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Actioning our Regional Strategy

10 Nov 2023

We are now a year into our 2022-25 strategy. We set ourselves some ambitious targets but how are we progressing turning our words into action and how can we all get involved in helping us to achieve our aim:

By 2025 we will have prepared more young people in South East Scotland with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme. We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.​

Our strategy covers 4 areas – Growth, Inclusion, Youth Shaped and Community Impact. We will look at Growth in more detail following the Census so today I want to focus on the other three areas. 

Inclusion

As Regional Lead Volunteer, Inclusion is one of my key priorities. We have made progress in a number of ways:

  • Extended learning opportunities including Adjustments to Scouting and Mental Health training for managers
  • Introduced an inclusion fund to support Sections, Groups, Districts or Regional led activity  
  • Participation in Edinburgh Pride
  • Appointment of a new Inclusion Lead as part of the restructured Regional Leadership Team
  • Embedded support for additional support needs in activities including SEEE and in our Centres

By 2025 we will have:

  • Actively reduced barriers to membership for both young people and adult volunteers to help make Scouting in the Region representative of our wider communities.
  • Expanded adult learning to support inclusion equity and diversity

However, there is still more we can do. We recognise that areas within the Region which are most deprived according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) have less access to Scouting and we will be working with Scouts Scotland to look at how to increase provision in these areas. 

We also plan to introduce further learning opportunities with a focus on particular inclusion topics e.g. autism, supporting LGBT members. 

We are also looking for people to get involved and support this important priority. If you are interested in being part of our inclusion team or finding out more you can contact our Regional Inclusion Lead, Alison Robertson at alison.robertson@sesscouts.org.uk 

Youth Involvement

As we implement our Strategy it is crucial that young people are central to shaping our future direction. We have made some progress:

  • Involving young people in all key decisions e.g. staff recruitment or recruitment of senior volunteers
  • Appointed a Regional Adviser for Youth Involvement
  • Grown South East Explorer Expeditions (SEEE) to support young people to achieve top awards. 
  • Working with youth representatives e.g. MSYPs and Regional Adviser (Youth Involvement) to shape Regional policy
  • Worked with Districts to identify ways to increase support and empower Explorer Scout Young Leaders

By 2025 we will have:

  • All young people in South East Scotland have an opportunity to shape their experiences at Scouts
  • 50% of young people will be achieving at least one top award for their section

As part of the restructuring of the Regional Leadership Team I plan to appoint a Regional Youth Lead to the team to ensure that the decisions that we make are shaped by young people. I am working with the new Scottish Youth Lead Mollie Reid to ensure that we do this in line with the new Scouts Scotland Youth Shaped strategy so look for more details on this in the new year.   

Community Impact

Groups across the Region continue to have a positive impact on their local communities including our Region wide event in August where members from all districts joined me for Jamie’s Journey raising over £2300 for charity. 

By 2025 we will have:

  • 50% of sections take part in at least one community impact project per year

As part of this year’s AGM we would like to celebrate some of the ways that Groups, Units and Districts across the Region have been supporting the aims of our Regional Strategy so if you have and images, videos or stories that you can share that show how Scouting locally has been supporting our aims of Inclusion, Youth Shaped and Community Impact then please share them with us by e-mailing communications@sesscouts.org.uk .

Martin Elliot
Regional Lead Volunteer
rc@sesscouts.org.uk 

Regional AGM Tuesday 21st November 2023

10 Nov 2023

We would like to invite you to join us at the South East Scotland Regional Scout Council AGM on Tuesday 21st November at 7pm.

To make the event more easily accessible to all members across the Region, it will again be held virtually on Zoom. You can register you attendance here. Pre-registration is essential to confirm your attendance. 

2023 AGM Agenda

  1. Welcome and Opening remarks
  2. Apologies
  3. Approval of Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 10th November 2022
  4. South East Scotland Regional Scout Council Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31st March 2023.
  5. Election of Office Bearers and Trustee Board for 2023-24
  6. Approval of Independent Examiner/Auditor
  7. Regional Lead Volunteer’s Report and Presentations
  8. Vote of Thanks

All are welcome to attend and the following papers are available:

If you would like to submit a question relating to the business of the AGM, it would be helpful if you would send this in advance to the Regional Secretary at secretary@sesscouts.org.uk by 5pm on Friday 17th November. 

