The role of Contingent Leader is an important one requiring exceptional leadership with skills and experience across a range of disciplines. This is a volunteer role, but one that will place substantial demands upon your time and require a thoroughly professional approach. The role is a significant personal commitment but tremendously rewarding.

About the role

Responsibilities will include:

•    Developing and promoting the concept for the UK Contingent’s Jamboree Experience;
•    Establishing a Contingent Management Team (CMT) and leading it;
•    Establishing a wider Contingent Support Team and overseeing the recruitment of all Contingent Members, either directly or indirectly;
•    Working in partnership with UK HQ staff to plan, deliver and review the event;
•    Liaising with the event organisers in Japan and other external partners;
•    Develop an event budget to be approved by UK HQ and to work within budget for the project;
•    Provide regular management reports on operational developments and progress to the Project Board;
•    Overseeing the preparations for the Contingent;
•    Leading the Contingent during their time in Japan, and at any pre- and/or post-Jamboree events;
•    Working closely with Girlguiding UK, who will be invited to the event as part of our Contingent; and
•    Working within boundaries and guidelines expected of all national volunteers, including the Project Governance structure and procedures set by the Project Board.

For more information or to apply, please visit: http://www.scouts.org.uk/cms.php?pageid=3312

The closing date for nominations is 7 June 2012 and interviews will be held on 24 June and 15 July 2012 in London.

The Explorer Scouts came from all over the County having been through selection and training weekends during the previous year. From an original 40 applicants, 22 explorer scouts aged from 16 to 20 set off to Corfu with the intention of achieving their Explorer Belt Award and having a great time doing it.

The Explorer Belt Award is aimed at encouraging young adults to immerse themselves in an entirely different country and culture to their own, while travelling in small unsupported teams.

Most explorer belt expeditions are undertaken on foot, although sometimes using local public transport is acceptable as it provides real opportunities to meet and talk with local people. The expedition should last for at least ten days and spend at least 30 hours travelling from place to place and visit at least four different towns or villages.

During their time there they must undertake a self selected major project, ten minor challenges and keep a diary of their adventures. On their return they are expected to give a presentation on their experiences to achieve their award.

The actual route we had chosen was the “Corfu Trail” which covers the whole island and takes in all of its varied terrain from beautiful beaches in Agros Geogios to the highest mountain on the island at Old Perithia.

The contingent arrived in Corfu to be met by local Greek scouts who looked after them all with great hospitality. Before the expedition started everyone was invited to spend a weekend on Vidos, an island off Corfu which the Corfu scouts use for their summer camps. Great fun was had by all and many new friends were made.

On the Monday, after final preparations, the scouts were set off around the island in groups of four and five, while the leaders retired to a nearby beach hoping they would not to hear from the teams for 10 days, that all would be well and they would only have to check on the teams periodically every few days.

Beside a couple of minor injuries all the teams completed the expedition without any incidents by the following Wednesday. All were tired but happy, with loads of stories to tell from generous local people offering shelter, to seeing some fantastic scenery and helping each other when it was getting a little tough.

The explorers then had a couple of days rest and recuperation with a boat ride around the island and some good local hospitality. On the Friday morning before we where to fly out we were asked to lead a parade of Corfu scouts in a traditional march around the town celebrating the Greek Orthodox Good Friday. This was a very sombre occasion following a brass band in a slow march around Corfu but a great experience, we wouldn’t have missed.

Then it was time to fly back to Bristol, arriving in Cornwall for early on Saturday morning. A fantastic time was had by all and we as the leaders are looking forward to the presentations so we can actually find out what went on!

This weekend saw the return of the biggest annual Scouting event in Cornwall, “Coast2Coast”. Scouts and explorer scouts  from all over Cornwall took part. Around 400 young people raced on foot from the North Coast, at Bassetts Cove,  through Tehidy Park and the lunar landscape left behind by Redruth’s mining heritage, to the finish line 35 miles away on the South Coast, at Maentorth. In teams of 4-7 they braved all the elements threw at them from sunshine, rain and even hail! Most completed the route in 2 days, but 10 groups managed it the one day! All walkers camped the Saturday night at Stithians Show Ground, and joined in the St George’s day promise renewal on Sunday morning, before the remaining teams set off to complete their challenge, smiles at the finish line were rife!

In conjunction with Coast2Coast a parallel event for the beavers, the youngest section, took place a Stithians Showground during the day on the Saturday. “The Beaver Challenge” is a day event held for the beaver section, boys and girls aged 6-8 years old, each group took part in a treasure hunt themed for this years celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, it was a real adventure and all 264 beavers involved had great fun, especially toasting marshmallows and playing on the bouncy castles!

Well done to all who took part and thank you to all the organisers and helpers who made it all possible.

Further Photographs are available courtesy Paul Johnson and Mid Cornwall District Scouts:

Flickr Photo Set

April 22^nd 2012 Andy Wainwright formed part of a team of Scout Leaders from across the UK to run and successfully completed the Virgin London Marathon. Their target was to get fit and to raise money for their local Scout Groups. The money Andy managed to raise for local Scouting will help more young people from difficult areas to experience everyday Scouting adventures. In Total the Scout team rasied £20K for the same cause.

