Pinkneys Green Scouts - Group Information


Group Information	Scout Pages
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Welcome to Pinkneys Green Scout Group In 1907 Robert Baden-Powell ran an experimental camp on Brownsea Island to test out his ideas. The Scout Movement is now one of the greatest and most progressive youth movements in the world today, with over 25 million members worldwide. The Scout Association of the United Kingdom is a multi-cultural, multi-faith organisation consisting of six sections; Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts Explorers and Network Scouts accommodating young people between the ages of six and twenty five years old. Pinkneys Green was founded during the early days of Scouting on 6th February 1909. As members of Maidenhead & District and Royal Berkshire County , each Section takes part in a number of district and county activities during the year. Pinkneys Green Scout Group operates in accordance with a book called Policy, Organisation and Rules (P.O.R). Everything we do in Scouting is done in furtherance of the Aim and Method of the Scout Association: - The Aim of The Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. The Method of achieving the Aim of the Association is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by Adult Leadership. In charge of the group is the Group Scout Leader (GSL). Each Section has a Warranted Leader, one or more Assistant Warranted Leaders as well as helpers or specialist instructors, all of whom contribute their time entirely voluntarily. The GSL, Section Leaders and Assistant Leaders undertake specific training in order to fulfill their role effectively. All adult members of the Group, parents & carers, Patrol Leaders and supporters from the community form The Group Council. Routine administration, maintenance of HQ and fundraising are delegated to the Group Support Committee, which is drawn from members of The Group Council. All parents/carers of section members are invited to join the Group Support, which meets every month (except August). Anyone who is unable to join the Exec is asked to help the Group when required, for instance at specific fundraising events. During the year, our main events are The Summer Fair on The Green, the Christmas Fair and four Jumble Sales, as well as Marquee Hiring, which raise over Ł2000 per year. The Group Newsletter - PG Tips - is published monthly and keeps everyone up to date with Group events and Section news and activities. Beavers, Cubs, Scouts are encouraged to contribute items. The Scouting Movement is a multi-faith organisation. Members of each Section have the phrase duty to God (or, in the case of Beavers, to love God) as part of their Promise. We do not ask our members to attend church on a weekly basis. However, we encourage full attendance at particular services, such as Harvest, Remembrance Sunday and St George's Day and parents/carers are asked to support this. These services must always be attended in full uniform. Members' spiritual development is also continuously developed through each Section's normal programme Who's Who? The Group Scout Leader is Erica Hunter. She is in overall charge of the group, the young members, the Group Council and the Exec. Any ideas, questions or worries should initially be discussed with the Section Leaders. They may then contact the GSL if necessary. Catherine Weeks, known as Hathi , leads the Beaver Scout Colony. Her assistants are Jen Nyman (Hawkeye) and Sheridan Stone (Keo) and regular helpers are John Brooker (Benny), Sheila Stinton (Raksha) and Teresa Williams (Dahinda) with helpers Toby Ayre (Keema), Alex Robins (Mang) and Young leaders. Akela, Jon Corbitt leads the Cub Scout Pack. He is assisted by Avril Broadley (Chil), Barry Palmer (Tarka), Lesley Curley (Rikki), Sheila Stinton (Raksha), Rob Harris (Bagheera), Matthew Milston (Keega), Graham Wolfe (Kaa), Michael Crown (Panda) and Young Leaders. Simon Wheeler, leads the Scout Troop. He is assisted by BoB Weingarth, John Bannerman, and Robert Stroud and helpers Rob Ayre, Chris Parker, Alex Jones, Mark Courtier, along with the Scout Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and the Patrol Leaders (PLs). The Group Support Committee Chairman is Tony Curley, the Treasurer is Sue Giles, the Secretary is Jane Courtier and Subscriptions secretary Derek Hoggarth. There are currently nine other committee members, but more volunteers are always welcome - please contact Tony Curley or Erica Hunter, or talk to your sons Section Leader. The Group President is Sheila Stinton, who is known as Raksha. She holds the waiting lists for Beavers and Cubs and also sells Group T-shirts. Annual Subscriptions & Fundraising The annual subscription for members of all sections is Ł75.00, explorers / young leaders pay Ł33.00 payable under a Gift Aid. Recovering income tax on subscriptions that are paid by Gift Aid increases the Group income by over Ł15.00 per head per annum. You will be asked to sign a form stating that you agree to pay the Scout Group each year "such a sum as after deductions of income tax at the standard rate amounts to over Ł88.00".". As soon as your son is invested, the Subscription Secretary will contact you to ask you to sign the Gift Aid form and an official tax form requesting the first year's subscription. These should be completed as soon as possible and returned in the envelope provided. Ł3.50 of every member's annual subscription is sent to the District ( Maidenhead & District). A further Ł4.60 is sent to County ( Royal Berkshire )Ł2.50 is also sent to county for adult training and Ł19.50 is sent to Scout Association - National HQ . The balance is spent on running costs such as heating, lighting and repairing the hall, repairing and replacing equipment, purchasing supplies for activities (ingredients for cooking, materials for craft, etc), and subsidising trips, outings and camps. The Group does not receive any other funding, such as grants from the