How Scouts is Reaching Young People in Hospital
As Lead Volunteer for South East Scotland, inclusion has always been an important priority so I am delighted to share an update on one of our key initiatives as we work towards our Strategic aim to actively reduce barriers to membership to help make Scouting in the Region representative of our wider communities. This November, South East Scotland Scouts will launch an exciting new pilot programme bringing the adventure, friendship and fun of Scouting into the heart of the Edinburgh community – the hospital ward. For six weeks across November and December, a trial of “Scouting in Hospitals” will run at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh (better known as the Sick Kids), offering young patients the chance to enjoy a taste of Scouting during their stay. The sessions will be open to children and young people staying in the hospital, giving them a chance to take part in creative challenges, hands-on activities, team games, and badgework – all tailored to the hospital environment and each child’s abilities. The programme aims to bring moments of normality, confidence-building, and laughter to young people who may be facing difficult or uncertain times. It has been developed in partnership with the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity to ensure sessions are safe, accessible and inclusive. This is what Scouting is all about – reaching young people wherever they are and giving them the chance to shine. Even in hospital, young people deserve opportunities to try new things, build friendships, and feel part of something bigger. This programme is about hope, resilience and creating smiles. Volunteers Needed – Join Us in Making a Difference To make this project a success, South East Scotland Scouts is calling for enthusiastic adult volunteers to help deliver sessions as part of a small team. No prior Scouting experience is needed – just kindness, enthusiasm and a willingness to support young people. Volunteers will: Help run fun and engaging activity sessions Support children of different ages and abilities Receive full training and safeguarding support Be part of a pioneering new Scouting initiative Whether you can commit weekly or help occasionally over the six-week pilot, your time could make a real difference to a child in hospital. If you’d like to get involved, or simply find out more, please email hello@sesscouts.org.uk. Together, let’s bring Scouting’s spirit of adventure, resilience and community to where it’s needed most. Thanks for all that you do to support Scouting in our Region. Martin ElliotLead VolunteerSouth East Scotland Scouts
Celebrating The Positives Amidst The Challenges
South East Scotland and Scouts Scotland Volunteers at Gilwell Reunion Welcome back to a new term of Scouting. I hope that you all managed to enjoy some well deserved downtime over the Summer and that you are excited for what the rest of the year has in store for Scouting in South East Scotland. I recognise that this year has presented several challenges for Scouting in the Region – with continued teething problems with the new membership system, the new Safety learning, the ongoing challenges of leader recruitment and retention and the growing challenge of meeting places all affecting the time that we can spend doing what we Scout for – to provide opportunities to young people across our Region and beyond. As Lead Volunteer I want to thank all of you for your continued support and the constructive and positive attitude that you taken to ensure that young people across the Region continue to enjoy the experiences that only Scouting can provide. It is because of this that we have so many positives to celebrate from 2025: Our first Regional Gala was a great success with over 2000 people visiting Bonaly over the weekend and seeing many of the things that make South East Scotland Scouts so successful – in particular our amazing volunteers and young leaders. My thanks to Stewart Nicoll, Dave Siddle, Ross Nicoll and their team for the huge amount of work that went into the event. Our first Regional Explorer Belt to Norway has seen all the participants be awarded their belts at a recent joint event at Bonaly with Swedish Scouts doing their own expedition. Well done to Alex, Cliona, Greg and Scott and my thanks to the Regional Programme team – in particular Laura Haley, Colin Liddle and Allison Gamble for leading this. Regional Explorer Belt Presentation South East Explorer Expeditions (SEEE) continue to provide opportunities for young people to complete Expeditions towards their Top Awards. Thanks to David Newton, John Buchanan and the SEEE team for the considerable work that goes into supporting these opportunities. Our Region continues to grow! After amazing growth in membership at the 2025 census of 3%, we have continued to see sections start or restart. I was delighted to join the 9th Braid (George Watson’s College) Scout Group, which reopened its Scout Troop this month, for their AGM and present Commendation Awards to Chris, Ben and Jamie in recognition of the work that has gone into reopening the group. I was also delighted to join our newest Group the 7th Midlothian (Ehsan) group for a brilliant community day as they prepared to open their Scout Troop. With new