European Scout Committee - Annual Report 2010-2010

Š World Scout Bureau

European Scout Comittee

Annual Report 2010-2011

-1European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010-2011

‐ 2 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Content 1

Content ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 3

2

Chairman’s Welcome ................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 4

3

World Scout Conference Follow Up........................................................................................................................................................................ page 5

4.1 Andrea Demarmels ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 6 4.2 Christian Loste Ramos ................................................................................................................................................................................................. page 7 4.3 Christos Hatzidiamandis ............................................................................................................................................................................................ page 8 4.4 Craig Turpie ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 9 4.5 Hernik Söderman ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ page 10 4.6 Petr ‘Permi’ Vanek ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 11 5

Working Groups .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 12

5.1 Volunteering ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. page 12 5.2 Growth through Quality ........................................................................................................................................................................................... page 12 5.3 Embracing Change ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 13 5.4 Youth Empowerment ................................................................................................................................................................................................ page 14 5.5 Partnerships with other Regions ......................................................................................................................................................................... page 14 6

Core Groups .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. page 16

6.1 Educational Methods ................................................................................................................................................................................................ page 16 6.2 Organisational Development ................................................................................................................................................................................. page 16 6.3 External Relations and Funding ........................................................................................................................................................................... page 17 7

Finances .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... page 18

8

European Scout Foundation ................................................................................................................................................................................... page 19

9

World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office ......................................................................................................................................... page 20

10 Resolutions adopted by the 20th European Scout Conference .............................................................................................................. page 21

‐ 3 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Chairman’s Welcome It is a pleasure to introduce this Annual Report of the European Scout Committee’s work covering the period July 2010 to July 2011. In the report, we look back at the progress made since the 20th European Scout Conference in Brussels, Belgium, covering both the successes and challenges.

expanded, with all Working Groups and Core Groups now empowered to support NSOs/NSAs on the areas of work that they cover. We continue to play our part in ensuring that our efforts in Europe can contribute to the ‘Global Support’ offering that is being rolled out at world level.

As well as providing perspectives from the European Scout Committee, the European Regional Office and the European Scout Foundation, for the first time we are also including updates from our five Working Groups and three Core Groups.

As you will recall, 2011 has been particularly busy in relation to the ‘volunteering’ agenda with WOSM working closely with WAGGGS in the European Year of Volunteering Alliance.

As the year draws to a close, consideration is already being given to how we capitalise on what has been achieved. Much more on this, and our other strategic objectives, can be found later in this report.

The year under review has seen steady progress in the implementation of the Regional Scout Plan, which was presented at the first Regional Meeting during the 39th World Scout Conference in Curitiba, Brazil.

During this last year the European Scout Committee has agreed to implement additional measures to improve transparency and reporting, by sharing with NSOs/NSAs, the reports received by the European Scout Committee from its five Working Groups and three Core Groups. This has allowed for the publication of an updated version of the Regional Scout Plan following each meeting of the European Scout Committee.

We trust that these measures, alongside initiatives like euroscoutinfo.com and europak‐online.net, are of interest to NSOs/NSAs. Hopefully the measures allow NSOs/NSAs to follow more closely what your European Scout Committee is doing, and how the implementation of the Regional Scout Plan is impacting on the development and growth of Scouting across Europe.

Our most recent analysis of membership data has indicated that we are close to 1.7 million members, which is a dramatic increase from the low point in 2006 of 1.39 million members.

This membership information, together with the analysis of the ‘Needs and Strengths’ exercise that was initiated following the 20th European Scout Conference, has provided valuable data on where best to target support and consultancy to NSOs/NSAs. The consultancy model, based on our previous experiences with tailored support, has been

During 2010/2011 we have also had several important world events including the World Scout Moot, World Scout Youth Forum and World Scout Conference, as well as the 22nd World Scout Jamboree. All of them have been well supported

by NSOs/NSAs from Europe.

Turning to finance, despite our best efforts to protect ourselves from the impact of the global economic downturn, our resources have been impacted considerably. We forecast that the coming years will be challenging. Nevertheless, we are doing our best to maintain strong levels of service and support towards NSOs/NSAs whilst at the same time continuing our efforts to diversify income, particularly by partnering with NSOs/NSAs to secure external funding.

I speak for the entire European Scout Committee when I say that we are all deeply appreciative of your support since the 20th European Scout Conference in Brussels. It is only by working in partnership with NSOs/NSAs across Europe that we can achieve our ambition of ‘supporting growth in changing times’.

Craig Turpie Chairman European Scout Committee

‐ 4 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

World Scout Conference Follow Up As has been noted elsewhere in this report, the members of the European Scout Committee participated in the World Scout Conference in Curitiba, Brazil, January 2011.

We have previously advised on how the Region and NSOs could respond to the Resolutions of the 39th World Scout Conference and include here a brief update:

This proved a valuable opportunity for face‐to‐face meetings with a majority of the NSOs in the Region.

Resolution 2/11 Fee System – a number of NSO and NSAs

Two Regional meetings were facilitated, the first at the beginning of the conference and the second at the end. While short in time, a lot was accomplished. There was the important launch of the Regional Scout Plan at the first meeting, which enabled a direct presentation of the Objectives, Actions and Key Performance Indicators of the plan and the scheduling of the actions across the triennium.

Emphasising the involvement of Associations, short inputs were made to ensure that the Plan is not just a plan for the Committee, but a Plan for the entire Region.

Resolution 4/11 Be Prepared: Leadership for Life – a

At the same meeting, euroscoutinfo.com was officially launched to promote more direct communication within the Region.

Two successful contact meetings with the Africa Region and the Eurasia Region were reported fully on euroscoutinfo.com and scout.org/europe.

Following these contact meetings and a planning meeting with the Arab Region, the following has been achieved: •

Progress on a database of projects between NSOs in Europe and Africa

•

Contact points between the European Region Working Groups and the Eurasia Region established

•

Progress on the Unguvu Project between NSOs in Europe and Africa

•

A contact meeting held during the 22nd World Scout Jamboree on future initiatives between Europe and Africa

•

Progress on a database of projects between NSOs in Europe and Eurasia

•

A study session sponsored by the Council of Europe on “Telling the story” for the Eurasia Region and a number of European NSOs

•

Planning for the 2nd Europe‐Eurasia Meeting, scheduled for Prague, 25‐27 November

•

Successful staging of the 6th Euro‐Arab Meeting in Algiers in May.

have declared all their membership to WOSM.

number of NSOs will be supported in Programme renewal in the coming months.

Resolution 5/11 The Strategy for Scouting – all Working and Core Groups are ready to accept consultancy requests and some actions have already taken place.

Resolution 7/11 Educational Methods – the focus on Youth Programme and Adult Resources is supported by the Educational Methods Core Group of the Region.

Resolution 8/11 Youth Involvement in decision‐making in NSOs within WOSM – research being undertaken and actions proposed in the Regional Scout Plan, implemented by the Youth Empowerment Working Group.

Resolution 10/11 Advocacy for World Scouting – the Region is effectively represented in major fora by young representatives.

Resolution 15/11 Partnerships between WOSM and other groups – this is a feature of our work with the European Youth Forum, the EYV Alliance and other partners.

We continue to remind NSOs that the Resolutions often urge action at their level and welcome reports of what is being done, possibly to share on euroscoutinfo.com.

‐ 5 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Andrea Demarmels Andrea says …

Duties and responsibilities

I love being a Scout – the young people, the laughing of the kids, the camping, my childhood memories, the sense of social purpose and our need “to leave this world a little better than we found it.”

