Cheshire Scouts Newsletter – March 2020 Ed.4

Date: 19th Mar 2020 Author: Dave Hopley

Cheshire Scouts Newsletter

Let’s keep calm
We appreciate that Monday night’s decision to close Scouting for the foreseeable future has raised all sorts of questions and currently we don’t have all the answers. Please be patient as we all work through this fast moving situation and information will be shared as it becomes available. You should be aware that most of the senior management team at Gilwell are in isolation with many more staff working from home. They are trying to find the most efficient ways of working and deal with the consequences of the current situation. This is going to be a marathon not a sprint, so let’s keep calm.

Update on 19 March 2020

Explorer Belt Presentation (23 March)

The planned presentation on Monday 23 March about the opportunity to be part of a County supported Explorer Belt expedition has been postponed.
The team organising this event are currently considering the best way to share information with you. To be clear the expedition is still being planned, more details will be sent to you as they become available.


County Campsites

Following the decision to suspend Scouting activities the County Campsites are now closed until further notice. We are looking at ways to protect the assets and taking the opportunity to undertake some maintenance. Inspired ideas are also underway to create some amazing events once they reopen.


DofE

A number of questions been have been asked about DofE expeditions that are currently planned to see if they can continue. The message last night was very clear – all Scout activities are suspended until further notice.


Let’s do the things we can do…

A number of Districts are looking at ways to provide activities for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts & Explorers to undertake at home. DC’s will be considering the best way of sharing good ideas on Friday after which we will share more information with you. If you have good ideas share them with your DC but don’t fire multiple questions about this to them– we don’t have all the answers yet!


“A Scout is Friendly & Considerate”

Let’s think about how we can support each other using social media or a simple phone call. Nobody in the Cheshire Scouting family should be totally isolated or lonely; we can all help and make a difference,


Training

With current situation of Scouting activities being unavailable it has been necessary to postpone all adult training courses. Those who have already booked to attend courses on the County website will be given priority when new dates are confirmed.  The County training team are looking at ways to deliver some of the modules online and dates for these will be announced in the next few weeks.

However this is a great opportunity to complete most of the mandatory training you are required to undertake as part of your Scouting role. The following modules are e-learning, available 24 hours a day every day of the week. If you are unsure if you need to complete the training and can’t access Compass to check, why not do them anyway to refresh your understanding. Don’t forget to print your certificate off and send it the County Training Manager.

Mandatory Training
All Leaders are required to complete mandatory training that MUST always be in date on your Compass record. If you are unsure about what training you have completed or might need to complete then check you Compass record TODAY.

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; [email protected]
Please allow 14 days for it to appear on your Compass record
Click here to complete this training.
Currently (as of Feb 2020) once completed there is no need to repeat 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; [email protected]
Please allow 14 days for it to appear on your Compass record.
Click here to complete this training.
Update this training every 5 years.

Safeguarding (Mandatory Training for all Leaders)
This training is completed either by attending a course or 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; [email protected]
Please allow 14 days for it to appear on your Compass record.
Update this training every 5 years.
For those needing to complete a face-to-face course these will now be presented online with the first online Safeguarding course on 1st April at 7pm. To book your place on this course email Debbie Phillips;
[email protected]
The plan is to offer similar online Safeguarding courses about every 2 weeks with validation on the night.

First Aid (Mandatory Training for all Leaders)
Attending a course completes this training and assuming you satisfactorily complete the course the County Training Manager will automatically update your Compass record.
You must renew this training every 3 years
Due to the current situation these courses are not currently available (March 2020), further advice to those required to complete this training will be issued when there is clarity from HQ.


Thank You

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Put your phone down and what are you left with? Just teamwork, courage and the skills to succeed.’
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout Bear Grylls