The Virgin London Marathon is one of the most scenic city runs in the world. This year fun runners and charity runners rubbed shoulders with Olympic Hopefuls from Kenya, Ethiopian, France and Great Britain.

Michael Regan one of the other scout leaders who represented UK Scouting with Andy said  “I, managed to get a place in the marathon as a last minute opportunity. We had just 8 weeks to train and fundraise so decided to run an auction, raising over £2000 for the association so far and it’s still rolling in. The atmosphere on the day caused me to shoot out far too quickly but I still managed to finish in 4hr 15 so I’m happy.

It has often been said that in Scouting there are no strangers, only friends you have not yet met; we have been fortunate to experience a fine example of this in Greece. Saturday 31^st March found 22 Cornish Explorer & Network Scouts on Vidos Island having just finished off a splendid day with a very memorable camp fire and 20 news friends.

This small island off the east coast of Corfu is home to one of the Greek Scout Associations camp sites. Following our Contingent’s arrival in Corfu late last night a trip to this idyllic island is the perfect place for us to start our two week long Explorer Belt Expedition.

Our adventure started earlier in the day when we met up with 20 of our Greek hosts at their Scout Headquarters; an impressive converted stable block next to the sea which once belonged to the adjoining Castle. The boat was loaded in swift time and we all set off for the 20 minute cruise over the crystal clear sea to Vidos. On arrival a short trek to the other side of the island saw us ready to set up camp. We played a few introductory ice breaker games, and in a very short period of time were all chatting and enjoying each other’s company.  Our St Piran’s flag was hoisted high next to the Greek National flag to officially start the day; we then split into three Anglo-Greco teams to start some challenges and exchange scouting skills.

Needless to say that fun was had by all and by dinner time the whole site was buzzing. The plan to cook a traditional Greek meal on Trangias proved popular, if not somewhat challenging, and before long a village style sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onion and spicy local sausage was bubbling. After dinner the Scouts occupied themselves in small groups, exchanging songs and chants, and comparing cultures. Before too long the sun had set which meant heading down to the camp fire near the sea.

It has been the perfect day and a fantastic way to ease into the Corfiot way of life which will become more familiar during the course of our expedition. Many exciting opportunities await us over the coming 10 days and 100 miles which all seem a little less daunting if the sort of welcome we have already experienced is anything to go by. Something tells us that our list of new friends is set to extend.

When: 19/05/2012 to 20/05/2012

The WSMP covers basic water safety, environment-specific water safety and an in-water rescue module. The course covers both theory and practical applications of water safety and rescue.

Courses will be run over two days which will start at 10am and finish at 5pm on each day. By the end of the course you will have completed all three units which are required in order to provide safety cover within Scouting for swimming in waters of B1 or higher.

This course will cost £90 per person, which includes all RLSS fees. Refreshments of lunch on both days and tea and coffee will be provided on the course, however you will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation and travel if required. Details of suggested local accommodation will be supplied upon booking.

Full details of the pre requisites requirements can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/wsmp. If you need further information please e-mail ku.gro.stuocsnull@seitivitca or call the Activities office at 020 8433 7157.

Booking form (Word document)

CONTENTS -

• We’re getting bigger…
• The County Commissioners Roundup.
• Congratulations – County Award Ceremony
• County Patrol Camp
• Off on an Adventure…
• Training – It’s not just for Leaders
• Notices, Events & Info
• Jubilee Beacons
• The noticeboard.

The Foundation will be welcoming applications from, Community Groups, Clubs, Friends Associations and other not for profit organisations, whose primary beneficiaries are resident in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly.

Guidelines and application forms are available from their website: www.cornwallfoundation.com

Leader assists cubs around the blind fold trail.

Cub puts his fears aside as he tackles the climbing wall.

Cubs battle it out on the race track.

Last weekend over 200 cubs from across the County met at Nine Ashes scout activity centre, near Bodmin to enjoy a day of activities, games and crafts.

Over the two days cubs, from all over Cornwall enjoyed a variety of adventurous activities, including climbing, archery, orienteering and pedal karting. The sixers and seconders, who are normally made up of the older members of the cub pack also spent some time learning about the scout troop, equipping them with the knowledge they need to make a successful progression in to the next section. Thomas, who has only just been promoted to seconder, said “I really can’t wait to be a scout, we get to do all of this and loads more stuff as well! I love Scouting!”

As well as all the adventurous activities outside the cubs got to briefly enjoy the warmth inside. There they got the chance to create a Dragon Masks celebrating the recent Chinese New Year, test their general knowledge and play giant snakes and ladders.  Peter Volkner, the event organiser commented, “The two days have been a great success; the older cubs have been rewarded for all their hard work and been given a taste of the next stage of their Scouting adventure. They all seem to have had a good day, some have learnt something, others have tried a new activity but they have all gone home happy.”