right now because of their work demands. If this is the case they should identify this and HQ will not send reminders until after the Coronavirus crisis has passed.

Also, if you notice anyone in the list above who is no longer involved with Scouts, please can I ask that you remove them from Compass. This helps us to make sure they’re not affecting the overall compliance data.

It may be likely some of these members have multiple roles and report to different line managers, if so, then they will also appear in other managers lists.

You can provide reassurance to members that there will be an extension of six months to their First Aid Training . This extension starts from the date that face to face scouting resumes. While face-to-face Scouting is suspended, trainers will be keen to use the opportunity of volunteers being at home to undertake the theory elements of the training so as to make face-to-face courses shorter. This is absolutely fine, but all First Response validation will still need to take place face-to-face, as will the practical elements of the training (for example CPR).

If you are not receiving Member Emails and details of calls please check your contact details are up to date on Compass. If you are not able to log in to Compass please speak with your line manager who will help you access your record. Especially in this difficult time. The next member call will take place on 24th June.

At the moment DBS checks cannot be completed for Scouts.

It is still possible for your teams to recruit, just make sure that a non DBS adult is not left alone online with the young people

You maybe have received recently, or will soon receive, an email from the Scout Association advising you that DBS checks are overdue and non-completion could lead to your members being suspended.

Please disregard this message and any subsequent reminders. You will not be suspended, even though your DBS has expired.

Early in March the decision was made to stop DBS checking to relieve the pressure on the local Police service and Scout Association staff who are working from home. No members will be suspended in the current situation.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to reprogram the membership admin system to stop sending these emails but you are assured membership status is secure.

Once checks begin again, the tentative arrangements are that everyone with an out of date DBS will be invited to renew it when normal face to face Scouting activity resumes and you will have 90 days from that date to arrange a renewal before suspension is considered. It may be worth keeping a note of those you need to contact first.

Current volunteers whose disclosures expire can continue to meet digitally, following the advice and guidance issued on holding virtual meetings to make sure we keep everyone safe.

Recruitment is possible during the period where we can’t scout face to face. The staged indoor activity badge is for members and non-members for the first time in history and what better time to offer scouting opportunities to young people on waiting lists or those who have siblings at home.

Families and carers who are getting involved now are starting to see so much more of what Scouting can offer them as well as their young people so start having conversations about the bits they might enjoy continuing with in future.

Even when we can meet face to face it is likely that a large amount of digital scouting can and will continue. Finding those who might want to continue online rather than face to face may offer a whole new way of scouting opportunities.

Holding meetings is possible using a number of Digital Support tools. Facebook messenger is already used widely for small meetings. County email has added access to Workplace for similar features but on an internal social network. For section or activity group meetings Teams provided by Lincolnshire Scouts or Zoom Pro from HQ may be more suitable.

The Zoom Pro offer has just been released from HQ. There’s one license available per Group/District/County right up until 21 November 2020. Find out more and complete the access request form . Check out the guidance on using Zoom .

If you or your teams have any issues with digital tools or have suggestions on how we can offer greater support to members, please register and submit a request or suggestion on the servicedesk .

Looking out for your young people . Life right now feels very different to what we’re all used to. It’s amazing that despite this so many leaders are still running their programmes virtually, with 4 out of 5 Groups able to run regular online activities. If you’re not already doing so, please keep a record of attendance at each session to track who is joining you. This will help your Group to identify if there are any young people who have not been in touch since face-to face-Scouting stopped and if there’s other support we can give to those young people.

Safeguarding processes can still be carried out locally. The Safeguarding Team are aiming to keep their service 'business as usual' as far as possible. They recognise that there may be individuals who await outcomes to remove them from suspension and in these uncertain times delays may cause further anxiety. The Safeguarding team will work as hard as they can to resolve issues, but there may be delays.

Do you have questions about what your insurance covers when doing Scouts at home? Check out our latest guidance .

During our Scouting activities we find out a whole lot of useful information. Some of it is from the things that go really well and some is from the things that could have gone better. To gain all we need to know for ourselves would take a lifetime but collectively we can pool that experience and every day become a little better than we were before. The new Shared Experience area on the website will give you some neutral statements based on leader learning that can help you expect the unexpected and boost your risk assessments.

Why not join the Managers in Scouting Facebook group? The group is an online space to share ideas and best practice. It also functions as a mutual form of support for managers.

Thank you for all you do to help others become their best in Scouts.

Volunteers Week - Wednesday

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:38:36 GMT

The mechanics of Scouting just wouldn’t run smoothly without you – our decision makers, direction setters and arrangers of Scouts locally.

We’re so grateful that all of you give your time to ensure that the groups, districts and county continues to meet its charitable purpose: safely and legally. When you do what you do, we know there will be enough money for the volunteers to deliver the programme and that equipment like tents and activity materials are available and safe to use.

Thank you for being such a dedicated bunch of volunteers in your Executive Committees and making sure that young people get the best possible experience in your area.

During the current period where Scouting cannot happen face to face there are a number of additional considerations, risks and financial impacts to consider

The Coronavirus Support on our website will help navigate through the key areas that have been affected. You’ll find a button to this area in the bottom right of the screen, wherever you are on our website at the moment but the first reference is always the government advice and Scouts UK direction.

All of our delivery whether it is a section based indoor activity or sledging the slopes of the Alps needs a Risk Assessment . Assessing risk in order to reduce or remove it is at the heart of safe Scouting and is present in everything we do. Risk assessment is something we all do every day in deciding to cross a road or get out of the car, so no one should be scared of doing a risk assessment within Scouting. If you want to help your delivery teams with risk assessment there is useful information here .

Trustees may have a big part in the accountability for ensuring that accurate Finance records are maintained but it is everyone’s responsibility . Whether it is maintaining records of monies received (e.g. for activities, camps, membership subscriptions, donations) and money spent (e.g. on bills, fees for activities, volunteer expenses, approving payments from a Scouting bank account or contributing to the creation and management of a budget.

You can find an easy Budget Planner here and information on bank accounts, funds and online banking here .

To carry out these tasks effectively you will need to ensure that you keep relevant receipts, invoices, bank statements and balance sheets as appropriate, to ensure that there is a clear audit trail to explain any financial records

Member calls and emails are not just for those who Scout directly with young people. Please make sure that your contact details are correct on Compass and if you can join or listen later on membership calls, There are some great signposts to information that is relevant to trustees, especially now.

You maybe have received recently, or will soon receive, an email from the Scout Association advising you that your DBS check is overdue and non-completion could lead to your membership being suspended.

Please disregard this message and any subsequent reminders. You will not be suspended, even though your DBS has expired.

Early in March the decision was made to stop DBS checking to relieve the pressure on the local Police service and Scout Association staff who are working from home. No members will be suspended in the current situation.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to reprogram the membership admin system to stop sending these emails but you are assured your membership status is secure.

A number of local Funding sources have been identified by HQ and central information on grants can be found here .

In the current situation, longer term planning and reviewing process can help identify any pinch points likely in group, district or county finances. If you think that you have some difficult areas to cover in the next twelve months please do discuss that with others. Groups can be supported by Districts and Districts assisted by County where possible and working on this together ensures everyone can access the support they need at the right time.

Gift Aid is one of the easy ways to maximise the donations and raise extra funds. You must be registered with HMRC to claim Gift Aid but asking your donors to tick the Gift Aid boxes on your sponsorship forms or your online giving page can raise an additional 25p in every £1. Find out more here .

During our Scouting activities we find out a whole lot of useful information. Some of it is from the things that go really well and some is from the things that could have gone better. To gain all we need to know for ourselves would take a lifetime but collectively we can pool that experience and every day become a little better than we were before. The new Shared Experience area on the website will give you some neutral statements based on leader learning that can help you expect the unexpected and boost your risk assessments.

Make a difference. Be a trustee. You may pick up new skills to enhance your CV or be able to share your existing skills with us. You are not expected to be an expert in every area, but using reasonable care and your experience the group, district or county will be all the richer for your input.

If you or someone you know have skills in management, administration, finance, human resources, legal knowledge, problem solving/teamwork or social skills or just have strengths facilitating a group, we'd love to welcome you as a trustee. Please contact the county office and we can link you to your local group or district.

Being an Executive Committee member carries legal responsibilities that should be understood before taking on the role but the difference you make to young people is a hugely rewarding and a challenging way to support Scouting.

Just ask one of our existing trustees. they are truly amazing and without them we couldn't empower so many young people to make a positive contribution to society.

Thank you for using your skills to make such a difference to others finding theirs.

Bourne Scouts enjoy a drumming workshop as lockdown forces them to meet online

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 08:43:33 GMT

Scouts from Bourne featured in the Stamford Mercury.

Lockdown has forced people to come up with innovative new ways to spend their time with whatever resources they have at home.

Luckily for these children, all they needed was a saucepan and spoon to join an online drumming workshop with friends.

Beavers, cubs and scouts from across Bourne logged on to watch Max Anderson-Hopkins lead the Drumming's Cool session.

Read the full story - https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/technology-keeps-the-scouting-spirit-alive-9110251/

Volunteers Week - Tuesday

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 22:19:04 GMT

Thank you to all of you who give your time to lead Scouting activity for youth members

Our Leaders - section leaders, assistant leaders, section assistants and activity teams are at the heart of Scouting with young people. You know who you are … the ones who are there every week, every camp, every visit and every activity to make sure over 5,000 young people across Lincolnshire can Scout. Your commitment and dedication mean our youth members experience the excitement and adventure of the outdoors, experience the world and gain skills that will help them be their best throughout their lives.

Young Leaders too, on a mission to give a little extra zing to section meetings and test out their own leadership star qualities. You are a really important part of our leader teams and we’re grateful that you step up and take part.

Follow the links to find out more about being a young leader and the missions you can complete.

If you want to find out more about helping your young leader be the best they can be click here .

It's not always easy to see how Adventurous Activities can be experienced when we are not meeting outdoors or face to face but we've found a couple of ideas that might help you get your young people out into the middle of the action even sooner when the time comes.

International visits and trips have been difficult to continue in the current time. You can read here on the current status of events and trips, find out about future plans or find out more about how you can get involved or help your young people prepare for international trips.

At a first glance it is difficult to see how our usual Programme can continue when we’re all staying at home but in fact, a great number of the requirements for activities, challenges and top awards can be completed behind front doors.

Scouts UK have launched Scouts at Home , The Great Indoors and the staged indoor activity badge that can be earned by members and non-members perhaps helping you advertise for and take in a few extra online members.

Other Scout groups and counties are developing their online programmes - Basingstoke East and South London Scouts among them. Some offer uniform badges for their own county but for Lincolnshire members these are for camp blankets to record part of the scouting story.

Lincolnshire Scouts are beginning to populate an area in Workplace with ready made social media posts you can simply copy and paste onto Facebook groups to highlight areas of the programme you might want your sections to complete towards badges and Top Awards. More details to follow in your next update.

Each post will indicate the section badge that is being covered, text that can be sent directly to your youth members and comments to advise which badge requirements can be achieved by those who engage with that post. This is quite a new initiative but check back regularly to see what has been added and feel free to add some of your own if you have already had success suggesting badge activity over social media.

For instruction on how to sign up to workplace visit the Digital Support page on the website and feel free to add posts of your own with activities that you have enjoyed.

If you are having any problems using the new technical tools, need help getting started or have a question or suggestion, please register and submit your details on the servicedesk .

For those of you using OSM (Online Scout Manager) the OSM Badges at Home resources can help you communicate and share activities that can be enjoyed at home.

Did you know that subscriptions for Gold OSM are now being paid by Lincolnshire Scouts? If you haven’t yet moved onto the county agreement, please contact the county office for instruction on how to do this and, if you renewed after 1st August 2019, how you can claimback costs.

If you haven’t signed up for OSM yet, please contact the county office to find out how to do this, save time and change the way you complete your admin for the better, for good.

We’re also going to try some county webinars on programme topics to share resources and discuss ideas. We’ll be glad to know whether you find these useful. Look out for more details in your next update.

In the Scouts member emails you will have seen a request to make sure you are up to date with Mandatory Training . It is essential that you are up to date with your Mandatory Training, click here to review the request from UK Chief Commissioner Tim Kidd.

If you are not receiving member emails please check your contact details are up to date on Compass. If you are not able to log in to Compass please speak with your line manager who will help you access your record. The next All Member Call is on 24th June and will have useful updates on national Scouting.

You maybe have received recently, or may soon receive, an email from the Scout Association advising you that your DBS check is overdue and non-completion could lead to your membership being suspended.

Please disregard this message and any subsequent reminders.

Early in March the decision was made to stop DBS checking to relieve the pressure on the local Police service and Scout Association staff who are working from home. No members will be suspended in the current situation but checks will restart when face to face Scouting returns.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to reprogram the membership admin system to stop sending these emails but you are assured your membership status is secure.

Sometimes our leaders are also looking to brush up their Skills. We’re starting a new area on the website called 60 Second Skills . Short sharp videos and tips that will give an opportunity to dip in and out of different skill areas, pick up ideas and hone your own talents. So far you will find factsheets from HQ, resources from Scout Adventures and Lincolnshire videos on the first of our topics – Bushcraft. We’ll be adding topics over the coming weeks. If there is a particular hint, tip or hack that you think will be of interest to other members either send us your idea, a link to a video or your own short video (1 or 2 mins) and we’ll add it to the website.

During our Scouting activities we find out a whole lot of useful information. Some of it is from the things that go really well and some is from the things that could have gone better. To gain all we need to know for ourselves would take a lifetime but collectively we can pool that experience and every day become a little better than we were before. The new Shared Experience area on the website will give you some neutral statements based on leader learning that can help you expect the unexpected and boost your risk assessments.

We'll continue to update you when areas of the website are updated that may aid you in your leader role.

Thank you for all you do.

Volunteers Week - Monday

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 22:35:43 GMT

Happy Volunteers Week, 1-7 June
This week, we’ll be saying thank you to all our volunteers and recognising the amazing things they do every day of the year. Each day this week we’ll highlight what our volunteers do and link to information we hope will help us all get through this period of not meeting face to face and beyond. Our volunteers do so much for others and we wanted to give a little back to them.