Squirrel Dreys planned across the Region and at least 3 Beaver Colonies planning to reopen, it is incredible to see more young people getting to enjoy Scouting in South East Scotland. If you are thinking about new or reopened provision or are looking for help strengthening your existing sections please reach out to our Scouting Support Staff Nacho and Amy Our Regional Centres continue to thrive and welcome visitors from our Region and beyond. It was a privilege to be invited to join 100 Years of Bishopton Summer Camp at Bonaly Scout Centre for their opening ceremony and to have the opportunity to welcome them to South East Scotland.The Camp saw young people and volunteers connected to the Bishopton group come together with members of Austrian Scouting, which the group has a close connection to, to celebrate the group’s centenary. It was also great to have the opportunity to speak with Maximilian Müller, Bundesvorsitzender or Chair of Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs, to compare the challenges and successes our two organisations face. I hope as we start the new term that you have the opportunity to reflect on the positives in your own Scouting and to celebrate them. We would love to hear your stories so reach out to communications@sesscouts.org.uk if you have a Scouting success story to share. Thanks for all that you do to support Scouting in our Region. Martin ElliotLead VolunteerSouth East Scotland Scouts
South East Scotland Scouts Annual General Meeting 2025
We are delighted to let you know that our Regional Annual General Meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday 30th September 2025 at 7pm. To pre-register for the event please sign up using the below link. Pre-registration is essential to confirm your attendance. The Microsoft Teams link details will be shared w/c 22nd September with all pre-registered attendees. Any apologies can be submitted to Amy Irvine, Regional Scouting Support Officer, amy.irvine@sesscouts.org.uk You can download the AGM papers here: AGM Agenda South East Scotland Regional Scout Council AGM Minutes 2024 Financial Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024-2025 Bylaws of South East Scotland Regional Scout Council 5 December 2024 Model Regional Constitution from Policy, Organisation and Rules We look forward to reviewing the achievements as a Region over the past year. Best wishesMartin ElliotLead VolunteerSouth East Scotland Regional Scout Council John CannonRegional ChairSouth East Scotland Regional Scout Council You must pre-register to attend the AGM. Thank you. Pre-register to confirm your attendance
Thank You From SE Scotland Region
At Summit25 in January Presenting a Chief Scout’s Silver Award at Musselburgh Presenting Angus with his Coronation Medal Getting to meet Owls with Cubs at 10th Craigalmond Joining volunteers and young people for Pride Edinburgh 1st Midlothian at Gorebridge Gala Day Braid Chair and Regional Trustee Steve Gamble receiving his Silver Acorn Award Melrose Scouts win fancy dress Cup at the Melrose Festival As we come to the end of another eventful year, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your incredible commitment to Scouting across South East Scotland. Whether you’ve been leading weekly meetings, supporting adventurous activities, helping behind the scenes, or offering a listening ear — your efforts have made a real and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Your time, energy, and passion are what make Scouting such a positive force in our communities. This year has brought its share of change, not least the transition to the new membership system. We know it hasn’t always been easy, and we’re deeply grateful for the patience, resilience, and good humour you’ve shown as we’ve navigated this together. Despite this we have continued to work towards our #SkillsForLife strategy with: a 3% growth in membership, with 5 new sections opening in the first half of this year alone continuing focus on being more inclusive, being shaped by young people having a positive impact on our communities We have a lot to look forward to. In particular I hope to see many of you at the Regional Gala on 6th and 7th September. It promises to be a unique and memorable event with hundreds of members from across the Region taking part. As the summer approaches, I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and reflect on all you’ve helped achieve. You’ve earned it. On behalf of the South East Scotland Scouts team — thank you again, and enjoy a very well-deserved break. Yours in Scouting,Martin ElliotLead Volunteer, South East Scotland Scouts
Many Voices, One Movement: Inclusion in Focus
