This summer BSO will once again be attending Haarlem Jamborette en-masse. The camp takes place 5-16 August and will be attended by four BSO contingents – The Area camp lead by myself, consisting almost 80 members from across the Area along with contingents from 1st Brussels, 1st Hague/1st Prague combined and 1st Bougival. I’d like to say a massive thank you to 1st Hauge/1st Prague for taking many extra young people from other Districts, which removed our reserve list and ensures that no young people are disappointed. All our camps are totally full but we are operating a reserve sign up list
International Summer Events 2023
World Scout Jamboree
This Summer, the Unit 1 - joint BGO/BSO unit will join more than 40,000 Scouts from all over the world and will gather in Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree. Under the able leadership of Shelly Burrows, Brooke Lowe, Zoe Baxter and Lynn Millard, the unit’s preparations continue and excitement is building amongst all the participants with online meetings, fundraising and team building activities. Last weekend the leadership team had an opportunity to meet up in person in Colchester where they discussed many aspects of making sure our young people get the very most out of this once-in-a-lifetime event. They also met up with Mark Lloyd, the Contingent Support Team member who is looking after the Unit and were able to ask many questions. The Unit’s name is the “Wild Ones” but I understand Mark has christened ‘his’ unit the “Exotic Ones”! I am told there were many good laughs over the weekend and it was a great team building opportunity for the adult team. Please consider supporting Unit 1 and get a bit fit along the way, by signing up for their virtual mission where you can travel from London to Seoul by any non-powered means. I am very grateful that the Executive has approved travel costs for our three BSO leaders to attend the all-leader’s meeting at Gilwell in May.
Kander100
The final big international camp we have this summer is Kander100 at Kanderstag International Scout Centre (KISC) where 16 Explorers from Northern Europe will be representing BSO and taking part in celebrating KISC’s Centenary. The event will host many thousands of Scouts and Girlguides who will be converging on the small swiss village for 12-day’s of adventure from 27th July to 8th August. Many thanks to Lucy Hammond and Jon Copner from 1st Brussels and to Matt Lightfoot from 1st Prague/Area, who are leading our Explorers in in an exciting Swiss Alps adventurous programme.
BSO Development Weekend
The Scouts #SkillsForLife National Strategy was launched in 2018. To align with the national strategy, we created our Area Strategy 2019-23 and had plans to publicise and push this across the whole Area. We then hit the Covid-19 pandemic which scuppered our plans to promote the strategy. Since then, The Scouts have updated the National Strategy and extended the strategy another two years to 2025. This meant our strategy was no longer in alignment and we need to create a refreshed strategy. To ensure maximum buy-in across the Area, we have engaged with front-line volunteers to understand the effectiveness of our Area and District support teams. This was done via an all-member questionnaire aimed at front-line volunteers who were given a chance to win a £30 (congrats to Olivia Prince of 1st Jeradong on winning!). The questionnaire has help us understand your view/understanding of strategies, satisfaction, support, recognition, programme, adventure/permits, inclusivity, youth shaped, community impact and growth. I want to reassure everyone that took the time to complete the questionnaire, that we have read and studied every comment and submission and this will be used to help form our 2-year strategy to 2025.
Two weekends ago, nearly all of the Area team along with District Commissioners came together at Paccar Scout Camp (between Heathrow and London) to discuss and shape our future strategy. The weekend allowed us to create a huge prioritised list of 170 weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the delivery of Scouting across BSO. These are being divided up amongst the Area teams and Districts so that team and District strategies can be created so that the highest priority items can be tackled over the next two years. Here are the top 10 issues for the Area team to concentrate on:
- DBS checks local/national along with compliance/non-compliance
- Access to adventurous activity permits and gaining night’s away permits
- Getting started in BSO (induction and training support)
- Safe Scouting and processes not always being followed
- Training is seen by some as optional
- Help with recruiting new volunteers and retaining existing volunteers
- How to ensure we are delivering Youth Shaped Scouting
- Tackling resistance to change by some leaders
- Accessing adult training
- Issues with distances in BSO: Problems with communication, safety, sense of belonging
There are many more issues that might be quick wins, but the above are seen as the most pressing issues to be tackled. Area and District teams will be working on these. Districts will also soon be running similar strategy workshops where Group/section members will be invited to discuss and contribute to District 2-year strategies. My thanks go to the Area team and DCs for attending what was a great team-building event, full of energy and a lot of humour. We achieved a great deal which will now allow us to create an achievable and understandable Area Strategy and will give a framework for our Districts to create their own strategy.
