As I write this between Christmas and New Year, I reflect that my last “Natter with Nathan” was way back last January. After this, I was asked to create a video to coincide with each Far & Wide rather than this format. Following quite a few comments from various people across BSO who prefer the written format, I have decided to bring this column back. I also think it’s good for history as it remains a less formal record of what’s happened/happening across the Area.
Who would have thought nearly two years after COVID reared its ugly head, this nasty virus would still be with us and evolving? Many of our Groups have been affected, with leaders and parents losing jobs and being repatriated which has been massively stressful for families. In the meantime, they are meeting online with leaders based in other parts of the world. However, our initial worries that this would massively affect BSO membership seems to have been dispelled as our membership appears mostly to have recovered and, in some cases, increased. Amazingly, we’ve also reopened the 1st Naples which is going from strength to strength. In recent weeks we’ve also registered three new Groups in the Rest of World district - 1st Kathmandu in Nepal and the 1st and 2nd Selangor in Kuala Lumpur. It also looks like we’ll be reopening the 1st Tokyo very soon. I’d like to take this end-of-year “Natter with Nathan” to have look at some of 2021’s highlights:
Spring 2021
- The majority (75%) of BSO Groups are currently closed due to pandemic restrictions.
- Following a strong competition, I was delighted to appoint Bob Thorpe as the new District Commissioner for France & Iberia.
- Young Leader training, led by Victoria Mitchell and her adult team, goes from strength to strength. It was great to join in a session with the Ascension Island Explorers.
- Duke of Edinburgh International Award HQ in London provided a series of briefings showing how to register and deliver the award. Excellent participation across BSO and aligns with our strategy to get more young people to achieve top awards in Scouting.
- 1st Madrid held a productive meeting with the Spanish Scouts - Exploradores de Madrid (EdM) to identify joint ideas and common challenges. They now have an informal collaboration as “Scouting friends”. Again, establishing friendships with our local host nation Groups must be a common strategy across BSO Scout Groups in all sections. This will lead to more community action.
Summer 2021
- Lockdowns continue into the early summer with 75% of our Groups remaining closed but this rapidly improved as we went into June/July.
- The France and Iberia District was renamed Southern Europe District. The change of name follows the reopening of the 1st Naples and is more inclusive.
- Matt Lightfoot resigned as Deputy Area Commissioner (Programme). He remains with the Area team on the BSO Executive.
- We formally welcomed Shelly Burrows as the District Commissioner for the Middle East District where she had been filling in for several months. Unfortunately, the District has been largely inactive since the start of COVID, but is starting to reopen now.
- Following a distinct lack of Area-level Scout Network engagement, we recruited a new of Assistant Area Commissioner (Scout Network) and welcomed Liam Scott to the Area Team in May. Since taking on the role, Liam has put together a Network strategy and started to bring our Network together with meetings. We have seen Districts renewing efforts with their Scout Network provisions.
- Our Groups on the South Atlantic islands of St Helena and Ascension have historically operated as “Boy Scouts”. We are all bound by The Scouts’ Equal Opportunities Policy so Jon Gill, DC for RoW and myself had very positive discussions with the GSLs to ensure female members are as equally welcome as male members. We hope to female members in the Groups in due course.
- In May, I attended the Rest of World district Top Awards online event where the guest of honour was Bear Grylls. Top Awards were presented to Beavers, Cubs, Scout and Explorers where Bear read all the names of the recipients. We were also able to invite our two Queen’s Scout Award holders: Zoe Baxter from Telstar, Luxembourg and Alex Whitfield from Abu Dhabi who Bear gave a special mention to and provided inspiration to the younger members. I was also really delighted that
Carl Gagnon from the 1st Bougival, Paris was able attend as he achieved the Cornwell Badge for bravery along with the Bear Grylls Unsung Hero award. Bear gave Carl a one-to-one interview in front of everyone and really highlighted the amazing things that Carl has done whilst he was suffering from a life-threatening illness.
Autumn 2021
- Whilst the rest of the Scout Association reopened, BSO’s reopening status followed a much slower path. Nearly all the Middle East remained closed. 40% of our Groups were now meeting with no restrictions.
- At the BSO AGM, I was delighted to nominate Jane Warne as the new Chair for BSO as Irene Orford indicated she wished to step down after a long time in-role supporting both Peter Dawes and myself in the AC role. Irene has been and continues to be a wonderful friend and I have appreciated her wisdom and support over the last two years since taking on the Area Commissioner role. She remains on the Area Exec as Chair of the massively important Awards panel. Jane was previously DC of the Middle East and is now based back in the UK. Jane, like Irene, is far more sensible than me and I’m sure will keep me in check!