As we are currently in Mental Health Awareness month and approaching Pride month in June, it is a time when we see inclusion given a higher profile as companies and organisations display rainbow colours and feature diversity more prominently. However, in South East Scotland this isn’t just something that we focus on for a month, it is a focus all year round. When I became Lead Volunteer 4 years ago I made it a key priority to make Scouting in the Region more representative of our communities and to remove barriers that prevent anyone being able to be part of Scouting. Our latest Census figures show that we are becoming more representative of our communities (see charts below) – in particular a sizable improvement in our gender mix. Our diversity as a Region should further improve with the establishment of our first Ukrainian Scout Group and Scouting in Hospitals. 2025 Census Data for South East Scotland Scouts How do we build on our progress? I could finish my update here with our positive progress – which is only possible due to the hard work of volunteers and staff across the Region and should be celebrated – but we have to recognise that there is still work to do and that the progress that we are seeing is not the same across the Region. I am disappointed when I hear volunteers in the Region downplaying the importance of inclusion or in some extreme cases even fighting against it so I want to be clear that in South East Scotland Scouting is for all young people and volunteers irrespective of their gender identity, their race, their sexuality, their background or their additional support needs. Therefore, if you are actively preventing this by not allowing girls in your group or putting up obstacles to particular communities being part of Scouting then you probably need to consider whether Scouting is the right organisation for you. We recently gathered officebearers from all 7 districts for a workshop to look at areas of focus and how the Region and others can support with this. I was delighted that Alison, our Regional Inclusion Lead, was invited to present at it, celebrating some of the success that we have had but also sharing some ways that districts (and groups) can help to improve inclusion locally. How We can Support Inclusion Champion Inclusion as a Core Value Make inclusion part of your vision and strategic priorities, ensuring it is reflected in all decisions and plans. Lead by example, ensuring the District/Group is welcoming, respectful, and representative of the communities the it serves Resource Inclusive Practice Provide funding for inclusion-related needs, such as: Transport for young people who face barriers getting to meetings. Additional equipment or adaptations for young people with disabilities. Uniform grants or fee subsidies for families in financial hardship. The Regional Uniform Bank could help. Support adult volunteers with training or materials that promote inclusive leadership and understanding of diverse needs. Create an Inclusive Culture Encourage inclusive language, imagery, and storytelling in communications, events, and materials. Celebrate diversity through events, heritage months, and visible support for LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, disabled, and ethnically diverse members. Promote inclusive policies and practices—for example, allowing flexible volunteering, being sensitive to cultural and religious needs, and promoting gender-inclusive facilities Improve Access and Representation Identify underserved communities in the District and support outreach to schools, faith groups, or community organisations that serve them. Remove practical barriers to participation, such as inaccessible buildings, inconvenient meeting times, or complicated administrative processes. Encourage diversity in leadership by proactively welcoming adults from all backgrounds and supporting their development into trustee or leadership roles. Monitor and Evaluate Progress Gather data (where appropriate and legal) on demographics of volunteers and young people to understand where inclusion can be improved. Seek feedback from volunteers, parents, and young people about their experiences—especially those from minority or marginalised groups. Act on findings to remove barriers and adjust practices. Ensure Safe and Welcoming Spaces Challenge discrimination or exclusionary behaviour, whether overt or subtle Ensure safeguarding policies are inclusive and protective of all identities, including LGBTQ+ young people and those with additional needs. Support Inclusive Governance Review trustee recruitment practices to ensure a broad pool of people are encouraged to join the board—including younger trustees, parents, and people from diverse backgrounds. Provide DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) training for all trustees so they understand their role in fostering inclusion. Collaborate with Others Work with Regional and National Inclusion leads for support, resources, and training. Share good practice with other Districts or Groups to learn from their experiences and inspire improvement. Celebrate Success Highlight stories of inclusive Scouting in newsletters, events, and awards. Recognise volunteers who go above and beyond to create welcoming spaces for all. If you have questions or would like support with any inclusion areas please reach out to Alison at alison.robertson@sesscouts.org.uk The Inclusion Team is working on a number of initiatives to support inclusion in the Region: Let’s Talk About Series – Covering key inclusion topics Edinburgh Pride – I am really excited that South East Scotland Scouts will be attending Edinburgh Pride again this year. As I mentioned earlier, we have made great progress in Inclusion and I would like to thank all of you for the part that you have played in making this possible. It is only due to this work that we are in the position to develop our work in this area further.