• • •

And I fully share the purpose of the Scout Movement: “to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social end spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.” (Art. 1 of the WOSM Constitution)

Member, European Scout Committee Member, Growth through Quality Working Group Member, Organisational Development Core Group

Meetings and missions •

European Scout Committee Brussels, Belgium, 27­29 August 2010

•

Meeting with European Regional Office Geneva, Switzerland, 12 October 2010

•

The Academy Athens, Greece, 25­30 October 2010

This said, it has been a real experience to participate in the functions of the European Scout Committee in this, my first year.

It was a real and emotional opportunity to offer and particularly to learn and it was a really good occasion to support the purpose of our Movement.

•

Geneva, Switzerland, 12­14 November 2010 •

Field Visit to Sweden Stockholm, Sweden, 18­21 November 2010

•

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend Geneva, Switzerland, 10­12 December 2010

• We are lucky: there is a real mutual understanding, respect, cooperation and Scout spirit between the Committee members. I‘m confident that we will work hard and with continuous enthusiasm to implement as fully as possible our triennial Regional Scout Plan.

European Scout Committee

39th World Scout Conference Curitiba, Brazil, 9­15 January 2011

•

Field Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11­13 February 2011

•

Meeting with WAGGGS (Growth) Brussels, Belgium, 18 February 2011

Our focus remains the membership growth, not because of number crunching but because of the need of an impact of our Scout vision and our Scout educational methodology on this society shattered by insecurity, financial problems and social challenges.

•

Joint Growth through Quality Working Group Meeting Brussels, Belgium, 18­20 February 2011

•

Growth through Quality Working Group Meeting Copenhagen, Denmark, 4­6 March 2011

•

European Scout Committee

There is (yet) a lot of work to do!

•

Meeting with the new Director of Organisational Development, European Regional Office Geneva, Switzerland, 15 March 2011

•

Field Visit to Malta

•

Organisational Development Core Group Meeting

The European NSOs are blessed with committed and capable people, all eager to see Scouting continue to develop, grow and enrich the lives of our young people: so the aim of the European Scout Region is to support and to strengthen the NSAs and NSOs, for example by giving them, on request, high quality tailored support.

A significant amount of my time and commitment has been devoted to the direct contact and support to NSOs. This was done through visits, email exchange, skype chats and direct contact in events (particularly in the Academy and in the Jamboree). A close relationship was established with all my contact countries and I believe that I have been able to guarantee a permanent communication channel with the European Scout Committee.

Finally, I hope that my colleagues and I are able to play our own small part in helping to deliver positive impulses that, somewhere down the line, will have a positive impact on the quality of the Scouting offered.

Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 March 2011

Valetta, Malta, 7­11 April 2011 Geneva, Switzerland, 15­17 April 2011

•

Field Visit to Greece Athens, Greece, 4­6 May 2011

•

Field Visit to Cyprus

•

Field Visit to Lithuania

Nicosia, Cyprus, 6­10 May 2011 Vilnius, Lithuania, 12­16 May 2011

•

European Scout Committee Kandersteg, Switzerland, 17­19 June 2011

Contact countries •

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, Malta and Sweden

‐ 6 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Christian Loste Ramos Christian says …

Looking back in time, it seems incredible that only one year has passed after our election as new Committee Members in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2010.

365 days of activity, learning, new experiences, new responsibilities to be exercised, a lot of travelling around the Old Continent, hundreds of people for meetings, new faces, problems to be solved, support, ... breakfast, lunch, dinner ... a trip to Brazil to attend the World Scout Conference.... and last, but not least, the discovery that, finally, to be a Member of the European Scout Committee is an exciting task, complicated and for which it is necessary to have patience, energy and valuable assistance of my new teammates, constant support from the Office and of course, the warm welcome of the National Scout Associations.

Throughout this first year, we soon learned the secrets of how the Region can help the development of Scouting in the National Associations that make up the Scout Movement in Europe. Thanks for that to Craig and Henrik, and experienced senior members, as well as infallible David and Staff members of the European Regional Office who have cared for us at all times!

As the representative of the Committee in Kandersteg, this has allowed me a taste of its magic and I’ve been able to contribute to the development of its new strategy. Quality services for a larger number of Souts from around the World, in this permanent Jamboree!

But if I were to highlight the most exciting and satisfying work, I must speak strongly about supporting National Scout Organizations, through the Committee Contact System. In this first year it has been tough, but I had the opportunity to make some field visits, and to maintain contacts which allowed me to initiate strategies to identify needs and facilitate the resolution of their most urgent or necessary problems.

Thanks again to everyone who made this possible, and see you during next year!

Duties and responsibilities • • • •

Member, European Scout Committee Member, Volunteering Working Group Member, Educational Methods Core Group Member, KISC Committee

Meetings and missions I could summarise the work of this first year of implementation in three major domains: first of all, the making of our Regional Scout Plan 2010‐2013, including my participation in the Working Group on Volunteering and the Core Group of Educational Methods; second, supporting contacts and field visits to the National Scout Organizations which I am serving as Contact Member; and thirdly, representing the European Scout Committee in the Kandersteg Committee and Foundation.

•

Brussels, Beligum, 27­29 August 2010 •

Volunteering has been especially the most developed area in which I have been involved, in a year as unique as 2011 where the European Year of Volunteering was held.

“Citizens in Action” held in Istanbul provided to national Scout associations a space for discussing and sharing experiences on that domain. I would like to congratulate Pavel and all the Volunteering Working Group for their efficient work. The Educational Methods Core Group is already starting its journey to establish more practical strategies in regard to Youth Programme and Adult Resources within Scouting.

Training Commissioners’ Network Meeting Guadarrama, Spain, 17 September 2010

•

European Scout Committee Meeting Geneva, Switzerland, 11­13 November 2010

•

Field Visit to Serbia Backa Topola, Serbia, 25­28 November 2010

•

The launching of the Regional Scout Plan was our first challenge, but thanks to the contributions of many volunteers and staff but especially thanks to the fertile previous work of all National Scout Organisations during the Regional Conference, the result has been very encouraging and will allow us to see our Movement grow in quantity and quality in this period.

European Scout Committee Meeting

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend Geneva, Switzerland, 10­12 December 2010

•

World Scout Conference Curitiba, Brazil, 8­15 January 2011

•

Field Visit to Belgium Brussels, Belgium 29­30 January 2011

•

Volunteering Working Group Meeting Brussels, Belgium, 26­27 February 2011

•

Kandersteg Committee and Foundation Meeting Kandersteg, Switzerland, 4­6 March 2011

•

European Scout Committee Meeting Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 March 2011

•

Citizens in Action, Volunteering Event Istanbul, Turkey, 24­29 March 2011

•

Volunteering Working Group Meeting Bologna, Italy, 10­12 June 2011

•

Meeting with IC of Slovenia (Contact Country) Madrid, Spain, 15 July 2011

Contact countries •

Austria, Belgium, Germany, the FYRO Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia

‐ 7 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Christos Hatzidiamandis Christos says…

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end” (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

Indeed it was a new beginning after a triennium with a different European Scout Committee, which fulfilled its mission in implementing the Regional Scout Plan as well as the Resolutions of the 19th European Scout Conference. It was now our, the Committee members’, turn that had to succeed in implementing the new Plan. This stressed me but at the same time empowered me in doing my best, working hard, and trying to go the extra mile.