Successful Boo-naly Halloween Survival Camp

10 Nov 2023

The 2023 Explorer Halloween Survival Camp was a big success – despite the weather! We would like to say a huge well done to the 65 Explorers who survived this year’s event, you should be really proud of yourselves.

We built shelters with only some plastic sheeting and a few ropes; all meals were cooked on open fires and new survival skills were learnt.

Saturday began with the Explorers building their shelters for the evening, then a break to cook jacket potatoes for lunch. Following a game preparation, the Explorers cooked a delicious partridge casserole for tea. This included butchering the birds and cooking everything in a large tin can, over the fire. We even managed to fit in some pumpkin carving and night orienteering before the evening’s campfire.

Despite the rain everyone managed to get fires going in the morning to cook their rainbow trout in newspaper for breakfast. We then built water filters using plastic bottles, charcoal, and other natural materials. The last survival training skills we learnt were feather sticks and batoning kindling, very useful for wet weather fire lighting.

The last challenge for the Explorers was to dismantle their camps and leave no trace they had been there.  

We would like to say a big thank you to all the Bonaly volunteers who supported this event, we couldn’t do it without you – cheers guys 😊

If you’re interested in our 2024 Survival Camp, keep an eye out in the next newsletter for the Bonaly Scout Centre 2024 events calendar. 

Transformation Takeover October 2023

2 Nov 2023

As an early adopter, South East Scotland Region is on target to be moving over to the new digital system (replacing compass) in early 2024, which will trigger improvements to the way we volunteer, reducing admin time and make Scouts more attractive to new volunteers. 

This will be achieved by simplifying and streamlining our processes along with making information more understandable, utilising new digital systems and tools for an improved experience while enhancing volunteer support. 

We also seek to make volunteer onboarding and activities more welcoming, flexible, engaging and supported. 

Transforming the Volunteer Experience  

There are four significant changes in our approach to our volunteering experience which we will see come to life in the early part of 2024. Here is a one-page summary that will provide you with a good overview of the changes coming our way and the underlying reasons behind them. 

This one-page document has been produced to accompany our Transformation Series hosted by Martin Elliot, our Lead Volunteer along with Scott Goddard our Transformation Lead.  

Now is a great time to start engaging in discussions about these enhancements with your Scouting colleagues within your Districts and Groups, in order that we are all as prepared as we can be for this exciting new chapter in our movement. 

In the coming months, we will also look to launch a digital checkpoint in which you can view all the up-and-coming changes locally along with the things we’ll need to do to be ready within South East Scotland. 

Digital Membership System

We have a new membership system going live in early 2024 which will reduce admin so that volunteers have more time to focus on delivering skills for life for young people.  

This video has an overview of many of the features that will improve your experience as a volunteer no matter what you do for Scouts. It’s about 30 mins long but you can view specific features of the system. 

How we Volunteer Together

Have a look at this short video which explains a new team based approach to volunteering which reduces the burden on our current volunteers, encouraging them to stay involved longer and making it more attractive for new people to get involved. If you prefer looking at slides you can download them here.  

A Warmer Welcome  

Have a look at the short videos here which explain why we are moving from ‘appointments committees’ to ‘welcome conversations’ to offer a more welcoming experience for new volunteers while keeping the existing robust checks in place, They also show how to prepare for and have a welcome conversation. If you would prefer to look at slides you can download them here.  

Move from Executive Committees to Trustee Boards 

If you’re involved as a trustee this page helps explain the rationale behind moving from Executive Committees to Trustee Boards, what you need to do to prepare, and the actions you need to take.  

More Engaging Learning  

A move from training to learning aims to make things more accessible, personalised and relevant so you can decide what skills you need to support young people and aid your own self development. This page provides more information about the exciting changes coming. 

Support

Our Transformation Lead, Scott Goddard, supported by the Regional and District Teams, has and will continue to support you as we make the changes to our Volunteer Experience – this includes: 

  • District Transformation Events during September and October  

  • An event focusing on Learning with those currently involved in Training in October  

  • Online and face to face support for training module validation  

  • Events for trustees in November/December    

During the coming weeks there will be more reminders about how we can all get ready so that we get the full benefit from these changes. In the meantime, if you want to get in touch, please email communications@sesscouts.org.uk   

You can also keep up to date in out South East Scotland Scouts Private Members-Only Facebook Group. If you haven’t already joined now is a great time to connect. It’s so helpful, a great resource and a networking tool.

