Welcome to Ripon and District Scouts

We haven’t changed the World Scout Membership Badge that we wear on our uniform hasn’t being reviewed or changed. It will continue to be worn by members of the Scouts in the UK. There are no changes to flags used locally, and we don’t expect anyone to replace their uniform simply due to a logo update.

We consulted and tested the new brand with over 7,000 people across the UK - We rigorously tested our new brand with adults and young people. We spoke with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Network members, Section Leaders, Group Scout Leaders, District, County and Regional Commissioners and other volunteers from across the nations, all of whom had the opportunity to provide feedback and who gave their broad support. When we spoke with members of the public who are not currently involved with Scouting, they said that they would be more likely to get involved based on materials using the new brand.

It will be easier to describe Scouting’s benefits - The biggest and most important change going forwards will be our focus on skills for life. As a movement we will talk much more about the practical, employability and character skills we help young people in Scouting to develop. From our research we know this is the message that can help us attract the most amount of support as well as make us stand out from the crowd.

We now have a more contemporary visual identity that works online and in print . We reviewed our current ‘swoosh’ logo, which was introduced some 17 years ago, back in 2001. Locally and nationally, we found this difficult to use in print and online. It can’t be used at a small size and isn’t suitable to be used digitally, which is really limiting. However we are proud of our heritage and we want to retain the fleur de lis as the key symbol for Scouting. But we have now updated and modernised it for a digital age. It will make it easier to protect as our logo and be more recognisable as belonging just to UK Scouting (in a world where there are many versions of the fleur de lis).

We have a free, highly accessible brand font - We know the movement struggled with the challenges of using the current Serif font, especially as it has to be paid for. We are now using a font that is free and highly accessible. Full details on how to get the new font are available on the new Scout brand centre. Having this font freely available means that you can easily create your own documents in our visual identity.

There are two years to make the changes locally and nationally - To minimise disruption and cost to local Scouting, we have until May 2020 to update our print and digital materials. 

Let’s remember another thing that’s not changing either: our values of integrity, respect, care, belief and cooperation. Let’s continue to live those values, celebrate them and role model them to our young people. I’m immensely proud to be a member of both UK Scouting and the worldwide movement. Let’s celebrate our rich heritage while looking to the future with optimism.

We must remember that we are a movement, not afraid to change with the times.

31 million people are active in Scouting across the world – that’s equal to the population of Peru.

Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys has sold 150 million copies since 1908, making it the fourth bestselling book of all time after The Bible, The Koran and Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book.

In the past one hundred years, over half a billion men and women have taken the Scout Promise.

There are only five countries in the world that do not have Scouting – China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Andorra.

Each day 100,000 people in the UK take part in Scouting activities – more than the capacity of Wembley stadium.

The first World Scout Jamboree in 1920 was attended by 8,000 Scouts from 34 countries as well as an alligator from Florida, a baby crocodile from Jamaica, a lioness cub from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), monkeys from South Africa, a baby elephant and a camel.

The current and youngest ever Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, was one of the youngest people ever to climb to the summit of Mount Everest at the tender age of 23.

Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement, was voted the UK’s 13th most influential person of the 20th Century.

In the past decade, 43,000 girls and young women have joined Scouts, Cubs and Beavers. That’s the same as the population of Folkestone.

Scout Leaders contribute the equivalent of 37 million hours of voluntary work every year – worth an estimated £380 million.

JON GOOM has been GSL of 1st Sowerby Scout Group since 2015 and has recently been awarded an "Award for Merit" by the Chief Scout in recognition of outstanding services. Jon is currently a member of the local District Executive Committee and is also a County Training Adviser

He started his Scouting with 1st Sowerby Scout Troop as Assistant Scout Leader in 1992 and has continued with the same Group to present day. He has always showed an enthusiasm which has proved to be infectious to the other leaders in the Group.

He stood ‘side by side’ with the Group’s other leaders through a very difficult time in 2011 when they found that they had to raise £110,000 to build new brick built premises on the site of their former wooden Scout & Guide Hut at Sowerby, a feat they managed to complete successfully through fundraising and donations.
 