The Regional Scout Plan had set the strategic objectives based on which I had to work. Embracing Change is ‘my’ Working Group and External Relations and Funding is ‘my’ Core Group. It was challenging looking into what had to be done. The teams were set up, the action plan identified, responsibilities defined, and now work is being coordinated and supported.

essence of the meeting, committing to cooperation to achieve the values of peace, social advance and increase bilateral dialogue.

Last but not least I should stress the close relationship, which is also maintained with the contact countries. I have not yet completed all the field visits, nevertheless I have email exchanges or sometimes phone communication, in order to inform about regional events, support opportunities, as well as possible assistance from the Region, and the Working and Core Groups. Things have started, things are progressing but we have a long journey yet to travel. We have our goals and we won’t stop until we get there!

Duties and responsibilities • • • •

Member, European Scout Committee Member, Roverway 2012 Advisory Committee Member, Embracing Change Working Group Member, External Relations and Funding Core Group

We are aiming to reach our final goals; for the External Relations and Funding Core Group, enhance the communication, foster relationships between the Movement and other institutions, partners, stakeholders, review and develop policies relevant to needs of young people and represent the Movement on various platforms. For the Embracing Change Working Group to adapt to new demands, adjust structures to the changing trends, taking into account demographic changes and migration, diverse communities, and new technologies.

Meetings and missions

The importance to understand the status of the NSOs/NSAs, their needs and strengths, led to the tightening/updating of the “Needs and Strengths Analysis” Form which was then used by the Region to help indetify what kind of tailored support NSOs might require and the areas where they could assist. In order to complete this task I closely cooperated with Maeliosa DeBuitlear (Ireland) and Petr ‘Permi’ Vanek.

•

Many common areas of work required close cooperation with our colleagues from WAGGGS; setting joint objectives for the Embracing Change Working Group, aligning on issues regarding external relations, as well as providing support and advising the host country for our Joint event, “Roverway 2012”. The Joint Work allows us to benefit from each other’s strengths and the experiences we have in each area; it also allows us to share resources and, most importantly, the spirit of Guiding and Scouting.

Significant time and energy was needed for the preparation for the World Scout Conference. Regional meetings took place to present the Regional Scout Plan as well as the operational framework. And I was given the opportunity to have meetings with all my contact countries.

Another very important meeting last year was the Euro‐Arab Meeting. Being the liaison committee member for the event gave me the pleasure to live a unique experience with a grande finale ‐ a Declaration, which seeks to capture the

•

European Scout Committee

•

The Academy,

Brussels, Belgium, 27­29 August 2010 Athens, Greece, 25­30 October 2010

•

European Scout Committee Geneva, Switzerland, 11­13 November 2010

•

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend, Geneva, Switzerland, 11­12 December 2010

39th World Scout Conference Curitiba, Brazil, 8­15 January 2011

•

External Relations and Funding Core Group Meeting Cologne, Germany, 5­6 February 2011

•

Embracing Change Working Group (Joint Meeting) Brussels, Belgium, 19­20 February 2011

•

Roverway 2012 Advisory Committee Meeting Helsinki, Finland, 26­27 February 2011

•

European Scout Committee Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 June 2011

•

Embracing Change Working Group Meeting Brussels, Belgium, 25­27 March 2011

•

European Youth Forum's Council of Members (COMEM) Antwerp, Belgium, 5­8 May 2011

•

9th Euro‐Arab Meeting Algiers, Algeria, 24­26 May 2011

•

Roverway Heads of Contingent Meeting Helsinki, Finland, 27­29 May 2011

•

External Relations and Funding Core Group meeting Bari, Italy, 4­5 June 2011

•

European Scout Committee Kandersteg, Switzerland, 17­19 June 2011

Contact countries •

Denmark, Finland, Israel, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Switzerland

‐ 8 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Craig Turpie Craig says…

Duties and responsibilities

The first weeks and months after the 20th European Scout Conference were particularly busy. As well as assisting with the induction and coaching of four newly elected members, much of my time was spent in refining the Objectives and Actions for the Regional Scout Plan, helping to design the Operational Framework to support its implementation and recruiting the volunteers needed to get the work underway.

• • • •

As well as some new experiences like the ICCS Seminar in Luxembourg and the ISGF European Conference in Cyprus, time has also been spent with my contact countries, particularly Latvia and Spain. More attention will be given to Hungary in the coming year. Efforts are ongoing to support the development of an association in Andorra and we continue to offer some support to local groups in Kosovo.

The preparations for the World Scout Conference were considerable, both in preparing for the regional meetings, as well as the bi‐lateral meetings with the Eurasia Scout Region and Africa Scout Region. Several items on the agenda of the Conference and outcomes arising from the event were and remain of close interest to the European Scout Committee, and as ever, we are doing what we can to ensure that the Region and NSOs/NSAs in Europe play their part in implementing the Resolutions from the World Scout Conference.

With Claudio Burkhard standing down as Treasurer after ten years of excellent service to the European Scout Region, time was spent reviewing his experiences and the role. Through an open process, we ended up electing and appointing Marios Christou… no stranger to the European Scout Region. In the current economic climate we have been following the situation closely to try and ensure that we continue to deliver the same levels of service to NSOs/NSAs. It’s clear that in 2011/2012 there is much to do and I look forward to playing my part in helping to implement the Regional Scout Plan and the Resolutions adopted at the 20th European Scout Conference.

Chairperson, European Scout Committee Member, Steering Group Member, Organisational Development Core Group Member, World Scout Committee

Meetings and missions •

Field Visit to Poland

•

European Scout Committee

•

World Scout Committee

•

Steering Group

•

The Academy

•

7th ISGF European Conference

•

European Scout Committee

•

ICCS Seminar

•

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend

•

World Scout Conference

•

Field Visit to Latvia

•

Steering Group

•

Meetings with WSB and WSF

•

European Scout Committee

•

World Scout Committee

•

Chief Volunteers’ Meeting

•

Field Visit to Czech Republic

•

Field Visit to Spain (FCEG)

•

Field Visit to Spain (MSC) Madrid, Spain, 7 May 2011

•

Field Visit to Spain (ASDE) Lorca, Spain, 8 May 2011

•

Steering Group

•

European Scout Committee

Krakow, Poland, 20­22 August 2010 Brussels, Belgium, 27­29 August 2010 Geneva, Switzerland, 3­5 September 2010 Brussels, Belgium, 16­17 October 2010 Athens, Greece, 29­31 October 2010 Ayai Napa, Cyprus, 5­7 November 2010 Geneva, Switzerland, 12­14 November 2010 Luxembourg, 19­21 November 2010 Geneva, Switzerland, 10­12 December 2010 Curitiba, Brazil, 8­15 January 2011 Riga, Latvia, 28­30 January 2011 Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 February 2011 Geneva, Switzerland, 28 February 2011 Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 March 2011 Geneva, Switzerland, 25­27 March 2011 London, United Kingdom, 2­3 April 2011 Kolín, Czech Republic, 16­17 April 2011 Manresa, Catalonia, Spain, 29 April­1 May 2011

Turku, Finland, 14­15 May 2011 Kandersteg, Switzerland, 17­19 June 2011

Contact countries •

Andorra, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia and Spain

‐ 9 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Henrik Söderman Henrik says…

Duties and responsibilities

After a set‐up period, the Region is now in shape to Support Growth in Changing Times. The working groups and core groups led by coordinators have an enhanced role. The change "from Factory to Consultancy" is happening, even though we are not yet in full speed in delivering consultancy.

Working with the NSOs reveals the diversity of challenges Scouting is facing in different parts of Europe.

