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COVID-19 News Bulletin #14 - 10th September 2020
I hope you have had a great summer and it’s now an exciting time for us to get back to some face to face Scouting. We are now at a stage where groups and sections in Suffolk are again able to start meeting. Whilst scouting might look a little different from what we were doing 6 months ago, there are lots of activities that we can enjoy. With your enthusiasm and ingenuity, interesting and fulfilling programmes can be created.
Don’t forget you can follow our news and ideas at https://www.suffolkscouts.org.uk/coronovirus as well as a jam packed UK Scouts website full of useful programme ideas for face to face as well as continued Scouting at home. Links for each section below.
· Beavers
· Cubs
· Scouts
· Network
The situation with Covid19 continues to change so do keep up to date with national events on The Scouts website here.
Latest Updates
Despite the recent change this week to social gathering restrictions in England, the government has confirmed that youth sector activity can continue unchanged (under the Amber readiness rules). Groups and sections must follow the restart guidance which is in line with COVID secure and National Youth Agency standards.
COVID-19 News Bulletin #13 - 26th August 2020
Thank you for all the work you are doing to support the return to scouting in Suffolk. This is a critical time to engage is communication with parents and young people in order to encourage their enthusiasm to return to a form of scouting this initially will look quite different from the way we were scouting at the beginning of the year.
Don’t forget you can follow our news and ideas at https://www.suffolkscouts.org.uk/coronovirus. All content we post will be based on UK Government and The Scout Association guidelines.
Keeping Everyone Safe
Whilst you may find that the task of consultation with parents and other leaders tiresome, the aim of this exercise and the resultant risk assessment is to keep everyone safe. We want to maximise safety for all of our young people and our leaders. Please feel free to contact your district for support if you need some help with the process. There are guidelines and FAQs on both the Suffolk Scouts website here, and from headquarters here.
Potential Amendments to Guidance for Amber State of Readiness
Like other organisations, Scouting is responding to the ever-evolving Covid-19 controls imposed by the UK Government. Headquarters are working on a number of changes that may be allowed within the Amber state of readiness. You can read more about the potential changes on the Scout website here.
Please remember these are currently only plans at present and not yet confirmed as definitive advice.
East of England Summer Challenge 2 & Competition
The East of England scouting team from across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk along with other superb volunteers,has created a Summer Challenge to bring daily amazing activities and challenges for young people over the summer holiday period... and you don't have to be in scouting to take part.... just join in the fun.
You can find out more by clicking on the logo (left) which takes you to the Facebook page where there is more information and some feedback from those who have already taken part in the activities that started on Monday (17th).
The young people from these counties can sign up (requires parent/guardian approval) using the link below.
Registration Form for Beavers, Cubs & Scouts
Other forms for scouting members not in these counties and also non-scouting members are available also via the Facebook page.(click on logo)
One of the team gave an interview on BBC Radio Suffolk (19th August) to explain a little more about what's happening and how it started up. You can catch it via the following link - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08mm7gp where it is 20:30 into the programme.
There's a FREE competition to win a prize if you register for the east of England summer challenge by Friday 28th August - Facebook - Competition Link
Strengthening the Suffolk Team
I am pleased to announce some new members to the County and District Teams following successful County Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC) interviews.
Richard Beeby – ACC Network
I would like to thank Matt Gilbert for an excellent job he did running Suffolk Scout Network which now has over 230 members. Matt will continue to lead on Duke of Edinburgh and Top Awards as well as running Needham Market as their GSL. Richard Beeby has been leading the Orwell Inferno Network that has grown to 57 members. Richard has been involved in Scouts since joining cubs at 8 with the 31st/9th Ipswich and working his way through including Beaver leader. During that time, he’s also gained experience on a great number of adventures including 2011 World Scout Jamboree and completed his Explorer Belt in South Africa/Lesotho. He has also attended 5 International Jamborees as staff.
Richard will be working with Ollie Smith and the rest of the Programme Team.
Programme and Youth Shaped Team Recap: Ollie Smith County lead, Jo Cracknell ACC Cubs, Angela Humphrey ACC Scouts, Jamie Mortimer ACC Explorers, Sam Bolger County Scouter – Programme, Matt Gilbert – Top Awards.
East of England Summer Challenge
Let me introduce you to Claire Collins; you may or may not know who Claire is or what she does, as although she has worked with some of you, she has not worked with all of you yet.
Claire is a Growth and Development Officer (GDO) working exclusively within Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. She works as part of the Regional Services Team (RST) and usually supports volunteers to open new sections or groups. She was brought back from furlough recently to lead on a different project developing some activities for all young people during the summer.
She has also been supporting local volunteers from across the three counties and we are pleased to announce the East of England Summer Challenge – starting on Monday 17th August for 3 weeks, which is offering free activities to everyone.
Here is the link to the Facebook page.
COVID-19 News Bulletin #12 - 7th Aug 2020
Readiness for return to face-to-face Scouting
Full details of the national plans can be found on The Scout Association website. Further details of our process and forms can be found on the Suffolk Scouts website
· From 7th August leaders in charge of a section or place (e.g. campsite) can submit their Covid19 risk assessment using Smartsheet plus any other documents if you’ve been instructed to by your District
· Make sure that your section Scouting plan and risk assessment have been agreed with the GSL and Group Chair before submitting to your District approver
· Prior to approval, you will need to confirm that all leaders within in your section and the Group Executive have their safety and safeguarding mandatory training completed which is normally covered by the Essential Information training under Module 1 (leaders) and Module 1EX (exec members) and has been validated on Compass.
· Confirm that Adult leaders meeting face-to-face have up-to-date DBS (or renewing within the allowed 90 days)
· Please submit your risk assessment in a timely fashion ahead of when you plan to start (we recommend 14 days to allow for any revisions which might be required)
· Your district teams are happy to help and advise
European Jamboree 2020/21 (Updated 19/8/20)
Suffolk Scouts are seeking new members to join our existing unit going to the European Scout Jamboree next summer (30th July - 15th August 2021). The opportunity is open to all active Scouts/Explorers/Young Leaders within Suffolk who are born between 03/08/2003 and 31/12/2007. The event would be happening right now but has been rearranged to next year.
As well as the main Jamboree event in Gdansk (see https://ej2020.org/ for more information), there is a package of pre and post jamboree activities that have been planned by our current unit members. Highlights include a pre-jamboree trip to Krakow where we will visit a salt mine, take a tour of Auschwitz and go to a theme park, and a post-jamboree visit to Warsaw.
There is also a programme of lead up UK based preparation events/camps between now and when we go.
To apply for a place, download the application form. Applications should be sent in by Sunday13th September. Applicants will then be invited to take part in a selection process.