These will ensure we are able to deliver on the national Youth Shaped strategy and ensure that we achieve BSO’s strategy that:
by 2025 BSO will have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme. We'll be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our international communities.
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British Scouting Overseas wants to appoint two trustees, to serve for an initial term of three years, starting in September 2026. Our trustee board provides collective leadership and oversight of the charity, in support of our volunteers who deliver our programme to young people around the world. Trustees may be of any nationality and live in any part of the world – the only condition is that you are willing and able to carry out the duties of a trustee and to bring a constructive and independent-minded approach to the role. The main requirement is a commitment to Scout values and willingness to do the best you can to help the Board carry out their role. It’s a bonus if you can bring some personal skills or experience in a particular area, such as any of the following: Administration and meeting management Data protection - policy and practice Development planning in a voluntary group Finance and budgeting - oversight Governance Media and public affairs Risk management - policy and practice Safety - policy and practice We are also keen to include young adults (for example, under twenty fives). The role of trustee is a volunteer one, but reasonable authorised expenses may be claimed. Trustees serve for three year terms, up to a maximum of nine years, after which they must stand down. Trustees may only be appointed if they are not disqualified under UK law from being a trustee of a registered charity. Successful candidates will be required to sign a statement confirming that they are not disqualified. There is some mandatory online learning for our trustees. The Board meets four times a year, plus the annual general meeting. There are additional ad hoc meetings from time to time. Meetings are usually held online via Microsoft Teams. Appointment requirements Hold or obtain membership of The Scout Association in accordance with appointment requirements Complete The Scouts Joining Journey and membership declaration. Follow our code of conduct for members of the BSO Board Communicate with purpose and efficiency Always act with integrity and in the best interests of the charity Champion our vision, mission and values Accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Trustee and adhere to the ethical standards outlined in the Nolan principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership Take on training and development that will help you in your role Responsible to Area Chair and British Scouting Overseas Scout Council Main tasks and responsibilities To be a full and active participant in Trustee Board meetings and activities To uphold the responsibilities of a Trustee Board as outlined in The Scout Association’s Policy Organisation and Rules Contribute to the strategic aims and future development of the Area An understanding of their own role, and the role of others on the Trustee Board A commitment to understanding and forming opinions on the key discussion points and responsibilities of the Trustee Board Willingness to complete various tasks which support the work of the Trustee Board and the aims of the Area Skills for a trustee Ability to work as part of a team Strong communication skills Able to think creatively and solve problems Able to handle and resolve conflict effectively Willing to speak one’s mind and listen to the views of others Able to maintain independent and objective judgement Willing to actively design and contribute to the strategic vision of the Area W illingness to take decisions which will further the work of the Area Willingness and eligibility to act as a charity trustee for the Area Time commitment The estimated time commitment is: 4 Board meetings a year 1 AGM Other commitments as required to fulfil the role Meetings are normally online using Microsoft Teams About BSO BSO is a part of the UK Scout Association with headquarters in Gilwell Park, London. BSO members have access to the same resources, support and programme as UK based Scout groups. BSO exists to support British families living overseas in the provision of a UK Scouting programme to expatriate British children and to several British Overseas Territories. We aim to ensure that all our members have the opportunity to feel and experience high quality UK Scouting whilst providing support and advice to adult members no matter where they are in the world. BSO undertakes Scouting activities in a safe and secure environment with flexibility to adapt to both local customs and guidelines set out within The Scout Association's policies and rules. BSO operates 60 Scout Groups, 25 Explorer Units and 3 Scout Networks, with an impressive 3,138 young people supported by 1473 adult volunteer leaders across 29 countries around the world. Whilst most adult volunteer members are delivering programme activities with our young people, many volunteers are also based in the UK offering support, training, mentoring, governance and resources in a variety of different roles from trustee to marketing and event support to skills assessors. BSO is fully inclusive and open to all who share our fundamental values. BSO exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
Congratulations to our Good Service Award Recipients
About the role The Chair of British Scouting Overseas’ (BSO) will provide inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees. The Chair will ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the BSO Lead Volunteer (and their team) to achieve agreed objectives and oversight. The chair will focus on BSO’s governance and regulatory compliance long-term sustainability, enabling young people to gain skills for life.