• • •

The confirmation by the World Scout Conference in January of the present role of the regions gives a stable basis for the future. By increasingly engaging with other regions, we are making a positive contribution to the Movement as a whole.

• •

Vice Chairperson, European Scout Committee Member, Steering Group Member, Partnerships with other Regions Working Group Member, External Relations and Funding Core Group Member of the Board, European Scout Foundation

Meetings and missions •

European Scout Committee

•

European Policies Support Group Rome, Italy, 24­26 September 2010

•

North‐South Network

In line with the evolving Scouting landscape, and considering that all our 41 NSOs are co‐educational, WOSM's role in the field of co‐education has been highlighted in the course of the year. In line with the world policy "Girls and Boys, Women and Men within the Scout Movement” (World Scout Conference 1999), the Region’s task is to support NSOs to ensure that the Scouting is adapted to both girls and boys.

Gender is also an issue for management and governance. We need to remain active to remove any remaining obstacles to the full participation of both genders in Scouting.

•

Steering Group and Coordinating Group Brussels, Belgium, 16­17 October 2010

•

Academy

•

European Scout Committee

•

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend

•

Joint Network Meeting of Guide and Scout representatives Bucharest, Romania, 17­19 December 2010

Financial crisis and external funding

•

Europe‐Africa and Europe‐Eurasia contact meetings Curitiba, Brazil, 9 January 2011

The financial crisis is having a negative impact on our classical revenues. One way to tackle this is to systematically seek external funding. Even though we cannot be successful with every application, the results have been positive: in the year since July 2010 we have received over EUR 250,000 in external grants, and the total amount obtained since 2008 is above EUR 500,000. This money is not on the accounts of the Region; it has benefited the NSOs in the form of travel grants to regional events and our partnerships with other Regions have benefited too. As an additional benefit, application deadlines encourage earlier planning of seminars and events.

•

World Scout Conference

•

External Relations and Funding Core Group

•

Steering Group and Coordinating Group

•

Partnerships with other Regions Working Group

•

Visit to France

•

European Scout Committee

•

North‐South Network

•

Visit to France

•

Steering Group

•

Visit to Albania

•

Euro‐Arab Meeting

•

External Relations and Funding Core Group

•

European Scout Committee

Gender and co‐education

Future of the EU budget The EU’s current budget framework expires in 2013 and the next one will be decided in the coming months by the Member states and the European Parliament. Due to the crisis, each part of the budget is under strict re‐assessment.

This is a critical period for our advocacy: success or failure now will have an impact until 2020. Together with other youth organizations and the European Youth Forum, we are working to ensure that funding is available for Scouting also in the future.

Brussels, Belgium, 27­29 August 2010

Leuven, Belgium, 15 October 2010

Athens, Greece, 29­31 October 2010 Geneva, Switzerland, 12­14 November 2010 Geneva, Switzerland, 11­12 December 2010

Curitiba, Brazil, 10­14 January 2011 Cologne, Germany, 4­6 February 2011

Brussels, Belgium, 12­13 February 2011 Brussels, Belgium, 25­27 February 2011 Paris, France, 5­6 March 2011 Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 March 2011 Rome, Italy, 18­20 March 2011 Paris, France, 22­25 April 2011 Turku, Finland, 14­15 May 2011 Tirana, Albania, 21­22 May 2011 Algiers, Algeria, 25­28 May 2011 Bari, Italy, 4­5 June 2011

Kandersteg, Switzerland, 17­19 June 2011

Contact countries •

Albania, Croatia, France, Italy, Monaco, and San Marino

‐ 10 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Petr ‘Permi’ Vanek Permi says…

As a starting year of a triennium, this past year was a busy and challenging one. I am sure the two years to follow will be no less busy and challenging, however in some aspects the business and character of challenge might differ in the close future. For me, as a new member on the European Scout Committee this year meant getting to grips with what I expect of myself and what others expect of me. Luckily, these were mostly the same things.

time in Berlin in less than two‐year’s time. I am positive we will have achieved the goal we set ourselves at the beginning of the triennium. And even some we will set ourselves along the way.

Duties and responsibilities • • •

Member, European Scout Committee Member, Youth Empowerment Working Group Member, Educational Methods Core Group

Only a few weeks after the Conference in Brussels, I got struck by the numbers of motivated volunteers from all over Europe that offered their services to support Scouting through the Region. This strongly demonstrates how we feel ‐ Region not being here “for us” but being simply “us”.

Meetings and missions

Being in touch with NSOs shows that organizations want to contribute to the Plan of the Region and not “only” benefit from it. I perceive a rising determination on the side of NSOs to showcase their examples of good practice (and there are many!) and a rising determination to help other NSOs to grow in both quality of Scouting and numbers. It is rewarding to stand in a place where we can support these efforts and it is amazing to see that a lot of this is happening on a NSO to NSO basis. Being here for NSOs has been a very rewarding part of my agenda as a Committee member.

•

Youth Empowerment Working Group Geneva, Switzerland, 25­27 February 2011

•

Co‐ordinators Briefing Weekend

•

European Scout Committee Brussels, Belgium, 27­29 August 2010

•

Field visit to Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria, 22­24 October 2010

Geneva, Switzerland, 11­12 December 2010 •

World Scout Conference Curitiba, Brazil, 10­14 January 2011

•

European Scout Committee

•

ONE Programme Seminar (Scouting Ireland) Larch Hill, Ireland, 29 April – 1 May 2011

Together we have established a new support structure for the work of the Region and it has already proved useful. With more time spent by individual volunteers on working and core groups I believe we will benefit from the overlap of individual involvements even more.

•

Field Visit to Liechtenstein

This was a starting year. We do have things that should be improved and improved they will be. There is an amazing potential in Scouting (and for Scouting) in Europe. I am looking forward to the time that is left until we all meet next

•

Brussels, Belgium, 11­13 March 2011

Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 7 May 2011

•

European Scout Committee Kandersteg, Switzerland, 17­19 June 2011

Contact countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom

‐ 11 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Working Groups Volunteering Working Group (VWG) The VWG has been operating since January 2011. Its members are: Pavel Trantina (coordinator, Czech Republic), Roberta Vincini (Italy), Jo Deman (Belgium), Claude Frantzen (Luxembourg), Jukka Tulivuori (Finland). It is supported by Christian Loste‐Ramos (ESC), Milutin Milosevic and Nicolò Pranzini (both ERO).

At its first meeting in Brussels during the weekend of 25‐27 February 2011 members of the Volunteering Working Group discussed in depth the actions needed for fulfilling the European Scout Plan 2010‐2013 in their area of responsibility. But the main part was devoted to detailed planning of the Volunteering Event, held just a month later.

It was held in Istanbul, Turkey from 24‐29 March 2011, under the heading "Volunteering in Youth NGOs: Citizens in action" and gathered 44 participants and Planning team members from 21 associations from 19 countries. The event was a very valuable opportunity to share information about the state of volunteering in the different participating NSOs and countries, to update on the developments and achievements of the 2011 European Year of Volunteering and to inform about European opportunities and resources.

Participants had the opportunity to analyse the way volunteers are managed in their organisations with the aim to ensure that there is the supportive environment that will maximise their experience in volunteering, as well as to discuss an external relations approach to better profile of volunteering and its recognition. Besides many informative sessions, exchanges of best practices etc., this event served for detailed mapping of the situation in individual NSOs and their countries. With such an overview we can start to offer tailor‐made support. Updated information about the Event as well as all the documents are at the address http://volunteering.scouthub.org/ The European Year of Volunteering 2011 has been one of the highlights of our work. Scouts and Guides were one of the first and leading forces behind the process resulting in having the year devoted to this core value of our movement – and we are doing our best to bring practical outcomes visible even at the local level. We are represented in five out of six working groups of the EYV 2011 Alliance and play an active role, attend all the events and conferences and take part in drafting proposals.

