Diary Dates

Training Dates

Training

You can obtain the Module syllabus, cost and application forms for the above courses from your Local Training Manager, except Module 12 for Explorer Leaders which is via Joan Condon. Any queries to Brian Beckley.
Link: List of Training Modules

First Aid Courses for Leaders - Erica Bishop

"This is just a quick note to remind Scouters that first aid is part of the training programme to keep your warrants up to date, however it is also a reminder that I am not the only trainer around and you should not wait around for my availability.

I am based at a watersports centre and we are just starting on our busiest 6 months of the year. This means that I am unavailable to run either evening or weekend courses until October at the earliest. I also want to remind people that 99% of people say they are unable to do a course during working hours have not asked to see if it is a possibility. This is usually because they fear the worst-case scenario that their boss will let them take it as a holiday day and not as part of their job. In the majority of cases this is not true, employers are keen to have people trained in first aid, and often will pay for you to do it, but you need to ask.
I will still be running a handful of 9.00-5.00p.m. weekday courses during the early part of the summer term if people are available, however if you need to do the course and I am not able to do it, please do not put your warrant on hold, contact another provider. Both the British Red Cross and St. John's Ambulance are regularly running courses, and their numbers are in the local phone books. FAST is also a training organisation who are willing to set up courses for your own groups, their contact number is 0845 644 5154.
I hope this is of some assistance for those leaders still struggling to get themselves qualified."

Iceni Explorer Unit

Please ensure that all correspondence regarding the Iceni Explorer Unit goes to Allen Worley.
Thanks go to Justine Bixby who started the Unit at a time when Explorer Scouting was new, but she has now moved on and is working with a Scout Troop near her home.  Allen has been running the Unit for some months but still is not receiving correspondence direct!

Census

Chocolate Appreciation Experience
The Iceni explorer Unit are running a fund raising evening in association with Le Chocolatier on Saturday 14th May. Full details are here.

Adventure Day - April 10th at Frylands Wood open to all cubs over 9 years old. Don't forget money for the day should be with Michèle by April 1st, cheques to be made payable to Wimbledon & Wandle District Cub Account. £11 per cub.

Football - 7-aside football competition has been arranged for May 15th at Raynes Park High School, full details will be issued shortly. However please note that we will need to know who is entering teams by 30th April and all money will have to be paid by May 4th which is the date of the next CSL meeting.

CSL Meeting - Please note this has changed to May 4th from May 11th as it now clashes with the District AGM

Our March Troop Scouters' Meeting agreed that some sort of event for the older Scouts would be a good idea but would need to be better defined before it could be put to the Scouts to gauge their level of interest. Tim, Andy & myself will put together a proposed programme and will be looking for support from the Troop leaders to run activities across a weekend. An activities weekend was considered preferable to a more formal training event.

A suggestion has been put forward that the Section should have a scheme running each year to recognise the Troop that takes a full & successful part in District & County activities as had been in operation in Wimbledon in the past. There was some support for the idea, a little feeling that we should not do it with the majority not too bothered either way. Dick Hooper & myself will review what was done in the past to identify whether a new scheme could be designed that recognised participation and effort alongside competitive results,

This year's Patrol Camping Weekend will be run with no amendments to the rules and scoring used last year. I will distribute the pack of information shortly so that preparations can begin in the Troops for the event on 11th & 12th June at Bears Wood.

Our next meeting is not until after the camping weekend so please contact me if you have any questions about it.

It is business as usual in the Explorer Section. Several spring activities have been based around fund-raising for several projects from various Units. Preparations are also underway for award hikes after Easter. Service work has also been happening with Units helping Troops and Packs at various camps.

Plans are well advanced for the usual variety of summer expeditions. The Iceni Unit are off to Kandersteg. The Mitcham Unit are going to either the Lake District or Broadstone Warren. The Merton Park Unit are off to Kenya to continue their superb work to bring water to a Clinic and Maternity complex built on previous trips. The Raynes Park Unit are going to the New Forest and the Wimbledon (Edge Hill) Unit are going to Poole Harbour.

Several other District activities are being discussed for later in the year.

The Census produced an increase in Network membership for the second consecutive year, this time by over 7%, and fairly evenly distributed across the County. However, there remain a significant number of individuals who, for one reason or another, have not registered or renewed their membership. In effect this means that Scout membership has lapsed, and can only be reinstated by payment of the annual subscription (£22).

During February and March Network members donned walking boots for the Southern 50 Challenge, Operation Red Flare, and a weekend experiencing snow and ice conditions in North Wales. Such activities provide good practice for Queen's Scout and Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions, and it is timely that 2 groups will be undertaking 50-mile hikes in the Yorkshire Dales at Easter. We are offering a further Award opportunity in the Lake District at the end of August, and details plus online booking form can be found on the County website.

Looking ahead the Network Conference will be held at Wilberforce Scout Centre near Biggin Hill on 9 April, and everyone in the section is encouraged to attend. On May 7/8 we are organising another 'Mystery Investiture' while two weeks later we shall be at Staines Rugby Club for the Network Sevens. On July 14 we have been asked to steward the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, and volunteers who must be over 18, should contact me quickly if they wish to be considered.

At the end of July a party of 30 Network members and Leaders, drawn from every part of GLSW, travels to Sweden for 'Edda', an International Camp attended by 3,000 Scouts. The GLSW Scout Network will be a valuable part of the staff team supervising activities as well as undertaking the more menial tasks no doubt. Before the Camp the group will spend 4 days log-rafting on one of the rivers which flow into Lake Vanern.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that the County is mounting an Explorer Belt Expedition to Lithuania in July/August 2006. All Explorer Scouts aged 16 and over, plus Scout Network members, are eligible to take element, and further information and an application form will be available in the near future.

Annual General Meeting, 13th March.
For the members who could not make it you will be interested to learn that our new Chairman is Robert (Rob) Brumwell and Stan Nelson is our Vice Chairman.  We wish them the best of luck in their new posts.  If you know of anyone who would like to join the Fellowship please ask them to contact David Gould.  Any members owing subs, please contact Bill Waldon.  Our thanks to Jean Gould for providing our refreshments on the evening.

Forthcoming Events:

Sunday, 10th April - Spring Hike.  This will, hopefully, take the form of an easy, leisurely ramble, to break us in gently!  More details from David.

Wednesday, 20th April - Beetle Drive & Fish 'n Chip Supper - Please let Jean Gould know if you are able to attend, together with your fish order, by Friday 15th April.

St George's Day

The details were published last month and can be viewed here.  We hope to see the whole of the District at the War Memorial on Wimbledon Common at 10am on Sunday 24th April.