Lord Wade of Chorlton who has been the President of West Lancashire Scouts for over 14 years, held his retirement luncheon at Leyland Golf Club where he announced his support and a £1000 financial boost for the Scout’s Entrepreneurial Challenge in West Lancashire.

Lord Wade said he hoped that this would stimulate other local business leaders into supporting this initiative either through funding, provision of mentoring, premises or advice and would help to foster the business leaders of tomorrow that our country needs.

The Entrepreneur Challenge aims to develop Scouts’ nature for enterprise through activities which enable them to set up, or create an idea for, a Scouting enterprise or business.

The Luncheon also marked the start of West Lancashire’s New President, Gail Stanley who is a former High Sheriff of Lancashire who recently took up her role. Gail said “She admired the work that Scouts were doing with young people and that she liked how we offered flexible volunteering and welcomed change because Organisations who didn’t adapt to the current youth culture were less likely to succeed.” Click Gail Stanley to hear why she is excited to volunteer with West Lancashire Scouts.

People wishing to join, volunteer with Scouts or offer support for the Entrepreneur Challenge should contact the County Scout Office on 01995 61336 or e-mail fun@westlancashirescouts.org.uk

Trogz Explorer Scouts from Kirkham & Wesham won this year’s evasion exercise in the Ormskirk region called Operation Moonlight 2012. They not only won the trophy for the Explorer Scout category they also won the trophy for the overall competition.

This year’s event, that has been running successfully for 24 years, had the largest ever turnout with over 500 Scouts and Explorer Scouts from all over theWestLancashireCounty, consisting of 90 teams.

On Saturday, 21^st January  at 12 noon the young people were set loose and spent the next 9 hours evading teams of catchers and navigating their way to the finish around 10 miles (16.5 km) away as the crow flies. The aim is to find their way to the finish with as many ‘lives’ intact as possible.

Scouts and Explorer Scouts probably added to the distance quite significantly as to avoid the dreaded catchers that take away valuable ‘lives’. This year there were over 90 catchers. (Catchers are also Moonlight Marshals, and whilst trying to catch as many teams as possible for the catcher’s prize they are also there to ensure the safety and well being of the teams.)

Trogz Explorer Scouts provided 2 Teams (4 Members each) this year. Jared Vann (17 years) who was the Team Leader of the winning team said right after the trophies were presented: “I’m tired, but I’m really proud of what we have achieved.”

His Team Mates were Conner Fenton (17 years), Jack Clarke (16 years) and Andrew Glenholme (16 years). Andrew said: “I am ecstatic! I can’t believe we have won this.”

The other team consisted of Rebecca Collett (15 years) who was the team leader, Thomas Carr (14 years), Nathan Brookes, (14 years) and Stefan Blackburn (16 years).

A team of Scouts from Eccleston near Ormskirk won the trophy for the Scout Section. These 11 to 14 year olds also won the trophy last year.

By Fylde MDM Marita Kirkham

http://ormskirkscouts.org.uk/kayaking

This training needs updating every three years. The courses are practical and good fun too.  You never know when you might need to put this knowledge into use and you’ll be glad that you’ve brushed up your skills.

So, all you Leaders out there, check your training logs and First Aid cards to see if your certification is in date.   If not, or if it will expire soon, contact Chris Charlton to get booked onto the Emergency Aid course (Saturday 4^th February) or the Practical First Aid (running over Saturday and Sunday, 4^th-5^th February).

Full details available here on the Moonlight pages.

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has become Scouting’s newest volunteer and will help at local cub packs and beaver colonies, Clarence House has announced.

The Duchess, who joins 66,000 girls and 40,000 female leaders in Scouting, will help out at groups close to where she lives. Her Royal Highness also hopes to help with activities in other parts of the United Kingdom as opportunity arises.

The announcement comes as a great endorsement of Scouting’s commitment to allow adults to volunteer their time on a flexible basis. The Duchess will help run a variety of activities relevant to her skills and interests. This could include running games, teaching first aid or cooking on campfires.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls gave a delighted reaction to the news: ‘The Duchess has an incredibly busy life, which makes it all the more inspiring that she has chosen to volunteer alongside us. Over the last few years it has been our mission to make it easier for adults who volunteer with us to give as much or as little as they are able – it is how we change our society: many people doing a little bit.’

Helping give young people a taste of everyday adventure through fun and practical activities, The Duchess will have the chance to inspire the leaders of tomorrow.

Patrick, 10 said: ‘I have really great adventures at Scouts and it’s all thanks to the leaders who help out. It’s amazing that The Duchess wants to get involved and I think she will be really good at it.’

Despite six consecutive years of growth, there is still a need for more adults to volunteer with us, to provide opportunities for over 33,500 young people who are waiting to join.

Adults of all ages are finding ways to volunteer that fit in around their lives. In Skelmersdale, Andrew King, 19, has found a flexible solution ‘The demands of modern life often mean it’s harder for people to find time to volunteer, the role I have taken on allows me to work in my own time from my student house in Liverpool. Flexibility in volunteering is the way forward.’

If you would like to volunteer with us or would like your child to join visit www.scouts.org.uk/join or call 01995 613361

Chief Scout Bear Grylls thanks volunteers for their commitment this year. If you want to help Ormskirk and District Scouts offer adventurous activities to more young people visit www.scout.org/join or call 01995 613361.

The Scout Association’s partnership with Sainsbury’s and the Woodland Trust provided the plants and the young people from the local Scout group planted them “It was fun getting; muddy, out the house and having a fun break from homework” said Ted, 12 from Mawdesley. The work of the Scouts will contribute towards personal awards for the Environment and the Community.

This work compliments a number of recent improvements made to the green by Mawdesley Parish Council including a nature walk and skate park. The parish council’s team of 50 volunteers have maintained the 30-acre site for the past 12 years. A spokesperson for the Parish Council commented, “It’s great to have Scouts developing the Green with us, it’s a great facility for young and old to enjoy together”.

Chris Charlton, Group Scout Leader said, “It is great to see all young people of the village getting involved in the community and working together to complete the project”

This project is an example of what will be taking place across the nation for Scout Community Week between the 14^th and 20th May 2012 to suggest a local project email the Community Week Team on community.week@scouts.org.uk.

If you would like to volunteers with us or would like your child to join visit www.scouts.org.uk/join or call 01995 613361

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