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Blandford Scout Group
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Hut
Adults
Awards
Contact Us
The Winterbornes
  • Home
  • Hut
  • Adults
  • Awards
  • Contact Us
  • The Winterbornes
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  • The Winterbornes

Join our Cub Scout waiting list...

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Our Cub Packs:

Shottsford Cub Pack Meets on Monday's 6.30pm-8pm (not during current lockdown*)

Portman Cub Pack Meet on Thursday's 6.30p-8pm (not during current lockdown*)


*At the moment Scouts are in an Amber level where some Cub Packs can return to face-2-face, due to our young people coming from so many different schools (mixing bubbles) and the 2m distancing rule we are unable to meet face-2-face. We are currently meeting online every Tuesday 6.30pm for approx. an hour. If you are a member you can find the link on OSM under programmes.


Both Cub Packs work together but may run different activities/programs due to badge requirements of the young people. All events/camps will be offered to all.

Blandford Scout Group / North Dorset District / Dorset County - and member of The Scout Association

Location:

Eagle House Gardens, Blandford, Dorset DT11 7BT

Subs:

£35 per term (currently not charging during lockdown)

Emergency Contact:

Group Scout Leader : Sam Elliott 07873762035  

Introduction from our Cub Scout Leaders

Whether your young person is joining us from another Group or is new to Scouting, we welcome you. If your child has been a Beaver with us you will already know a lot about the way the Group works, in that case this booklet should act as a reminder. 


Life as a Cub Scout is fun, adventurous and rewarding. As a Cub Scout, your young person will join us on exciting adventures, discovering hidden talents and exploring the world around them. Cubs is the second section of the Scouting Movement. In this section, excitement and adventure are key. The Cub Scout Programme offers Cub Scouts a huge variety of activities, indoors and outdoors, allowing them to be creative and get involved in their local communities. 


We believe that young people learn by doing, so our Cub Scout Programme is packed full of amazing activities to engage and challenge Cub Scouts of all abilities. You can expect your young person to get involved in camps, water activities, nature walks, cooking, crafts, sports, and many more… 


We rely on adult volunteers to make it all possible, either as leaders to run meetings, camps and so on, or as supporters to provide the material requirements and assist the leaders with the running of activities.
We hope your young person will enjoy the new challenge and build on the skills he/she has already acquired. 


Thank you 

Cub Scout Leadership Team

Learn More

Have a look on The Scouts website for more information about Cub Scouts inc. Structure, Activities, The Promise & Law, Uniform and Badges.

Find out more

Online Scout Manager - OSM

OSM is a system we use to do most of our admin. 


If your young person has transferred from Beavers or another Group then their information will automatically be passed on. You will receive an email asking you to confirm that the information is correct. If you are new to Scouting then you will receive and email inviting you to setup an account. You will need to enter your contact details, emergency contacts and medical details for your young person. 


You will be asked to confirm this information at the start of each year and also before activities like camp. 


We do request payments for Subs and Events using OSM, if you can't pay online please contact us and let us know and we can arrange a different payment method.

OSM Parent Portal

OSM parent portal revolutionises the way leaders communicate with parents by giving parents various tools with automatic reminders!

OSM parent portal page

Investiture

Before being invested as a Cub Scout we have an induction programme. They will complete an Investiture Booklet over a 3 week period with one of the leaders. After the third week, if they have completed everything they will be invested. 


They will need to know the Law and Promise by heart and they will need a full Cub Scout Uniform. 


Parents are invited to watch the Investiture Ceremony. It is usually held at the end of the night so you should arrive 15 minutes  early to see the ceremony. 

Promise & Law

Cubs choose the promise that best suits them. Options can be found at the link below.


The Cub Scout Law

Cub Scouts always do their best, think of others before themselves and do a good turn every day. 

Promise options
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Uniform

Scouting is a uniformed organisation. All Cubs wear uniform for most pack meetings, when arriving and departing from events and for parades. Cubs should take pride in their uniform and do their best to look after the uniform and to look smart. Cubs are not expected to wear a uniform until they have been ‘invested’. 


