Network News September 2025
We will be running an information evening focussed on top awards for the 14-24 age range. We will be covering recent changes to the Platinum, Diamond and KSA, the new KSA sign off process and discussing available regional support for the awards. While the session is open to anyone interested in the awards, it is particularly aimed at leaders working with Explorers, Network, or supporting those who do. The session will be repeated twice and can be joined on Thursday 18 September or Tuesday 23 September, both at 8pm on Teams. Link for the 18th: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Yjc3YmE4ODYtYmEzMC00NDZhLTg1ZmYtMjI2NTBhMTM0OWYz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224e7719aa-7161-463d-a2ed-22e598aae889%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e9d36694-e3bd-40be-8db3-fe141adbda1d%22%7d Link for the 23rd: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTMzYjAyMGYtNTdhOS00ODQ5LTgxZDItYThiN2FjZGQ2OTIz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224e7719aa-7161-463d-a2ed-22e598aae889%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e9d36694-e3bd-40be-8db3-fe141adbda1d%22%7d Any questions please message: laura.haley@sesscouts.org.uk
JOHN CRUICKSHANK VC AE
John Cruickshank, who died recently, was the last surviving holder of the Victoria Cross from the Second World War. He was also one of the six founder members of the Scout troop at Greenbank Parish Church, Edinburgh. Scouting at Greenbank goes back to 1933. The “Fourth” has been thriving ever since – under slightly different names, currently 4th Braid. John Cruickshank was born in 1920 in Aberdeen and moved to Greenbank with his family in 1929, pioneering the Scout troop in January 1933 when he was 12. Looking back in 2023 for the troop’s 90th anniversary, John said “I was glad to have been a Scout and enjoy the benefits of the movement”. Flight Lieutenant Cruickshank won the Victoria Cross in 1944. Piloting a Catalina flying boat with the RAF’s Coastal Command from Sullom Voe in Shetland, his crew found and attacked a surfaced German U-boat, flying through flak from its anti-aircraft gun. On his first pass, his plane’s depth charges did not release, so Cruickshank brought the aircraft back round for a second pass and this time straddled the U-boat with his charges, sinking it with all hands. The German flak had however been deadly accurate, killing the Catalina’s navigator and injuring four including both pilots (Cruickshank himself in 72 places). Flying through the night, it took the damaged Catalina five and a half hours to return to Sullom Voe. Cruickshank’s injuries were such that he never flew in command of an aircraft again. After the war he returned to his pre-war job of banking, working in India and Pakistan with Grindlays Bank before retiring in 1976. He died in August 2025.
Young Leader Update September 2025
Training Weekend South East Region Scouts are running a Young Leaders Training weekend for Young Leaders over the weekend of 31st Oct – 2nd Nov 2025 at Bonaly Scout Centre, where we will be delivering Modules B-J as part of the weekend. There is limited space per district. Invites have gone out to each district through OSM, please speak to your Team Lead for Young Leaders or your 14-24 Team Lead for information regarding signup to this event. The cost will be £75 for the weekend, this is an indoor camp and fully catered. Any questions then please email youngleaders@sesscouts.org.uk 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, even if they are only doing the volunteering part of Duke of Edinburgh, they still need to be registered with your district. 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. Got questions about the Young Leader Programme? Reach out at youngleaders@sesscouts.org.uk and get all the information you need! 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. If you have any questions then please email youngleaders@sesscouts.org.uk
Could you be our new Communications Lead?