The Volunteering Working Group met for the second time over the weekend of 10‐12 June 2011 in the Regional AGESCI headqaurters, in Bologna, Italy. The group discussed follow up of the Volunteering Event, The Volunteering Convention to be organised in September by the European Youth Forum, the EYV 2011 Alliance Policy Paper and the future of the partnership on volunteering in Europe and plans for the future, with the special attention to the needs expressed by the participants of the Volunteering Event held last March in Istanbul, Turkey. We have started to respond to them, the

first tailored made support is being organized for September 2011.

Recognition of competences acquired through Scouting is one of the key issues today in several national Scout associations across Europe. Scouting Netherland gained support from the Youth in Action programme to lead a project that involves associations from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. WOSM and WAGGGS European Regions are supporting the project providing expert support if and when needed. WOSM has provided the cofunding through the Partnership Fund. KFUM Denmark hosted the first meeting of the project managers from all involved countries, from 27 to 29 May 2011 in Copenhagen with our presence.

Besides that, we have prepared an English translation of a very handy self‐evaluation tool developed by Scouts et Guides de France „Valorise‐toi“ and ran successfully around 25 workshops for the IST members during the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. The tool, together with training notes, will shortly be made available to all NSOs. Pavel Trantina, Coordinator, VWG

Growth through Quality Working Group (GQWG) The main task of the Growth through Quallity Working Group (GQWG) is to provide guidance and tailored support to NSOs/NSAs on the theme of Growth through Quality and to act as an advisory body to the European Scout Committee in matters related to Growth through Quality. The GQWG should implement the WOSM objectives on this theme and the joint objectives with WAGGGS. The group had its first meetings in February (with colleagues from WAGGGS) and in March, where it discussed the milestones for the implementation of the Growth through Quality part of the Regional Scout Plan keeping the Key Performance and Impact Indicators in mind, and the sharing of responsibilities within the group.

Communication with NSOs/NSAs We started with identifying areas where it was felt needed to collect additional data in order to successfully deliver support to NSOs/NSAs. Data has been collected through different means, country contacts, Needs and Strength Analysis, surveys etc. Data will be analised further in the coming weeks and months.

Encouragement to NSOs/NSAs to share their success stories with the rest of the Region has been published on EuroScoutInfo.com and a number of their stories have been received and published online.

‐ 12 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

To identify and understand the current situation with retention of young people and retention processes in NSOs/NSAs as well as identifying opportunities for improving it, an online survey on the subject is now being conducted through EuroScoutInfo.com. Local Scout Leaders are asked to fill out the short questionnaire.

Tailored Support Two requests for Tailored Support have been received on topics related to Growth through Quality (from Greece and Lithuania) and the countries in question have been contacted about their request to clarify their requirements so that the best consultation can be provided.

Joint Work with WAGGGS The Joint Working Group met in February when initial steps in the joint work were taken. A joint event on Growth through Quality, ”JUMP”, will be held in Denmark in April 2012, and planning is currently under way. A funding application to the EU was made and the related call for partnership agreements from NSOs / MOs was very successful. An answer on the funding application is still pending.

The main theme for the Academy 2011 will be Growth through Quality and the Joint GQWG has suggested a number of topics for workshops. We are preparing four workshops for this event. The topics being: -

Strategic planning for growth, locally and nationally

-

Recruitment, management and retention of adults

-

Renewing and reviewing the programme to recruit and retain members

-

Promotion of existing toolkits on Growth and Quality and training in using those

Additional suggestions for workshop sessions were made on other topics related to the theme and all Working Groups and Core Groups were encouraged to consider the main theme of the event when preparing their sessions.

Hulda S. Guðmundsdóttir, Coordinator, GQWG

Embracing Change Working Group (ECWG) The challenge for organisations like WOSM to respond and adapt to the critical juncture of the civil rights generation, which in turn explains the subsequent divergence in membership patterns, as well as the technical innovation which should be reflected in the organisation’s everyday work is the main role of the Embracing Change Working Group (ECWG). Embracing, adapting the above aspects and trying to have Scouting ready to anticipate change is the main goal of the Working Group.

The starting point of the group was to analyse the concept of “embracing change”, to go through the objectives of the Working Group and have a brainstorming session regarding the actions that would need to be followed in order to fulfill the objectives. All members of the Working Group were assigned specific tasks having the Regional Scout Plan as a reference.

“Embracing Change” is also involved with joint objectives.

Discussions were therefore initiated with the respective working group from WAGGGS and the objectives were set.

The Joint Working Group on Embracing Change will be present at the Academy in October 2011. The Group will deliver the workshop "The impact of modern communications on Scouting and Guiding. An overview of what electronic tools are available will be provided as well as how different organisations are using them and what effects this is having on Scouting and Guiding."

Furthermore, a cooperation with the Overture Network of the European Region is being sought, together with the Joint Committee, in order to implement activities needed to achieve the Joint Objective “Embracing Change”. Activities and actions that may be taken up by the Overture Network to support this objective will be further discussed.

Work has started regarding membership management systems. There has been interest in the membership registration software and the Working Group has been in contact with particular NSOs who are exploring the features of the software. Membership data are being studied and an executive summary is being prepared linking the membership data with the strategic planning.

A second Round Table on Internet Systems is being organised in 2012; hot topics, including Content Management Systems and membership registration systems, will be discussed.

Within the framework of the rapidly progressing world, the need of developing approaches to include young people from different backgrounds constantly increases. Research is being performed assisting the Working Group to fulfill the task. Surveys from the European Commission are being studied which offer different views on the present attitudes of youth in the present European Society as well as information on the trends and the current interests of young people from the Council of Europe that offer a different and larger perspective (including countries of the Eurasia Scout Region). Meanwhile, a review on existing documents related to the promotion, development and implementation of equality and diversity policies is ongoing.

The Working Group also encourages the acquisition, the consolidation and the protection of adequate resources of NSOs through a long term strategic planning and having action plans securing financial, human and other resources.

The analysis of this issue just started.

There still remains a lot to be done in the area of Embracing Change… and to close this report we would like to quote a from an article of a financial newspaper: “In the industry world, markets are very rewarding of innovators over time and are very punishing of those who do the same things over and over. In almost any industry, the ones that survive in the long term are those who are assessing ‘what if?’ and how they might have to retool and revamp their enterprise if conditions change, even at the height of their success. It may fly in the face of conventional wisdom. But when you are successful and

‐ 13 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

become blind to other ways of thinking, that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable. To survive, you must change”.

Christos Hatzidiamandis, Member, ECWG

We are also concerned in following the work being done within the ROLIS [recognition of leaning in Scouting] project, run by several NSOs, in particular concerning issues related to youth empowerment.

In April, we were present with a small workshop at Paris d’Avenir, a Rover activity organised by Scouts et Guides de France.

Youth Empowerment Working Group (YEWG) The mission of the Youth Empowerment Working Group is to enhance and promote youth empowerment as having a key role on the Scout method and Scout life, as well as promoting the relevance of its priority in the agenda at country and at Regional level. This should be achieved by promoting the concept and the approach it requires, providing advice, support and guidance to NSOs/NSAs and to the European Scout Committee, producing the relevant documents, tools and training schemes, and – the last, but not the least – promoting the share and visibility of the immense quantity of good practice concerning youth empowerment we can observe within the Region’s NSOs/NSAs. The first task for this Working Group was to set out a definition for what is meant by Youth Empowerment in a Scouting context and to document a model, which could be used as a reference for work in this area.