- Following a competitive selection process, I was delighted to welcome Howard Nelson as the Deputy AC (Programme), whilst retaining his existing AAC (Activities) role. Since taking on the role, Howard has had massive impact across BSO and is an excellent line manager for his Programme team.
- We also welcomed Steven Hartley as our new AAC (Events). Steven has been kept busy since being appointed with supporting the WSJ Unit, future camps and Area events.
- We had many applications for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) Unit Leader (UL) role. After a lot of deliberation, Alistair Hammond of the 1st Prague was appointed as the Unit Leader. Alastair has been massively busy since then appointing his adult team and has recently concluded young people selection.
- Mairi Clare Dunlin was appointed as camp chief for next year’s summer camp to the Kent International Jamboree. We had spaces for about 10 leaders and 65 young people. Southern Europe District will also be sending a slightly smaller-sized contingent and we will be joining forces to host a very large contingent camp.
Winter 2021
- BSO’s reopening process continued on a faster trajectory. About 60% of BSO were now operating with no restrictions. Whilst the majority of the Middle East remains closed, likely until 2022.
- There was strong competition for the Northern Europe DC role and I was delighted to appoint Chris Tebbs as the new DC. Chris takes over from Paul Kanikowski (PK) who has been a committed, enthusiastic and effective DC. This will give him time to concentrate on his WSJ UL role in Nottinghamshire.
- BSO’s first Squirrel Drey started by the 1st Falklands with 16 Squirrels plus new leaders. The leader’s reported they had a busy time learning their new Hello and Goodbye Song, games and craft work. They also started to learn the Squirrel Promise and the Scout salute and even had time for a story! Thank you to Lynn Gill who is acting as Area Adviser for Squirrels. We are not seeking to expand the roll out of Squirrels across BSO until advised by HQ.
- The full WSJ Unit Leadership team was announced:
- Unit Leader: Alistair Hammond – ESL 1st Prague
- Deputy Unit Leader: Brooke Lowman – British Girlguiding Overseas Madrid
- Assistant Unit Leader: Alice Mintoff - Youth Commissioner S. Europe & Scout Network
- Assistant Unit Leader: Zoe Baxter – ASL 1st Telstar and Scout Network.
- Young people WSJ selection events were held Sat 4 to Sun 5 December. There was a range of creative activities to simulate, as much as possible, the conditions and intensity of an in-person selection event typically used within a UK WSJ selection event. There were about 50 young people chasing after 27 places. I assisted with the selection event which was actually a lot of fun and a great deal of thought has been put into it by the team. It also gave me the opportunity to talk to YP from all across BSO which I found massively rewarding. They were one and all, very enthusiastic about Scouting and thankful for all that their leaders have done for them.
- Our Perception/Comms team launched our brand-new snazzy website. This will massively improve information access and provide better support to our members.
2022 Area Commissioner’s Challenge
For those that watched my YouTube Christmas message, you’ll know I set you a challenge to look at Wellbeing across your sections. The 5-Ways to Wellbeing is something that everyone can do. These 5-Ways are: Connect; Be active; Take Notice; Keep Learning and Give. After the last two years, the mental wellbeing of both your young people and of yourself should be top priority and feature somewhere in your section’s programme. Why not get your young people to become Wellbeing Champions and claim the badge? The Scouts’ website has plenty of ready-made programmes to run like A Wellbeing Session or many different activities exploring the 5-Ways. OnlineScoutManager programmes also feature plenty of Wellbeing resources. I especially like the Wellbeing Session but there are plenty of others. Any section can tie this in with the “Better mental health for all” theme of the Million Hands project. Together we can make a huge impact on the mental health and resilience of all our members. Please let me know how you get on with this.
Thank you
BSO volunteers all share a passion and belief in UK Scouting and the life skills that it offers to young people across all the twenty nine countries we operate in. I would like to say a big thank you to all our wonderful, inspiring and amazing volunteers for sharing the passion, for sticking with it during the difficult times and for your dedication, commitment, time and talents that enable our youth members to develop #SkillsForLife. You are all true heroes - Thank you.
On behalf of the whole Area team, I wish you, your loved ones and all our members a very happy and prosperous new year for 2022.
Nathan Prince
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