Today we reflect on how difficult it has been to adapt to Scouting at Home, what our volunteers are doing to help themselves and others and let you know that whatever and however you are Scouting, we are grateful.

A Sleaford Beaver, his brother, Dad and Leader Mum use the words of actual volunteers to reflect on Souting in the last few weeks.

Dear Lincolnshire Volunteers

This week is Volunteers Week and a great opportunity to thank you for being one of OUR volunteers. Thank you for all you do for Scouting, for your communities, for your families and for yourselves.

Every day you inspire and support over 5,000 young people across Lincolnshire to be the best they can be. As their role models and mentors, it is often difficult to feel connected when you can’t be together. Over these last few weeks, the depths of resilience and creativity that have been plumbed to overcome that is astonishing.

Keeping in touch has been championed whether that is having online meetings to make sure the business end of Scouting can continue or hosting a group call so the youth members can see each other and keep in touch with others in their colony, pack, troop, unit or network. So many of you are coming up with novel ways of enjoying scout activities at home and sharing ideas with each other so that those who do not have as much time can also offer fun and adventure to their members.

You and the parents and carers encouraging young people to take part in Scouting at home, are doing marvellous things. What better way for our youth members to see how resilience, adapting and positive thinking can lead to unexpected and enjoyable outcomes during difficult times. Thank you for being prepared to carry on, despite setbacks and new challenges.

I hope the information we release this week will help show what all our different volunteers do to make Lincolnshire Scouts great in section, groups, districts and across the county. Visit the website each day to see the updates we have been making to give as much support as we can to share good ideas, add tools that will save you time and provide you with information that will help you in your role.

I know that some of you may be facing some really difficult times right now either with your health or that of a loved one, some of you may be enduring losses or just finding it difficult to do anything other than get through a day at the moment. If you are needing to focus on other priorities or are finding all the digital delivery a little overwhelming, please don’t feel under pressure to be doing more than feels right for you. Better that we can all flex and be together when we find ourselves back in a situation that feels more comfortable.

In these circumstances, it‘s not easy but even if you feel you are not as much a part of Scouting as you were, know that you are not alone. We might all be apart as individuals but together we are Scouts.

Ellie
County Commissioner

Poacher 2021

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 29 May 2020 19:54:56 GMT

Poacher 2021 postponed untill 2022

Since Spring 2018, the Poacher team have been in the background planning for Poacher 2021 and ensuring every participant and staff has the ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’.

As we are all very much aware, Spring this year brought us a worldwide pandemic. Planning in an uncertain environment is a challenge and to ensure the safety of participants, volunteers and staff; the team have made the very hard decision to move Poacher 2021 to 2022.

The new dates are 30th July – 6th August 2022, remaining at the Lincolnshire Showground.
All those who have already booked or registered interest will shortly receive an email with more details about your booking.
Please read the full statement and FAQs here

Introducing The Great Indoors Staged Badge

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:59:00 GMT

Over the last few weeks, kids have been learning new skills, trying new things, and having a lot of fun with hundreds of online activities. We’re very happy to be able to reward all of their hard work with a brand new staged badge. Here it is: https://bit.ly/3dfq58U

For the first time in history, this badge allows everyone to take part, regardless of whether they’re a Scout or not.

#TheGreatIndoors

DofE - Online Session

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:10:38 GMT

DofE with A Difference - Online Support and Update Session for DofE During Current Restrictions

The DofE team are planning to run an update and support session on Tuesday 2nd June, 8pm to run though some of the things that adults and young people can be doing on DofE during the current restrictions..
We will cover some general updates as well as the information surrounding the DofE with a difference guidance issued by DofE.
Planning to join us? please e-mail dofe@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for joining information.

Scouting from home for The Deepings Apache Cubs

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 09 May 2020 18:03:21 GMT

With current restrictions meaning Scouting activities across the county cannot take place, our members have been coming up with imaginative ways to continue Scouting from home.

The Deepings Apache Cub pack have been enjoying a wide range of activities, sharing ideas and instructions with each other online.

Here are just some of the activities they have been taking part in:

Personal and necker care as part of the Home Help Badge
Taking part in the WWF Earth Hour in lots of different ways, including a virtual camp
Working on the Artist Badge by creating artwork to show our support for the NHS and community
An online treasure hunt
Online bingo
Virtually learning together how to make a kite and flying them as part of their daily exercise

And it is not just the young people enjoying these activities, families and carers have been getting involved and are enjoying the entertainment.

Feedback has been really positive:

"Thanks for the much-needed treasure hunt yesterday. It lifted our spirits and has inspired a household Easter hunt in the next week."

"Oh, this was so good, thank you guys! I haven't seen Nicholas so animated for days!"

"We enjoyed the zoom meeting and looking forward to the family quiz this week! Fantastic way to stay in touch and still able to do some great activities and something a bit different! Thank you for all the great work you all do to help keep kids smiling!"

If you have noticed an activity here or anywhere else, take inspiration, make contact to share resources or perhaps tell us about what you’ve been doing so we can share with others.

Most importantly if there are areas of the programme that you are wondering how you are going to cover, do let me know and we will see how we can support you to gain resources. Email us at cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Old, new, borrowed and... YOU!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 09 May 2020 17:56:00 GMT

As the lockdown continues and we cannot enjoy Scouting in person, groups are working to adapt their programme to deliver it remotely. Much of #ScoutsAtHome is possible by adapting our exciting programme of activity and challenge.

Holbeach Explorers have been following up on activity they started before face-to-face Scouting was put on hold, taking photos for evidence towards the Creative Arts Badge, picking up the £6 food challenge as part of the Global Issues Badge (surviving on £6 of food for 3 days) and helping a vulnerable friend or relative through this period (if they can do so safely) towards the Community Impact Badge.

1st Moulton and Whaplode Scout group have been encouraging new life skills around the home – baking, hoovering, making different items, lego scenes and sending out messages of comfort to all.

Many of you are joining sessions from other Scout groups in the UK and international locations, or from beyond Scouting

Holbeach Explorers have tried links with The Great Indoors programme, JOTI, the Stay Connected Challenge as well as iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Awards), a free online training tool to develop skills to gain badges and industry-recognised awards.

1st Moulton and Whaplode Scout group joined Northumberland Scouts, amongst the 95,342 campers on their camp at home world record attempt. Some have been camping or den sleeping all of April.

Have you been creative with #ScoutsAtHome activities? We would love to hear from you.

If you have noticed an activity here or anywhere else, take inspiration, make contact to share resources or perhaps tell us about what you’ve been doing so we can share with others.

Check out our Facebook gallery full of Scouting at home ideas and inspiration .

Most importantly if there are areas of the programme that you are wondering how you are going to cover, do let us know and we will see how we can support you to gain resources. cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

New paddleboards for Lincolnshire

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 07 May 2020 23:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts is benefitting from a new fleet of stand-up paddleboards following a grant from Lincoln Round Table.

The paddleboards were delivered this week to our Water Activities Support Unit (WASU) who provide exciting water activities to Groups across the County. The paddleboards will offer our members the chance to enjoy a new water activity and we are grateful to Lincoln Round Table who researched and purchased this new activity for Lincolnshire Scouts.

Once Scouting activities resume, these new stand-up paddleboards will be available at future county events for all sections and ages to give paddleboarding a try. Something to look forward to!

Scouting sisters from Metheringham raise NHS funds with virus-inspired songs

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:35:54 GMT

Three sisters from Lincolnshire have been writing and performing songs about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak to raise money for NHS charities.

The idea started when Scout Chloe (13) was sat practicing her guitar grade pieces and she thought it would be a good idea to write a song about the virus and the impact it is having on our lives. Her sisters Abbi (10) and Mia (7) wanted to join in and help to sing the songs too.

The sisters, who are all keen members of 1st Metheringham Scout Group, have spent recent days writing and re-writing the songs and practicing their performances. They have now created two virus-inspired songs: ‘Coronavirus is my enemy’ is an original piece, written by the girls; they have also recorded ‘It’s the coronavirus’ which is inspired by Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl.

They are concerned about the impact of the virus and wanted to make a difference by bringing a smile to people’s faces and raising money. So far, the girls have raised £263 for NHS Charities Together.

Kate Bayliss, mum to the girls, said:

“When they came to me and said they wanted to write a song about the coronavirus I thought it was a brilliant idea, as Chloe plays the guitar and the girls enjoy singing - Abbi is in the school choir.

After a few days we started to hear short parts of the song being played from their bedroom which sounded really good. They put lots of time in practicing and worked really well together which was nice to see after spending so much time together during this difficult time.

I am immensely proud of the girls and of the lyrics they have put together in creating their songs. They chose to do something for the NHS after watching the daily press conferences and seeing them struggling for PPE. It really shows that although this whole situation has changed so many lives, it is also bringing people together.”

Lincolnshire Scouts County Commissioner, Ellie Compton, said:

“While we find novel ways to Scout from our homes, it would be easy to dwell on all the adventurous outdoor fun we are missing out on but the fact is, Scouts everywhere are adapting and innovating. Seeking different ways to connect, building new challenges and perfecting even more of their amazing skills because of our changed circumstances.

When I saw the video that Chloe, Abbi and Mia had made, it made me realise the extent that our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Network are immersing themselves in the environment around them and realising the different strengths they have to offer, doing their best to make a difference.

I’m humbled and proud to see how all the Scout volunteers in Lincolnshire are continuing to offer opportunity to the young people in their sections. Expressions like these give a tremendous feel of family, unity, kindness and sharing as well as being a super song and cause.”

You can donate to the girls’ fundraising efforts at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phill-bayliss1

When a little means a lot

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:41:10 GMT

Making change in your community makes people’s lives better, helps more people than you expect and taking action also develops us as individuals.

There is no doubt about it, these times are unsettling.

I am usually someone who reviews a situation, acknowledges how bad it might be then just works out what to do next but at the moment it sometimes feels impossible to know what to do for the best.

One thing I know is true… there is always something that can be done. No matter how bad the situation, there is always a way forward, there is always hope.

Have a think about Captain Tom Moore. Like many, I have been totally captivated by a man walking in his garden, constantly checking the justgiving page to check his sky rocketing total (£16.4 million at the time of writing but rising fast). He was an individual who just thought he’d do a little something that now means a lot more; not only to the NHS Charities that will benefit but now it means something to the whole nation. What his garden walks and his life experiences symbolise has brought people together, across the world as donations and messages of support are coming in from everywhere.

The number of donations that have made up that huge total mean that the average donation is £20. Not much when we’re considering millions but every one of those smaller efforts has made up an incredible whole. His actions are inspiring others too … take a look at 90 year old Margaret Payne climbing the equivalent of Suilven on her stairs and at the time of writing had raised £234,392 for the NHS on her fundraising page

After Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, I wanted to do something to make a difference. Advised by a friend who was working for one of the charities going to the area, the Cubs of 27th Lincoln wrote letters to be opened by children affected by the typhoon. I was sceptical. Such a small gesture couldn’t possibly have the impact I was hoping for. It did. In a much bigger way than we ever expected. Not only did we all receive letters back but we realised that we had made personal connections that lifted all of us far higher than we could ever imagine. I have kept in touch with many of the parents and we now send each other mutual messages of support as we face yet another difficulty, but this time together.

Explorer Charlie in Horncastle also knows the benefit a letter can make and has recently been recognised by Lincolnshire County Council for the letters he is writing to veterans and serving personnel via the Lincoln Bomber Command Centre. Bravo, Charlie.

There is always something to be done. When the Scout Easter Fair was cancelled in Wittering, Scout Ellie was sad to know that the usual appearance of the Easter Bunny would not take place. So she put on a bunny costume and went out to wave to children in her area that might otherwise not had a visit while on lockdown. Bravo, Ellie.

Have a think about the situation you are in and others around you. Making change in your community makes people’s lives better, helps more people than you expect and taking action also develops us as individuals. What could make a difference? It could be action on an issue over a number of months or simply a call to a family member you have not seen for a while, a letter to the local fire/police/ambulance station/hospital to thank them for their service, a rainbow in the window for all the key workers, just doing a little job for the person caring for you so they have one less thing to do today, a hug to someone you can still be close to, a smile and a hello for a stranger you pass on the street …..

One thing I can guarantee, every little thing you choose to do for others will mean a whole lot more to them.

Take care, be kind.

My Doorstep Promise, St Georges Day

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:43:06 GMT

I know that when I renew my promise, I will not be alone. Wherever and however you renew your promise this year, you will be doing so knowing that we will all be making it together.

Hello Lincolnshire Scouts

In the four weeks since face to face Scouting has been ceased, I have been totally inspired by the creativity, resilience and determination you have all shown to look after yourselves and each other, stay connected with our youth members, continued to offer activities and challenges, managed your sections and groups through uncertain times, making sure that your volunteers feel supported and valued, your premises are secure, finances and risks are reviewed. For all your efforts, I and those around you are so grateful. I, like you, believe in the way that Scouting improves the lives and life chances of young people as well as improving our own lives as we explore our own beliefs and attitudes with them. Maintaining the values of Scouting as individuals and as Scouters in any circumstances is the backbone of our movement.

There is no sure forecast of when our restrictions will change and amongst all of our other events and plans our St Georges Celebrations have taken an unexpected turn.

This year, more than ever our integrity as Scouts is called to the fore. When we first made our promises it was in a context of calm and familiarity within our groups and colleagues but now in uncertain times, as we say the words of our promise we must say what we mean and in making that promise again, mean what we say and keep it.

I know that when I renew my promise, I will not be alone. Wherever and however you renew your promise this year, you will be doing so knowing that we will be making it together.

Scouting is always about teamwork. When we work together, we go on to achieve more than we can on our own. We are placing safety of others before ourselves, we are supporting all of those who have to remain away from their homes by staying in ours.

As I’m sure all of you have, I have thanked and applauded the key workers in all sorts of jobs that are keeping us all equipped with what we need to stay home and especially staff within the NHS who are tirelessly helping and caring for those of us who need them the most.

