The Scout Group has continued to meet during the past year (now sadly suspended due to the Corona virus) and had a successful year. Martin Beale sadly stood down as Group Scout Leader, due to pressure of work, but remains as a leader in the Explorer Section (14 – 18 year olds). Until a replacement is identified, Richard Simmons is acting as Group Scout Leader. Five new leaders have joined us this year, including some who were previously young leaders and who have now turned 18 years old. I thank them and our longer standing leaders for their time and dedication. At the annual census, taken in January, we had 43 young people and 12 leaders. The Beaver section (6 – 8 year olds) is working well with lots of planning being done by the leaders. There are good numbers in the Cub section (8 – 10.5 year olds) and they have done badges and activities ranging from disability awareness to artist, from scientist to animal care, and lots of other things in between. Scouts (10.5 – 14 years) have been model making and doing their chefs badges as well as lots of outdoor activities including compass work and hiking. They are also hoping to become involved in a project to set up an International Space-related tea project by sending tea leaves on a high-altitude weather balloon to the edge of Space. The Explorers have camped at Gilwell Park (home of British Scouting) and all done their 1st Aid badges, as well as swimming badges. They have all gained their Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, which is a significant achievement. Thank you to all the parents who support the Group and bring their children along every week. We look forward to more exciting times when we can resume our activities.
Report from 14th Medway Towns (St Simon Stock) Scout Group
for St Simon Stock Church annual meeting 2022
Meetings of the Scout Group were suspended for a large portion of time since the last report in March 2020, due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Weekly face to face meetings were able to resume for the Scouts (10.5 to 14 year olds) from Easter 2021, mainly outside to start with but more recently back using the church hall, as well as using the outside woodland and field spaces, and in September 2021 for the Beavers (6 – 8 year olds) and Cubs (8 – 10.5 year olds), using the school hall and also the outside spaces. The number of young people who returned after such a long break was much reduced, with, sadly, none of the Explorers (14 – 18 year olds) returning.
As well as a reduction in numbers of young members, sadly some of the adults decided not to return to leadership roles when meetings resumed. Also our long-term Beaver Leader, Sandra Bickmore, has now moved away from the area and we would like to record our thanks for her many years of service. Our assistant Beaver Leader has taken a year out for family reasons but hopes to return shortly.
Following a major operation last year, Richard Simmons stood down from his role as Acting Group Scout Leader. Fortunately, Martin Beale was happy to step into the breach again, as the Explorers were no longer meeting and he didn’t need to continue his leadership role in that section.
Currently Ann Robertson, our Cub Leader of many years, is recovering from a broken leg, so we are receiving extra help from the Scout District to try and keep things going.
Our Group treasurer, Natalie Fletcher, also stood down from the end of 2021, as she no longer has a young family member in the Group. Our thanks go to her for her time keeping our financial records straight. I am temporarily covering looking after the finances, but we also need to plug that gap.
Numbers are beginning to increase, thankfully, but we need to build the leadership team up to be able to have flourishing sections with good programmes of activity.