Want to give something back to the community? We’re looking for someone with communication and media skills or who wants to enhance their communication and media skills. As the Regional Communications Lead you will lead the media and communications work within the Scout Region, and work to present a positive public image of Scouting. Join us today and help shape tomorrow! Purpose of the Role The Regional Communications Lead is a key role which has responsibility for ensuring that Scouting in the Region is appropriately promoted using various media channels, and that communication tools are used effectively to make and keep contact with both internal and external audiences. The role also requires the right individual to; Develop Scouting in the Region. Promote and maintain the policies of The Scout Association Positively manage and support adults, defining roles and responsibilities. Responsible to: Regional Support Lead Main contacts Regional Lead Volunteer Volunteer Development Lead Scouts Scotland Lead of Communications Scouting Support Team (SSL/SSO) and Regional Programme Team Regional Trustee Board Regional Youth Lead and District Youth Leads District Lead Volunteers Group Lead Volunteers Other local communications volunteers. Main Responsibilities The development and implementation of a Communications strategy for the Region Promote the movement and the Region in particular in a positive light Ensure effective, regular communication to both internal and external audiences Ensure the Scouting “image” and “message” is of consistently high standard and quality Contribute to the development, implementation, support and monitoring of the Regional Strategic plan. Core Tasks Work in partnership with the Regional Team to; Produce and implement a Regional Communications Strategy Review progress, standards and effectiveness of Communications strategy on an annual basis Work in partnership with the Regional team: To produce a Regional Development plan and contribute to production of District Development Plans To contribute to the annual review process. Work in partnership with the Regional Trustee Board- Keep the Regional Trustee Board advised of financial and other resource requirements Work in partnership with District Teams- To encourage Districts and Groups to promote scouting locally. Hold regular meetings to discuss current issues, share good practice with the District and Groups. Arrange visits to Districts and Groups to collect “good news stories” and promote to local media. Gather news, event plans, AGM and similar meeting planning and promote to wider audience. Develop and maintain a list of local media contacts. Monitor local media coverage and feedback to Scottish and UK Headquarters PR teams. To devise, develop and support local “awareness” schemes or campaigns to promote Scouting To ensure effective communications exist between Scottish and UK Headquarters and Section Leaders. Takes on board equality issues at all times in relation to the role. Develop and maintain good working relationships and seek contacts both internal and external to Scouting within the Region. Show personal commitment to The Scout Association’s aims and training. Personal Specification You should be able to demonstrate: The ability to communicate (verbal and non- verbal) to a wide variety of audiences including the public, media, large groups and on an individual basis Creativity in regard to message management and medium IT skills/Social Media Skills Ability to motivate and enthuse others Ability to deliver as promised High level of interpersonal skills Initiative You can register your interest at: https://volunteeringopportunities.scouts.org.uk/#/Vacancydetail/27ea6bc7-0108-4808-92b2-cd98e9ab5d1c
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
Longcraig Update
Our summer season is in full swing, welcoming all ages and skill levels to the water — from first-timers to those working towards their Paddlesports Staged Badges under the guidance of our experienced instructors and safety boat teams. From the beginning of May, Scouts have been diving into their Paddle sports Staged Badge training, combining on-water practice with shore-based skill-building to lay a solid foundation for future sessions. (Paddle Sports Staged Activity Badge | Scouts) Soon after, we kicked off our other activities with our Wayfarer dinghy fleet, alongside the larger Drascombe dinghies, each providing young people with the opportunity to learn from a leader and instructor at the helm. Meanwhile, more kayakers took to the water with four instructors, practicing essential skills like turning, rafting up, and more. Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome more first-timers and to help returning participants refine their sailing, kayaking, and paddling techniques. At Longcraig, we love seeing young people and adults alike challenge themselves, learn new skills, and achieve what they once thought impossible. Want to get involved? Reach out to us at getinvolved@longcraig.info, and be sure to check out our Facebook page to stay updated on all our activities! Summer opportunities As is often the case at this stage of the year, we have lots of requests for activity bookings from across the Region, and we aim to do our best to accommodate these. But the main summer months – July and August – are often quite quiet times, so a much less crowded option of you are able to support booking up some activities during that period. You don’t need a team of leaders to support an activity booking at Longcraig – the Centre takes care of everything on the water. All you need is one or two responsible adults (don’t have to be leaders, but the do need to know the Scouts!) who can accompany the Young People for their adventure. We’re open in the evenings right through to nearly the end of August (when it starts to get dark earlier) and at weekends too. Get in touch if you would like to plan something – we can help arrange something a bit different if that might be attractive to your team. Scouts become Volunteers and support Longcraig Scout Centre One fine Friday evening at the end of April, 21 Scouts from 107th Pentland made their way down to the shore at Longcraig Pier to offer some volunteering time. This was planned into their programme to satisfy some of the needs for the World Badge which the Scouts have been working towards this term. They were welcomed at Longcraig Scout Centre, and after a quick intro, welcome, and a safety briefing, the Scouts were divided into groups and set about a number of key tasks. Group 1 was engaged just outside the Centre, and covered two activities – the first involved mastering a cordless electric self-drive grass cutter, which for some was a new experience. The large patch of grass which Longcraig looks after, and which provides a great expansion place and land activity area, was subjected to it’s first haircut of the year. Alongside this, the surrounds of the boat park security fence were cleared of weeds and last year’s dead vegetation, this allows a number of new trees and bushes to flourish and helps minimise any windblown litter from gathering. Group 2 got stuck in with one of the final sections of our beach protection work. A large timber had been positioned along the edge of the beach outside our main entrance, the inside filled with soil then covered with fresh turf to enable the roots to knit the ground together and help withstand the bigger storms which sometime pummel the shoreline. The task for the Scouts was to fit wire netting, staple it onto the outside edge of the timber, then peg its inner edge well into the ground – this means that the grass can grow up through the netting and make the protection even stronger. It also means that even if some waves do roll onto the shoreline (we can’t really stop them!) the netting and the grass roots minimise any damage such as scouring out the soil and sand. Afterwards, they delighted in a thorough watering for the newly planted grass to help it establish quickly. Group 3 focused on the front of the building facing onto the pier. The drainage channel which runs the length of the building was cleared of winter debris – seaweed, sand, assorted flotsam – to enable any seawater that washes in to be able to safely return to the sea hopefully without ingressing the building. Typically we have to do this two or three times a year; this one was the important Spring Clean! At the same time, others got stuck in removing piles of seaweed from the pier, and some general weeding and cleaning to make the approach more welcoming. Group 4 covered some of the ‘domestics’ – the training rooms upstairs were hoovered to freshen them up (another new activity for some!), all the waste bins throughout the building were emptied and refitted with clean bin liners, and the showers and changing areas were swept out in preparation for the centre opening a few days ahead. Group 5 were engaged in searching the local and surrounding area for litter – a regular issue caused by wind blow litter as well as sea-borne litter, in addition to regular passers-by who forget to take their litter home. But more of the focus was on finding and identifying marine litter – the often unseen debris that can cause untold damage to sea creatures, sea birds, even to the plant life under the sea which can be affected too. This ranged from abandoned nylon ropes – perhaps from fishing boats – to sheets of unidentified plastic, to plastic ‘nurdles’ which are now a common problem around many of our shores. Whilst still ‘litter’, these particular items became much better
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.
DofE-SEEE
Explorers and DofE We are now in peak expedition training season, and Explorers and Leaders from across the Region have been very busy. SEEE has run two training days at Bonaly involving 115 Explorers doing Silver and Gold. The first weekend had sub-zero temperatures overnight, the second had torrential rain on the Saturday evening and night, but the good news is that camping skills were of a high level, and there were no complaints. It appears that camping is still something that Explorers are quite comfortable with, which is by no means always the case with DofE candidates from outside Scouting. The main focus was on developing navigation skills, mainly on a hike designed for this purpose, which was only possible because 26 different adult leaders volunteered their time; some of them enjoyed it so much they came on both weekends. Bronze level training is under way with at least three major training programmes run by Districts. As we finalise the allocation of leaders to the expeditions planned for May/June (Practices) and August/September (Qualifiers), we would encourage anyone who can offer to help support them to use our form to check dates and let us know when they could be available – even for one day. Hill permits are not necessary, as the Leaders in Charge will have these, though additional leaders with permits are very welcome. We would also like to thank the Unit leaders and others who helped by ensuring that their Explorers turned up with the correct kit, as this is an essential part of the process. John Buchanan and David Newton for SEEE
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