This year I will renew my promise on my doorstep, after my clap for carers. As the sun sets at 20:11 on St George’s Day. Inspired by those I applaud, I will aspire to fulfil the words of my promise in the same way our amazing key workers, carers and NHS teams are doing their best to do their duty, to help other people and keep the oaths they made in their professions.

On my honour,
I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to God and to The Queen,
to help other people
and to keep the Scout Law.

Stay Safe
Ellie

Easter Camp at Home

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 19:46:56 GMT

I hope you all managed to get a visit from a hoppy companion last weekend and a moment to reflect on the signs of spring around us, the buds of new beginnings, rebirth of hope and opportunity amidst the complexity of the world around us right now.

In terms of Scouting; Well, we may well have planned to be camping in some shared spaces on this glorious spring weekend but even with the separation imposed on us so many of you have found brilliant ways to be together. See how many of our campers you recognise in the Easter Camp Gallery .

At our house we enjoyed the spring sunshine and our connection to our own little bit of nature as well as joining many others in the #campathome Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/539494096964579/ . We’ve enjoyed cooking and eating our tea outdoors, joining 1st Gainsborough for a campfire via Zoom and slept in our indoor tents (garden pitch unavailable) and cooked up pancakes for breakfast.

We’re not the only ones either, around the County there have been many of you indoors, outdoors, in tents, dens and forts, even just out under the stars …

1st Gainsborough encouraged Cubs and Beavers to camp out in their gardens or have a 'sleepover' at home (bringing the tent inside/building a blanket fort to sleep in or whatever else they can come up with, as long as they didn't sleep where they usually do.
1st Woodhall Spa remastered their planned Easter Camp to offer online challenges to include making bird feeders, camp gadgets, alphabet scavenger hunt, easter egg hunt and sharing camp set up and holding tent inspection via Facebook photos.
1st Willingham linked their group and shared their camp activities and locations via Facebook as well as doing a live scout quiz .
In Wittering, Cub Jake and Scout Ellie practised putting up the big family tent and enjoyed an indoor camp.
The Boston Commissioners’ garden site soon filled up and other district gardens were well attended as part of the DC Challenge to spend a night in a tent.
The Hartley family had a BBQ, played in the paddling pool, stuffed bananas with chocolate to cook in the embers, enjoyed stargazing before a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast with some very promising helpers.
Across Lincoln, table hammocks proved popular for our youngest Scouters and Scouters in Training especially in the Otter and Gilbert households. Kev Wrenn also showed a superb hammock set up in his camp area this weekend to inspire the older sections.
It didn’t even matter if you couldn’t find a tent or fit it into your space, Helen and Sam enjoyed making their furry fort from cushions and blankets and had a cosy camp at home too.
In Holbeach, camping was just the start of the spring adventure. Connor, Kiah and Kacey have been very busy starting with a garden camp tea of hotdogs and pasta followed by popcorn and outdoor cinema, marshmallows on the bonfire, stargazing and watching the blood moon. During the days they have been on bike rides and a nature walk recording all the wildlife and insects they could find, made leaf prints and a butterfly house as well as watching a wildlife documentary learning about different animals in the wild.

I know there are more of you than I’ve been able to mention, hopefully I can share your adventures next time. If you can’t wait to camp again or want to be part of a world record attempt at the end of the month, you could join this event on 30th April in conjunction with Northumberland Scouts. (check locally for Nights Away award agreements).

https://www.facebook.com/events/497678237569344/

If you are looking for a badge for blankets during this time both the #campathome Facebook events have merchandise being created and one stop scouting have a badge and range that may help you out. https://www.onestopscouting.co.uk/camp-home/camp-home-april-badge

I’d love to hear what else you’ve all been trying out while we’re not scouting face to face so please do let me know at cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk and I will share on the county website.

I hope you enjoyed the Easter weekend and for all your Scouting, whatever you are doing, wherever you are … Bravo!

See how many of our campers you recognise in the Easter Camp Gallery

Walking with a purpose

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 19:50:26 GMT

There are some great activities and alternative meetings going on while we’re not able to meet in person. I can’t believe how creative, talented and skilled you all are.

I hope you are enjoying some ideas and activities from #TheGreatIndoors but also getting outside for your exercise option too.

How are you making your time outdoors count? Walking with a purpose can really help us take in more of the detail in the world around us.

Have a look at the photos taken by young people as part of the D.C. challenge in Boston District on their recent walks. Bravo!

If you want to let us know how you’re putting the ‘in’ or ‘out’ in Scouting at the moment, I’d love to hear from you cc@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Thanks
Ellie

Volunteers recognised in 2020 Roll of Honours

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:51:56 GMT

We are proud of the impact that Scouting makes on the lives of so many young people and volunteers.

The Roll of Honour is an opportunity to recognise and reward some of those volunteers making an impact.

The 2020 Roll of Honour has been published by The Scout Association and we want to say a special thank you and well done to those recognised from our county.

Lincolnshire in the Alps!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 22:20:57 GMT

Our Kandersteg contingent have travelled nearly 1000 miles by train to reach the International Scout Centre in Kandersteg, Switzerland.

Meeting for the first time over eighteen months ago the contingent have worked to plan and prepare for their venture with a series of training camps and activities in the UK. The result of this is a Youth Shaped week long programme of adventure planned including Mountain Biking, Hiking, Canyoning, Climbing and the Oecinensee Rodelbahn.

Charnwood 2019 - A report by Flynn from 5th Boston Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 22:22:20 GMT

Flynn from 5th Boston Scouts writes about his experience of Charnwood International Jamboree 2019.

"It was easy to start packing for Charnwood camp out, sun cream, sun hat, shorts and plenty of T-shirts for the sunshine that we were going to have at camp.

The activities that were planned were going to be amazing in the summer weather and I couldn’t wait. Saturday morning came and I woke up at home to see it raining outside, my Dad handed me my Wellies and I put them on as I walked out the door, I was wondering if it was going to be like this all time?

We met Sue, Tic Tac and Jag at the car park and we loaded up and waved off my Parents and Sister, it was still raining!!!!! I was with Amber in one car and Finley and Blake in another, we was on our road trip to camp. Oh it was still raining when we got there can I say.

Arriving at Charnwood camp was so exciting, our first thing to do was set the mess tent up, I was glad now I bought my Wellies and coat, I hadn’t put my sun cream on yet either. The tents were already set up so Finley and I got our bedroom ready for the week to come.

The evening was off to the opening Ceremony to open Charnwood 2019. I was the only one with Wellies and I could barely walk in the mud, Finley had some brand new trainers which had gone a shade of brown, but they were Orange!!!

As our Sound Camp walked in we was greeted to us on a massive video screen. I was shocked at the actual size of the tent, thinking this was huge!!!! We then sat down on the wet grass, but we didn’t mind, as we were so excited. The Belgian Scouts next door to us started screaming as the video screen showed them all. It was an awesome sight.

First night hot chocolate and marshmallows before bed were welcoming and I wrapped up in my sleeping bag, it was the cosiest sleep I had ever had.

DAY 2 :Woke up to mud in the porch way, mud had got in everywhere, in the tents the mess tent, everywhere!!! Today was very much find out what was going on, in the main Core as it was called there was lots to do such as, football, grab the card, conger, a tuck shop to buy sweets from and singing onstage, just like a real Festival.

Finley and I tried for ages to open a packet of Sherbet, it took ages!!! We then attempted to join the conger it was so long we couldnt get to the back!!!!

We had chosen our main activity before we came on camp, mine was Mechanical, and so off we went on the bus to the Famous Foxton Locks, an old working lock gate. Lunch was followed by the boat ride, The Vagabond II was our boat, and we sailed down the canal, the operator talked to us about Lily pads, which were very interesting. We sailed back and went back to the dock. A spot of pond dipping found a water boatman and a leech. A trip then to the Wistow maze, which was in the form of an astronaut. It took us two hours to finish it!!!

Wednesday night and Tic Tac told us that Charnwood was being evacuated, not a surprise as it was so muddy. It was decided we would go with 4th Kirton Scouts in their Mini Bus to get home, our kit was coming home on Saturday.

Thursday Morning and we said our goodbye to camp, and Charnwood 2019, I wish I had stayed the whole time, but it was impossible. The experience was significant because we enjoyed many fun activities I would of liked to of gone on the escape pods but they were not set up. I would like to thank Tic Tac Jag and Sue for looking after us, and 4th Kirton for bring us home.

CHARNWOOD 2023 IM COMING TO GET YOU!"

2nd Louth and Manby Scouts take on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, June 2019

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 22:29:43 GMT

When Adrian suggested we do this again for this summer’s scout hike challenge, my first reaction was really? After everything the weather threw at us last time?? We started in sunshine, after a rotten nights sleep on the worlds most overcrowded and noisy campsite, which clouded over to become rain on Pen y Ghent ( 694m ), hail, sleet and snow plus gale force winds on Wernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m). Summer it was not!!!!

The group is raising money for the new scout hut to be built in Louth, and as we raised a lot towards the Japan World Scout Jamboree last time it seemed like a good idea to repeat the process.

After several months of planning, ( including choosing a different campsite! ), and practice hikes, the weekend of our attempt finally arrived. And the forecast looked good!!

Everyone was up and ready to set out at 6.30am, with the first group heading out on time. Groups 2 and 3 were all away by 7.15am. The weather was already warm at this point.

Group 1 made the summit of Pen y Ghent at 8.30am, to be followed half an hour later by group 2. Group 3, our youngest and least experienced scouts also made it to the top but were delayed by the number of people attempting the 3 Peaks - Marie Curie Nurses Charity had 200 walkers out that day, and Alzheimer’s Dementia walk had a staggering 350 !! Our scouts had to queue to reach the summit!! Groups 1 and 2 continued on the route, in rising temperatures, while our younger members descended from the summit back to the camp site for a well earned rest and cool drinks.

By the time the groups reached the Horton in Ribblesdale viaduct, a further 10km into the route, the temperature had reached 30 degrees. And there’s no shade either! After a drinks and food stop, all water bottles refilled and the leaders weighed down by carrying extra water, those that wanted to carried on, summitting Wernside in the late afternoon.

By the time the groups had reached the ice cream van at the foot of the hill on the other side, we had to make a decision. It was getting late in the day, the sunshine and heat were taking a toll, and thunderstorms were moving nearer according to the weather app. At this point, our amazing scouts had covered 30 km and been out for 10 hours.

As a group, we made the decision to stop, and get an air conditioned lift back in the car to the campsite. Although all were disappointed, it was the right thing to do. After a fantastic BBQ cooked by our support team, there was just enough energy left for a game of football before the need to sleep took over!

Hugh thanks to Adrian Beech, Nicky Turner, Alan Dale and Richard Limmer for keeping the groups safe on the hill, Abby Kingswood , Hazel Brown and our wonderful cook Chris Carden for being the best support team ever! But the biggest thanks must go to the 17 amazing scouts, who were a credit to themselves and their leaders and should be super proud of their achievements.

The mountains will be there next year and so will we, to give it another go. I wonder what the weather has in store for us this time?

Jan Waite
ACC Activities
County Mountain Activity Advisor.

When Scouts go to the Game!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 22:26:35 GMT

Last night our Lincolnshire World Scout Jamborree contingent joined over 4000 UK Scouts at the Orioles game.

The combined UK Contingent hit the headlines for befriending the Orioles' left-filder Anthony Santander after he threw them some baseballs.

The contingent clearly enjoyed experiencing American Sport!

Young People Recognise & Celebrate Leaders Commitment over 18 Month Journey!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 22:33:31 GMT

An 18 month journey developing a contingent of over 50 young people. Building the skils and teamwork needed to get the most from the World Scout Jamboree takes a team of amazing leaders.

But away from the front line the leaders also have training to complete. Moving away from the norm we made arrangements for their training awards to be presented in America with the young people they have supported.

Well Done Michelle , Laura, Richard, Harriet, Ian & Kieron. Taking over 50 young people accross the globe is no mean feat!

Lincolnshire Scouts go International!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 22:35:20 GMT

This summer sees over 100 young people from accross Lincolnshire go international!

Over 50 are currently attending the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia after a short stop-off in New York. Their next stop is Canada.

First challenge - To find their bags!

The hottest day of the year on record saw our Inter-Rail contingent battle train delays in the UK to begin their european rail adventure.

A number of young people are also attending other locak and national international trips. Including Paris and Madagascar.

Later in the month we also have a contingent heading the the International Scout Centre in Kandersteg, Switzerland.

We can't forget the leaders and volunteers supporting these groups (both from the UK and in country), they do an amazing job alongsire our International Team to make all this happen.

200 Beavers on Boats!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:37:39 GMT

This weekend over 200 Beaver Scouts from across Lincolnshire desended on Girton Sailing Club to have water based fun!

Taking part in Sailing, Bell Boating and a water related craft the Beaver's didn't let the weather on Saturday dampen spirits. From 'Heads, Shoulds Knees and Jump' to 'Save the Ducks (rubber). The fun activities devised by our amazing volunteer team where designed to build confidence as for many it was the first time on the water.

The event would not have been possible without the army of volunteers giving up their time - Thank You!

Lincolnshire Aviators leading the way for Youth Shaped Scouting!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 22:38:37 GMT

Congratulations to the 'Lincolnshire Aviators' (one of the units attending the World Scout Jamboree) for being awarded their Youth Shaped Challenge Award! Scouting should be shaped by young people in partnership with adults at all levels and it is excellent to see this being reflected through our international contingents.

Less than a month to go until they travel to America for a three week trip of a lifetime!

A Day of Celebration and Achievement

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 24 May 2019 22:40:35 GMT

Congratulations to all our Lincolnshire Scouts who took part in the Day of Celebration and Achievement yesterday at Windsor Castle as Queen’s Scout Award recipients, a Section Leader and part of the event support/organising team.

Also a massive congratulations to all the Queen’s Scouts who have achieved their award but were not able to attend this year!

The Queen’s Scout Award is the culmination of everything that Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members have achieved in Scouting and is the highest award available to Youth Members.