In 2014, the District found itself without a District Commissioner and District Team, so, following Executive Committee and District meetings, it was unanimously decided that the Vale of Mowbray District be permanently disbanded and all 4 of its Scout Groups, including 1st Sowerby, be transferred and amalgamated with the adjoining District of Ripon and District.

Jon soon became an integral part of this amalgamation, representing the 1st Sowerby Group in all the discussions and decisions made. Jon ended up becoming a part of the District Executive Committee of the newer and larger District and was asked, by the District Commissioner, to be the Assistant Group Scout Leader for the Group. This he agreed to do whilst continuing to help with ‘sectional’ work.

In 2015, the then Group Scout Leader resigned and Jon took on the full responsibility of the Group and its premises as Group Scout Leader, without hesitation, and the Group continues to flourish under his leadership.

Jon ensures that his Group takes part in District and County events, wherever possible and he continues to be the ‘prime motivator’ within his growing Scout Group. Recently Jon, almost single handed, organised the massive District Carol Service in December where all 9 Groups in the District attended and played an active part.

Congratulations from us all, JON, for the Award and thanks for all your work in Scouting.

Welcome to the new DC’s Newsletter, Aimée says: 

"I aim to produce one for all members of Ripon and District at the end of each term to keep you informed of the essential happenings in and around the District.

I will try to include a bit of news from everyone however, it is not a competition so please do not feel left out if you have not been mentioned and you feel you should have. I have had just less than two months in appointment and have not had chance to visit all groups and sections so most of the information in here has been gathered from AGMs, camps and social media.

Beaver Scouts - A big thank you to Spike, Joanne the Boroughbridge Young Leader/Explorer team who ran a successful Beaver day at a local farm. Colonies which attended were Boroughbridge, Thirsk, 4th Ripon, 6th Ripon and Masham.

Cub Scouts - County Cub Camp was a great success with a strong District representation from Boroughbridge, Masham, 6th Ripon, Thirsk and Hillside. Of the Packs who were unable to make the camp, many are taking part in individual Group Camps later in the Summer.

Scouts - The hotly anticipated District Team Challenge hosted by Sowerby Scouts was won by 6th Ripon Team I. Seventeen patrols from across the District including 6th Ripon, Boroughbridge, Sowerby, Topcliffe, Masham and Thirsk competed and in the end it was a close battle and test of Scouting skills. Thank you very much to Jon Goom for arranging the event.

Young Leaders and Explorers - We have some great Young Leaders within our sections and a big thank you to those who avoided their homework and exam revision to help out camps and District events this term. If any Young Leader would like to take their responsibilities further then please get in touch with me for more information on a new Young Adult Permit scheme being introduced over the Summer.

Explorer Scouts - The Explorers have also been busy too. Later this month a small group are taking part in a Jamboree in Sweden and we have 5 Scouts/Explorer Scouts selected to attend the World Scout Jamboree North America 2019. We also have 3 adults with links to the District attending as part of the International Service Team. Please keep an ear to the ground and support any fundraising events that our representatives will be running in the build up to the World Scout Jamboree.

District Active Support (DAS) - The DASQUEST, set up by the local DAS Unit around Boroughbridge has attracted Packs from around the District and it is always a great showcase for Scouting in the local area. I strongly urge you, if you have not already done so, to take part before it ends. Although many members are also section leaders, extra DAS members have been on hand to help out at every District event this year including the recent Beaver day, Cub Camp and Scout Team Challenge. Thank you to all who have helped make the smooth running of these events possible.

Finally…. Thank you for all of your help and support over this term. Have an enjoyable Summer and get ready for an exciting build up to Christmas.

Ripon & District Active Support Unit  can often be seen at scouting events throughout the District (and County) helping, supporting, leading, encouraging, guiding and generally 'providing active support' - but sometimes they have their own activities to rest, relax, and recharge their batteries.

Non more so at the annual Ripon & District DAS Family Barbeque, this year held at the home of Steve and Liz at Asenby. The sun was out, the barbeques lit and lively chatter could be heard in all parts of the gardens for a good four hours!

