NEWSLETTER No 79 issued November 2010 - 16-11-2010NEWSLETTER No 79 issued November 2010 All references to GSL’s includes Group Scout Leaders, Leaders-in-charge and District Explorer Scout Commissioners. NOTES FROM THE DEVELOPMENT MEETING Thank you to everyone who attended the Development Evening on 2 November 2010 and a special Thank you to those who expressed their interest in helping to develop Scouting. Please circulate these notes of the meeting as widely as possible as we need feedback from all section leaders. The formation of an Active Support Unit in Burnley and Pendle Depending on support, we hope to establish an Active Support Unit to continue the support given by the Scout Fellowships. All adults with a little time to spare are invited to join this unit and occasionally help their fellow leaders at District camps and activities or if they need help in their meeting place in a flexible way that suits them. The Fellowships enjoyed an active social diary and it is hoped that this will continue. What is an Active Support Unit Purpose: It is a way for adults to volunteer some time to Scouting in a flexible way. It is a resource for leaders i.e. Groups, Districts etc. It is led by Manager who must be a Wood Badge holder or be willing to train. The Manager may appoint an Administrator It would meet as often as necessary but communicate mainly by email. It could also meet socially. Fact: All current SF appointments cease on 31 December 2010. It is an opportunity to build on previous success of Scout Fellowship in Burnley and Pendle. It needs the willingness and enthusiasm of leaders to give occasional help to another section. Fact: It is already happening. Thank you to those leaders who have already enjoyed helped in this way. Action: We need to invite those who are interested to confirm their wish to be included by completing an Adult Appointment Application Form, even if you hold another appointment. If you are interested in joining the Active Support Unit, please let me know before 30 November 2010. Consolidation of smaller Scout Groups All Scout Groups need to offer an attractive programme and smaller groups are likely to benefit by being part of, or working with, a larger unit. Following the huge success of the Centenary which had a positive impact on Scouting, there is a real possibility that some leaders may now feel content with the progress or lack of progress of their Group or Section. Are you content to carry on as usual with the usual programme and activities? · We have Groups with enthusiastic leaders who are currently experiencing low numbers, sometimes in single figures. · We have a number of Groups who do not offer Scouting across all the age ranges. It is those Groups who may need help and support. I need to know how you feel. 1. Would you benefit by working with another section and sharing your resources? 2. Would you consider moving to another meeting place? 3. If you consider that your Group is thriving, would you be happy to share your resources with another Group i.e. lending a leader once a month, holding a joint activity or camp? I do not intend to come along and close your Group or move its meeting place. That would only be done as a last resort after every avenue had been explored and every option pursued. Every Section Leader is responsible for the development of their section and needs to discuss this with their Group Scout Leader or leader-in-charge. I would like every Scout Group and Explorer Unit to discuss and draw up a simple Development Plan (or list of the issues that concern them) and send this to me before 31 December 2010. Please include your answers to the questions numbered 1 to 3 above. All suggestions will be welcomed and considered with due sensitivity. Appointment Reviews All GSL’s and leaders-in-charge are required undertake Appointment Reviews in accordance with POR with their leaders and assistants. However, we must apologise to Burnley leaders as, due to a number of other issues, we are somewhat late in sending details to GSL’s of appointments that are due to reviewed during 2010. Secondly, apologies are also due to Pendle District as it appears that the Appointments Review procedure may not have been fully introduced so we will have to bring appointments up to date as soon as possible. Thirdly, please be assured that the purpose of the Review process is to support leaders. Full details may be found at scouts.org.uk but I will summarise the key points. A review in Scouting is simply an opportunity to look at what has happened since someone started their role, or since their last review, and to see what further support and guidance they might need. It is also an opportunity to say “Thank You” and give members of your team, your undivided and uninterrupted attention. The benefits are that the leadership team is more motivated, and the leader knows more about how the individuals in the team feel and their views on the future. It helps us in making sure that people are in the right roles, both for themselves and for Scouting, leading to happier leaders and so better Scouting delivered for our young people to enjoy. THE REVIEW PROCESS The District Appointments Secretary will inform GSL’s of the Appointments that need to be reviewed. A review takes place at the end of an appointment, usually after 5 years, and an agreement is made over whether the individual’s appointment should be renewed, whether they should take on a different role, or whether they will retire. The review consists of a relaxed meeting with the adult involved to discuss how the last year or so in Scouting has gone for them, their thoughts for the future and what help they need. The Review Process has been made a little easier by the introduction of a simple form for use by the Group Scout Leader or leader-in-charge. It includes the following suggested questions: What has gone well since the last review? What was most enjoyable? Have any plans not been completed? What additional support would help them? The GSL will need to record the following information: First Aid Certificate - date of expiry (This needs to valid) Approved Safeguarding training – date of completion (This needs to have been completed since the last review) On-going Learning. Record the Number of hours undertaken since last review. Valid CRB disclosure – date of expiry (This