DofE Gold Award Presentations - Buckingham Palace

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 24 May 2019 22:39:41 GMT

Congratulations to all the Young People receiving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Buckingham Palace today from HRH The Duke of Gloucester and presented by Yasmin Evans (BBC Radio 1Xtra)
Are you looking to complete your Duke if Edinburgh’s, Chief Scout’s or Queen’s Scout Awards? Need some help or support? Contact youthawards@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk .

Discovery & Adventure for County Beaver Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 08 May 2019 22:41:32 GMT

On Saturday 6th April almost 300 Beaver Scouts and their leaders descended on Conkers Discovery Centre in Derbyshire for the first Lincolnshire Beaver’s County Sleepover. The Beavers spent the day exploring the National Forest on a variety of trails, walking through the tree tops and orienteering across the site. They explored the different play areas dotted around the site and rode the train to the adventure play area. They also built dens, went pond dipping, followed the sensory trail and barefoot trails and explored the warrens. Beaver Scouts also got the opportunity to find out about the different creatures that live in the British woodland as well as meeting Conkers resident owls, ducks, geese and pheasants.

At the end of the day the Beavers all got to explore the indoor play area before enjoying a cooked dinner and setting up their beds in the discovery centre. They then settled down to watch a film before going to sleep. In the morning Beavers and Leaders enjoyed breakfast before departing.

All Beavers really enjoyed themselves and were able to complete a range of badge requirements including Nights Away, Explore activity badge and Hikes Away (there was a lot of walking!) as well as ticking of parts of their My Adventure, My Skills, My Outdoor and Teamwork challenge badges.

Outstanding contribution recognised at annual awards

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 22:42:45 GMT

Volunteers recognised for outstanding work with awards ceremony and dinner at Burghley House on Monday 15th April.

Award winners and their guests enjoyed a tour of the grand house before dinner and then settled down to an evening recognising their efforts with a range of awards.

Thank you so much to our award winners for their ongoing service and their exceptional contributions to Scouting in Lincolnshire. The more opportunities to get involved in Scouting that we can offer young people in the county, the more exciting life experiences they can enjoy - making a real difference to the next generation and beyond.

It is an honour to be able to recognise our award winners for their outstanding contributions and of course a big thank you also to all volunteers across the region who give their time and efforts to Scouting.

See more photos from the event here .

Uniform Update: Wearable Technology (April Fools 2019)

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 23:00:00 GMT

As you will have seen in the last membership e-mail a review of our uniform is currently underway (the last review being 18 years ago). This is expected to be a long and considered process – and no decision has been made to change at this stage, and there are no immediate changes to uniform.

We are excited to be part of developing options for wearable technology being incorporated into uniform. We are looking for ten groups/sections in Lincolnshire to sign up if they are interested in taking part in live-trials (this will be on a first come first served basis). If your group/section is interested, please contact programme@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk with your preferred trial option (where possible we will try and facilitate your preferred option but it may not be possible in all cases).

What’s in it for sections/groups?

Each group/section will be provided with a full set of trial uniform for each member across the next 12 months and play a key role in supporting the development of our next generation uniform.
Where smart technology is required to support the trials, this will also be provided for the trial duration.

Option 1 – Digital Necker/Scarf/Neckerchief

Many members both young and old like to collect all the different styles of Necker/Scarf/Neckerchief and we want to bring this in-line with the latest technology trend and are looking to launch a digital version. This will feature an advanced material and LED technology allowing the wearer to collect a style via the ‘MyNecker’ app and upload to their Necker/Scarf/Neckerchief.

Option 2 – Built-in Smart Device Charging
With a greater reliance on smart devices we want to ensure they are available to use 24/7. Charge will be generated by solar panels on garments and movement via an in-shoe generator.
We successfully trialled a prototype during the recent Lincoln Monopoly Run by one of the Adult teams. This allowed their smart phone to stay charged all day.

Option 3 – Waterproof Coating

As we know, sections are not allowed outside when it rains. To overcome this barrier to Scouting we are looking at a special coating for all uniform items to repel water, meaning we can once again put the out into Scout!

Option 4 – Colour Changing Shirts
Technology allows materials to change colours based on temperature. Something that is easy to overlook on Scouting activities are the effects of heat (both hot and cold). Currently being developed are shirts that turn red when the body temperature is too high and blue when too cold to aid early identification of heat related issues.
There are currently a few teething problems with an advance feature. It is hoped that the shirts will also change to vibrant pink indicating ‘needs feeding’. The teething problems have resulted in Explorer Scouts shirts constantly becoming vibrant pink!

Option 5 – Self Cleaning and Ironing
This is one for the parents and carers (volunteers may also benefit). Through our programme we are looking to develop #SkillsForLife so it will become compulsory for all members (in all sections) to learn to wash and iron before becoming a full member (don’t worry, full support using an iron and washing machine will be given and there will be no maximum timescale on completing this!). It is hoped that this option will be adopted to make the entire Scout Uniform self-cleaning and ironing for parents/carers).

High Flyers – Lincolnshire Scouts celebrate awards success at RAF Scampton with the Red Arrows!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 23:48:39 GMT

Over the last year, Scouts across Lincolnshire who have achieved one of the Scouts top awards in 2017/18 were recognised at a special event at the Heritage Centre at RAF Scampton. Michelle Nelson who supports The Scouts top awards across Lincolnshire said

“Young people achieve these awards by showing determination, commitment and personal development over a period of time. We are delighted to recognise so many of our young people’s achievements over the year. The Chief Scout’s awards are a culmination of everything that young people do in Scouting. To achieve these awards, young people develop and challenge themselves in many new ways. Spending time in new places, meeting new people and developing communication, organisational and teamwork skills.”

As well as the Chief Scout’s awards, Duke of Edinburgh and Queens Scouts awards were also presented. Those who achieve a DofE Award will volunteer, learn a skill, get fit, plan and undertake an expedition and take part in a week long residential (gold only). Widely acknowledged as the world’s leading achievement award for young people, DofE programmes enable any young person, aged 14-24, to develop key skills for life and work, such as confidence, commitment and team working.

Also recognised were Explorer Scout Young Leaders (aged 14-18) who volunteer alongside adult volunteers in a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop. They are a valuable asset to any leadership team, Explorer Scout Young Leaders play an active role in the section, bringing a range of fresh ideas to the table, and acting as positive role models for the young people they work alongside.’

The Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime. It is a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life. You will develop this understanding by travelling through your chosen country, working as part of a small team to complete a series of projects and most importantly by meeting local people. It is an experience and an achievement that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Thanks are due to RAF Scampton who provided a fantastic backdrop to celebrate these prestigious awards. RAF Scampton, Station Commander – Wing Commander Parker and Flight Lieutenant Simmonds (Red 3) of the Red Arrows joined Ellie Compton – Lincolnshire Scouts County Commissioner to present the awards. Their inspiring speeches also showed how the skills developed through the scout award schemes link to real life employment opportunities.

Will Baldock (27) from Lincolnshire Scouts said “this is the first youth awards event of this type for many years. As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We encourage our young people to do more, learn more and be more. The determination, commitment and effort shown by all the young people here today as well as those unable to attend is testament to the inspiring programme being delivered across the county by our amazing volunteer leaders”.

Fantastic Explorer Scout Weekend at eSpalsh!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 22:49:40 GMT

50 people took part in eSplash at North Hykeham over the weekend of 14-16 Septmber. Explorer scouts aged 14-18 from all over the county were able to try sailing, open canoeing and bell boating in wonderful conditions at Apex Lakes. Organised by ACC Activities, Rachel Nelson, the event introduced adventurous activities and was enjoyed by all.

Rachel was also awarded her Wood badge by County Commissioner Robin Wright over the weekend. The Wood Badge is a Scouting program and Award for adults in the Scout associations around the world. The Wood Badge course is designed so that adult Scouters can learn; in as practical a way possible, the skills and methods of Scouting. On completion, participants are still awarded the beads to recognise the significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people, and to welcome them to membership of 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group.

Weekend of fun gets under way at Lincoln District Scout Camp

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 26 May 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from groups across Lincoln are enjoying an exciting weekend of activities to celebrate 60 years of Sudbrooke campsite.

The weather couldn’t be better for the 500 Scouts and 200 volunteers at the camp, and with 80 activities for the Scouts to enjoy, the weekend is a fitting way to mark the 60th anniversary of the campsite.

Activities are based on a Crystal Maze theme and involved Scouts collecting ‘diamonds’ for effective teamwork. With problem solving, physical, and mental challenges, Scouts are putting their hands to crate stacking, climbing, obstacle courses, riddles, puzzles and games.

A huge thank you to all volunteers who have contributed their time so far to help plan and run the event.

Find out more about Scouting in and around Lincoln .

Cubs on the Water

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 21 May 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Over 200 Cubs attended over the 2-days on the weekend of 12 - 13th May 2018 at Girton Sailing Club. Each Cub participated in 5 activities over the day: Canoe & Kayak, Sailing, Rowing, Bellboating and a craft activity of making a model boat.

The cubs had a brilliant day which was run very smoothly by a amazing group of volunteers, helping young people gain skills to succeed. These volunteers gave the cubs the confidence to get wet and at the end of the day asking when they can go again.

Adventure at Skegness Aquarium!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:54:24 GMT

Beavers encounter with the Sharks
Back in November 2017 a group of Beavers from Skegness and Spilsby District trialed a new adventurous offering by Skegness Aquarium – Snorkelling in the Lost Lagoon!
The experience allows 6-11 year olds to search for hidden treasure whilst interacting with the baby sharks without barriers. Experience the aquarium from a new perspective by getting get up close with marine life. Groups can now book this adventurous experience direct with the Aquarium Reception.

Night at the Aquarium
7th Lincoln Beavers spent a night at the Aquarium back in February, following a guided tour of the Aquarium, cooked tea, film and supper they settled down in front of the main tank sleeping meters from Nudge the Zebra shark! The all-inclusive experience is available for groups of 20 or more at £25 per person.
This experience is highly recommended by Claire from our County Programme team who was lucky enough to be part of this sleepover with a difference.

Contact Skegness Aquarium Reception for more information or to book your experience.
E-Mail: reception@skegness-aquarium.uk
Telephone: 01754 228200
Website: https://www.skegness-aquarium.uk/
Address: Skegness Aquarium, Tower Esplanade, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 3HH

Excellence Celebrated at Awards Evening

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Volunteers recognised for outstanding work with awards ceremony and dinner at Burghley House on Tuesday 10th April.

Award winners and their guests enjoyed a tour of the grand house before dinner and then settled down to an evening recognising their efforts with a range of awards.

Awards were presented by Regional Commissioner Paula Evans, County Commissioner Robin Wright and Burghley House Director Miranda Rock; and included the Silver Acorn and Bar to the Silver Acorn.

Robin Wright said:
"Thank you so much to our award winners for their ongoing service and their exceptional contributions to Scouting in Lincolnshire. The more opportunities to get involved in Scouting that we can offer young people in the county, the more exciting life experiences they can enjoy - making a real difference to the next generation and beyond. It is an honour to be able to recognise our award winners for their outstanding contributions and of course a big thank you also to all volunteers across the region who give their time and efforts to Scouting."

Lincolnshire Scouts County Conference 2018

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Volunteers from across the County gather for a day of inspiring talks at 'Inspire the Future Conference 2018'.

The event, held on Sunday 4th March at Lincoln Minster School, welcomed over 100 volunteers from all areas of Lincolnshire to share ideas, enjoy informative talks on a range of topics and browse the popular 'marketplace' with a variety of stalls.

Key speakers included Chief Commissioner for England Alex Peace-Gadbsy and Alan Hands from One Million Hands.

There were also talks on useful topics such as safeguarding, social media, community engagement, adult recruitment and programmes.

All attendees also had a chance to join discussions to share their ideas and enjoy a tasty lunch and refreshments from the catering team at the school, they also received a goodie bag.

Thank you to all volunteers who attended, an inspiring day for all.

Explorers dive with sharks at Skegness Aquarium!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 00:00:40 GMT

On Saturday 25th November 12 Explorer Scouts from across Lincolnshire descended on Skegness Aquarium to take the plunge with the sharks! With a few nerves showing during the briefing they were soon put to rest as thanks to the aquarium instructors. Practicing the skills needed in the training tank they were ready to hit the main tank diving with the sharks. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed and it was all smiles as they emerged after interacting and feeding some of the sea life.

Skegness and Spilsby take part in JOTI - the largest Scouting event in the world with over 1 million Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:01:46 GMT

Skegness and Spilsby District added an additional element of fun to jamboree on the internet (Joti) by inviting the local internet based radio station to their event. County linx radio set up their outside broadcasting bus and allowed the young people to take over the radio station for a hour broadcasting live to their listeners around the world. During the event the O2 gurus were on hand chatting about internet safety and answering technical questions in the cafe. The cafe had been set up to raise funds as a thank you to the New life community centre who had supported the day by providing the use of their facilities. The young people made had an amazing time contacting some 33 different countries around the world via the Joti chat rooms, including a brief chat with Craig Turpie, the chair of World Scouting.

JOTA-JOTI is the largest Scouting event in the world with over 1 million Scouts participating across 150+ countries. The purpose of JOTA-JOTI is to enable and encourage Scouts around the world to communicate with one another by means of amateur radio and the internet, providing a fun and educational Scouting experience and promoting their sense of belonging to a worldwide Scout Movement. JOTA-JOTI related activities take place simultaneously all around the world each year during the third weekend in October. The programme for JOTA-JOTI consists both of activities developed at world level and initiatives developed at national and local level, supported by National JOTA-JOTI Coordinators and their respective teams.

Rabbit Run 2017

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 11:33:10 GMT

The Rabbit Run trophy has left the county for the first time! 142 people took part in this years Rabbit Run. The event, held this year at Collingham Scout HQ, saw 20 teams compete for the trophy and the toilet seat while 5 teams of chasers roamed the country side trying to find them.

