As reported in last month’s Newsletter, our new Scouting Support Officer is Kirstie Armsworth who will commence in role from 5th July 2021. Kirstie’s details are as follows:
Email: kirstie.armsworth@sesscouts.org.uk
Tel: 07710 703 372
Kirstie will take over from Mike Treanor who undertook the role from July 2019 until recently. Mike had this to say about his time in role:
“I really enjoyed being the Scouting Support Officer for South East Scotland Region, working with so many great people across the Region, helping to support our adult volunteers give our young people Skills for Life and great experiences. My focus initially was on recruitment of adult volunteers but, with the COVID Pandemic, that focus turned towards supporting leaders and other volunteers to navigate the new requirements like risk assessments as well as supporting virtual programme planning. Latterly, I supported recruitment activity for the Regional Office, adult volunteers across the Region and for Longcraig and Bonaly Scout Centres. I would like to thank Margery Naylor, our previous Regional Commissioner, for her support during year one and to Martin Elliot our current RC for his more recent support; to Graeme Robertson for his wise counsel; to the District Commissioners and their deputies for their engagement and help; to the wider Regional Leadership Team and finally to the many, many passionate Scouting volunteers across the Region who I worked with during the two years. I look forward to working with you in a volunteer capacity going forward”
Thanks from Martin Elliot, Regional Commissioner
I think I speak for many within the Region when I thank Mike for the work that he has done in the two years he has been Scouting Support Officer. The number of messages of thanks and tributes to Mike on social media on his last day highlight how many members of the Region, both adult volunteers and young people, have benefitted from his support and show what an invaluable asset to Scouting in South East Scotland he has been. The work that Mike has done to support adult volunteers over the last two years has had a big impact and in particular the way that Mike was able to so quickly switch focus to support with Virtual Scouting when COVID hit and still managed to recruit new volunteers when we could only meet virtually helps to explain why South East Scotland was able to weather the pandemic better than many others. On a personal level I have benefited hugely from Mike’s wise counsel as I took on the Regional Commissioner role and am glad that he will continue to support the Region in a voluntary capacity.
I wish you all the best for your (well earned) retirement.
Thank You Simon
As some of you will be aware, Simon Cocker stepped down as Deputy Regional Commissioner for South East Scotland at the end of June as he prepares to move to pastures new south of the Border although he will still be around the Region for a while yet with some of his other hats on!
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Simon for all of the work that he has done in his time on the Regional team during which he has made a huge contribution to the work of the Region both as Deputy RC but also as Acting RC during the recent vacancy. Simon has played a leading role in driving forward the Programme pillar of the Regional Strategy and as part of this has been heavily involved in the SEEE (South East Explorer Expeditions) group and did a large amount of work leading working groups looking at Transitioning Pathways and Top Awards which have made good progress in supporting these areas of the programme. Personally, I will miss his support and guidance, which I have benefitted hugely from, but I know that the infrastructure that he has put in place mean that the work that he has done will continue to have an influence on Scouting in SE Scotland for a long time to come.
So, thank you Simon for all that you have done and I wish you and Diane every happiness as you move onto pastures new.
Martin Elliot
Regional Commissioner
rc@sesscouts.org.uk