also needs to have been done quite recently) The Recommendation On completion of the Review and in agreement with the leader, the GSL will make a Recommendation to the Appointments Advisory Committee (1 of 3 options, which are) Renewal of current appointment Reassignment to another role – This will require starting the New Appointment process. Retirement This is then passed to the Appointments Secretary for approval by the Appointment sub-Committee so that the appointment may extended or changed. Needless to say, it is essential that the appropriate training has been completed with the agreed time limit, which is now within 3 years of appointment. Members will be aware of their review date which is shown on the plastic Membership Card. If the date has passed or if it is due soon, it is important to make sure that the requirements described will have been completed within the next few months. Similarly, if parts of the Adult Training Programme have not been completed, it is important to make arrangements to do this within 3 years of appointment. Failure to complete the training within the time agreed, may be deemed to indicate that a leader does NOT intend to fulfil their agreed training obligations and consequently does NOT wish to continue in their current appointment. I will be working with the Appointments Secretaries to identify leaders whose appointments are due or overdue for review so that the necessary meetings can be arranged. If any GSL need support in holding review meetings, I will be happy to assist. Safeguarding As mentioned in my previous Newsletter, Policy, Organisation and Rules introduced a new requirement for adults to have undertaken approved safeguarding training at the point that their review is undertaken. This will ensure that we can keep people up-to-date on this essential area of work with all adults in Scouting receiving this training at least every five years. The dates of the forthcoming modules in 2011 at Bowley and Burnley/Pendle will be announced shortly. Adult Training Programme – The Wood Badge All Leaders and assistants are respectfully reminded that they have agreed to complete the obligatory training required for their respective role in Scouting. Some leaders have a number of modules outstanding and further support is now available from Michelle Iddon and Peter Shorrock, our Local Training Managers. (GSL’s and leaders in charge have been sent a list of leaders and their training requirements. Information was taken from the HQ Member’s Database and may not include all completed modules. If there appears to be a discrepancy, please produce a record of when modules were completed and inform Michelle or Peter so that records can be corrected.) The Training Programme for 2011 will be available soon at www.eastlancashirescouts.org.uk DISTRICT DIARIES DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES Pendle: Monday 22 November 2010 at St Thomas’s at 2000 hrs Burnley: Thursday 25 November at St Cuthbert’s at 2000 hrs ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS All Groups will be aware that the Annual Membership Subscriptions will be due at the end of January 2011. The actual amounts have to be agreed by the District Executives but it is prudent to expect a small increase on the cost in 2010. Details will be circulated when they have been agreed. COUNTY DIARY URGENT! East Lancashire County Swimming Gala – Friday 26 November 2010 at Darwen Leisure Centre commencing 1900 hrs Please will ADC’s and the DESC forward their entry details direct to Michael.grime@darwen-scouts.org.uk no later than Sunday 21 November 2010, but please let me have a copy too. In the absence of an ADC (Scouts) for Burnley, please will Scout Leaders let me know if they have any good swimmers for Breaststroke and Freestsyle. Preferably with their best 50m timings. I have a good Scout backstroke swimmer but if you have one too, please let me have their best timings. If any leader would like to co-ordinate Burnley’s Scout team, please let me know. I need all the details not later than Sunday 21 November, please. If anyone experiences any problems, please let me know. Thank you for your help. For details of other County events, including The Christmas Experience and the Chief Scouts Award and Queens Scout Award Presentations, please visit www.eastlancashirescouts.org.uk HEADQUARTER’S EVENTS FOR GSL’s & ADC’s - SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2011 Please note that I misunderstood the information on the Headquarter’s website, which I repeated in my previous Newsletter. The event for GSL’s and ADC’s is on Saturday 5 February 2011 at Ribby Hall and attendance is recommended. The event on Sunday 6 February 2011 is for Assistant County Commissioners, NOT Assistant District Commissioner or GSL’s. Spaces for Saturday 5 February 2011 are limited, so please book your place on line at www.scouts.org.uk COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS! If you receive regular emails from Headquarters and also from East Lancashire County Scouts, read no further! If you don’t receive this regular information, please check your personal details on the HQ Members database. If you experience problems in doing this, please contact Neville Graham for Burnley (Tel: 453593) or Les Ridings for Pendle (Tel: 695927) You can also check that your Appointment is correct too! You can also send your email address to the County Office countyoffice@eastlancashirescouts.org.uk to ensure that you receive the latest information direct from our County Team. Finally, as I am unable to email every member of every group, please circulate this information as widely as possible. Let us try to keep everyone informed of current events and procedures. Thank you for your help. more news articles... | Events: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE FINAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS OF BURNLEY DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL AND PENDLE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL ... News: SIMON IS THE NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONER SIMON IS THE NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONER At the Special General Meeting of both Burnley and Pendle District Scout Councils tonight, Glen Fendall... |
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