Scouting for success

A Merseyside group of Scouts celebrate national achievement and community involvement

The 4th Crosby & District Scout Group held their first online Annual General Meeting (AGM) to celebrate the success of the group in the past year.

The young people aged 6-18 have been working hard to achieve badges and take part in community projects during the last 12 months. Over 350 badges were awarded to Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Young Leaders with 14 achieving their Chief Scout bronze, silver or gold awards, the highest in each section.

Community involvement included: Project work on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, with the adoption of a section in Netherton where the Scouts have developed a garden to help provide an area which will improve people’s mental health.

Litter picking on the Sefton Coastal path to keep the beach and sand dunes free from litter. The Scouts have also written to their MP to ensure that the message to stop littering gets out to everyone.

Visits to Merseyside Police and Mersey Fire and Rescue Services building positive relationships with the emergency services and ensure that young people understand how important their roles are within the community.

International activities also included two young leaders being selected to represent Merseyside Scouts at the World Scout Jamboree (WSJ19) and European Jamboree. Unfortunately Eurojam was cancelled due to Covid-19, but they have been able to share the joy of WSJ19 and see how large Scouting is around the world.

All Scout sections have also been delivering an online programme of fun and exciting activities for the last three months, parents and families have joined them in attending virtual camps which included raft building, cooking pizza in cardboard box ovens and a number of different scavenger hunts. Beavers have awarded over 100 badges during this time, including three top awards.

Parents’ feedback has been very positive with one parent saying:  “Thank you for all you do and for giving my child the opportunity to see his friends. I love hearing him laughing and seeing him smiling when he is at Beavers Zoom”

Mike Chambers from the 4th Crosby & District Scout Group, said: “During the year the Scouts have been able to offer 20 nights away opportunities for their members. Camping is a proven way to improve mental health and really challenges the young people to work together, learn to look after each other and have lots of fun along the way. Campfires and adventure challenges such as canoeing, climbing, grass sledging and even hiking up Mt Snowdon.

“Our young people have been learning home skills including cooking, gardening and DIY, and have earned artist, craft, cooking and gardening badges.

“We were also honoured to be able to present an award on behalf of our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls.

“As Scouts, it’s in our nature to do our best and to help other people. Bear asked for nominations of young people in our movement who’ve gone above and beyond in demonstrating Scout values of co-operation, integrity, care, respect and belief, kindness and resilience, and/or who’ve supported their group or local community.

“The twenty unsung heroes each receive a £500 prize, which has been personally gifted by our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls. We nominated three of our young people and one of them was chosen to receive this prestigious award.

“Bear received a large number of nominations this year, sharing some amazing stories, but it was felt that the young person nominated was particularly worthy of recognition.

“A huge congratulations from all of us and from Bear himself go to Thomas Lynch, who achieved his Chief Scout Gold Award with 4th Crosby Scouts and is now a Crosby Explorer Scout”.

Bear sent a message, which said: “I was so inspired reading the stories of these unsung heroes. Not only did these Scouts overcome adversity without complaint, they helped others, showed incredible kindness and in many cases went on to achieve their top awards, despite the odds. They truly lived our Scout values, stayed true to their promise and showed the courage, determination and true grit that Scouts are famous for. Every one of them is an inspiration, and a shining example to us all”.