Berkshire Scouts in the News

Berkshire Scouts Celebrate Another Great Year of Scouting

Representatives of the communities which Scouting serves across Berkshire were amongst the 150+ which packed the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre of Monday 21 July for a Celebration of Scouting and the Annual General Meeting of the Berkshire County Scout Council.

The photo shows Harriet Riley, the Local Development Officer for Berkshire Scouts talking to the participants about the development projects she is involved with including the Oxford Road Project and the Lower Earley Project.

Photo: Mick Stocks

Reading Scout receives award for Meritorius Conduct

Ben Shellard of 1st Reading YMCA Scouts was presented with the Chief Scouts Commendation for Meritorious Conduct by Mick Stocks, Deputy County Commissioner at the Annual General Meeting of Reading Central District Scout Council.  The citation reads

'In recognition of his quick thinking when he woke up to find a room full of smoke whilst at Scout Camp in a log cabin. His calm and positive action to alert the adults and the young people of imminent danger is an inspiration to all in Scouting' 

Congratulations to everyone in Berkshire - Census numbers up again

The fabulous outcome of the Centenary Year is that there are now even more young people across Berkshire enjoying the great adventure of Scouting.  The 2008 census shows that the number of young people aged 6 to 18 is up in 10 Districts with numbers more or less the same in the other District.  Overall numbers are up by 3% giving a total number of young people of 6,304 together with 1443 Adult Volunteers. That is a grand total of  7747.

Across the complete membership there is an increase of 10% in the female members.

Explore Scouts are up by 9% across Berkshire and now young women form 26% of the membership.   There are now 146 Explorer Scouts who have chosen to become Young Leaders.

Congratulations to everyone involved in Scouting in Berkshire. You have all contributed to this fabulous outcome - of course there will even more young people enjoying Scouting in 2009! 

 A special mention to the 1st Burghfield and Sulhamstead, 1st Finchamstead, 1st Easthampstead, 1st Binfield, 2nd Cippenham, 3rd Upton, 1st Wash Common, 2nd Bracknell and 7th Windsor Groups who all increased their membership by over 20 members in the last year, one by a whopping 60!

Help the YES Project

No one can have failed to have read about and not be horrified by the terrible violence and bloodshed in Kenya following the disputed Presidential elections. The YES 2008 Expedition was planned for July of this year, including help with the building of the community centre for the Youth Education Support project in Nairobi. We have had an e-mail from Paul Kabao, director of YES, who tells us that in Nairobi at present everyone is forced to stay indoors as there is inter-estate conflict with ethnic violence on a very large scale.  We are now considering whether we should postpone the expedition until 2009 or whether, if the country returns to normal quickly, our help would be even more welcome this year.

In the meantime we can only ask what we can do to help in the longer term. What is obvious is that the work of YES is going to be more vital than ever. The YES Project takes children orphaned by HIV/AIDS off the streets and finds accommodation, clothing, food and schooling. They are also recruited into the YES Orphans Scout Group, registered with the Kenya Scouts Association. It is obvious that there will be a greater need for their services with more children orphaned as a result of the bloodshed.

We are launching an urgent appeal for funds, so that as soon as the violence devastating the country has died down, YES can continue its work and bring some sense of normal life to as many orphans in Kenya as it can. We believe these children who have suffered horrific trauma through no fault of their own, deserve our support. We hope that you will share our sentiments and feel able to make a donation to improve the tragic lives of these children in an already impoverished country. You can send your donation to Berkshire Scout Enterprises, where we are able to transfer funds directly to the YES Project as soon as they are able to start functioning again. Where applicable we can also claim Gift Aid, increasing donations by 28%. Flyer and donation form

Launch of New Development Programme for Berkshire Scouts in the Centenary Year of Scouting

Hamish Stout, County Commissioner Berkshire Scouts (left), and Alan Beavis, Chief Executive of BSEL (right), sign a partnership agreement to work together to develop Scouting across Berkshire.

Hamish Stout said “BSEL have a tremendous record of achievement in the community and we look forward to working with them in taking Scouting to new communities and new places across Berkshire.”

Alan Beavis said “BSEL has supported Scouting both locally and internationally over the last twenty years and we are very pleased to be launching this project with Berkshire Scouts in this Centenary Year”.

Berkshire Scouts Launch a £138,000 Development Project with part-funding from the Development Grants Board of The Scout Association and the support of Berkshire Scout Enterprises Ltd to support the employment of a full-time Local Development Officer for a three year period. more

The Berkshire Scouts Development Project focuses on three objectives: (i) to develop further the provision of accessible Scouting to all areas of Berkshire; (ii) to continue to build a youth and adult membership which is more representative of the diversity across Berkshire and (iii) to develop effective outreach programmes in areas of greatest need.

Geoff Mitchell, Deputy County Commissioner for Development said “We simply want to bring the magic of Scouting to even more young people in Berkshire – it is a great start to the second hundred years of Scouting”. more

Opportunity in Taceham Hundred District

The District Commissioner for Taceham Hundred, Pete Kearley, has indicated that he proposes to retire with effect from 1st April 2008 and the process of finding a successor needs to begin. This is a very open process. The County Commissioner has asked me to lead a small search group that can identify and submit to him our recommendations for consideration as a successor. I now invite you personally to contribute to the search by nominating people whom you feel should be considered for this important appointment. Nominations should be submitted on the enclosed form to me by Friday 18th January 2008. Nigel Coopey District Chairman - click here for the full letter and nomination form from Nigel.

Opportunity in Maidenhead District

The District Commissioner for Maidenhead, Ray Tucker, has indicated that he proposes to retire with effect from 22nd May 2008 and the process of finding a successor needs to begin. To help identify recommendations for a successor the County Commissioner has asked me to lead a small group to identify and submit to him our nomination (or nominations) of persons who we feel should be considered for this important appointment Nominations should be submitted, either using the enclosed form or by letter, in an envelope marked ‘Personal and Confidential-District Commissioner Nomination’ to:- Dave Chesterman 5, Belmont Crescent Maidenhead Berks SL6 6LS Nominations should be received on or before Sunday 27th January 2008 -  Dave Chesterman District Chairman - click here for the full letter and nominaton form from Dave.

 

Mick Stocks MBE at the Palace

 

Mick Stocks, Deputy County Commissioner, attended Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE from the Queen. Mick was awarded  an MBE for Services to Young People in the Queen's Birthday Honours June 2007. The Photo (taken by Nigel Stocks) shows Mick at the Palace with his wife Pat. Mick said "It was a truly great and memorable day. The Queen asked about my Scouting in Berkshire and the Jamboree!"

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