Regional Mindfulness Day – A Huge Success!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the Regional Mindfulness Day on 8th March 2025 such an incredible experience! The day, held at the beautiful Bonaly Scout Centre, was filled with energy, learning, and meaningful connections. Our special thanks go out to the amazing professionals from PsychEd, Edinburgh University, whose mindfulness workshops and activities were informative, fun and inspiring. The outdoor activities were a real highlight — fun, hands-on, and deeply engaging. It was powerful to see our young people fully present and embracing the positive impact of being in nature. We’re also incredibly grateful to our Adult Scout volunteers, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your dedication helped make the day not only possible but unforgettable. And, of course, the grand finale around the campfire was nothing short of phenomenal. Songs, dances, laughter, and togetherness created the perfect ending to a meaningful day. Thank you again to everyone involved—participants, leaders, volunteers, and professionals. This event truly demonstrated the values of our Scout organisation and how outdoor activities can positively impact our lives. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Gang Show Auditions 2025
For any Cubs, Scouts, Explorers or Network members who may be interested in auditioning for this year’s show – now is the time! Information and audition forms can be found here: www.edinburghgangshow.co.uk/auditions/ Junior Gang Auditions Who? Cubs When? Sunday 11 May, from 3 – 4.15pm Where? Blackhall St.Columba’s, Columba Road, EH4 3QU Main Gang Auditions Who? Scouts and Explorers When? Sunday 27 April from 1.45 – 4pm. Where? St Anne’s Church, Kaimes Road, Corstorphine EH12 6JR PLEASE NOTE Pre-registration is required to attend the auditions. Do this by completing the appropriate form online at: www.edinburghgangshow.co.uk/auditions/ Anyone who has not pre-registered will be unable to audition on the day. Please do not just turn up on the day as it will not be possible to accommodate.
Longcraig Update – February 2025
Looking forward to 2025 Our online booking system goes live in just a few weeks. So, if you or your section or your Group has any plans for a water activity event – either at Longcraig or elsewhere – that is anything out of the ordinary for a regular activity booking – get in touch! By planning early, we welcome any suggestions for events or activities that we can support or indeed even run for you. This could be a special anniversary, or just a group day out by the seaside messing about in boats. How to get in touch? getinvolved@longcraig.info Longcraig Net Zero Project The solar panels have continued to generate energy for us every day through the winter – although at a much-reduced rate as the days are much shorter. During the very cold spell in January, the output fell even lower – we think this was due to frost build up on the exterior of the panels on the roof, so we need to watch out for that. But already, at the end of January, we are noticing the difference, and we are gaining enough energy to keep all the background things operating, and to provide a little bit of warmth when we have people in at the Centre. The next few months will see a rapid growth in the energy generated – if you’d like a quick tour of what we’ve achieved, please give us a call to arrange a visit. In just a few days from now, our total energy generation (since last July) will surpass 5 Megawatt Hours – that’s enough to charge up a small Electric Vehicle 100 times! Protecting our beach Although the daylight over the winter has been short, and we’ve had several spells of very cold frosty weather, we have kept on with improvements to our shore defences as time permitted over the past months. So far, this work has been successful and is much improved upon how it was at the end of the summer. We’ve been very fortunate that the sea that sometimes takes away our shoreline sometimes also helps us repair it, with large lumps of timber washed up during some of the winter storms. We are currently planning how best to prepare and locate the big one (10 metres x 40ccm x 40cm) which will be placed just in front of our buildings and give us much needed storm protection for many years to come. As always, we can still make good use of: – Heavy duty steel stakes (such as reinforcing bar) – Heavy duty pegs or pins (larger than tent pegs but same idea) – Topsoil – Grass or turf Please just get in touch if you think you can help with any of these ingredients used in the baking of a strong shore defence! Training Opportunities Here are details of some firmed training opportunities early in the spring this year: Paddleboard training /Assessment Day has now been arranged, this will be held as two One Day sessions over the weekend of 8/9 March 2025. The Assessor team from Lochgoilhead will be leading this event to support our own activities. The aim is to either assess for a permit or provide a suitable plan to each person to get one. Beyond that, we can offer courses in: Dinghy sailing Kayaking Powerboating Raft Building Marine VHF Radio Which can lead to national qualifications if you wish to gain one of those, and/or to a Scouts Activity Permit which then enables you to lead activities with your own groups of young people. Many aspects of seamanship such as: weather and meteorology; Tides and Currents: Basic navigation skills; knots, lashings and ropework. We can also provide course for Badges for Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Young leaders. These can in some cases cover the entire syllabus of a particular badge, and in many cases can cover one or more elements of a wider scope badge. There are many badge options relating to water activities – there’s even one for ‘helping out