According to our view, Youth Empowerment refers “to promoting and giving tools to empower young people for life, through both youth participation and youth involvement, to preparing and giving tools to adults in Scouting so that they can achieve the mission, and to involving (giving room and enabling) both adults and young adults in the governance of the Movement”.

Pedro Duarte Silva, Coordinator, YEWG

Partnerships with other Regions Working Group (PRWG) Members: Sylvain Barthe (SGDF, France), Marion Karali (Greece), Ana Isabel Silva (CNE, Portugal), Matthias Gerth (MSdS, Switzerland), Matthew Paiton (TSA, UK), Esben Holager (DDS, Denmark).

With “Partnerships with other Regions” as one of the new objectives of the Region, our task was first to have a common knowledge on partnerships practice in Europe. Then we elaborated an action plan and organised the working group in order for us to be able to maintain a regular and close contact with the Arab, Africa and Eurasia Regions, which had been identified as the three focal Regions for the work of the European Region.

-

Strong links with some Regions have existed for a long time, with dedicated fora for exchange and dialogue already in place. The Working Group therefore participated in the organisation of the 9th Euro‐Arab Meeting in Algiers and facilitated two workshops: one on the “World Scout Environment Programme” and another on “Guidelines for Youth Exchange”. This was a good opportunity to identify and enhance knowledge of the main existing partnerships between the European and Arab Regions.

In November 2011, the 2nd Europe‐Eurasia Meeting will take place and again, the Working Group is involved in the planning process in an effort to bring strong inputs on partnerships and youth exchanges.

-

A decision was taken to reinforce the North‐South Network of the European Region and to make it really the place where the European Region and its NSOs can not only share experiences of existing partnerships, but also develop new, bi‐ or multilateral partnerships.

Subsequently, the Working Group will now play a leading role in the planning and organisation of the Network’s Spring Meeting, while the Autumn Meeting remains the responsibility of the Network. This model was put in place and the first ‘new’ Spring Meeting took place in Rome, Italy, in March 2011.

During that meeting, the role of the Working Group within the Network and specific objectives were discussed and identified. The position of Europe‐Africa liaison officer was presented, who introduced the Region’s UNGUVU project; objectives of a potential follow‐up application were also discussed.

The Working Group also seized the opportunity to do a mapping exercise of existing expertise within the Network, which could be built on during the current

Youth Empowerment is, though, transversal to all we do in Scouting, and it is present and important in the following areas: -

Youth Programme

-

Adult Resources

-

Organisational Development

A EuroScoutDoc on youth empowerment, defining the concept and explaining its relevance and our approach is currently being prepared and will be published soon.

A specific questionnaire on youth empowerment, on how it is viewed within each NSO and on how NSOs implement it, is under preparation, in order to get an overview of the theme at regional level and collect good practices.

We are preparing a reference online library on youth empowerment where relevant documents and tools will be available, as well as examples of good practices at country level. It is hoped that the first version of this reference library will be available in the next few months.

Concerning communication and dissemination, we are currently working to improve the youth empowerment area on EuroScoutInfo.

To contribute to the conclusion of the Agora manual is one of our current tasks.

We are preparing three workshops for the Academy: “Is Youth Empowerment present in the Youth Programme?”, “Empowering young people to participate in the Movement governance and representation”, and “Mentoring and Coaching”.

‐ 14 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

triennium.

The Working Groupd has already started planning a partnerships event in Paris in March 2012.

-

-

The promotion of good practices in terms of partnerships as well as of events in other Regions was done through the euroscoutinfo.com and contributed to an increase of the number of exchanges between the European, Arab, Africa and Eurasia Regions.

The UNGUVU project was executed according to plan during the year 2010‐2011. It was a major step in the

development of new multilateral projects between European NSOs and African NSOs. The development and promotion of relevant educational material is ongoing.

-

First requests of tailored support arrived and the Working Group elaborated a dedicated plan for each request.

Sylvain Barthe Coordinator, PRWG

‐ 15 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Core Groups Educational Methods Core Group Members: Tadej Pugelj (ZTS, Slovenia), Roberta Vincini (AGESCI, Italy), Giedre Markuckaite (LS, Lithuania), Mary Scriven (SI, Ireland), Milena Pecarski (ZIS, Serbia), Marion Karali (SHP, Greece), Jordi Ferrer (ASDE, Spain), Jukka Tulivuori (GSF, Finland), Ib Jammer (VCP, Germany), Jon Ingvar Bragasson (BIS, Iceland), Esben Holager (DDS, Denmark) – supported by Petr Vanek and Christian Loste Ramos (European Scout Committee) and Milutin Milosevic and Radu Stinghe (WSB – European Regional Office) EMCG’s unique composition (with twice as many members as the other Core Groups) raised additional challenges in trying to fix a meeting date suitable for everyone. Consequently, the group’s first meeting was scheduled only in September 2011.

However, the members of the group have been keeping in contact, updated each other on the relevant developments of their respective working groups and contributed to the development of the Regional Plan into a set of actions.

Moreover, the current projects in connection to Educational Methods (the European Scout Voluntary Programme, Lands of Adventure, Roverway, etc.) have been closely followed up.

A number of Tailored Support requests (on youth programme and/or adult resources) have also been dealt with by members of the group.

The main objective of the work of the group in the near future is the delivery of the 7th European Forum on Youth Programme and Adult Resources in 2012 – the main “meeting point” of the triennium for leaders working on educational methods at national level in Europe.

Other areas of interest for the members of the group are the development of an e‐Learning platform at European level, the design and promotion of a series of tools on the elements of the Scout Method, review the European programme frameworks of “Lands of Adventure”, “rovernet.eu” and “ESVP” as well continuing the cooperation with the World level in the continuous promotion and development of the Scouts of the World programme.

Tadej Pugelj, Coordinator, EMCG

Organisational Development Core Group The role of the Organisational Development Core Group is to provide advice, support and guidance to NSOs/NSAs and to the European Scout Committee about having an effective organisation at country and at Regional level.

The first task for our Core Group was to set out a definition for what is meant by Organisational Development in a Scouting context and to document a model, which can be used as a reference for work in this area.

We have defined Organisational Development this way: “Organisational development (OD) is a planned effort to make an organisation more effective and sustainable by involving the people of the organisation in a change process which is

based upon a strategic vision that evolves with society and focuses on the Mission of Scouting”.

Organisational Development disciplines may be summarised as follows: •

Developing Vision and Strategy.

As described in the Strategic Planning Kit (WOSM).

•

Designing an effective organisation.

Creating processes, roles and responsibilites, job specifications, performance indicators, quality measurements.

•

Managing and controlling successful projects.

Agreeing scope, creating work plans, measuring progress, reporting progress and status, risk management, closing the project successfully and learning for the next time.

•

Governance and decision­making.

Structures & processes to ensure that the organisation successfully delivers on its mission and strategic plans.

•

Financial planning and management.

Processes and tools to ensure finances are used efficiently to support the organisation’s mission and strategic plans.

•

Measuring and improving quality in Scouting.

Processes and tools to ensure finances are used efficiently to support the organisation’s mission and strategic plans.

•

Managing change in an organisation.

Preparing people for changes in the organisation and setting it up so that the change will be successful.

•

Managing and supporting leaders of change (volunteer and paid).

