Over the weekend of 25th and 26th February 2017 four members of the group attended the GLSE Scouts Speak Up Training. It was put on by the UK Scout Association in order to train Young People to be confident spokespeople, find out how to talk to journalists and get their message across in front of the camera.
Charlotte Miles and Matthew Higginbottom from the Troop attended, along with Katie Ainscough and James Fairhurst from the Explorer Unit.
Below are the thoughts of Charlotte Miles:
“I attended Scout Speak Up training at Wilberforce Camp site in February, where I learned lots of new skills about how to promote scouting and about public speaking. We did several activities where we were interviewed for the radio and TV by the Leaders and were then given feedback and tips about how we can improve our performance.
I had a fun weekend meeting Scouts, Explorers and Leaders from London and the South East and made some great friends who I will keep in contact with. “
The Fundraising Committee organised a fantastic evening of Rock & Roll – Saturday Night at the Scout HQ! The Hall was transformed into a Fifties’ Night Club with candle lit tables, a wonderful DJ (Charlie) and a marvellous mixture of fast and slow records from the Rock era. People were dancing the Jitterbug, the Lindy hop, Boogie-woogie and Bop.
No-one actually turned up in an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, but there were Rara dresses, drainpipe trousers, gold lamé tops, bobby sox and winkle pickers galore!
The period atmosphere was authentically re-created and it was easy to believe that the table food was actually cheese and pineapple cubes on sticks, spam canapés and peach melba, washed down with Watney’s Red Barrel!
The event raised just under £250 for group funds – thanks in particular to Charlie and Linda Lawn for organising this event. We are already looking forward to the next Rock & Roll evening….
On 25th March two of our leaders, Ellie Howard and Paul Bartlett, are completing a 10k Mud Run in aid of Royal British Legion. For those who don’t know, Ellie is the Section Leader at Hurricane Beavers, whilst Paul is the Section Leader at Kim Pack.
They are putting themselves through the hellish course in order to raise funds for such a great and worthy cause. The Royal British Legion are the UK’s leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the British Armed Forces.
If you would like to sponsor them you can do so here.
On the weekend of the 10th-12th February the Scout Troop enjoyed a chilly but fun camp at Wilberforce.
The Scouts who took part were a great credit to the group, and didn’t let the cold weather and snow on Saturday spoil their weekend.
Activities throughout the weekend included a hike to Christmas Tree Farm, team building challenges, making Dutch Arrows and a campfire to warm everyone up! A number of the Scout Troop were also presented with badges that they had earned in recent weeks.
Thanks to all the leaders who organised a fantastic weekend for all of the Scouts.
All sections within the group once again put on a fantastic Gang Show performance. With acts ranging from singing, dancing and comedy the two sell out audiences were well entertained.
Over 100 members of the group were involved, and were a real credit to the group. Well done to all who took part.
The Gang Show raised over £1,600 for the group, which will help us to provide affordable Scouting to the members of our group. We also raised £460 from the collection which will be split between our chosen charities (Harambee for Kenya and The Children’s Society).
The Fundraising Committee are organising a 50’s and 60’s Valentines Rock’n’Roll Party on Saturday 25th February.
Tickets are £8 in advance, or £10 on the door. Tickets available in advance from Charlie Lawn: lawns@btinternet.com / 0208 467 0823. Please bring your own drinks and nibbles – fancy dress optional.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Pantomime – we had four excellent showings of Aladdin. A huge well done to all of the cast, crew and organisers. In particular well done to Nicholas Branch, Lucy Scothern and Cailtin Freese who were awarding with Oscars for their performances.
The money raised will be split between the Scout Group and the Stephen Jota Children’s Centre in Uganda. We will also be making a donation towards Poppy Branch (our Slave of The Ring’s) fundraising for the World Challenge she is attending later this year to Malaysia.
As many of you know Erica Manthorpe a key stalwart of the 23rd and one of the loveliest, kindest ladies I have ever known sadly passed away last July. It only seemed right to remember her in some way and in discussion with those who knew Erica the best; her family, they asked that we support the Stephen Jota Children’s Centre in Uganda.
Preparations for next years Pantomime have already begun, so keep an eye out for further details later on this year.
We are starting to organise the next fundraising event which will be a Coffee morning, used Book and Bric a Brac sale held on Saturday 11th March 2017 at the Scout HQ.
We are hoping with your help and donations to have a mammoth book selection for sale (lots of holiday reading etc.), and Bric a Brac stall including games, DVD’s, CD’s and toys. We will of course be providing refreshments coffee/tea and the now famous bacon rolls!
For this event to be successful we need your donations of items (new, nearly new or good condition). In the build up to the event there will be a large box in the kitchen at the HQ for donated items to be placed. We will also be saving items for future events too. We are hoping that you may donate any unwanted presents – someone out there will be willing to give them a good home and we need to raise funds to keep the HQ going. There are a number of maintenance projects which need to be undertaken this year including the HQ floor.
Many thanks for all your support in the past and we hope that 2017 will be no exception to your previous generosity. Please put the date in your diaries and support us on the day too!!
The 4th–5th March is the weekend set aside in the Groups Calendar for our annual working party. The main task is digging the soak away to take the water from the outside entrance of the Scout Hall. There are also a couple of other small jobs to be undertaken such as cleaning the kitchen, reducing the compost pile and clearing cobwebs.
The work entailed with the soak away is help dig a 1 x1 x 1 metre hole in the field and then help fill with gravel, and then dig a small channel to the drain which will be situated just in front of the main entrance.
We really need help to undertake these tasks, so that we can have a hall and grounds to use that are fit for purpose. If you are able to assist for even just a couple of hours on either day, please let either John Bruce or David Wilcox know (email addresses below). There will of course be a steady supply of tea, coffee and buns available.