Mike, Anne, Brian, Heather, Steve, Liz, Eric, Shirley, David, Elaine, John, Roz, Ian, Wendy, Aimée, Alex and Andrew ALL enjoyed an afternoon relaxing (and eating!) Games of lawn crouquette, connect four etc. were provided, but the sun was so hot that 'shelter' was the main refuge for the afternoon.

All in all, EVERYONE enjoyed the event and thanks were give to Steve & Liz for their hospitality.

The whole Active Support Unit (including those not able to attend) are ready now for another year of 'Support' to Scouting locally.

Our District Commissioner, Aimée Dubiel, tells us that the recent District Beaver Activity Day at Brimham Rocks Adventure Farm, held on 16th June was a complete success. There were 64 Beavers from the District from 1st Boroughbridge, 1st Thirsk, 4th Ripon, 6th Ripon and Masham who attended.

Spike and Joanne's helpers were all Young Leaders/Explorers (Toni Diclemente, Oliver Mays, Samuel Spencer) and now here is 'Spike's Report' of the Day itself:

"After weeks of glorious sunshine, clear blue skies and soaring Yorkshire temperatures of 14 degrees C the Beaver day finally arrived, a grey, overcast, cool and with a 98% chance of rain this particular Saturday morning wasn't looking promising for 65 Beavers who were about to attend a day on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales. 

Thankfully the leaders and helpers involved were in high spirits and nothing was going to dampen them. Shelters were erected for the pending doom, cow pats were covered, tarpaulin sheets were laid out, water was boiled for the copious amounts of tea and coffee we were going to need to keep the many leaders warm.
1010hrs quickly arrived, key leaders were gathered together and the Health and Safety aspects of the day were carefully explained by the leader in charge, which to be fair mainly involved 'poo' and there was plenty of it.

Beavers started to arrive at 1015hrs wrapped in their waterproofs (parents clearly had no faith) all looking very excited about the day before them. The Beavers gathered themselves together in a huge circle where the Leader in charge told them about the dangers on a farm and not to jump in the poo, not because it's dangerous but the high possibility you could slip and end up on your bum. (Unbelievably there was a break in the clouds and we were treated to a sneaky peak of the sun, the breeze slipped away and Yorkshire, well, our little bit, warmed up).

Finally 1030hrs arrived and everyone got into their groups and off they went to their first activity, 8 activities, 7 groups, 2 juice breaks and a lunch break to fit in, the Beavers were in for a busy day. The day was made up of several (8) activities, mostly farm related, some fun and one, a trail involving the search for map symbols then having to match them up to the description on a sheet. 

Second, milking and butter making, the Beavers had the opportunity to milk a Goat (I can imagine your expressions as you read this "how on earth did they keep a Goat still long enough let alone have milk flowing long enough for 65 Beavers", read on), the poor Goats in question were (thankfully) plastic each with two realistic teats, there was no milk but water would squirt out as long as it was held and pulled properly. Butter making was made very simply by having a small amount of milk in a jar and shaking it vigorously for several minutes, lots more minutes if it wasn't shaken vigorously enough.

Thirdly, the animal hospital, here the Beavers learnt how to bandage an injured animal, eventually they turned on themselves and ended up bandaging each other up, great practice.

Fourthly, the farm visit, the Beavers were able to wander around and visit all the farm animals. Sheep, a sow and litter, Cows, Goats, Llamas, Ducks, Geese, chickens and they also had the chance to hold and play with Guinea pigs, Rabbits and Ducklings. The sow had recently given birth to 9 black and white piglets which were a big hit with everyone.

Fifth, Nerf gun target practice, awesome fun, two young leaders (Explorers) ran this base, the Beavers had to aim at targets around the shooting range, some would spin round if you hit them correctly others would gobble up the balls, some were even lucky enough to hit a young leader (accidently I'm sure).

Sixth, stock judging, in one of the barns there were two beef cattle and six bacon pigs and it was up to the Beavers to judge them and place them once they had had some expert advice on size, best meat cuts and who was the prettiest. To be fair the whole idea of this base was to demonstrate to the Beavers where meat at the supermarket comes from and where those particular cuts of meat are on an animal.