Applying the Adults in Scouting approach to senior volunteers and to paid staff.

•

Openness and learning in the organisation.

How learning can occur across the entire organisation, how lessons learned by some can be shared with others, how we can bring about continuous improvements in our approach and how we can avoid repeating errors unnecessarily.

•

Preparing and implementing an effective communications strategy.

What, Why, How, When and to Whom ‐ Considering each of the stakeholders and the nature of the communication which would be effective and useful to them.

We sent a notification to International Commissioners in May and the definition and model were published in Euro.Scout.Info and Europak in June.

We have recruited some people from the ESR Resource Pool to help us to identify suitable materials that NSOs/NSAs can use to help them with each of the Organisational Development Disciplines. It is hoped that the first version of this reference library will be available in the next few months.

We have prepared a tool for analysing the returns from the Needs and Strengths survey and we have shared this with the European Scout Committee and the staff.

‐ 16 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

We are preparing a short workshop on the Organisational Development Model for the Academy and we will also facilitate a session there on the theme of “Turning strategy into action”.

We have started working on a weekend workshop about Organisational Development, which will be run in March 2012.

We have progressed all four of the requests for Tailored Support which were referred to our Core Group: -

The UK is providing some materials and direct support to Greece

-

A specialist from the Resource Pool has started work with the Scout Associations in Catalonia (Spain)

-

We have contacted Ireland about their request and they are keeping us informed about their own process up to the point where we can offer real help

-

The Country Contact person is working with Lithuania to help them to clarify their requirement

Maeliosa ‘Milly’ DeBuitlear Coordinator, ODCG

youth organisations in Europe, or our contribution to the structured dialogue with policy decision‐makers.

On the other hand, our equally important area of work is to provide the Region and NSOs/NSAs with support and guidance in the field of external relations and funding. In this respect our major goal is to provide NSOs/NSAs with assistance in strengthening civil society at local, regional and national levels, in particular by encouraging NSOs to participate in the creation and development of National Youth Councils.

Each of the five main priorities areas of the Regional Scout Plan has external relations implications by either requiring expertise and/or resources of external actors, e.g. regarding general trends relating to young people and adults, their social environment and patterns of participation and communication; but also regarding existing quality frameworks of non‐formal education and their implementation for our youth programmes.

In the first eight months of our mandate, the Core Group, with the support of external representatives and the Office, has achieved the following targets in the areas of:

External Relations and Funding Core Group Members: Olga Berg (DPSG, Germany), Jo Deman (SGV, Belgium), Ana Isabel Silva (CNE, Portugal), Gregoire Mages (SGDF, France), Radu Seuche (ONCR, Romania), Mariana Fragkou (SHP, Greece), Matthew Paiton (TSA, UK).

As the name of our Core Group suggests, there are two major fields of work we are responsible for: external relations and funding. Taking into consideration the significance of funding in the current structure, it is mainly dealt with by the European Regional Office. The importance of sustainability of efforts in the field of external relations is very high and that’s why our work didn’t start anew in January 2011 but rather continues the commitment initiated by volunteers during the previous triennium. This year, the European Year of Volunteering is marked by special significance to us as Scouts in Europe because we have a chance to make vivid and celebrate volunteering by highlighting the value of our daily contribution. That’s why all our contributions and emphasis is put on promotion and recognition of the value of volunteering in Scouting.

The Regional Scout Plan outlines ambitious goals we have set to achieve in our work. In general, they emphasise the two‐ fold nature of the responsibility put on the Core Group: on the one hand, to represent the Movement towards relevant institutions, partners, stakeholders and at events on the European level to make the voice of more than 1.5 million Scouts in Europe heard. For example, on recognition of Scouting, in particular skills and knowledge gained through our educational programmes as young people and/or volunteers, on ensuring a sustainable financial framework for

-

Maintaining WOSM’s presence and contact with external partners as an elected Board Member of the European Youth Forum 2011‐2012 (Falko Mohrs, VCP, Germany), and with experts in the working structures of the Forum (Marcio Barcelos, CNE, Portugal, Claire Le Moigne, SGDF, France, and Radu Seuche, ONCR, Romania), as well as in the Advisory Council (Loreta Senkute, Lithuanian Scouting, later replaced by Sandu Coica, ANSM, Moldova);

-

Strengthening the cooperation among Europe‐Eurasia Scout representatives in relevant organisations and institutions by organizing a Europe‐Eurasia Study Session “Tell The Story!” in Budapest, February 2011 and appointing Sandu Coica from Moldova as WOSM representative on the Advisory Council of the Council of Europe;

-

Empowering and supporting young people to participate in decision‐making processes that affect them through involvement into the broader debate on youth rights (March 2011), training for external representatives (June 2011, Brussels);

-

Networking with international non‐governmental organisations by organising informal meeting on the occasion of Founder’s Day to promote the value of Scouting and discuss issues of common interest.

Olga Berg, Coordinator, ERFCG

‐ 17 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Finances Marios says…

Taking up a key role in the financial sector of our organisation in the middle of this turbulent time is certainly a challenge. It is no secret that the Regional income from its main source has been reduced substantially over the last couple of years mainly due to two important reasons: -

the drop in the values of the financial assets and

-

the weakening of the exchange rate of the USD (the currency of our main source of income) against the CHF (mainly) and the EUR (the operating expenditure currencies of our set up).

What we need therefore is a strategy: -

-

It is important of course to maintain and improve our financial management systems and controls, by introducing and operating closely monitored cash budgets to ensure that the current volatility of the markets have a minimum impact on our performance in delivering the Region’s service to NSOs and NSAs. This has to be within the moral and ethical parameters of our Movement and of course within the careful consideration of our role in this process. We are not here to invest but to help the European Scout Committee to make the right decisions on how to manage our financial resources.

to maintain (and even improve) our activity level with obvious budget constrains and to strengthen the diversification of our income sources developing strategies and exploiting opportunities in Europe.

Marios Christou Treasurer European Scout Region

‐ 18 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

European Scout Foundation Jørgen says…

In the year under review we have had a turbulent time. And as I am writing this report, I am of the strong opinion that this will continue in the years to come!

The European Scout Foundation – which was founded nearly 40 years ago – has one aim: to help European Scouting to grow/develop. We are doing this in a number of ways, where the Friends of Scouting in Europe (FOSE) is the most successful of our activities. Some 400 personalities are FOSE (1/3 for life and 2/3 on an annual basis), and close to CHF 700,000 have been raised over the years within this programme. The Friends organise an annual gathering, where just over 10% of them meet for a long weekend in a Central or Eastern European member country.

Our success within the FOSE framework is mainly due to a Friends oriented policy of National ‐ and International – gatherings! We also have a handful of very skilled and good working Super Friends, who within their own country are key promoters of the Friends of Scouting in Europe.

The Friends – and other personalities – are also active as “salesmen” for the “small projects”. Small projects are “hands on” projects, confinanced by the Foundation with a maximum amount of EUR 3,000 per project. Eligible projects are usually implemented at group level and will have been accepted by the International Commissioner, as well as the Regional Director of the European Scout Region. We believe there is “room” for more small projects, and welcome applications for

projects in order to further contribute to the growing of Scouting in Europe. For several years, we have only been accepting small projects from Central and Eastern Europe, and this policy is still valid. So please, help us to help you by taking a look at our website at http://fose.scouthub.org/.

Our Foundation is also making its professional knowledge awailable by investing funds, which are entrusted to the ESF. As more and more National Scout Organisations have their own National Scout Foundations, we do see ourselves as their “parners” – not only when setting up new National Scout Foundations – but also as they develop.