Rabbit Run is a night hike with a difference for everybody aged 13+. Each team is given a map and list of questions which they can answer by visiting the grid references on the question sheet, the further away from the start point the question is, the more points it's worth. They have one hour to plan a route to collect as many points as possible, and then five and a half hours to complete the route with bonus points available for getting back on time. If a team is caught by the chasers they lose two points. This year the trophy was won by an exceptional effort from Griffin ESU from Derbyshire, and the toilet seat for the loosing team was taken by Grantham Explorers "The Poacher Squad". It was great to be joined by Explorers from the region this year and thanks to Collingham Scout group for the use of their HQ as our base and support throughout the event. Also a special mention to Michelle Nelson and Selina Sanderson who amongst many others helping them out, kept everybody fed and watered all weekend.

The challenge is on for next year - get the trophy back to Lincolnshire!

Exciting challenges for Billy at 7th Boston Beavers

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 11:34:24 GMT

A young Beaver with learning difficulties is excited to start his Scouting journey

Billy has a number of learning difficulties and faces many challenges in life - including not being able to talk; he struggles with noises and many everyday things but with the help of leaders at 7th Boston Beavers, he is making lots of progress and is enjoying the group.

Billy's mother - and leader - Pippa Dore is delighted with his progress in the group:

"Billy has been very happily invested into 7th Boston Beavers. He is always very reluctant to wear anything around his head and getting him to accept a necker was a real challenge, but the leaders have been so patient and imaginative in thinking of ways to help Billy and give him confidence and he wore his necker with a huge smile as he was invested.

"I cannot thank 7th Boston Beavers enough for all they've done. Despite Billy's many challenges, he loves Beavers and as soon as I put his uniform on, he drags my bag to the front door and shouts until we leave!

"He's only been a Beaver for a few weeks but already he has broken down many barriers and tried things he wouldn't try at home. It's such a happy atmosphere there, I even enjoy it myself! Thank you so, so much. Seeing my little boy having so much fun each week like all the other children means the world. This really is what Scouting is all about."

RYA Awards for Skegness District

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 11:35:25 GMT

Congratulations to the 3 scouts at 6th Skegness sea scouts on receiving their RYA sailing awards recently.

Splash Lincs 2017

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 11:36:13 GMT

Scouts (aged 10-14) from across Lincolnshire took part in the annual Splash Lincs camp. This year the event was held at Covenham Reservoir near Louth and had a good range of adventurous activities including sailing, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding and rafting.

Jamboree Summer with Stamford and Bourne District

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Margaret and Tony Everitt have had a busy few weeks, ’lending a hand’ to two International Jamborees:

27th July departed from Bourne at 10.30 heading to Wareham, Dorset and ‘Goose’ where they finally arrived around 18.30 after various adventures….. even positioning the caravan in the sloping carpark was no mean feat.

Sunday, after registration and setting up Encaustic Workshop, a day of rest…..then:-

Activities ran from Monday to Friday over a period of six hours every day. Goose, though a small camp, had 1000 young people from various parts of the world - but mostly UK.

Water Activities at Goose comprised of Sailboarding, 4 pedelo’s and a raft on a rope….. No sailing! Of course that meant Margaret had a very reluctant, but very able assistant, to help with delivering Encaustic Art Activity by working as a team (Tony kept out of Margaret’s way and vice versa….).

Weather wise it was very hot on some days – really too hot to work, but they managed.

Friday activities drew to a close at 16.30, and finally (after a struggle) the jacked up caravan was released, departing from Dorset at approx. 19.00 up the M3 to get back to Bourne well after midnight.

Margaret –“Despite all the hic-cups we had a great week, made many friends and promised to keep in touch.”

After a hectic clean, equipment restock, repack; they were off again on the 9th August to join in with Norjam -a mere 78 mile trip which once again took longer than expected! Finally arriving at Norjam site at 13.45 and from time of arrival it was “go go go” right up to 16.00 Friday 16th …..

Unlike Goose an assistant was provided for Encaustic Workshop , changing over after sessions. which meant each am and pm session helper were given very quick lesson in encaustic art before having to teach the participants (it took Margaret six months). Everyone, participants and helpers alike had great fun, and in total 2000 A6 art cards were used.

Tony joined the w/activities sailing team, sailing at Wroxham, or at least they would have done had it not been for the very strong winds. It looked like he was out of luck for this camp as well as the first, but by Friday all was well the wind had dropped to manageable.

Other District SASU members were helping at Norjam, but they didn’t meet up as there were two different staff camp sites, and no-one knew where others camped until the last day. Turned out they were just two caravans away from Margaret and Tony!. Perhaps a case of boats passing in the night and never the twain should meet….

Again despite all the hiccups and cool wet weather, plus medical issues etc’ they had a pleasant time at Norjam meeting up with old friends from Norjam 2006, and making new ones.

Margaret :- “Every time I visit Norfolk it rains, 2014 has been no exception! After Norjam we travelled to Cromer for a few days of chilling out before returning to Bourne on 22nd August where Tony finally got a sail - he had a sail booking at Whitewater …...”.

Their 2014 travels are not quite over as Encaustic workshop is booked in for Gilwell Reunion 5/6/7th September, and then next year Devon County Scout jamboree in July 2015 – showing adults how to organise and run an Encaustic Workshop for Scouts.

We're at the Lincolnshire Show!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for something different this year, and definitely a lot of fun, come and visit us at the Lincolnshire Show!
Lincolnshire Scouts already offers over 6,000 members the chance to have fun and try something new!
Scouts isn't just for girls and boys age 6 to 25 either!
If your an adult, and can spare a bit of time and your skills, we have lots to offer!

Come and see what's on offer at the Lincolnshire Show...

You'll find us in the Discovery Zone!
If you just can't wait, then get involved today!

Lincolnshire Scouts - Honda RYA Youth RIB Challenge

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts held a heat of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, National Powerboating Championship to select two representatives (one in each age group (8-12 & 13-16)) to represent Lincolnshire Scouts at the Midlands Area Final. This event was open to cubs, scouts and explorers form the county and organised by William Baldock, Assistant County Commissioner (Explorer Scouts) for Lincolnshire Scouts.

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Highfield, is a National Championship in which 8 - 16 year old Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) drivers can demonstrate their skills with the goal of winning a Highfield 460 or a Honwave T40 for their club.

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association), through its affiliated clubs, organisations and training centres will again run a National Championship in Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) for juniors/youths. Clubs, organisations and training centres wishing to participate hold local heats, at their premises, to determine whom they put forward to the Midlands Area Final on 1st July 2017 at Staunton Harold Sailing Club. There are 13 Area Finals and the winner in each age group (8-12 years and 13-16 years) takes part in the National Final held at the Southampton Boat Show on 17th September 2017.

Stamford and Ketton Explorers go back to basics

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 26 May 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Stamford and Ketton Explorers have spent a weekend learning bush craft skills at Dukes Covert campsite. Working towards their survival skills badge they have had to demonstrate a variety of different techniques including the lighting and building of a fire, learning how to cook variety of foods such as meat and fish over a fire and the construction of a shelter of natural or salvaged materials and sleeping overnight in it.

12 new Archery Instructors for Lincolnshire Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to 12 leaders from Lincolnshire who have recently successfully completed their Archery GB Instructor Award at Dukes Covert Scout campsite. The aim of the course is to prepare leaders to to deliver fun, safe archery sessions for beginners. Deputy County Commissioner for Activities, Howard Nelson commented " I am very pleased to be able to congratulate our leaders on gaining this National Governing Body qualification and look forward to seeing them deliver sessions for our young people across the county". The course was just part of the wide range of adventure courses in the county that includes water sports, hill walking and land based activities such as Archery.

Adventure on the water for Lincolnshire Scouts!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 13 May 2017 23:00:00 GMT

70 Lincolnshire scouts took part in the annual Weekend on the Water at Hykeham Scouts. Activities including sailing, powerboating, kayaking, canoeing, standup paddle boarding and for the first time sub aqua were enjoyed by the young people who had a great weekend in glorious weather.

ACC Activities, Rachel Nelson, who led the event said she was really pleased that so many young people were able to gain national Governing Body qualifications and is looking forward to them getting afloat with their groups.

Lincolnshire Scouts Win First National Scout Award for Growth

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scout County were recently awarded the first National Scout award for having the biggest percentage of growth in membership over the past year. The awards took place at the University of Warwick and included speeches from celebrity Scout Ambassador Steve Backshall. Lincolnshire scouts walked away with first prize for the Growth Award, making them the highest growing Scout County and Region across the UK over the last three years.

The Scout County have grown by 12.56 % over the three years (2015 to 2017)Lincolnshire Scouts are highest growing County in the UK over the last three years

Lincolnshire Scouts now have over 5,746 youth members aged between 6-25 and are supported by 2,129 volunteer leaders who dedicate their time to bring the young people of Lincolnshire fun, adventure and skills for life. Over the past three years County have welcomed over 722 young people to join their packed programme.

Robin Wright County Commissioner for the Scout Movement in Lincolnshire said
“I am so Proud Lincolnshire Scouts has been recognised nationally for the work it has been doing over that last four years to bring Scouting to more young people across the County. Winning this award is absolutely fantastic and is a great credit and a pack on the back, to all our volunteers who have given their time to improve scouting in Lincolnshire. It is all about more young people having the opportunity to develop their skills for life through an exciting and fun programme."

Scout Ambassador Steve Backshall said:
“This is a remarkable achievement for Lincolnshire Scouts, winning one of the first ever National Scout Awards and will be something they will remember forever. I feel honoured to be a part of this event and to hear about some of the amazing achievements in Lincolnshire and we have made as a movement. Every young person should have the chance to be involved in Scouting and although we are growing we still have a waiting list of over 275 young people eager to be a part of the fun and adventure in Lincolnshire, we just need more volunteers to make it possible. All the Scouts who were involved in the ceremony today should be tremendously proud of themselves and I am proud to be an ambassador of this adventurous movement.”

Lincolnshire Scout leaders qualify as RYA Safety Boat Drivers

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scout leaders have recently qualified as RYA Safety Boat Drivers thanks to a county course hosted by Girton Sailing Club. The course includes the training necessary to provide safety cover for scouts when sailing and doing other water sports. It is part of Lincolnshire's wide range of courses aimed at increasing the number of young people taking part in outdoor activities and adventure.

Scouts Star in Podcast

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Willingham Scouts have produced an informative podcast to showcase local heritage

The podcast - which was released at the weekend - includes a audio tour of St Edith's church at Coates-by-Stow and St Michael's church in Cammeringham.

County Media Manager, Gemma Lowe, said:

"The Scouts worked incredibly hard and were very professional, their enthusiasm really shines through in the audio and the podcast is both entertaining and informative.

"This was a fantastic opportunity for our young people to learn about local heritage and share their experience with listeners. It would be great to get more groups across the County producing audio, using a wide range of skills and having fun in the process."

The podcast is now available online, listen now .

Grantham Cubs Support Local Nursing Home

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Cubs from 7th Grantham enjoy volunteering at Newton House Nursing Home

The Cubs have done three visits so far which has seen them play games and talk with the residents as well as perform Christmas carols. The volunteering was part of the Million Hands initiative that aims to get half a million young people committed to removing social barriers, connecting communities and improving lives.

The Cubs chose dementia awareness as the social issue that they wanted to focus on and they have also been involved in talks about dementia to raise awareness of the condition.

Sue Newbatt, Group Scout Leader, said:

“The group will be carrying on their link with the nursing home and we are looking at other ways in which we can get involved with them. One idea being discussed is a teddy bears picnic.

“One of the highlights so far was when the Cubs - who are reaching the end of their centenary year, highlighting one hundred years of Cub Scouting - met one of the nursing home residents who also turned 100 this year.”

Find out more about the Million Hands Project .

Bicycles, Baths and Backpacks

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Four Viking Explorers from Caistors have completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh cycle expedition.

The group spent three days travelling through the White Peak in Derbyshire, starting with a comfy night at Hartington Youth Hostel; they made their way to Castleton with one new tyre -due to a detour down a very rocky wrong turning- two punctures, and a slight navigation error near Monsal Head, they covered a total of 100km!

The aim of their expedition was to look at how local industry has changed in the area, and so they spent some time looking at old railway workings on the Tissington Trail, quarries along side the High Peak Trail and lead mining in Castleton.

The weather was much kinder than on the practice expedition, and they managed the problems that occurred along the way with fantastic teamwork and were always cheerful. They especially liked their second night campsite as it had a bath!

100 Lincolnshire Cubs Learn CPR From 'Everyday Heroes'.

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 23:00:00 GMT

100 EAGER eight to ten-year-olds were put through their paces this week during LIVES Everyday Heroes Week (5 – 9 October) – as they learnt first-hand the basics of CPR.

As part of the Cubs 100 initiative - which is celebrating 100 years of Cub Scouts - Sleaford District Scouts took part in a CPR challenge, which aimed to train 100 young people Lincolnshire CPR over the course of one week.

Adam Jacklin, deputy district commissioner at Sleaford District Scouts and applications administrator at LIVES, said: “Scouts aims to equip young people with vital skills they can use for life and CPR is no exception. We were so pleased to work with an amazing charity like LIVES for this training, which provided many young Cubs with their first experience of CPR.

“All of the sessions which took place during the week offered first-class training, which would not have been possible without LIVES and its volunteers. I think it is fantastic that LIVES is celebrating its volunteers during Everyday Heroes Week, as volunteers are the life-blood of any voluntary organisation. Training in CPR can really make a difference, helping young people to gain confidence and understanding of something which can seem quote daunting to begin with. Our challenge has been a true success and we are thankful to LIVES and our Cubs who took part!”

During the sessions Cub Packs from across the Sleaford district took part in LIVES CPR training, including those based in: Sleaford, Horncastle, Heckington, Woodhall Spa, Bardney and Ruskington.

Nikki Silver, chief executive of LIVES, said: “We were delighted to have trained 100 members of the Sleaford District Cubs in the Cubs 100 CPR Challenge – that’s 100 new life-savers in Lincolnshire! It has been a great opportunity for us to educate young people in a safe environment, especially with our expert responders on hand to advise them. Thank you to all the Cubs and our ‘Everyday Heroes’ who took part in the sessions.”

