Longcraig Update – February 2025

7 Feb 2025

Ian Harrower

Longcraig Scout Centre

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 25^th February at 7pm
Saturday 15^th 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

Recognising Our Fellow Volunteers

6 Feb 2025

John Bruce

Awards Team Leader

Saying thank you and well done is one of the simplest, but most powerful ways to recognise our fellow volunteers. It really does count for so much. That’s why our award scheme is so important.

Recognising people’s contribution in a meaningful way will leave them feeling valued and motivated. The new membership system makes it easier to nominate someone who deserves to be thanked for their good service. I would encourage you to put people forward for an award and make them feel even more special – beyond a simple word of thanks.

We know you’re busy with Scouts and your other commitments, which is why the nomination process has been made as simple as possible. You should find everything you need below: More Information about the Awards Scheme can be found here and your guide to making a nomination can be found at the Awards page

Congratulations to our John Kennedy

South East Scotland Scouts are delighted that John Kennedy, who was the Edinburgh Area Commissioner when the Region was formed in 2008, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

John has held a wide variety of roles at local, District and National level, where he is currently the Treasurer for Scouts Scotland.

Over 46 years supporting Scouting, John’s dedication, enthusiasm and leadership have allowed many young people to gain #SkillsForLife and this honour is very well deserved.

Congratulations John from all your friends in South East Scotland Scouts.

In addition, congratulations to those members of South East Scotland who have recently received awards for the work they do in supporting Scouting in our Region.

Learning Update – February 2025

5 Feb 2025

Mike Treanor

Volunteer Development Lead

My Learning

We want all our volunteers to have the skills and knowledge they need to feel confident to keep young people safe and help them gain skills for life. We organise learning at Scouts in what we call the Learning Tree. It’s made up of:

Growing Roots: The learning all new volunteers need to do within their first six months. Learn more about Growing Roots

Branching Out: The learning you can choose to do to develop your knowledge further and get accreditations. Learn more about Branching Out

My Learning Digital Tool

This link provides guidance on how to start a new learning, credit skills, check your team’s learning and create a learning report.

New Safety Module

A reminder that all members will need to complete a new Safety Module by 14^th July 2025 (or before that if your existing Safety Module expires before that date). The Safety Module can be accessed via My Learning on the membership system. Its takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and you can start the module, save it, and go back to it later to complete it.

First Response

First Response learning need to be undertaken by adult volunteers in the following roles:

Group Lead Volunteers
Section Team Members (including those who were previously Sectional Assistants)
Section Team Leaders
14-24 Team Leaders

New volunteers in these roles must undertake First Response within one year and previous Sectional Assistants who are now Team Members, must complete First Response within the next two years.

There are three main ways to complete First Response:

Attend a f2f First Response Course (usually 9.30am to 4.30pm) – we have a range of courses available during qtr. 1 – you can register here
Undertake First Response via the Blended Model where you do some online learning (3 hours), attend an online confirmation session (2.5 hours), and then attend a f2f practical session (30 mins). Details of the Blended model can be found here and you can register for the online learning at First Response e-learning 2025
Undertake an External First Response Course e.g. FAW or BASP and/or present your Professional Qualifications as evidence as having the appropriate First Response Skills. You will need to send your course certificate or details of your professional qualifications to firstresponse@sesscouts.org.uk . A Regional First Response Trainer will validate your learning/experience and confirm whether it meets Scouting requirements or whether you need to do some additional learning e.g. Child CPR.

Update on Digital Tools

5 Feb 2025

Mike Treanor

Volunteer Development Lead

Signing into the new Membership System

If you have not yet signed into the new Membership System or are having difficulty doing so, you can find out how to gain access via this link

Please note when you register or reset your password, the system sends a verification code to your login email, to verify the account. This verification code doesn’t come from ‘Scouts’, instead from Microsoft on behalf of prodscoutsb2c (msonlineservicesteam@microsoftonline.com), which means it’s going into some people’s spam/junk folder – you may need to check these folders.

Benefits of New System

Many of our adult volunteers are using the new membership system to access their personal profile and learning, to submit Nights Away Notifications, to nominate fellow volunteers for awards and to apply for permits. For many the system is a significant improvement on Compass.

Upgrades to the Digital System

UK Scouts have acknowledged that some improvements are needed especially for those volunteers who lead teams. You can find the latest a) resolved and b) planned updates and interim solutions for known issues within the digital tools here.