All adult volunteers in South East Scotland Scouts is eligible and encouraged to be part of this communications group. Click to join.

Awards Recognition

Awards Recognition

31 Aug 2023

A number of top awards have recently been presented to adult volunteers across the Region including the three awards below. Many Congratulations to everyone who has received awards.  

Rob Whitelaw – Bar to the Silver Acorn  

Rob Whitelaw was recently awarded the Bar to the Silver Acorn  

Rob has been a leader for over 30 years and for the past six years has been District Commissioner in Edinburgh North East, until his tenure recently came to an end. He has provided inspiring leadership to the whole District, all done with a huge amount of cheerfulness and positivity and involving a large amount of time commitment.. Rob also has wider influence within the Region as a go-to person for advice from other District Commissioners and the Regional Commissioner due to his experience and thoughtfulness. Rob is also the Group Scout Leader at 101st Edinburgh North East group and a District Training Advisor. Rob has been GSL at 101st for 20 years and the group has consistently been seen as one of the most stable groups largely due to Rob’s steady hand.  

Alan Willoughby

Alan has given 45 years of sterling service to Scouting in Edinburgh Area, South East Region and Scouts Scotland. In his many roles, his commitment, enthusiasm, knowledge, skills and experience have encouraged and supported the Scouting Community, and all his friends will be delighted to learn that his work has been awarded him the Silver Wolf. This is the highest award made by The Scout Association in the UK “for services of the most exceptional character.” It is an unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and so richly deserved for a lifetime of adult service.

Mike Grainger – Silver Wolf 

Mike has given outstanding service to South East Scotland Scouts. He personifies the active in “Active Support Unit” and is unique given that he is a member of all three of the Region’s ASUs at Bonaly Scout Centre, Longcraig Scout Centre and the Edinburgh Gang Show. He has also been involved with Scouting at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Kid’s Out events organised by Edinburgh Rotary. Whilst he offers a broad range of practical skills in these roles, it is his commitment to our young members to develop their skills for life that sets Mike apart. This has been recognised by the Chief Scout who has awarded Mike the Silver Wolf for service of a most exceptional nature. 

Celebrating the Coronation

3 Jun 2023

The first weekend in May saw many people celebrating the coronation of King Charles III. Here we look at a couple of ways that South East Scotland Scouts members marked this historic occasion.  

Four young people from the Region were selected to represent Scouting in supporting the Coronation events in London.  

Dylan Theedam-Parry from Lauderdale Scout Group featured in the BBC News coverage of the events. 

“We woke up at 3 o’clock this morning to get here to arrive at Hyde Park at 5am. We are here to look after the public and hand out flags for people to wave.

The atmosphere is lovely. It’s a big honour to be here today.” Dylan also recognised the important part Scouting played in the opportunity, telling the BBC “Just witnessing the Coronation is something special. I wouldn’t have made the trip down here if it hadn’t been for the Scouts, so it’s an honour.”

Amy Sewell, also from Lauderdale, also featured in the media – being interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland about her involvement “In and around Westminster helping with wayfinding and stewarding, making sure that the public are in the right place at the right time.” Of the experience Amy said “It is something that I am very proud to be taking part in”

 

Fraser Stevenson, from Braid District, also represented South East Scotland. Here he shares some of his experience. 

“It was a 4am start at Gilwell Park to catch the early train into Central London. We were stationed at St James Park (from 6:45 onwards!) then onto the Mall where we chatted and helped members of the public. In our group, we were lucky to have the International Commissioner for Singapore Scouts who treated us all to coffee and cakes in a café. At this point we got chatting to multiple members of the public who wanted pictures of the kilt! We moved onto the Mall for the flypast and, rather unexpectedly, even got interviewed for Chilean TV. More people – including Ukrainian refugees – wanted pictures of the kilt and uniform too.”

“It was an amazing weekend; one I will never forget. It was a privilege to represent the South East region and Scouts at large at such a historic and prestigious event. Thank you very much to South East Scotland Scouts and Braid District for providing me with the opportunity to do so.”  

Closer to home, the 30th Craigalmond (Davidson’s Mains) Scout Group held a Coronation Coffee morning where members, their families and the local community were invited to celebrate the coronation and help raise funds for the Group through entrance fees, stalls selling items including paracord woggles and home made planters, tombola and the chance to have your photo taken with the new King. Well done to all the volunteers who help put on this successful event which raised the profile of Scouting within the local community.  

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