Seventh, sow and grow, growing stuff, Beavers planted seeds in a piece of rolled up paper with some peat, sounds simple but it's a great way of showing them how long plants take to grow before you can bake a cake from the wheat you have sown.

And last but not least, the play barn, an area of soft play with a huge slide where everyone could let off steam and leaders could enjoy a hot drink.

North Yorkshire Scouts Litter-Pick & Recruitment Week 2019

On Sunday 2 June 2019, the County plans a litter-pick across the entire Scouting County of North Yorkshire to mark the beginning of Volunteers' Week. It's hoped that Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, adult helpers, supporters and leaders from every section in every Scouting District of the County will collect litter on this day showing Scouts cleaning up North Yorkshire and our community spirit at its very best. A uniformed badge will be given to all young members who take part, for which there will be a competition to design an appropriate badge. The impact we could have across the County is considerable and so all Districts and Groups are requested to engage fully with this exciting initiative and to avoid all local Scouting activities on Sunday 2 June 2019.

Following the litter-pick and throughout the following week, which is National Volunteers' Week, the County will embark on a dedicated recruitment campaign for young members and leaders. Once again, it's hoped that all Districts and Groups will take part in this campaign at the same time to maximise impact and to achieve some amazing results.

No excuses and plenty of time to plan these events into your programmes, so put these dates in your diary NOW!

John Helliwell says that the following Courses/Modules will be available locally in 2018:

19  May   0930-1300 Modules 7, 8, & 9 
  9 June   0930-1300 Modules 13, 14 & 15
16 June  1000-1300 Modules 11 & 12B
  8 July   1000-1600 First Response (6 Hours)
15 Sep   1000-1300 Modules 16 & 17
  6 Oct    1000-1300 Modules 5, 6, & 19
13 Oct    1000-1300 First Response Refresher
  3 Nov   1000-1230 Modules 7, 8, & 9
10/11 Nov (2 days) Activity First Aid (16 Hours)
17 Nov    0930-1300 Modules 13, 14, & 15
1 Dec      1000-1230 Pre-Nights Away Assessment

NOTE WELL - and speak to JOHN for more info and detail

1. The above courses are open to all adults in Scouting in the County
2. Bookings can only be made through John Helliwell, johnhelliwell604@gmail.com, 01432 320731
3. In addition to the courses above, ad hoc arrangements will be made for validation of "Getting Started" (modules 1 2 & 3) and support of new members of Ripon District Scouts through the "provisional" stage (first 5 months)
4. Additional training, if required, may be added to the above schedule from time to time, including training for prospective Nights Away Advisers
5. Courses will only run if there is sufficient demand (5 participants)
6. Most courses will be held in Boroughbridge, either at Coronation Hall or in the Jubilee Room at the Library
7. Successful completion of courses will be posted on COMPASS by JH for members of Ripon District. Otherwise course completion will be notified to LTMs/DCs in other Districts, as appropriate

REMEMBER - COURSES WILL ONLY RUN IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT DEMAND!!

The County Creative Activities Team is running another photographic competition of all members of Scouting within North Yorkshire.

The theme of the competition is incredibly broad and is "Reflections". This can be interpreted in many ways; physical reflections in water, glass etc. or memories and recollections.

Entries will be judged in 5 sections: Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorers, and 18+ (Network and Leaders).

Each person may enter one photograph which must have been taken by the entrant to the competition. Submissions must be in digital jpg format, with the original camera Exif data attached.

All photographs must be submitted with the name of the photographer, date of birth, Scout Group and District details. The images will be judged in the age range that the photographer was when the photograph was taken.

The competition will be open for submission between 15th August 2018 and 16th October 2018. Any entries outside these dates will not be judged. Photographs must be submitted to the following email address only: creative@nys.org.uk

The decisions of the judges will be final. All judging will be anonymous. Any photographs submitted to the competition may be used by the County Scout Council for any purpose of Scouting. All other rights are retained by the photographer.

If any Group would like to borrow digital cameras to run a photography evening etc. they are available from the North Yorkshire Creative Team.

Further information or for any queries please contact; John A Ives - Assistant County Commissioner, Creative Arts for North Yorkshire Scouts at creative@nys.org.uk