If you are having any difficulties or have any questions about the new digital tools, please speak to your team leader or email transformation@sesscouts.org.uk

Learning Update – November 2024

30 Nov 2024

Mike Treanor

Volunteer Development Lead

New Safety Learning Module to be completed by July 2025 by all volunteers.

On My Learning (the new learning tool which will be available when the new Digital system goes live in a few days), each volunteer will see they have a new Safety e-learning module to complete, as well as an updated expiry date for their mandatory safety learning.

All volunteers will be expected to complete the new learning by 14 July 2025.

In the new year, UK Scouts will email all volunteers to start the six-month completion period. But the new module can be completed from the point each volunteer accesses My Learning, if any volunteer wishes to complete it earlier.

It is estimated that the new Safety e-learning module takes between 45 and 60 minutes to complete- you can pause the learning and continue at a later date.

First Response

Module A and B sessions

The demand for First Response sessions across South East Scotland has increased significantly over the last few months and will continue to do so, largely due to the impact of Covid and the timing of sessions three years ago. To accommodate this, we have run or have scheduled 15 Module A and B sessions between September and December this year, accommodating nearly 200 volunteers. Huge thanks to Mary Dick, Martin Southern and Vicki Moyes who have run the majority of these sessions. We hope to have more sessions in the diary from early in the New Year – details can be found here.

Blended Model

An alternative to attending a f2f session is to undertake First Response via the Blended Model which combines a 2.5-hour eLearning with a three-hour online session for the learning (10A). The practical validation (10B) is a short (15-20min) face to face session which covers the practical elements of the life support training.   The eLearning must be completed first. The online session is a live video call facilitated by a First Response trainer, with some more detailed knowledge checking exercises and discussions.  Volunteers can only attend the practical validation (10B) once the learning (10A) is completed.  SES and Scouts Scotland run the online session and SES run the 10B session. Details of the Blended Model can be found here

Certificates and Qualifications

If you have undertaken an external course e.g. BASP, RYA or FAW to undertake your Scout First Response requirement then you must send your certificate to firstresponse@sesscouts.org.uk to have this validated by a Regional First Response Trainer. They will either validate you for First Response or provide information about any additional requirements that you may have to do to ensure you have completed all elements of Scout First Response e.g. demonstrate Child CPR.

In addition, if you have a qualification or a job e.g. paramedic, police, doctor, dentist etc which you think covers the requirements for Scout First Response then you must send details to firstresponse@sesscouts.org.uk to have this validated by a Regional First Response Trainer

Information for All Former Section Assistants (now Section Team Members) 

UK Scouts are transforming the experience for all our volunteers, and we are excited to highlight the specific opportunity this presents for our valued Section Assistants like yourself.

In your section we are moving to a teams-based approach where tasks can be shared easily amongst team members. Each section will have a Team Leader and several Team Members. When you log in to the new digital system next week your role will have changed from a Section Assistant to a Team Member.

You might have heard that there will be a little bit more learning required to help you make this contribution to your section, but we want to support you every step of the way to grow, develop, and make an even greater impact in Scouts.

Here’s what’s ahead:

✅ The new Growing Roots learning is a brilliant way to enhance your skills and confidence. Many of you may already have completed key modules like Safety, Safeguarding, and GDPR—Thanks for doing this. More details about Growing Roots can be found here. here

✅ To ensure we’re delivering the best possible experience for our young people; you’ll also complete Delivering a Great Programme and Creating Inclusion online learning within the next six months.

✅ And because safety is our priority, a First Response course will need to be completed, but you have two years to get this done. 

Before this improvement to the volunteer experience, taking on a section assistant role was an effective way of avoiding the burden of having to complete Wood Badge training in order to volunteer. Becoming a Team Member makes you an even more valued volunteer within your team with access to appropriate learning for your role.

This is more than just training—it’s a chance to build your skills, connect with fellow volunteers, and ensure that Scouts is inclusive, exciting, and impactful for everyone.

Together, we’re creating a brighter future for The Scouts —and your leadership is key to making that happen! 🌍💚

Longcraig Update – November 2024

30 Nov 2024

Ian Harrower

Longcraig Scout Centre

Looking forward to 2025

Our planning for 2025 is now under way.

So, to help avoid disappointment, if you or your section or your Group has any plans for a water activity event – either at Longcraig or elsewhere – that I anything out of the ordinary for a regular activity booking – get in touch!