Cubs on the Water 2016

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 23:00:00 GMT

After a staggering response from cubs across Lincolnshire with the event full up just over a month after opening it, 100 cubs had a fun day on the water at Apex pits at North Hykeham. The event was organised to mark 100 years of cub scouting and to give the opportunity for more young people to take part in adventurous activities. The cubs took part in Sailing, Canoeing, Rafting and Model Boat Making. Thanks are also due to all those who helped and to the RNLI who enthralled the cubs with a talk / videos on Respecting the Water. The cubs earned their "Time on the water badge 2" and despite the wet weather had a fantastic day.

Rachel Nelson (20) the event organiser said "I was very pleased with the response to event and very grateful for all the help I got in organising and running the event. All the cubs had a fantastic day and are already asking when the next "Cubs on the Water" day will be!"

Viking Explorers' Triumph With DofE Cycle Expedition

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Five Viking Explorers from Louth District completed a demanding 100km cycle expedition as part of their Silver Duke of Edingburgh Award.

Explorer Scout Leader, Jan Waite, said:

"The Explorers spent three days travelling through the White Peak in Derbyshire; after one new tyre, two punctures and a slight navigation error, they covered a total of 100km - an amazing achievement!

"The aim of their expedition was to look at how local industry has changed in the area, this saw them spending time looking at old railway workings on the Tissington Trail, quarries alongside the High Peak Trail, and lead mining in Castleton.

"They were lucky with the weather and worked well as a team to overcome the difficulties that they faced, remaining cheerful throughout.

"Two members of the group, Archie Bennett and George Fleetwood, have also recently completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards and also gained their Platinum Chief Scout Awards.

"A huge congratulations to all Viking Explorers who have enjoyed fantastic achievements and personal challenges."

Bronze Qualifying Expedition

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Over the weekend nine Sleaford Explorer Scouts completed their Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze Qualifying Expedition in the picturesque and very sunny Lincolnshire Wolds.

As two teams the Explorer Scouts journeyed through the Lincolnshire Wolds, starting at Alford and finishing on Sunday in Horncastle after spending an evening under canvas at Tetford. The expedition is a challenging journey on foot and forms one of four mandatory elements of the young people's DofE Awards.

Whilst on their expedition the explorers navigational and team work skills were put to the test, as well as their campcraft skills. Throughout the weekend the explorers were under the scrutiny of Tom (our local friendly DofE Assessor) to check they met the requirements of the award.

James Walker, DofE Advisor, praised the young people on their achievement:

"The Explorers should be proud of a superb expedition - they navigated a challenging route without fault and were always where they should be and on time."

We're looking forward to meeting the Explorer Scouts in September as they complete the final element of the expedition section - the presentation, where we'll no doubt hear about blisters, lost water bottles and beef jerky.

Award Winning Leader Completing DofE Journey with Fundraising Diamond Challenge

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:00:00 GMT

1st Waddington’s Assistant Cub Scout Leader, Cat Tyler, will be walking the 84-mile length of Hadrian’s Wall Path to raise money for more young people to take part in outdoor adventures.

Cat, along with her mother Julia, a Cub Scout Leader, and Julia’s partner, will begin the walk on 21 August; which will see them make their way on foot from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast.

Cat decided to complete the walk for her Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Challenge; funds raised will be donated to the DofE Charity so that it can transform the lives of more young people and offer free places and bursary grants to those most in need.

The Diamond Challenge is an initiative that was launched to celebrate 60 years of the Duke of Edinburgh Award; it allows people of all ages to take on a challenge to earn their Diamond Pin.

Cat, 25, is no stranger to the Award; in May she was one of only a handful of Scouts invited to Buckingham Palace to receive her Gold Award as part of the DofE Diamond Anniversary celebrations.

She said:

“I am really looking forward to this adventure! Completing this challenge will be a huge achievement, especially for my mum who is recovering from a recent car accident as well as battling ongoing health problems.

“Having recently completed my Queen’s Scout Award and DofE Gold Award, this challenge is the next step for me. The funds we raise will go towards DofE provision in our area which will help young people who might not otherwise get a chance to do their DofE Awards.

“Having struggled through parts of my Awards, in part due to financial constraints, I know that the effort we put in will help young people to achieve.

“As a Leader in Scouting, seeing young people realise their potential and achieve is always rewarding.”

100th Birthday Party for Cub Scouts in Lincolnshire

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Over 1000 Cub Scouts from across Lincolnshire enjoy birthday celebrations at Lincub county camp.

The event, which took place at Burleigh House in Stamford, was part of worldwide celebrations marking 100 years of Cub Scouting.

Cub Scouts, aged between eight and ten years, joined over 600 adult leaders at the camp from 17th to the 19th June. They took part in a wide range of activities including climbing, canoeing, grass sledging and crafts.

For many of the young people, it was their first experience of a camp away from home and was an opportunity for them to make new friends and build their confidence.

Rob Johnson, District Commissioner for Boston Scouts, managed one of four sub-camps of Cubs. He said:

“Lincub was an excellent event which saw all Cubs have a great time and enjoy a wide range of exciting activities.

“The event was well organised and supported by a large number of volunteers and everyone was happy to put away dry tents at the end of the celebrations following good weather.

“It was a huge celebration for a huge event in the Scouting calendar, happy birthday Cub Scouts!”

Lincoln Cubs Join Local Community to Celebrate the Queen’s Birthday

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Residents of Lincoln’s West End were invited to St Faith’s Church on Charles Street West where 7th Lincoln Cubs were running a café selling a selection of cakes and sandwiches; the event also had a range of activities for people to take part in, including crafts and sports.

The event was a partnership between community groups; including Scouts, the West-Enders, the West End Residents Association (WERA) and Guides, as part of celebrations marking the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The Cubs enjoyed meeting the local community and selling cakes that had been donated by their parents and local residents. Funds from cake sales will be shared between the Cub Group, St Faith’s Church, the West-Enders and Guides.

Cub, Maria - aged 9, was glad to be involved in the celebrations:

“It’s been really good to be involved, it is great that selling cakes is raising money for lots of people and also it is also giving me the chance to work towards some of my badges.”

Jacob, aged 9, also helped selling cakes:

“I think this is a good way to celebrate the Queen’s birthday; it helps the community to fundraise, socialise and eat cake!

“I like seeing people’s faces when they taste the yummy cakes.”

Ruby, aged 10, enjoyed helping at the event:

“I like it because we are helping to fundraise and some of the money will help to get us new equipment and games, it helps lots of other people from Lincoln too.”

Cub Leader, Anja Reynolds said:

“Events like this one bring young people up to be valuable members of their community and get involved in their local area.

“It is great for them to be out there taking part but also they can feel a sense of achievement as they work towards gaining badges too.”

Young people from Grantham join over 1,200 Cub Scouts to celebrate a Centenary of Adventure

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

The Cub Scouts are celebrating 100 years of Cub Scouting at a week-long camp at Gilwell Park Activity Centre from 28 May to 3 June 2016. The event – called CubJam – is the biggest Cub Scout camp in 10 years.

The theme for the week-long camp is the Wild West. Cub Scouts have the opportunity to try their hand at caving, archery, bungee running, zorbing and motor racing, as well as take part a variety of traditional camp-based activities.

Eve Konarska, aged 9, Cub Scout from Grantham, said:

“My favourite thing about being a Cub is going on adventures and camps like CubJam, we get to try lots of new activities and get to have fun with my friends.”

Chief Scout and adventurer Bear Grylls flew by helicopter into Gilwell Park to meet some of the Cub Scouts before taking off to visit six further locations across the UK. He said:

“I am super proud to be a part of celebrating 100 years of Cub Scouting; this event is unique as it gives a chance for Cubs across the UK to meet up and share fun and adventures in a way that only Scouting can!”

Cub Scouting’s ambassador and fellow adventurer Steve Backshall is also attending the camp later in the week.

The event is part of Cubs 100 – a year-long programme of events in celebration of the Cubs’ centenary year in 2016. Over 156,000 Cub Scouts will have the opportunity to get involved with the Widest Birthday Ever! experience, creating new memories and friendships throughout the year.

Sandra Otter, Cub Scout leader from Grantham, said:

“Events such as CubJam give Cubs the freedom and independence to make new friends and do loads of activities in a safe and fun environment.”

As part of the anniversary celebrations, The LEGO Group will be sending the UK’s only LEGO Certified Professional builder, Duncan Titmarsh, along to the event to construct a celebration cake made entirely of LEGO bricks. The cake will be made up of over 22,000 LEGO bricks as well as 100 LEGO candles and will take an average of 120 hours to build! Cub Scouts from CubJam will be helping Duncan and his team build the creative image on the top of the cake.

The Scout Association hopes that Cubs 100 will help to further the growth of the Movement among both young people and adult volunteers.

WOW Watersports Camp

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 20 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

A great weekend supporting Scoutings Youth in Adventure with 36 (mostly young people!) completing NGBs and Permits in Canoeing, Kayaking, Powerboating & Sailing at Hykeham Scouts Water Base.

Scouts from across Lincolnshire celebrate St George’s Day

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Scouts of all ages have been busy taking part in parades to mark the occasion.

The Sunday nearest to St. George's Day is an annual occasion for Scouts to hold ceremonies when they reaffirm their Promise and acknowledge the Scout Law in a national act of dedication.

Founder of the Scouting Movement, Lord Baden-Powell wrote about St George in his books:

“He is also the Patron Saint of Scouts everywhere. Therefore all Scouts should know his story. St George was typical of what a Scout should be.

“When he was faced by a difficulty or danger, however great it appeared, even in the shape of a dragon - he did not avoid it or fear it but went at it with all the power he could... That is exactly the way a Scout should face a difficulty or danger no matter how great or how terrifying it may appear. They should go at it boldly and confidently, using every power that they can to try and overcome it, and the probability is that they will succeed.”

To view photos of Lincolnshire Scouts celebrating St George’s Day, visit our Facebook Page .

Young People of Lincolnshire Reach New Heights at Countryside Lincs

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 23:00:00 GMT

This weekend we took our climbing tower along to the Countryside Lincs event at Lincolnshire Showground for local youngsters to experience a tiny piece of what Scouting has to offer.

The event offered a fun day out with a range of activities for families to try; our climbing tower was extremely popular with young people keen to challenge themselves to reach the top.

County Commissioner, Robin Wright said:

"It's been a really superb day here.

"It's been great to see so many really young children having fun today and enjoying what Scouting has to offer. "

A huge thank you to all Scouts and Leaders who attended on the day to lend a hand.

Lincoln Network Scouts Enjoy Successful ‘Lincoln 24’ Event After Months of Planning

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 23:00:00 GMT

The event, planned by Network Scouts, saw participants stay awake for 24 hours, completing a range of teambuilding activities.

Based on the idea of Gilwell 24 – an annual event at Scout Headquarters in Essex - members of City of Lincoln District Network (CoLDNET) have spent months working together tirelessly to make their vision of Lincoln 24 a reality.

Network Scouts - aged between 18 and 25 years - are encouraged to run projects, such as event planning, in three key areas: Adventure, Community and International. The projects aim to help them develop as individuals as well as being rewarding and enjoyable and have a lasting impact on local Scouting.

Members of CoLDNET have been working as a team for the past eight months planning the Lincoln 24 event which took place at Altham Terrace campsite last weekend; participants took part in a range of exciting opportunities, including kayaking, archery, caving, and survival skills.

All participants successfully managed to stay awake for the 24 hours (although some of the Leaders had to take a nap!), and everyone involved enjoyed the weekend which also aimed to strengthen links between Network, and Scouts and Explorers.

Lincoln District Scout Network Commissioner, David Thompson said:

“This is the first project that CoLDNET have planned and it turned out to be a great success.

“I am extremely proud of the entire planning team and they should be delighted with their achievements.

“The weekend was supported by an excellent team of Leaders who also deserve thanks for the success of the weekend."

Cas Potterton, an Explorer Scout who attended the event, enjoyed it so much that he went on Lincoln based radio station, Siren FM to share his experience with listeners.

YouShape 2016

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 23:00:00 GMT

#YouShape was a national event held at Dearne Valley Activity Centre in Doncaster. James (County Youth Commissioner) and myself were some of the lucky participants that were able to attend.

There were over 200 participants and facilitators there to learn more about youth shaped scouting and to have our say. We arrived on the Friday night and had a chilled out evening getting to people and making new friends, we were also given pledge cards, so each participant could pledge to do something within the next year, after our main hall sessions and after each of our breakout sessions we would make a pledge.

On Saturday we had to be up at 6am to get ready for a long day. Around 9am we were all sat down on our tables in the main hall. Each table had a facilitator to ensure that we understood the discussions and to keep conversation going. There were live streams to the event all morning so people who couldn’t attend the event could also take part and have their say. We discussed things such as ‘Should beavers have lodge leaders’ ‘What do section leaders and Young Leaders need to do to make Youth shaped scouting work’ and ‘How can we better support those going in management roles’.

After lunch we have sessions on the vision 2018 topics. Community Impact discussed ‘what a high quality impact project looks like’, with answers such as genuinely changes the lives of others, embedded within the programme and develops the young people taking part. We discussed ‘A Millions Hands’ and what would motivate us to get involved in A Million Hands Project.

In inclusivity we discussed all the things we can be discriminated against and answered questions such as, what does an inclusive section look like? And how we can make our sections inclusive? We were asked in our groups to define scouting for all in 1 sentence, as a group we came up with ‘Scouting for all is when everyone in all levels of the movement are treated equally, are included in activities and decisions, feel valued and accept the diversity of those within scouting’.

For growth, we discussed that it is a combination of two things; retention and new sections. We were asked questions such as ‘Is growth important?’ ‘What are the barriers to growth?’ and ‘What is needed in order for us to grow as a movement?’

Before we went to #YouShape we were all asked to do a questionnaire on what we would most like our breakout sessions to be about. There was a choice of 11 topics; Inclusivity, Youth Commissioners, Youth Forums, Digital, Communications, Young Leaders, International, Network, Retention, Speak Up, Governance and Adventure. Our top 4 choices would be the Breakout sessions we would attend.