We are in the “business of money” and have a very transparent economic reporting, which enables the organs of the European Scout Foundation to have the best possible insight and also allows us to share relevant information with the National Scout Organizations on an annual basis. The Foundation is freed from Swiss taxes and subject to regular “controls” by the appropriate authorities of the Swiss Ministry of the Interior.

Jørgen G. Rasmussen Chairman European Scout Foundation

‐ 19 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office David says…

A conference year is always a busy year and as this report begins at the conclusion of 20th European Scout Conference and includes the 39th World Scout Conference, one can assume that is has been a busy year.

While the European Scout Committee began the process of developing the Regional Plan, the Regional Staff continued to monitor developments to ensure that service would continue.

At the beginning of September we lost out two interns who had proved most valuable in the run up to the European Conference. We thank Nicolas Ott for his contribution as a non‐Scout, and welcomed back Tim Watson who has supported our work in the area of Development, particularly the Unguvu Project with the Africa Region.

Otherwise in the Brussels Office, our relations with the Council of Europe, European Commission, European Parliament and other organisations including the European Youth Forum have continued to develop, and we were happy to have Falko Mohrs elected to the Bureau of the Forum. Alix Masson supported this area of work and also sought to see our representation extend to Concord and to participation in European Development Days.

In the funding area, Nicolò Pranzini, working with Alix, continues to ensure that the application for administrative funding from the Youth in Action programme is prepared in a timely way, and that the reports and other applications for funding are made either directly or with NSOs and other organisations. Advice to other Regions is disseminated when opportunities arise.

In the area of direct support, Jordan Bajraktarov continues to support significant Partnership Fund projects, including guiding applications, monitoring and evaluation. He has also supported the Operation One World funded participants to the World Scout Jamboree.

Rupert Schildböck contributes to the communications theme and also provides direct support to the Regional Scout Committee, the Working and Core groups and individuals in terms of logistical support. Rupert supports especially the staging and follow‐up of Regional Committee meetings as well as supporting the Regional Director.

Continuing in Geneva, our administration and finance is in the hands of Annemarie Khetib. The new Internal Control System was introduced last year and brings an added burden of documentation. Annemarie is ably assisted by Anne‐ Christine Vogelsang on two mornings a week.

In the area of Educational Methods, much time has been devoted to the European Year of Volunteering by Milutin Milosevic, while Radu Stinghe continues to support the area of Youth programme and is the IT coordinator for the Regional Office as well. Replacing Katrin Kelly whose contract ended in September 2010, Rose‐Marie Henny joined us from the Swiss Development Agency to concentrate on the important work of Organisational Development and the first manifestation of this was the Needs and Strengths Analysis – have you completed the survey for your NSO/NSA? A majority of the staff participated in the third extended Executive Directors’ Team meeting at Kandersteg, which was an opportunity for sharing and exchange with colleagues following the World Scout Conference.

Trying to manage the expectations of the NSOs, the Committee and the staff team, the Regional Director has visited a number of NSOs, has assisted on constitutional issues and has monitored closely the developing financial situation, which makes our lives “interesting”.

On my own and your behalf, I say a huge thank you to my team for their continued commitment to this great game of Scouting in the past year and looking towards the future.

The important area of communications is served by Mihajlo Atanackovic through maintenance of euroscoutinfo.com, our new information blog, and through maintenance of scout.org/Europe and europak‐online.net.

David McKee Regional Director World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office

‐ 20 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Resolutions from the 20th European Scout Conference Resolution 4/2010

Resolution 8/2010

Regional Scout Plan 2010­2013

Strengthening and Improving Communication in the European Region

•

The European Scout Plan was a major feature of the work of the European Scout Committee in the time from the Regional Conference until the formal launch of the fully developed Plan at the 39th World Scout Conference in Brazil in January 2011. Actions have included: -

-

-

Establishment of the Working Groups and Core Groups with an initial meeting of Coordinators of these Groups to develop the working methods and encourage an understanding of possible cross‐overs; Consultation between Committee, Coordinators and Regional Staff to develop the full content of the Plan, including designation of key performance indicators (KPIs); Launch of the Regional Scout Plan at the first European Regional Meeting at the World Scout Conference on 10 January and follow‐up discussions at the second European Regional Meeting on 14 January 2011;

-

Launch of the Needs and Strengths Analysis in February 2011;

-

Reporting back on progress following each Regional Scout Committee meeting;

Resolution 5/2010

•

The European Scout Region launched euroscoutinfo.com as a means of creating more immediate feedback and sharing of information in January 2011.

•

The capacity of Associations to add information to euroscoutinfo.com, including sharing of best practices is currently facilitated through the Committee Contact system or through the Regional Office.

•

Europak‐online.net has been updated and now includes different subscription possibilities.

•

Regional information is also shared through facebook, twitter and other social media platforms.

•

Event websites continue to be developed to facilitate better communications before, during and after the events.

Resolution 9/2010

Solidarity with Scouting in Other Regions •

Informal meetings were arranged between delegates from the European Region and delegates from the Africa Region and between delegates from the Eurasia Region during the World Scout Conference in Brazil in January 2011.

•

A directory of projects with Africa and with Eurasia was commenced at these meetings.

•

The 6th Euro‐Arab Meeting was planned during an informal meeting held during the World Scout Conference and the report of the meeting, which was held in May 2011, was circulated in June 2011.

Actions Supporting Growth through Quality •

In the context of the Regional Scout Plan, KPIs have been elaborated for all objectives of the Plan, including those for Growth Through Quality.

•

Circular 19/2010 was distributed to update on progress regarding Growth through Quality.

•

•

Following the June 2011 European Scout Committee meeting, an update of progress in all areas of the Regional Scout Plan was distributed (Circular 12/2011).

A 2nd Europe‐Eurasia Meeting is scheduled for November 2011 in Prague.

•

•

A joint event is planned for Growth in April 2012.

Representation of WOSM in the Council of Europe is facilitated through the participation of representatives from Eurasia in the delegations.

•

One study session, funded by the Council of Europe, had a focus on External Relations and provided support to the Baltics and the Eurasia Region.

Resolution 6/2010

Nature as a Frame for Programme

•

•

The Regional Office continues to maintain a watchful eye on all aspects of legislation, which could impact on the delivery of Scouting without unnecessary and restrictive legislation.

•

Contact is maintained with other, like‐minded, organisations.

Resolution 10/2010

Tailored Support to NSOs in South East Europe •

A Needs and Strengths Analysis has commenced with all parts of the Region, including South East Europe.

•

All NSOs in South East Europe have received at least one Committee Contact visit.

Resolution 7/2010

Information on the European Investment Fund •

•

•

Funding has enabled Eurasia participants at various European Region events – the Academy, the Training Commissioners’ Network Meeting.

The necessary fund transfers to establish the European Investment Fund were made at the beginning of January 2011.

The European Scout Committee receives progress reports on the development of the Fund on a quarterly basis.

The European Scout Foundation has been made fully aware, and acknowledges, the Investment Policy of the European Scout Region.

‐ 21 ‐ European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010‐2011

Š World Scout Bureau European Regional Office September 2011 World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office P.O. Box 327, Rue Henri-Christine 5 CH-1211 Geneva 4 Switzerland Tel: Fax:

+41 22 705 11 00 +41 22 705 11 09

europe@scout.org scout.org/europe Reproduction is authorized to National Scout Organizations and Associations, which are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Credit for the source must be given.

- 29 European Scout Committee

Annual Review 2010-2011