council or local businesses; the balance of the funds we need is generated from fundraising. All parents and carers are asked to make contributions to group fundraising in the form of donating items (such as bottles for the Tombola Stall) or helping at a fundraising event (such as running a stall during the Summer Fair on the Green) BRINGING AND COLLECTION FROM SCOUT HEADQUARTERS Please observe the following instructions for bring your child to and collecting him from HQ. 1. All parents/Carers are asked to follow the ONE-WAY SYSTEM. Drive along Furze Platt Road past Winter Hill Road and turn right into Golden Ball Lane. Drive slowly and carefully along this very narrow road and turn right into Winter Hill Road at the end. 2. To safeguard the good relationship we have with our neighbours, please DO NOT park in front of driveways and entrances, or use them to turn around, particularly the drive at the side of the hall. 3. When you park on the road after dark, use your parking lights. 4. When it is open, please park on the green opposite the hall. These instructions are to ensure your child's safety whilst they are visiting Pinkneys Green Scout Group Headquarters. THE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU ENQUIRY FORM From time to time we need to ask parents/Carers for assistance in the supervision and/or transportation of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts - often at short notice. Therefore, all parents/Carers and guardians are asked to complete a Scout Association Criminal Records Bureau Enquiry form, given to you during your child's first few weeks of attendance. This should be completed and returned as soon as possible. The details on the form are checked against information held by the Criminal Records Bureau on behalf of the Scout Association. The personal safety of all members of Pinkneys Green Scout Group is of paramount importance and it is for this reason that we ask everyone to complete the form. All warranted leaders and assistant leaders and all group helpers and instructors have also been checked. Please do not hesitate to talk to a leader if you have any questions regarding the CRB form. The BEAVER SCOUT COLONY Welcome to Beaver Scouting Beaver Scouting provides the first opportunity for boys to join the exciting world of scouting. At Pinkneys Green, the colony meets on Monday evenings from 6.00pm to 7.15pm during term time Who are Beaver Scouts? Beavers Scouts are boys between the ages of six and eight years. They meet together as a colony and for some activities are divided into smaller groups called Lodges. What do they do? Beaver Scouts enjoy an informal and flexible programme providing the boys with all kinds of activities to HAVE FUN and MAKE FRIENDS! The Membership badge When a new boy comes along to join the Colony, he will take part in three or four meetings before taking his Beaver Scout Promise and being presented with his World Membership Badge. Parents/carers are invited to the ceremony. The Beaver Scout Promise is I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and love God. The Beaver Scout Motto is FUN AND FRIENDS Dropping off and collecting at Meetings Parents/Carers are expected to leave and collect their sons from INSIDE the Scout Hall. Boys must not be allowed to come into or leave the hall on their own. Parents/Carers Help at Meetings Parents/Carers are asked to help at Beaver Meetings at least once a term. Please talk to Keo for more details. Training As well as enjoying a fun packed programme, a Beaver may also gain the Chief Scout's Bronze award, which is gained after completing 3 challenge badges. There are also several activity badges. Please ask a leader for more details of these badges. Beaver Scout Uniform Beavers are expected to wear their uniform at all times. The Beaver Scout uniform is a Beaver turquoise sweatshirt and navy scout shorts, a Pinkneys Green T-shirt, a purple woggle and the Pinkneys Green neckerchief. (PG neckerchiefs and T-shirts can be purchased from Raksha). THE CUB SCOUT PACK Welcome to Cub Scouting Pinkneys Green Cub pack meets on Wednesdays from 6.25pm to 8.00pm, during term-time and during half term holidays. Cub Scouting, by tradition, has adapted ideas from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. You will find that some of the leaders are known by the names of the animals in this book, such as Akela, Raksha, Baloo, etc. The Cub Scout leader (Akela) and his assistants have undertaken designated training in order to run an imaginative and active programme. The Cub Scout Pack caters for boys of between eight and 10˝ years old. The Pack is divided into small groups called Sixes, each one named and identified by a coloured woggle, which are led by the Sixer and a Seconder. The Pack has simple ceremonies and you are welcome to attend your son's Investiture when he makes his promise. The Cub Scout Promise is I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and keep the Cub Scout Law. The Cub Scout Law is Cub Scouts always do their best, think of others before themselves and do a good turn every day. The Cub Scout Training Programme After investiture the Cub Scout will hopefully, during the full programme achieve the Chiefs Scout Silver award by completing at least 3 challenge badges. There is also a moving-on award for a Cub Scout joining the troop. The progressive awards are supported by a large number of Activity Badges. Details of all these badges can be obtained from Chil. Cub Scout Uniform Pinkneys Green Cub Scouts wear full Cub Scout Uniform at all times. The Cub uniform is green Cub sweatshirt, Pinkneys Green T-shirt, navy shorts, long grey socks, Pinkneys Green neckerchief and soft shoes (i.e. plimsolls or trainers without large tongues). (PG neckerchiefs and T-shirts can be purchased from Raksha). The Scout Troop Welcome to the Troop The Troop meetings are on Friday evenings between 6.45pm and approx. 