News
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Can you help some French Explorers this summer?
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 18-05-2012
A group of French Explorer Scouts are coming to Scotland from July 28th until August 13th.
They are looking for a Scottish Group that they can link up with whilst they are.
If your Explorers are interested, please contact Marie-Rose Asker directly.
Chief Scout's Visit
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 08-05-2012
You may have read in the most recent issuer of Pathfinder that the Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, is touring Northern Ireland and Scotland by helicopter during the weekend May 19th/20th.
Whilst we know that there are many young people and adults who would be keen to meet the Chief Scout, he is visiting each Region for a short period of time (45 minutes) during the weekend, meaning that the practicalities of an event for him to visit need to reflect the time that he will spend in each Region.
Clyde Region has decided that our Districts will hold their camping competitions at Auchengillan during that weekend and the Chief Scout will spend some time with Scouts from our Districts during their competition. This means that he will be able to see some practical Scouting skills first hand and the young people that are there, will actually get to interact with the Chief Scout.
We know that some Groups will be disappointed that we have not organised a large event but we felt that bringing 2,000/3,000 young people and adults to Auchengillan would have been more disappointing as they would simply have seen him from a distance.
In order to help manage the event, only those groups that have booked will be allowed on site at Auchengillan during the weekend so please dissuade anyone from simply turning up to try to be part of the event.
If you have not had information about how to enter your Scouts in the camping competition, please contact your District Commissioner.
What is really that impossible a task?
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 07-05-2012
Every story has a beginning and this one started when three Groups, the 1st, 9th and 14th East Kilbride amalgamated at the end of 2007. At that time, it probably did seem like a high mountain to climb for Bill Linley, Chairman of the newly formed Group.
It was obvious that the 1st's wooden hall built in 1968 was well past its best. Various options were looked at, including knocking it down and a 'new-build', selling the land, moving, and building elsewhere on the proceeds but in the end, the Group decided to stay put and see what they could do with their current hall.
A local Chartered Surveyor came 'on board' and in keeping with the Group's wish to try to keep the essential character of a 'scout hall', came up with the idea of building a shell round the existing wooden structure using modern materials. In April 2008 plans went out to tender and by November 2008 planning consent was secured with the mere task of securing finance being all that was left!
After lots of frustration and failed attempts, funds were secured with £30,000 coming from Viridor (landfill credits), £21,000 South Lanarkshire Council (Scottish Power, Whitelee Wind Farm) and £2,500 from Scottish Scout HQ as well as the Group's own local fundraising.
Work started in late October 2010 and a further grant from Awards for All allowed the Group to add new central heating and a new kitchen to its project.
The end result? £80,000 worth of improvements to their existing building and a scout hall fit for the year 2012 as the Group continues to grow, with membership hitting in excess of 130 young people.
On Saturday 30th April, friends and family of the Group gathered in East Kilbride for a fun day to celebrate their achievement.
'From grant funders and contractors to parents and leaders, thank you for helping turn a damp cold building with zero insulation, into a warm and welcoming meeting place,' said Group Chairman Billm, 'next year, the Group will celebrate its centenary in a hall fit for purpose, allowing us to keep delivering Scouting to the children of the town and to continue to do so into our next century. I would keep you here for ages if I tried to thank everyone who has contributed to what has been achieved or who simply offered advice and encouragement. It may have taken four years, but I hope you all agree it was worth it.'
And that everyone does!
Not satisfied with where they are at, Bill spoke about the next phase of the Group's plans which include replacement of the hall floor, a new fence and a car park. Assisting with this will be the Group's newly formed committee of parent's who are freeing up the leaders to deliver their weekly programme and they are now enthusiastically looking at there next fundraising venture.