After tea on the Saturday we had our first break out session. Mine was Youth Commissioners, we spoke about the troubles that we are having within Districts/ Counties/ Areas/ Regions, whether it be communication issues or issues down the line in districts or up the line with County/Region/Area. We spoke about the changes we have currently made so far or are trying to implement with the help of our line managers. We discovered that no two areas were the same, we were all having different issues/road blocks or each having different positive changes. We discussed that all District Youth Commissioners are a part of the District Executive as Exofficio members.

Our other 3 sessions were held on the Sunday, my first one for the day was Youth Forums. We were discussing how useful the Youth Shaped Scouting Booklets were for each section, and we tried different games that could make youth forums more fun. For Beavers we played ‘Imaginary Line’ and answered questions on youth shaped scouting and what we thought of the weekend, running from one side of the hall for yes, to the other for no, or in the middle for not quite sure. For Cubs we played ‘The Sun Shines on.’ which was using a parachute and run under it to the other side if we agreed with a statement or question that was asked, and then we all sat under the parachute having a discussion on how well the weekend has gone and what things we would like to change when we went back home. We made paper aeroplanes with questions on and read out the planes that traveled the furthest, and everyone helped answer the questions and gave advice. We also played team games to remind us that fun needs to be had at youth forums and to break the time up so the young people are not always sat down.

My Second session was Adventure. We discussed what adventure and an adventurous activity means to us. We found out that almost any activity a young person does can be an adventurous activity, as everyone’s abilities are different, whether it be doing your DofE expedition, climbing a mountain or evening singing. We also looked at activity permits and how accessible is it to acquire and activity permit.

My last breakout session was International. We looked at international trips and what you need to organise an international trip, but we also looked at global issues such as inequality, water aid, climate change and access to education. We had 4 scenarios, 1 connecting to each global issue, and in groups we had to come up with an idea to run a night with 4 sections (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers).

Throughout the course of the weekend we got to meet many people and have a chat with them about our new roles, how we are finding them and some ideas that we have. I had the opportunity to meet Hannah Kentish (UK Youth Commissioner), Jagz Bharth and Jay Thompson (Deputy UK Youth Commissioners), Tim Kidd (the soon to be UK Chief Commissioner), and Wayne Bulpitt (UK Chief Commissioner).

The whole weekend was an amazing experience and as with any scouting event you make new friends, reconnect with old friends and make new memories. To have had this opportunity I am extremely grateful and will be bringing positive ideas to my group.

Tasha Hopkin
Deputy County Youth Commissioner

Viking Explorers - Winter Adventures

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The term got off to a busy start with SPLASH in September, the weekend was spent learning to sail and kayak. Good weather meant we didn’t mind getting wet!

Our next challenge was an evening spent gliding as guests of the Trent Valley Gliding Club, followed by five members of the unit setting off on their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition in the Lincolnshire Wolds the next day. Again we were blessed with warm weather, and after two days and an overnight camp the assessor was very impressed and they all passed.

In October, members of the unit took part in a Rabbit Run - a night navigation exercise and competition. We entered two teams and both of them completed the course, with one team arriving back at 3.44am, just one minute before disqualification!

November saw the unit take part in the Remembrance Parade at Caistor as well as attending the Chiller Camp at Walesby. We had to cope with gales and sub-zero temperatures, and took part in a range of activities including a high ropes course, air rifle shooting and a cave maze.

In December Viking Explorers traveled by train to London to stay for a weekend at Gilwell Park. We visited the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, the Imperial War Museum and Hamleys toy shop. Unfortunately we didn’t get our trip over the Thames on the cable car due to high winds. Back at Gilwell after a yummy tea we tackled the high ropes course. On the Sunday morning we invested our newest member, James, at Kings Cross Station. Two of our meetings have been spent fund-raising, with a BBQ stall at the Caistor Christmas lights switch-on and an internationally themed quiz night.

We have also presented 4 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards and 3 Platinum Chief Scout Awards.

Planning is now underway for a Silver D of E expedition by bike, with another group starting their Bronze Award, and a summer camp.

We meet in Caistor on most Friday evenings, 7 to 9pm and have a full programme organised for the coming months.

UK Youth Commissioner Visits Lincolnshire Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Scout Youth Commissioner, Hannah Kentish, visited Sudbrooke Scouts camp on her first visit to Lincolnshire to see what Scouting is offering to local youngsters.

Scouts from across Lincolnshire attended the camp at Sudbrooke at the weekend which was a chance for the young Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders to receive training for their Scout leadership roles - this included a range of activities, from climbing and caving techniques to survival skills. This was the first camp of its kind in the county.

Deputy County Commissioner, Lorraine Noble-Thompson said:

“It is our intention to build on the success of this camp by running similar events throughout all of our sections, including Beavers and Cubs.

“We have a successful Young Leader training programme and it will be a great experience for our Young Leaders running camps like these.

“We are also looking at launching similar events, including a regular ‘competition camp’ that will start in South Holland District later this year and move around the region to different locations on an annual basis.”

The weekend was an opportunity for the Scout’s UK Youth Commissioner, Hannah, 23, to visit the county and speak to the young people of Lincolnshire; she will take their suggestions back to Scout Headquarters in London.

“It’s really exciting to see so many young people in Lincolnshire being given the opportunity to shape their own Scouting experience.” Said Hannah.

“I was a Scout myself from the age of ten, and I got involved in chairing the Youth Forum before working for my own County Team and eventually getting into my role that I am in now, working alongside our young people to lead Scouting in the UK.

“Not only are there over 100 10 to 14 year-olds here at Sudbrooke today developing their skills and becoming fantastic leaders; the whole camp is being run in partnership with the young people.

“I am absolutely blown away by the talented young people here today and their achievements within Lincolnshire Scouts.”

Explorer Scout Jack Leatherland, 14, currently chairs the Lincolnshire County Youth Forum:

“I think it is great that we have been able to meet Hannah this weekend; it has been a good chance for our Scouts to speak to a senior leader in Scouting and have their say on what they want Scouting to be like.

“For me, Scouting is a great opportunity to do things I wouldn’t get to do anywhere else, there’s loads of activities.

“I started in Beavers when I around six years old and have worked my way all the way up to where I am now, making friends every step of the way.”

RYA Assistant Instructors

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Lincolnshire Scouts new Royal Yachting Association Assistant Instructors who qualified this weekend at Lincoln and District Sailing Association.

ACC Activities and Course Leader, Howard Nelson commented that despite the cold conditions, the candidates did very well learning about RYA training methods including land drills. He is looking forward to working with our new Assistant instructors as we grow outdoor activities accross the county as part of our adventure programme.

Basic Expedition Leader (BEL) Course launched by Lincolnshire Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts has launched a Basic Expedition Leader (BEL) Course to help train leaders. The new scout programme aims to have Outdoor & Adventure as 50% of the scout programme and this is one initiative by the County to help achieve this.

Gold D of E Expedition Coldnet (Lincoln Network) / Stamford Explorers

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A joint expedition for Coldnet (Lincoln Network) and Stamford Explorers took place recently with the group successfully completing their expediton challenge for their Gold D of E and Queens Scout Award on the Norfolk Broads.

Braving cold autumnal weather the team sailed and rowed across the Norfolk Broads from Wroxham to Hickling. The team have spent the last year training for the expedition learning a wide range of skills including sailing, camp craft, safety routines, food and cooking and navigation and route planning. The team completed a practice expedition prior to their final expedition over four days where they camped and were self sufficient.

Follow the Japan Jamboree Adventure!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:00:00 GMT

It's less than 5 days until our Lincolnshire unit leave for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan! It's come round quickly and we have some very excited young people!

The 27 Explorers and 9 Senior Section from Midlands Girlguiding are an amazing group of people and it is a pleasure to be taking them to the Jamboree in Japan. Without the support they have been given from groups and districts they would not have raised so much money or being the people they are in Scouting today. This will certainly inspire the next unit for the 2019 Jamboree in the USA.

Anybody in Scouts now will be the right age for the next Jamboree and this could be yet another reason to stay in Scouting to Explorers!

Award winning Lincolnshire Show Team

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Show makers and Show Team attended this years 131st Lincolnshire show to promote Lincolnshire scouts are on an adventure . The objective was to engage with adults and young people over the two days of the show and encourage more adults to become adult leaders of more YP to join.

With the weather perfect for people to venture out to the show over 60,000+ will come through the gates over the two days of the show.

The climbing tower was a real pull and the show makers and climbing team were kept busy all day with YP wanting to take up the tower challenge . We even managed to get one of the Red Arrow leader up the tower to the excitement of Jan.

The Show Team worked very hard before the show in the Build and it sure paid off with all the smart Show Makers on the day as the stand won the Ramsey Cup for the Best None Agricultural stand. Something that we have not even dreamed of and certainly not on our first attendance. All the team were on their best behavior when Lady Sarah McCorquodale, President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society presented a rather nice silver cup on the Thursday morning on the stand.

The Show makers were kept very busy talking to people and completing enquiry forms for both leaders and also leaders,

We are already planning next years show on the 22nd 23rd June and have more people on the committee with some of the Young people show makers joining the board.

See more images here

Lincolnshire Scouts meet Bear Grylls at county adventure day

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

More than 1300 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from Sleaford were among those who met chief scout Bear Grylls at a jam-packed adventure day in Lincolnshire.

Young people from across the county took part in a range of exciting activities including quad biking, archery, climbing, bungee trampolining, and water zorbing.

Bear Grylls, who has recently been re-appointed as Chief Scout, extending his term until 2018, dropped in to the event by helicopter for just under an hour to meet young people, and join in several of the activities.

He said: “I am so proud that the largest youth Movement on the planet has asked me to re-new as their UK Chief Scout. Between now and 2018 I plan to do all that I possibly can to help the Movement to continue to grow, become more reflective of the communities in which it works in and change the lives of even more young people.”

Thomas Watson, an Explorer Scout, was one of the young people escorting Bear around the event. He said: “Bear was brilliant, talking to all the young people and shaking hands all the way round. We got the chance to talk to him about Scouting in Lincolnshire, which was great.”

The adventure day provided activities for Scouts aged from 6-18, and was supported by more than 250 volunteer leaders and activity staff from all over the county.

Bear said thank you to these adult volunteers who help deliver adventure, and called upon more adults to volunteer for Scouting in the future, to help the Movement grow.

In addition to the adventure day, held at Burghley House near Stamford, Bear also visited 150 Scouts taking part in accreditation for water sports instruction at Hykeham Lakes in Lincoln for Weekend On Water (WOW).

See a selection of the photos from the Adventure Day

Cornwell Scout Award Presentation to Richard Sargent

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 16 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

The Chief Scout has presented British Paralympian basketball player and Lincolnshire Scouts Ambassador, Richard Sargent with the highly prestigious Cornwell Scout award at Hykeham Water Sports Centre.

The Cornwell Scout Badge is awarded in respect of pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage and endurance.

It is restricted to Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network Members. Both the bronze badge and the cloth emblem of the same design may be worn.

John 'Jack' Travers Cornwell, a Scout in the St. Mary’s Mission Group, Manor Park, London, entered the Royal Navy in 1915. It was wartime and training was brief, but Jack, helped by his days in Scout ing, was able to adapt quickly.

On 31 May 1916 while serving in HMS Chester, Jack was struck by a shell splinter. Grievously wounded, he stayed at his post awaiting orders until he was relieved at the end of the battle. On reaching port, Jack was transferred to a hospital in Grimsby and three days later he died a national hero.

For gallantry he was given both the Victoria Cross and the highest Scouting award, the Bronze Cross. To commemorate the courage shown by Jack, The Scout Association created ‘The Cornwell Scout Badge’ in his memory.

Lincolnshire Scouts Push the Boat Out with Bear Grylls!

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 15 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls flew into a weekend water activities training camp based at Hykeham Water Activities Centre, Lincoln. The flying visit was part of a Bear in the Air tour of the East Midlands.

Following his arrival by helicopter Bear took to the water in a powerboat along with East Midlands Regional Commissioner Sue Harris and made his way around the water chatting with over 80 Scouts and volunteers taking part in a variety of water activities including dinghy sailing, kayaking and powerboating.

The aim of the event was to help develop skills to allow more adventurous activities to take place in the county by increasing the number of Scouts and volunteers achieving National Governing Body qualifications. It also formed part of the Royal Yachting Association’s national Push the Boat Out initiative, encouraging more people onto the water.

The new skills learnt over the weekend will allow more Scouts to take to the water in the future whilst also providing further opportunities for personal development through instructor qualifications and competitions such as the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship.

After his time on the water Bear presented paralympian basketball player and Lincolnshire Scouts Ambassador Richard Sargent with the Cornwell Scout Award.

See a selection of the photos from WOW

The Viking Explorer Scout Unit – Investitures

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

In February of this year a new Explorer Scout Unit was formed, for young people aged 14 to 18 in the Caistor area. On Friday 17 April at the Oaks Camp Site, Nettleton, the Viking Explorer Scout Unit (Louth District) took a gigantic step forward with their very first Investiture Ceremony. Eight young people from the Caistor and surrounding areas made their Promise, received neckerchiefs and badges signifying their entry into the Worldwide Family of Scouting.

The eight members have been working towards their membership badges since the opening of the Unit, learning about the ethos and history of scouting, as well as taking part in more adventurous activities. Amongst other things, they have already spent nights away camping; hiking in the Lincolnshire Wolds and the Peak District and also assisted at the 1st Grasby Scout Group at their Families Day in March. The Explorers have been extremely busy and have a packed programme ahead of them, including working towards the Chief Scout Awards, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, indoor rock-climbing, raft racing, orienteering and many more activities indoor and out. Indeed the day after Investiture, 4 of the Explorers successfully completed the Wolds Challenge in East Yorkshire, completing the 17 mile course up and down the hills in less than 7 hours.

Two of the Explorers are also going through a rigorous training programme preparing them for this summer’s World Scout Jamboree in Japan. They have both been on training camps each month for the last year in addition to fund-raising for the event.

With the Investiture, The Viking Explorer Scout Unit is now fully formed. Its two leaders, James Barnett and Jan Waite bring a wealth of experience of the Scouting and Duke of Edinburgh’s awards schemes between them.

