On the 1st January Christopher Tebb (Chris) took over as the new District Commissioner for Northern Europe. Chris, who is also a volunteer with the 1st Prague, has a track record of proven managerial skills and a personable management style. I know he will be a brilliant fit for the District and is already making great progress. I’d also like to take the opportunity to say a massive thank you to the previous DC, PK, for all that he has done for the district and BSO over the last Year.
As we travel further into 2022, it’s really heart-warming to see BSO really start to recover from the pandemic restrictions. It’s been great to see all the amazing activities happening around the four Districts and even the Middle East is now starting to awaken after more than two years without meetings.
New Area Website
Our new Area website was launched shortly before Christmas. This has been an epic task by our Comms team and by the whole Area team who have contributed to make this into a vastly improved tool for providing information, support and guidance to our membership and those simply interested in BSO. Thank you to the whole Area team, especially our Comms team for a job well done.
BSO Census returns
Baring one or two Groups, our yearly census return is almost complete. As of the 19th February our total membership is 2,771 young people and adults. Which is a 27% decline in membership over the last two years. However, with the reopening of the Middle East I am confident that we will see a general recovery and growth in membership.
| Area Census | Jan 2020 | Jan 2021 | Jan 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total YP | 2860 | 2109 | 2085 |
| +8.3% | -26.3% | -3.9% | |
| Total Adults | 824 | 741 | 765 |
| -1.8% | -10.1% | +0.8% | |
| Total | 3684 | 2850 | 2850 |
| Membership | +5.9% | -22.6% | -2.7% |
Events
Sadly, due to Covid uncertainly Groups attending the Monopoly run have cancelled and we are not running this as an Area event this year. We will hopefully be able to run this properly next year.
The Area Development weekend which we had scheduled in early February was postponed due to uncertainty around Covid. This has now been rescheduled to 17-19 June and will be for the whole Area team and District Commissioners to plan and align our Strategic Plan for the next 3-5 years. Prior to this, in May, six members of the Area team/DCs will be attending the “Basecamp22” national Scout conference in Manchester to review and discuss how the national Strategy will be implemented across UK Scouting.
Thank you Day 2022
Thank you Day 2022 is taking place on Sunday 5 June. This is part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend and a chance for Scouts to join together and celebrate. This could be with a Big Lunch or other ways, big or small. Keep an eye out on the BSO website and social media for plans.
Hillwalking weekend
The BSO Hillwalking permit weekend will take place on Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March 2022 in the English Peak District. There is still time to register a place on this weekend. A big thank you to Howard Nelson for organising this event.
Training Compliance
The Scouts have recently introduced rules to suspend members if mandatory training is not updated/completed. The mandatory training includes Safety, Safeguarding, GDPR and First Aid. It causes a lot of work to chase people and is massively demotivating to impose suspensions on volunteers. We are and will be implementing suspensions for non-compliance. Please keep an eye on the expiry dates in your Compass record so you can stay compliant.
Area Equipment
In January Steven Hartley, Bob Thorpe and myself suffered some pretty lousy weather and spent the weekend at PACCAR Scout Camp to move all the BSO camping equipment to new storage elsewhere in PACCAR Scout Camp. A big thank you to Steven and Bob for their assistance with this.
Farewell
Unfortunately, due to work commitments, BSO’s Network Commissioner Liam Scott, has resigned from the role. We are considering options of how we should replace this role. I’d like to say a big thank you to Liam for the efforts he’s put into BSO Network and it’s been good to recently see a new strategy which I think will be beneficial for his successor.
Welcome
Following a competitive selection process, I was delighted to welcome Jordan McCullough into the Area team as our new AAC(Diversity & Inclusion). Jordan has previously fulfilled a very similar role within the Northern Ireland team. He will be creating a team and working across the whole Area to improve EDI issues. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more about this in the coming weeks and months.
New District Badge for Southern Europe
Following consultations with HQ and WOSM branding managers, I was delighted to approve the following design for the new Southern Europe District badge. A very collectible badge I would imagine!
Cub Scout Leader’s Conference
At the end of January, I was delighted to attend the Area Cub Scout Leader’s programme conference run by Howard Nelson and Chris Wait. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic Cub leaders sharing tips and tricks. I was asked to deliver an interactive session at the beginning and presented a Cub Scout trivia quiz which was won by Baloo (1st Prague)! We ran a short anonymous survey which brought out some interesting answers which I’ve shared below. I’d be interested to know whether you think politics or any of the other least enjoyable issues are a problem for you? Please feel free to drop me a line (in total confidence) – I’d like to know if this a real issue and see if I can help. We are here for the young people. Politics should play absolutely no part in Scouting.
Conversely, it was no surprise to see that “Fun”, “Outdoors” and “Camping” are the most enjoyable things that our leaders enjoy…
Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a massive well done for all you’re doing in your part of British Scouting Overseas. Never underestimate the impact that you have on the young people in your care. You make a huge difference and you are truly amazing – Thank you!
Nathan
Area Commissioner
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Find out what's happening across BSO with our latest Far & Wide Magazine, with information on events and important updates.
Thinking about joining the BSO Southern Europe Jamborette in Spain next summer?
Join us on Thursday 30th October at 20:30 (Spain) / 19:30 (UK) to find out more about this incredible adventure!
Could the World Scout Jamboree Be for You? The World Scout Jamboree is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, with tens of thousands of Scouts from all over the world. It’s about making new friends, trying new things, learning about different cultures, and discovering what you’re capable of. But it’s also a big commitment. It takes time, energy, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. This experience isn’t right for everyone, and that’s okay. There are lots of other amazing opportunities in Scouting, too. This description is here to help you decide if applying for the Jamboree is something you’d enjoy and grow from. What Kind of Young People Are We Looking For? There’s no such thing as a “perfect” Jamboree participant. We’re not looking for the loudest, the most confident, or the most experienced. We’re looking for a mix of people who are ready to: Be part of a team – listen, support others, and work together Try new things – even if they feel a bit scary at first Be open-minded – meet people from different backgrounds and cultures Get stuck in – whether it’s cooking dinner, putting up tents, or joining in activities Grow – learn about yourself, challenge yourself, and come back with stories to tell You don’t need to have done anything like this before. You just need to be up for the journey and be born between 30 July 2009 and 30 July 2013. What You’ll Be Expected to Do If you’re selected, you’ll be part of a Unit with other young people from your area. You’ll: Take part in training weekends and team-building activities Help fundraise for your place and support others in doing the same Represent your community and the UK at an international event Be ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a bit muddy! Still Not Sure? That’s okay. Talk to your leaders, your family, or someone who’s been to a Jamboree before. Ask questions. Think about what excites you and what worries you. This might be the right adventure for you, or it might not be. Either way, there’s something in Scouting for everyone.