at activity centres’ which may be of interest! We strongly recommend having a discussion with us about what you might like to cover, how we can support that, and how best we can plan it in for next year – or even the year after! For information on, or to register an interest in, any of these courses please contact us at getinvolved@longcraig.info Volunteering? Last year we welcomed a good number of new volunteers to help us operate the Centre and to help deliver the activities that young people want. As the demand for our activities grows and we constantly seek to expand what we can offer, we need more volunteers to help us implement our plans. We now have a super-duper warm up to date activity centre to welcome volunteers into! We’re still happy to hear from any potential volunteers whether your interest is on the water or off the water supporting the Centre. Just get in touch for a chat, or come along to one of our Volunteer Drop In Sessions at Longcraig: Tuesday 25th February at 7pm Saturday 15th March at 1pm We’ll take care of the rest! Do please let us know if you would like to come along to any of these sessions. getinvolved@longcraig.info
Let’s Talk About Inclusion
Let’s Talk About Inclusion Over the course of 2025, the Inclusion Team will be running some ‘Let’s talk about’ sessions. These are designed to be informative and a place where you can bring all your questions and concerns. The first session will run on Monday 10th March 7.30pm, on Teams. Please register below. We will be joined by Graham Coulson MBE, who will talk about inclusion in Scouting and then be available to answer your questions. Please join us, and if you are interested in being part of the Inclusion team please get in touch! Alison Inclusion Team Lead alison.robertson@sesscouts.org.uk Your First Name(Required)Your Surname(Required)Email address(Required) Your Role in Scouting(Required)Please state your primary role in Scouts, if none please insert n/a. Where is your primary Scouting role?(Required) Borders Braid Craigalmond East Lothian Edinburgh North East Midlothian Pentland Region Other Please let us know if there are questions that you would like covered in the session
Supporting Explorer Scout Young Leaders
Who Are Explorer Scout Young Leaders? Explorer Scout Young Leaders are Explorers or Duke of Edinburgh volunteers who volunteer alongside adult leaders in Squirrel Dreys, Beaver Colonies, Cub Packs, or Scout Troops. They’re not just helpers; they’re role models, innovators, and crucial members of the leadership team. If you’ve got a Young Person in your section from school years S2 to S6, make sure they’re registered with your District! This will ensure they have access to all the training, support, and opportunities they need to thrive as Young Leaders. All Young Leaders aged 13.5 to 18, whether in Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, or Scouts, should be members of a Young Leaders Unit, even if they don’t attend Explorers. There are three types of Young Leaders: Explorer Scout Young Leaders: Part of both an Explorer Unit and a Young Leader Unit. District Young Leaders: Dedicated to their role within the District Young Leader Unit, without being part of an Explorer Unit. Volunteer Young Leaders: These are members of the public or Girl Guiding who volunteer with Scouts, often as part of their Duke of Edinburgh or other Top Awards. While they aren’t members of the Scout Association, their contribution is invaluable. Young Leaders and Top Awards: The Path to Success For Explorer Scout Young Leaders and District Young Leaders, the sky’s the limit! They can work towards Explorer Badges, Staged Badges, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and the prestigious Top Awards – Platinum, Diamond, and King Scout Awards. Leaders are encouraged to talk with their Young Leaders about how the programmes they help deliver can also contribute to these achievements. It’s all about recognising their hard work, passion, and commitment. The first Young Leader Activity Day was an undeniable success, and it’s clear that these budding leaders are ready to take on any challenge. They’re building skills, making memories, and forming friendships that will last a lifetime. Here’s to many more adventurous days like this – and to the Young Leaders who make Scouting so vibrant and exciting! Young Leader Camp During the Youth Forum, held at Bonaly during the Autumn Young Leaders Day, Young Leaders told us that a camp would be a fantastic event to hold next. With this in mind, we are planning a two-night camp for Young Leaders from across the region. This will take place at Bonaly from 14th – 16th March 2025. Arriving Friday evening at 7pm, setting up camp and getting ready for a brilliant weekend, Saturday will see them heading into town to take part in their very own Edinburgh Monumentopoly. Returning to camp for a Campfire and with the winners being announced on Saturday night they will then have a second night camping before heading home on Sunday morning. The event is open to all Young Leaders in South East Region, the event has been sent to the Young Leader teams through OSM, please check with them if you would like to attend. It would be fantastic to see as many of them joining in as possible with them being able to enjoy spending time with their friends and other Young Leaders from across the Region. We are also looking for leaders and network members to support this event, either for the weekend or for Saturday if you can’t commit to the whole weekend. If you are available please email Allison.Gamble@sesscouts.org.uk We are also looking for Young Leaders to help at the Regional Gala day in September, details will follow in due course. Got questions about the Young Leader Programme? Reach out at youngleaders@sesscouts.org.uk and get all the information you need!