Clyde Scouts at the Coronation

The other weekend (Saturday 6 May), we celebrated the Coronation of HM King Charles III. This was a great opportunity for us to reflect on our service to others and our contribution to our local community, a key part of our Promise and Values.  We are delighted that young people and adults from our Region were able to engage and participate in this truly special occasion.

Coronation Service at St Margaret’s Church

James Dickson and Andrew Sharkey (Explorers from Lanark Scouts) were selected to represent Clyde Scouts at a special screening of the Coronation Service at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster.

Photo: James Dickson and Andrew Sharkey on the river Thames opposite the Palace of Westminster

They travelled to London on Friday the 5th of May along with Scouts Scotland Chief Commissioner, Andrew Sharkey, Youth Commissioner, Mollie Reid, and three other Explorers from Scotland. They formed part of the UK contingent and spent the weekend at Gilwell Park, the National UK Scout Adventures Activity Centre.

The Scouts contingent attended the Service along with 350 other young people representing a range of charitable organisations with a long history of support from the Royal Family, chosen by The King, The Queen Consort and the UK Government.

St Margaret’s, known as ‘the Church on Parliament Square’, is beside Westminster Abbey and the attendees were able to view a special screening of the service and the Procession departing Westminster Abbey after the Service.

Photo: The Scottish Explorers that attended the Coronation at Edinburgh Airport with Andrew Sharkey (left) and Mollie Reid (right)

James Dickson, from Lanrak Explorers, said: “It was an enormous honour to represent Clyde Scouts and Scouts Scotland at the Coronation of King Charles III. I was able to witness a part of history and make many new friends from many different countries. I really enjoyed my time at Gilwell Park and with the Archbishop of Canterbury on the day of the Coronation Service at St Margaret’s Church. I will never forget this special day and wish King Charles and Queen Camilla a long and happy reign!"

Coronation Volunteers and Camp

UKHQ received almost 1,000 nominations for volunteers to support the Coronation by helping people navigate London and enjoy a historic day. We're incredibly proud of Georgia Henry (32nd Glasgow, 1st Kirkintilloch), Sophie Nicholson (First Glasgow) and Laura Thompson (35th Glasgow, Crookfur) from Clyde Scouts who were three of five-hundred volunteers selected to provide stewarding and route-lining services in London on the day of the Coronation.

 Photo: Georgia Henry (second from the right) volunteering on the day of the Coronation in London with other Scouts

Arran Donaldson (9th Airdrie), Shannon Gough (8th Lanarkshire), Stuart Grant (171st Glasgow, 1st Whitecraigs and Eastwood District), Emma Green (2nd Clyde, Moodiesburn), Jade Thompson (35th Glasgow, Crookfur) and Beth Wallace (45th Glasgow, Kirkintilloch) also travelled to London to celebrate the occasion at Gilwell Park with Scouts from across the UK.

Windsor Garden Party

Graeme Hamilton, Group Scout Leader at 113th Glasgow, and his wife were invited to the Windsor Garden Party on Monday the 8th of May to recognise Graeme for achieving the Silver Wolf in 2021. The Silver Wolf is the highest award  for adults in Scouting "for services of the most exceptional character."
 

Graeme said: “40 years ago (1983), I went to Windsor for the very first time to join the national celebration of Queen's Scouts achieving the top scout youth award, reviewed that year by HM The Queen Mother. In more recent years I have enjoyed working behind the scenes supporting many young people and adult volunteers in their celebrations."

Photo: Graeme Hamilton pictured at Windsor Castle

"Today it was a privilege to attend once more as a recipient. Well done to all the organisers for continuing to provide an amazing and successful event for all. And well done too for today recognising the service given by Queen's Scouts at the lying-in-state last September.”

The Big Help Out

It was brilliant to see groups in the Clyde region getting involved with The Big Help Out, the national day of volunteering during the Coronation weekend all about inspiring people to try volunteering for the first time and helping us recruit more volunteers for Scouts. Over 6.5 million people participated in over 55 thousand events across the UK. We want to thank you for getting out there in your communities last weekend and representing Scouts.

The 20th Glasgow (1st Milngavie) Scout Group organised an all-day volunteering event in Milngavie Scout Hall. This was intended to carry out painting, gardening and other maintenance jobs. Over 30 volunteers came along to paint the lower hall, the committee room and the garden shed as well as gardening, path resurfacing and other landscaping jobs.

The BBC also visited the group to film a news item on the Big Help Out for Reporting Scotland. The lunchtime and evening news featured shots of volunteers in action and interviews with some Leaders.

Sandy Bennet, Group Scout Leader at the 20th Glasgow, said: "We are very keen to encourage volunteers to get involved as Leaders in the Scout Group as all our sections are at capacity and we have a long waiting list for places in Beavers and Cubs. Without more Leaders, we can’t increase our capacity and therefore many young people will miss out on the opportunity to take part in Scouting."

On the pipeline of new volunteers, Sandy said: "We have had several people come forward recently showing interest in becoming Leaders and the Big Help Out has hopefully helped in encouraging them to come forward."

The 113^th Scouts in Burnside held a hugely successful plant sale and community fete for the Big Help Out. The crowds rolled up by the dozen and all the bedding plants were cleared off the shelves long before closing time. The event was possible thanks to the help of local volunteers and organisations including Ace Place, a local nursery and after-school service, and Saorsa Swords, a sword-fighting activity operator. 

Speaking after the event, Group Scout Leader (and attendee at the Coronation Garden Party above) Graeme Hamilton said: “We often hold a plant sale every year, but we pulled out all the stops this year and made it a much more community-focused event with a range of taste and try activities and of course our amazing coffee bar with home baking from all our parents and carers. We plan to invest the funds raised into developing a campfire circle and outdoor eating area which can be used by scouts, nursery and others within the Burnside community.”

Photo: Community plant sale at the 113th Glasgow, Burnside

The event raised a total of £1,200 for the scout group to invest in outdoor facilities and Graeme is hopeful that new volunteers will step forward as a result of the event.

Check out this feature in the Daily Record

The 5th Clyde Scouts in Broomhouse hosted a Big Help Out event as part of a wider project to help restore the old 2nd Uddingston Scout Hall. The project, led by South East District and Strathcalder District, is restoring the building to its former glory to reopen its doors for use by the 5th Clyde Scouts and for other events and meetings.

The event was well attended by leaders, young people and their families. They got involved by clearing the grounds (picking up leaves, sweeping up debris etc.) to create a more welcoming environment for young people to be able to spend more time outdoors during the summer term. 

Photo: Beavers from the 5th Clyde Scouts getting involved in the Big Help Out by clearing leaves at the old 2nd Uddingston Scout Hall

A parent of one of the Beavers who helped with the cleanup said: "It's so nice to have all the kids outside getting some fresh air and doing something that's going to benefit them". 

In response, Danielle Defalco, Group Scout Leader at the 5th Clyde Scouts, said: "That's exactly what we are trying to achieve: To get parents to see what we are doing and the benefit it has on our young people, which is fantastic."

Parents make up a large portion of our adult volunteers and there are loads of ways to get involved from helping out occasionally, regularly or playing a vital role behind the scenes. If you would like to find out more about volunteering in Clyde Scouts, find out more here.