CC’s Christmas Message

This year will be one to remember – and this time, for all the right reasons.

I’m proud to say we saw the biggest increase in youth membership in eighty years.

We relaunched Cheshire Hike in the Spring with record numbers taking part, and hosted our “out of this world” International Jamboree this Summer, with over four and a half thousand Scouts and Guides attending from around the world.

Over 400 Scouts and Explorers were awarded Top Awards at Celebrating Success this Autumn. Leaders too were recognised, with a special award being made by the High Sheriff of Cheshire to the adult volunteers who organised Chamboree.

Since the launch of Squirrels for 4-6 year-olds in September last year, we already have over 100 Squirrels across 9 Dreys, with 4 more opening in the New Year.

Cheshire Scouts are resurging after the setbacks of the pandemic. We couldn’t have achieved all this without the incredible efforts of our amazing volunteer team across Cheshire, committed to a single shared goal: to help more young people gain skills for life. That’s our ‘north star,’ and we succeed when we never lose sight of it.

The task ahead is to return to pre-pandemic membership levels, and welcome in the 1,700 young people on our waiting lists. The key to this, as ever, is to attract more adult volunteers. But even more important is improving our volunteering experience – making volunteering easier and more enjoyable for everyone, and giving a warmer welcome.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big ‘thank you’ for supporting Cheshire Scouts during a fantastic year for our movement. We’ve bounced back from the pandemic, providing skills for life for hundreds more young people.

I wish you a season full of joy and magic. Let’s keep up the momentum and make next year an even better year.

Dave Hopley
County Commissioner
The Scouts (Cheshire)