9.15pm, year-round including during school holidays. The Scout Troop's aim is to promote the development of young people to enable them to achieve their full potential. This is accomplished by an enjoyable and fun-filled scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law. Parents are invited to their son's investiture into the Troop, during which he makes his promise. The Scout Promise is - On my honour I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and keep the Scout Law. The Scout Law is - A Scout is to be trusted A Scout is loyal A Scout is friendly and considerate. A Scout belongs to the world-wide family of Scouts A Scout has courage in all difficulties. A Scout makes good use of his time and is careful of possessions and property. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others. The Troop consists of small units (patrols) of six to eight boys, led by a Patrol Leader (PL) who shares responsibility with the adult Leader for maintaining standards and training of other members of the patrol. Together, the PLs form a Patrol Leaders' Forum, which organises the Troop programme and activities plus the training of Scouts. The Scout Training Programme Outdoor activities feature prominently. The highlight for most Scouts is the Summer Camp and much of the year is devoted to preparing for this. Even in winter there may be Patrol hikes or weekend camps, as map reading, camp cooking, first aid and other skills can be practised at any time of the year. At the beginning of the summer holidays the Leaders and the majority of Scouts camp for about ten days and take part in adventurous activities like climbing, pioneering, and kayaking. Previously we have been to Wales, Hampshire, Wye Valley and Cornwall. Scouts are offered a wide range of activities from technology-based subjects such as electronics, computing or amateur radio to cultural activities, including our annual pantomime, all of which are embodied in a continuously updated training scheme designed to encourage and support boys as they move through Scouts. Each scout should achieve the Gold Chief Scout's Award during their time with the troop this is done by completing 5 challenge awards. There are also numerous activity badges that can be gained. Scout Uniform All Scouts are expected to wear full Scout uniform to and from Troop meetings and activity wear (PG T-shirt and navy Scout shorts) should be brought to change into. This not only gives the boys more freedom, but also preserves the uniform for important occasions and parades. The Scout uniform is green Scout shirt, navy Scout combat trousers or Scout combat shorts, Scout belt, Scout woggle, and Pinkneys Green neckerchief. Soft shoes (i.e. plimsolls or trainers without large tongues) should be worn to troop meetings; brown or black shoes should be worn for parades, etc. (PG neckerchiefs and T-shirts can be purchased from Raksha). Uniforms can be purchased from Maidenhead Scout Shop on a Thursday evening, for more details Click Here Uniforms PG Yellow T-shirts, bearing the Pinkneys Green logo, are worn underneath the Beaver sweatshirt, the Cub sweatshirt and the Scout shirt. Plus, PG Green / Yellow Neckerchiefs, have to be purchased from Raksha - please phone 01628 628160 for details. For details of where you can purchase uniform please check Maidenhead Scouts Web Site: Click here for more details The Maidenhead Scout Shop is open on a Thursday evening during Term Time Maidenhead Scout at Holmanleaze (Behind the Magnet), Click Here Note - Pinkneys Green T-shirts and neckerchiefs are only available from Raksha. If you have any questions about your son's uniform, please don't hesitate to contact the Section Leader. Please refer to the following pages for the positions of badges on each section's uniform. Please, please, remember to name your child's whole uniform Explorer / Young Leaders / Network Scouts Explorer scouts are aged from 14 1/2 - 18 years and are a district run section. Scouts when reaching that age, move onto this section but keep links with PG in various way and still wear the PG neckerchief. Some of the scouts become Young Leaders; these boys then help at Cubs, Beavers or Scouts whilst still attending Explorers. Following on from Explorer scouts is the Network section for ages 18 - 25, which is again a district run section. FELLOWSHIP The Fellowship is a section for everyone over the age of 18, which everyone automatically belongs to. The Fellowship is a resource, the members will assist at any function if asked including competitions, tea making at St Georges Parade etc. The fellowship in Maidenhead has a monthly meeting SCOUT MOVEMENT SERVICE AWARD The day you are invested in the Scout Movement in whichever section is the day from when your service award is counted from. After each full year you will be awarded a service badge with the corresponding number upon it. Therefore it is possible to reach 9 years service at PG if you are a Beaver, Cub and Scout and a further 3 when you join Explorers. Beavers Cubs Scout How you can help your child's Scout Group Do you have a skill, a hobby or an interest that would help some of the members obtain a proficiency or interest badge? Do you have an interesting job one or more sections would like to hear about, and/or visit? Can you help with transport? Can you help at the occasional meeting? Do you have some time to help maintain our equipment and headquarters? Are you able to help at a fundraising event, such as a Jumble Sale, Christmas or Summer Fairs or Tent Hiring? Could you support the Group Support Committee? We need your help - even if it's only once in a while - please talk to a leader to find out more! Pinkneys Green Scout Group Group Headquarters Scout Hall, Winter Hill Road, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire Sl6 6NS HQ Tel No: (01628) 771991 email: info@pgscouts.org.uk Web: www.pgscouts.org.uk Registered Charity No 300501 For more information on PG contact any leader or see the Group Introduction Booklet
Click Here for PDF Version of Group Introduction Booklet