“The Unit has a great future ahead; the members have some exciting ideas for future activities. They really are a great group of young people and a pleasure to work with. Other members of my family have been involved with scouting for many years, but it is a first for me and I would recommend it to others. ”, said Jan Waite

James added, “The members of the Unit have bonded together quickly and very well. They each have their own individual trait to add to the whole team effort. We have had a lot of fun already and I really pleased to be a part of the Unit. We mustn’t forget, though, the support from the parents for which we are all very grateful and the assistance that the Louth Scouting District has given us in setting up. “

The Unit has places available for any young person between the age of 14 and 17 who would be interested in joining the Viking Explorer Unit. No previous scouting experience is needed. They meet on Friday evenings in and around Caistor.

Stamcamp 2015 - Stamford and Bourne's Annual District Camp

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 01 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Stamford and Bourne District once again held their annual District Camp 'Stamcamp' at Burghley House, Stamford. Activities on offer included the County Climbing Tower along with other activities provided by the County.

Lincolnshire Scouts at National Scout Service and Parade at Windsor Castle

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 23:00:00 GMT

The National Scout Service and Parade took place on 26 April 2015 with strong representation from both Leaders and Queen's Scouts from Lincolnshire.

The event recognises the outstanding achievements of both adults and young people through a parade and service held annually within Windsor Castle by gift of Her Majesty the Queen. The celebrations brought together various groups and their invited guests to share in this prestigious and special event. The day recognised Queen's Scouts, who have worked hard to achieve the highest youth award within Scouting, and Gallantry award holders, who have been nominated for their bravery and heroism. It also celebrates adult award holders, who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to Scouting as a volunteer.

Just after lunch the Quadrangle (a private area, which is a privilege for the Scouts to use) was filled with approximately 2,000 award holders and guests. The Queen's Scouts paraded into the Quadrangle for a review before the parade moved down to St George's Chapel for the National Scout Service. Finally, the Parade moved out of the castle and back to the Royal Mews.

Lincs Scouts Youth Forum welcomes UK Chief Commissioner

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Lincolnshire Scouts Youth Forum welcomes UK Chief Commissioner, Wayne Bulpitt to Bourne.

Hykeham Scouts - awarded £10k from Sport England for new boats

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Two new Laser Bahias for Hykeham Scout group

The 15th Lincoln (North Hykeham) Scouts group will be able to offer even more and better opportunities to get local youngsters out on the water next summer after being handed a £10,000 funding boost by Sport England.

Thanks to the grant, the Scouts have two brand new state-of-the-art Laser Bahia dinghies to offer a stable teaching platform with the potential to stretch the Scouts as their abilities improve.

Sailing is a major part of the Scouts’ outdoor activities programme, providing not only the opportunity to get out on the water, but gain RYA qualifications, develop their racing skills as members of local clubs and even become instructors themselves if they wish.

But for the past couple of years the group has been restricted in the number of people who could sail at any one time due a very tired dinghy fleet. Now the future looks bright as the new Bahias mean up to 10 more people can sail at the same time.

The Scouts’ grant application was supported by Howard Nelson, ACC Activities. Howard said: “For people to stay in any sport they have to enjoy taking part. People are more likely to enjoy themselves if organisations have first-class equipment. These new boats are an exciting addition to the Scouts’ training fleet and will hopefully play a big part in turning more people into regular sailors.”

The Gold Awards Lincoln District

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

SCOUTS GOLD AWARDS, Lincoln Cathedral, Chapter house, Monday 5th January 2015.
On a cold winter’s night stood at the west front of the Cathedral you might have thought people were getting ready for St Georges Day Parade rehearsal, as Scouts stood in uniform without coats they are so well trained, no one said” no coats” but they knew to be smart.
John Campbell from the Cathedral came out to greet the Scouts and parents, as with St Georges Day he opened the big west doors to let everyone in, mind the step, mind the step was said so many times and still someone missed the step (no injuries) just that embraced look and we all know that feeling.
Entering the Cathedral I was amazed there was no chairs set out it is then that you realise just how big a space there is.
John spoke to all the Scouts their parents and leaders, he said what a great achievement to get their gold awards and the hard work that goes into gaining the badge, he then introduced 2 of the Cathedral guides, everyone was split into 3 groups, we then went off in different direction for a short guided tour, I heard several people say I have been in here so many times but have learned so much about the building and its history, I would advise anyone to go on a guided tour of the Cathedral you may be amazed, this was my 3rd guided tour and I learnt something again, there was lots of humour in the talk which makes it even more interesting, if you see John ask him about Durham Cathedral.
Following the tour we were taken to the Chapter House for the presentation it was lovely and warm in there, our County Commissioner was introduced by Chris ADC scouts Robin the CC spoke of how they can now move on in their scouting and if they want to go for their Duke of Edinburgh awards and the Queen’s Scout award all of this would help them in the future, he said to gain your gold award was an amazing achievement they were a credit to Scouting and their parents.
It was lovely to see all these young people some have come all the way through from Beavers, I am sure they look back over the years in scouting and can tale many tales of fun, laughter and many achievements along the way, they all seem very confident young people which is what Scouting hopes our young people gain from all the different activities they take part in, allowing a young person to develop to their full potential is one of our main objectives, all these young people are truly a credit to themselves, their leaders and parents and I am sure the parents watching felt very proud of their children, we always say each top award for each section is the best they can do for that section on this occasion the best scouts on the day.
I hope in the future they will gain even higher awards and fingers crossed become leaders and use the knowledge and skills to help other young people achieve their full potential, and take their skills into adulthood in their chosen jobs.
Bravo to you all from everyone in Lincoln District
Sandra Donnor ADC Beavers.

Wintercamp 2015

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Local Scouts met up with 3,000 others from across the UK to welcome in a new year of adventure whilst camping at Gilwell Park in North East London, the home of Scouting and outdoor adventure.

The annual Winter Camp in January provides the opportunity for Scouts to take part in over seventy different adventurous and fun activities ranging from abseiling to Zorbing. The boys and girls, aged between 10-18, along with nearly 1,000 adult Leaders, enjoyed the experience of sleeping in tents for two nights, cooking on open fires and enjoying a packed programme led by a team of 200 adult volunteers.

Whilst this event was taking place at Gilwell Park, at the other end of the UK, Hawkhirst Scout Activity Centre in Northumberland was hosting a similar event for the first time for 500 Scouts and nearly 200 adult Leaders. Hawkhirst is one of nine Scout Activity Centres across the UK and is known for its location set in the heart of Kielder Forest on the edge of Kielder Water.

Jacob from Grantham said “I love camping in any weather, so this weekend has been great; Winter Camp is so much fun, and I’ve enjoyed trying new things like climbing the monkey tree.”

Youth Forum - January 2015

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Thank you to all who attended and supported the Forum today. We had a really productive meeting discussing a range of topics and completing our video project (results to follow soon...)

Our next forum will be in March and includes a visit from UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt.

Rachel Nelson
(Chair)

Young commissioner's praise after 'incredible' year of awards for Gainsborough Explorer Scouts

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A young Lincolnshire Scout leader honoured for his dedication to the movement has praised his own teenage troop for their outstanding achievements over the past 12 months.

William Baldock spoke out at the end of 2013 after his Gainsborough Explorer Scouts won a total of eight Queen's Scout Awards and nine Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards.

"This has been an incredible year, both individually and as part of the drive to encourage the Scout Association’s 2018 Vision giving reason to celebrate," said 23-year-old Mr Baldock, who is also the Gainsborough District Explorer Scout Commissioner.

He was presented with a Commissioner’s Commendation Award for services to Scouting in Gainsborough and Lincolnshire

It recognised involvement in developing Explorer Scouting in Gainsborough and supporting the Lincolnshire County Youth Forum.

"Young people are now shaping the programme and decisions, helping the district to fulfil the 2018 Vision.

"And as we continue to grow we are looking to expand our leadership team to allow more young people to benefit from the fun, adventure and challenges that Scouting provides."

D of E Supervisors Course at Stamford

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

20 adult leaders attended the D of E Supervisors course at Stamford in January. The course covered the key elements of how to be an effective Duke of Edinburgh Award Supervisor.

Michelle Nelson, the recently appointed County D of E Advisor thanked the participants for giving up their time and also for all the work they do for the young people who take part in D of E in Lincolnshire. Michelle also congratulated Meghan Bird from Stamford and Bourne Network who was awarded her Explorer Belt from Deputy County Commissioner, Lorraine Noble-Thompson.

Thurlby a la France

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 23:00:00 GMT

At 6.30am on what was a very wet Monday (25th August) - 41 young people and 7 leaders made their way from Thurlby to Ardres, France.

We arrived at our Acorn Adventure camp at around 1.45pm local time and we were met on the bus by a very loud member of their entertainment team…..

We were that tired from travelling that I think nearly everyone on the bus panicked!! We had had a long journey but thankfully one that was very uneventful!

With no time to rest, the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers were divided into their groups for the activity, which was a wet obstacle course, helped on of course by the weather. The kids loved it but it meant for us a very long, damp day and night trying to get their clothes and trainers dried!

The rest of the evening went without a hitch and everyone was soon ready for bed.

Tuesday came and so did more rain but this did not stop the enthusiasm from everyone. The Groups headed off to their various morning activities, consisting of wall climbing, nightline, fencing and archery. In the afternoon, we ventured off to the Viking Museum, which was very amusing seeing some of the kids dressing up and trying to fight each other (Viking style of course)

Back to camp and on then after tea for a town trail. Still more rain and more damp feet and clothes, but the fun continued.

Wednesday was brighter, so out went the clothes line! After breakfast, off the groups went for another morning of adventurous activities, this time

canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and raft building. Followed by a wonderful trip to the chocolate factory – I think everyone wanted to dive into the buckets of chocolate.

Wednesday night was campfire night. There were many stories told and songs sang not just by our members but the entertainment team made quite a few up of their own!

On to Thursday and our last day. Still quite dry so more clothes lines for us! The kids went on to their activities and even paddled (all of them) across the lake to get an ice cream.

We finished the evening off on Thursday with a huge game of hide and seek, although I had been forgotten as I was hiding up a tree!! (Thanks James Helliwell) Bags packed and lots of excited children went happily off to their beds.

I don’t know what happened to Friday – we got up way too early, had breakfast and before we knew it we were at passport control on the Eurotunnel. Lunch stop at Stansted Services and made it back home by 3pm. It was great fun for all concerned and would recommend taking your pack/troop on an adventure like we did!

Nicola and I cannot thank all the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers who attended for being so well behaved and represented our Group and Scouting in general exceptionally well. We would also like to thank the Parents for entrusting their children in our care, whilst traveling abroad and finally to the leaders who came with us. Together we made a fab team.

Lincoln District Beaver Camp

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:00:00 GMT

After a great success at last years camp we decided to do it all again this year, at the last minute we had to change things around, the intention was to do the faith partnership award while at camp but we were let down with just a month to go, so myself and my district leaders had a very productive meeting where we came up with activities that could be used against badge work to help those who struggle with some parts of the badges.

I was contacted by the beaver leader from Metheringham which is Sleaford District asking would it be possible to join our camp, providing I had room not a problem very happy to share our camp with them and they came along to the pre meetings and were very happy with everything that was planned and the price which was brilliant.

The logistics and pre planning that goes on you can only know if you have planned such a camp before, hours of paper work, going to Sudbrooke on various nights to see where each colony would camp, where each activity would go, on the Wednesday evening marking sites off, shopping for all the things required, liaising with Matthew to get the marquee and up to site, getting SASU to help run some activities.

Its is all worth every minute when the Friday evening arrives and you feel the excitement in the air, the anticipation of the leaders, those who have not camped with Beavers before or have new Beavers, will they like it, will they sleep, will they be ok in the night, so many concerns, then the buzz on Saturday as everyone starts to arrive, Beavers so excited you could feel the excitement.

To those who doubt if Beavers can camp the answer is a very big yes they can and they love it, they get so much from being at a large campsite that is not too big but just big enough that they feel free to run and roam around, the activities went very well, they slept well and were asking when are we doing it again, so many Beaver said thank you Nanna Badger that meant so much to me as they hadn’t been prompted, one Beaver even said when I grow up I will be a leader and come and help you bless him don’t think I will be doing it then but would be great if he did go on to be a
leader.

At the de-brief a few things was raised but most were things I had already said need a tweak, but the main feeling was it was a great success again, our friends from Metheringham were very impressed and said they would join us again anytime and thanked the Lincoln leaders for making them feel so welcome.

Many thanks to all who helped make this the great camp it turned out to be.

Nanna Badger (Sandra ADC Beavers)

Volunteering! - Bucket Loads of Adventure

richard@me.ms (Richard Harvey) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 23:00:00 GMT

A group of young Scout leaders have teamed up to organise a combination of water and land-based activities to highlight the need for more adult volunteers.

The Gainsborough area team of three took a group of 20 teenage boy and girl Scouts to the Girton Sailing Club near Newark.

Activities on offer included dinghy sailing, kayaking, open canoeing, power boating, archery, Scout skills and hiking.

Part of the drive to encourage the Scout Association’s 2018 Vision, young Scout Leaders Adam Middleton, 27, from 6th Gainsborough Sea Scouts, William Baldock, 23, from 14th Gainsborough Scout Group and Daniel Price, 26, of 1st Willingham Scout Group worked together to run the camp.

It followed their decision earlier this year to step up to lead the planning of the year's water activities programme and new adventurous activities for young people in the Gainsborough district.

And it was an introduction to courses run by both the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the British Canoe Union (BCU).

But more volunteers are needed across the county to run the Scout programme in Lincolnshire.

Fourteen-year-old Scout Jack Bradley said: "This is one of the best camps we have ever had.

"Whilst developing our own skills on the water to the next level, the trust our leaders have in us has allowed us to help develop the younger Scouts, both on and off the water."

Lincolnshire Scouts' county commissioner Robin Wright said: "It's fantastic to see young Scout leaders working together to organise and deliver opportunities for young people to experience adventurous activities.

"The Scout Association’s adult training scheme is nationally recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management."