News Update - Jan 2021

Best wishes for the New Year and let us hope that the roll out of the vaccine will enable us to be doing face to face Scouting sooner rather than later. With almost half of sections in Suffolk with an approved Covid Risk Assessment in place and 96% of all adult volunteers (leaders and Executives) with their mandatory training (GDPR, Safety and Safeguarding) in place, Suffolk is in a great place for getting started. Well done everyone.

I am pleased to be announcing some changes to County and District Roles.

County Youth Commissioner

I am very pleased to announce our new County Youth Commissioner, Caitlin Rawlinson. Caitlin start her first adult leader role in Scouts as a Section Assistant at 3rd Sudbury before taking on a Group Section Assistant - Scouts role in Liverpool whilst away at University. However, Caitlin has been in Scouting now for 11 years having started as a Cub. Please welcome her to the her new role, I know she is excited to be in the role and ready to lead the voice of youth with the adult volunteers to create some great experiences for young people. She is keen to get to meet you, virtually and face to face. Please congratulate her on her new role. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

I would like to thank Ollie Smith for his tireless energy and really putting a stamp on the role for Suffolk as its first CYC. Watch this space for future news regarding Ollie.  

Here’s a video message from Caitlin and Ollie https://youtu.be/oO0czwRl4CE

District Commissioner – Deben

I would like to thank Julie Lovett who after 5 years at the helm of Deben is stepping down as her term comes to an end. Julie has grown the youth membership by over 7% and adult leaders by almost 10% during her time in her role. The District is also in good shape with regards to its mandatory training with over 95% of adult volunteers having their safety, safeguarding and GDPR training up to date. It has been a pleasure to work with Julie during the time that I have been County Commissioner, including the excellent morning drop ins that she ran in the District. The District has been left in good shape. A search committee is being drawn up for a DC replacement and two deputies, a model which has been used to great effect across the rest of the County.

In the interim Gary Burden has agreed to step into the role of Acting District Commissioner with immediate effect. Gary will continue as County Safety Officer.

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Suffolk Cubs Virtual Carol Service

The virtual carol service is now live!

Jo Cracknell, ACC Cub Scouts introduces the virtual carol service that her team of leaders, parents and cubs have assembled.

It is now live on YouTube and can be found on the link below. Click on the 'YouTube' link in the botton right to open on a bigger screen.

Many thanks to all those involved!

COVID-19 News Bulletin #18 - 14th December 2020

Whilst we still have a long way to go before we can fully return to all of the Scouting activities we are used to, there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The start of the vaccination programme gives us hope for a better year in 2021. Many of us will have been meeting again since coming out of lockdown at the beginning of the month and hopefully we will be able to continue to do this in the New Year.

Support for Specialist Activity Risk Assessments

A reminder that there are specialist activity teams in the County who can support you with activity risk assessments, should the need arise. Those of you with adventurous activity scheme permits will have demonstrated, as part of your permit assessment, the ability to appropriately risk assess the activity- both in the planning stages and dynamically during an activity session. However, if you want to discuss your risk assessment with another activity specialist and you do not have your own contacts, please contact Leigh Foster-Green (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who will put you in touch with someone who you can talk to. 

Race Round the World

Well done to all the groups who took part in Race Round the World, raising funds for the groups hardest hit and at risk of closure by the Covid crisis. Cubs won the race by raising over £67,000. In total over £200,000 was raised.

Lowestoft Scout Raises Funds for Children in Hospital

Oscar Cone in Lowestoft raised over £400 to help children who are in hospital over Christmas. This is a fantastic effort and a great example of the true spirit of Scouting.

He went on a spending spree and purchased 60 toys for the children's ward of the James Paget Hospital. Read more about this as reported in the Lowestoft Journal here. (Picture credit - Emma Cone)

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European Jamboree 2020+1 Cancelled

COVID-19 News Bulletin #17 - 16th November 2020

“…we had a sailing boat of our own on which we lived and cruised about, at all seasons and in all weathers, and we had a jolly good time – taking the rough with the smooth.” (Lord Baden Powell 1932).

We do seem to have been taking the rough over the last few months with very little smooth sailing. Having all put in so much effort to return to scouting over the last few months, the notice of a further lockdown was a disappointment.

The news of a potential vaccine for Covid-19 is a boost to our future plans. Whilst nothing is yet certain, we can start looking forward to returning towards normality during next year. Now would be a good time to start planning some exciting activities for when we are able to start meeting again. Perhaps the idea of a return to camping again might be an alluring thought.

Baden Powell would not have spent his time looking at the downside and in his final letter, he inspired scouts to “look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one”.

D of E Award Success

Despite the complications of the Covid restrictions 15 Explorers from three units in Suffolk have managed to complete their expeditions  

towards their Bronze and Silver awards. Good forward planning by both leaders and the Explorers allowed the group to achieve exciting and challenging activities, but still adhere to the government  and scouting safety guidelines. You can read more about this here.

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Wolsey District - Volunteer Vacancies

The Wolsey District now has a number of vacancies to help the new team deliver the best possible Scouting for young people.

The roles for the District Chair, District AAC Panel member, District Network Commissioner, District Explorer Scout Commissioner and District SAS Manager are all available in more detail on the Volunteer Vacancies page of this website (click on any of the pictures to link to it).

Closing date for all the vacancies is 11th December 2020.

Training Advisors needed...

Training Advisors

We are continuing to roll out our Skills for Life Strategy and we need to make sure that our volunteer leaders and managers are receiving the best possible support when it comes to training and their personal development. This will enable leaders and managers to be confident that they are able to provide the best possible Scouting to young people and feel well supported by a team of training advisers. We already have excellent levels of compliance to training and we need to ensure that volunteers feel they have someone to turn to and help them in their personal development within Scouting.

There is now an opportunity for you to apply or put forward someone you know for Training Advisors and Training Advisors (Managers and Supporters).

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., County Training Manager or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Deputy County Training Manager (Managers & Supporters) to find out more about what’s involved. 

Don’t hold back, ask for more information and you may find yourself qualified to take on the challenge!  Please apply by 15th December.

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