Group Scout Leaders Report

This is our 7th year as a Scout Group and probably one of our most memorable for both positive and negative reasons.

Positive – as with last year when we first went online because of COVID 19, we have seen some amazing resourcefulness on the part of our leaders in providing interesting and engaging programmes. Negative – we have not been able to engage with all our members due to online fatigue and the online programme being not the type of Scouting that many want to participate in. We hope that everyone returns to join us soon. Positive – despite lockdown and the problems associated with COVID 19, we have grown slightly. Negative – our potential growth has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Positive – we have still had our members in each section working towards their awards and we have seen lots of young people doing more in their spare time to achieve their badges. Negative – we weren’t able to do all the fantastic activities we had planned for 2020/21 including international trips and jamborees. Positive – as I write this report, life is starting to return to a new normal. We have started back face to face and we look forward to a summer of great activities including our first group summer camp. I would like to praise the work of our leaders some more. Many have stuck with delivering online programmes despite finding life challenging themselves due to the issues that the pandemic has presented. I have said this to them personally, but I don’t think I could have run sectional programmes in this form for so long online myself. I cannot tell you how proud of our team I am. Training was also something that our leaders got to grips with during the last year and I am pleased to report that 10 of our leaders gained their Wood Badges. Congratulations and thanks to all of these leaders who gave up their time to complete their training. A list of these leaders can be found in the awards section at the rear of this report. We are hoping to now be able to develop our group further and our development plan is in place is being followed. We hope to increase in numbers, work closer with JUNAK Cesky Skaut and solve our biggest challenge that of securing a long term home. Although I would like to recognise everyone with an award, we have been able to single out two of our leaders in particular this year. Firstly Gabriele D’Ortona. Gabby joined the group in 2018, brand new to Scouting and has become a key member of the group, supporting our technology needs and becoming a fantastic Assistant Scout Leader and camp cook. He has provided Manon, our Scout Leader, with enormous support with the online programme. In addition, he took on a district role supporting their technology and communications needs.

Secondly to Chisato Hashizume, our Beaver Scout Leader, who again came fresh in to Scouting, has developed as a leader, gained her wood badge, even became a leader trainer and managed to deliver a fantastic online programme during the lockdown despite many challenges. Both Chisato and Gabby have been recognised with a Commissioner’s Commendation. I would like to thank all our adult volunteer team: you have been invaluable for the continuation of our group and I am sure you will continue to support us going forward into normal Scouting post-pandemic. In particular, I would like to single out Eleanor, our Group Chair, and our executive for keeping the admin side of the group going, and Chisato, Chris, Manon and their teams for making the weekly online sessions happen. To all our new volunteers for coming forward to help. To Jenny, our Assistant Group Scout Leader and finally to Alastair, Deputy Group Scout Leader and Explorer Scout Leader who has been there to support all the hard decisions and provide invaluable advice during a time when normal ways of doing things had to be thrown out of the window.

Simon ‘Mang’ Burgess Group Scout Leader gsl@praguescouts.cz