Up to the end of this year, we welcome any suggestions for events or activities that we can support or indeed even run for you. This could be a special anniversary, Akela’s big birthday, a celebration of something special – or just a group day out by the seaside messing about in boats.

Does your Group or your District have an ASU team – we might be able to help with arranging an activity day for the ASU – we don’t always exclusively do things for young people.

No matter what your idea, get in touch and see if we can turn your idea into an event!

For example, although we are not yet able to routinely offer our activities to younger sections (Squirrels, Beavers) we can do so, and sometimes the best way to approach this is through a Group event which could incorporate some boating activity for Beavers within it.

How to get in touch? getinvolved@longcraig.info

New Compass benefits

Looking forward to the new Membership Database which is rolling out very shortly?

One of the things it can make easier for adult members is applying for an Activity Permit.

This is all done within the database online package – you simply click on the appropriate link, and it takes you through the process of making an application. Selecting an Activity Assessor will also be much more visible – suitable assessors will appear on your screen, and you just have to select one. Don’t pick the best looking one – all the assessors will assess people to the same standards and all assessments are now done in conjunction with another assessor – so there’s no Good ones nor Bad ones! The assessment process for Permits is not changing – it’s just the process flow that will be much more streamlined and available to all within the new system.

New Tractor

Our final acquisition of 2024 was a replacement tractor that we use for moving boats up and down the pier – especially our safety boats which we have to launch and recover every time we are running activities.

This new Solis tractor replaces our faithful orange Kubota, which we acquired (second hand) in 2009, and which is starting to show some signs of its age. The new tractor was picked from around 6 different options and was selected on the basis of Best Value for purchase cost, equipment and features, trade in value for the old tractor, and overall suitability. It’s already been waxed in the hidden parts underneath so we can minimise the damage caused by the salty water atmosphere that we encounter so close to the sea.

This tractor was funded by a generous grant from the Bells Nautical Trust and a further generous legacy from the Ken Thomson bequest fund, we are gratefully indebted to both funding sources.

Shoring up the shore defences

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy protecting ourselves and Longcraig from the potential of stormy seas which from time to time attempt to engulf the shoreline around our building. For many years now, we have successfully kept those storms at a safe distance, by installing and maintaining a defensive barrier along the boundary between the beach and the grass areas to the front of our building. These defences need some repairs from time to time, and this year we have carried out some areas of refurbishment.

These involve: large pieces of timber – we regularly find them washed up along the coastline and carefully retrieve the best of them.

Here’s a view of a section we’ve just repaired: (you can see how close to the waves it can get!)

Strong metal stakes to retain the timber in position – horizontally and vertically – so it doesn’t get washed out with the surge waves (this was why we were looking for things like old reinforcing bare earlier in the year:

Heavy thick soil to infill behind the timber

Turf or grassy vegetation to knit the soil together and spread a root system deep into the ground.

Strong netting attached to the outer faces of the timber, then over the grass and securely pegged down to limit erosion by the sea and to keep the grass in place until it establishes its root system.

Big thanks to everyone who has assisted with this over the past few weeks of settled autumn weather – just made it before the winter starts!

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

Our training programme for 2024 has now completed, with the final course running last weekend – a Powerboat 2 course.

All the candidates on this course were members of the Longcraig ASU, their funding of the course fees was supported by the SHQ Development Fund for adult training which is available to all adult members undertaking relevant training courses. We are as always grateful to SHQ for supporting training activities like this throughout the year!

Here are the intrepid candidates last Sunday enjoying the Forth with just 4 degrees C around them!

Still in the diary in early 2025:

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 options in badges 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?

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

Saturday 14th December 1pm
Sunday 12th January 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

Do you have any parents in your Group who might be interested in this? Please do let them know!!

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Longcraig Update – February 2025

Ian Harrower

Looking forward to 2025

Longcraig Net Zero Project

Protecting our beach

Training Opportunities

Volunteering?

Recognising Our Fellow Volunteers

John Bruce

Congratulations to our John Kennedy

Learning Update – February 2025

Mike Treanor

My Learning

New Safety Module

First Response

Update on Digital Tools

Mike Treanor

Signing into the new Membership System

Benefits of New System

Upgrades to the Digital System

Learning Update – November 2024

Mike Treanor

New Safety Learning Module to be completed by July 2025 by all volunteers.

First Response

Information for All Former Section Assistants (now Section Team Members)

Longcraig Update – November 2024

Ian Harrower

Looking forward to 2025

New Compass benefits

New Tractor

Shoring up the shore defences

Training Opportunities

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