Dave is the driving force behind our social media activity and he works to support programme delivery. We asked him to look at the questions in his inbox and to share the most common questions and his answers.

How do I best edit photos into videos for social media?
Great question. Social media posts with video have 48% more views (Hub Spot). There are lots of apps and programs for this, I really like Quik by GoPro. All the #CampAtHome highlights videos were made with Quik.

Cheshire Scouts have produced 30+ videos so far during lockdown Click hereto catch-up on #StayAtHomeTV

Are there any plans to support Districts with DofE and QSA questions?
We’ve got a good Webinar coming up on Friday 5 June being hosted by our ACC Explorer Scouts Graham Proctor and our Awards Adviser Carol Frain. They’ll be covering progressing with your DofE and #TopAwards while face to face Scouting is suspended. Click here to register.

Click here to read more about Programme flexibility during the coronavirus crisis. The Scouts guidance on making the rules more flexible.

What opportunities are open to participants who are now unable to attend Eurojam in Poland, as they’ll be over 18 when the event is to now be staged in 2021?
As one door closes, another one opens. We are so proud that for the first time ever in Cheshire, we are able to launch a county-led Explorer Belt Expedition to Iceland to be held in the summer of 2021. Applications are open now until 7 June, Click here to apply.
This week it was announced the World Scout Moot in Ireland, has been postponed until 2022; applications will be re-opened this Summer to allow members who couldn’t attend previously (due to age or other circumstances).
In addition, the European Jamboree organisers are also still keen for more IST, please Click here to contact me directly to discuss further.

Would I make a good Youth Commissioner?
If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!
This is an excellent opportunity for a young person aged 18-24 to gain experience in a senior role within Cheshire Scouts – working in partnership the County Commissioner and I to lead Scouting in Cheshire. Click here to put yourself forward for this amazing opportunity.

All this online programming and activity is a mystery to me?
We know that adapting to delivering Scouting virtually has been a real challenge, particularly for leaders short on time (key workers for example). Thankfully there are Leaders (and Explorer Scouts) in the County bursting with skills they want to share, there are Leaders with incredible digital skills producing great online meetings & activities who are keen to offer their support to others. Click here to reach out for support.

We’re really pleased that 95% of all our Groups (55% of all sections) are embracing Scouting from Home. A special thanks and well done to our #HomeScouting Champions.

And as it’s Volunteers’ Week coming up, we asked Dave – Why do you volunteer?

Because I enjoyed my time as a Scout and wanted to ensure that many more young people could do the. The last 18 years as an adult volunteer in Scouting have been a blast! I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some incredible people and made the most amazing friends!

Mandatory Training

Thank you to all the Leaders and adult supporters who have completed their Safety and Safeguarding training this week. That’s over 450 training modules validated in the last 9 days. There are still a significant number letting the County down by not positively responding to our requests to fulfil your training requirements associated with your role. So come on, help us deliver safe effective Scouting and complete your mandatory training, each module takes between 20 and 40 minutes.

GDPR (Mandatory Training for all Leaders)
This training is completed using an online training module at the end of which you print the certificate of completion and send it to your local training manager or direct to the County Training Manager.
Click here to complete this training.

Safety (Mandatory Training for all Leaders)
This training is completed using an online training module at the end of which you print the certificate of completion and send it to your local training manager or direct to the County Training Manager
Click here to complete this training.

Safeguarding (Mandatory Training for all Leaders)
This training is completed using an online training module at the end of which you print the certificate of completion and send it to your local training manager or direct to tthe County Training Manager
Click here to complete this training.