Cub Scout Uniform consists of : 

  • Green Cub Scout Jumper (T-Shirt is optional) 
  • Group scarf/neckerchief – Black and Gold (we will supply this at investiture) 
  • Woggle (we will supply this at investiture) 
  • Black Trousers (school style) 
  • Black Shoes 


Some badges can be transferred from the Beaver Uniform, if they had one... 

  • Highest 'Staged' badges (the light blue badges)
  • 'Membership' badge (purple Scout emblem)
  • Highest 'Joining In' badge
  • 'Chief Scout Bronze' award
  • 'District & County' badge

Uniform Shopping

  • Ragtags in Blandford has a stock of Scouting uniform you can try on and purchase.
  • You can also purchase online at our official Scout Shop
  • We normally have second hand uniform available for a small donation if possible. Please ask a Leader who can show you the rail of options.

Visit Scout Shop
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Pack Nights

Cub Scouts follow a great deal of its traditions from the ‘Jungle Book’ by Rudyard Kipling. The Cubs meet in a group called a Pack (as in a Pack of Wolves). The leader of the Cub Scout section is Akela and other leaders may take Jungle Book names such as Rikki, Baloo, etc. We have some copies of the book if you would like to read it with your child. 


At the beginning and end of each pack meeting the Cubs hold a type of ceremony called a ‘Grand Howl’ and Flagbreak. 


We will then usually play a game before starting that evening’s planned activity. This will sometimes be working towards a badge or award and sometime just good fun. 


We encourage the Cubs to remember all their uniform and keep their badges up to date by ad hoc inspections at the start of each week. 


Feel free to ask us about anything we do at Cubs, and you would be welcome to stay and join in if you wanted to. 

Sixes

The Cubs in the Pack are organised into Sixes. Each six has their own colour and the Cubs in that six wear a woggle of that colour on their necker. Each six will contain up to six cubs of a range of ages. 


Each six has a ‘Sixer’ who is ‘in charge’ of the six, and a ‘Seconder’. A cub is not usually made up to a Seconder or Sixer unless they have shown their competence and good behaviour. 


If your child is unhappy with any aspect of their six or pack or please let one of the leaders know. 


Our sixes colours are Red, Green, Yellow, Blue and White 

badges & awards

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Awards

You may have already earned some shiny awards when you were a Beaver and you'll earn even more as a Cub.

Start with your membership badge and then travel all the way up to the Chief Scout's Silver Award. You can work towards as many as you like at your own pace. 

Learn more
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Activity & Staged Badges

Become an expert in something you love, or try something shiny and new. From athletics and astronomy to photography and pioneering, there’s something for everyone.

Learn more
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Work on badges at home!

You can view badges and their requirements on OSM. This system also allows you to upload evidence for badges that can then be easily checked and signed off by Leaders. It has been a great feature during Covid lockdown and many Cubs have enjoyed completing their badges at home - these badges have been ordered and delivered throughout lockdown too!

View how to video
scouting Awards
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The Group Leaders

All adults in our Scout Group, including Uniformed Leaders, are volunteers. They give their time for free, they do not get paid. All of the leaders give up a great deal of their spare time, effort and money in order to provide young people with excellent adventures and provide Skills For Life.

 

A uniformed leader, and indeed any form of ‘helper’ or leader at the group, has to complete a recruitment process including a DBS (police check) and essential training to include Safety and Safeguarding of young people. Uniformed leaders complete a series of training modules to gain their Wood Badge/Beads. 


We encourage older Scouts, Explorers and teenagers doing their DofE volunteering to help within our younger sections. 


The Group Scout Leader (Sam Elliott) provides support for all the sections and is charged with the task of developing Scouting throughout the Group. 

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Behaviour & Discipline

All Cubs are expected to behave well and appropriately. Inappropriate behaviour will not be accepted. 


Generally speaking, minor incidents will be dealt with by the leaders. Cubs will be taken aside and given calm and clear reminders about behaving appropriately during the sessions.


More serious examples, in particular bullying and fighting, will result in the Cub’s parents being contacted and, depending upon the circumstances, suspension for an agreed number of weeks. 


Older Cubs, and in particular Sixers and Seconders, will be expected to set a good example to younger members of the Pack. 


Occasionally we will have members in the Pack with special needs. If your young person requires any additional help with any activity, or has any particular needs please speak to one of the leaders. 

A Cub Scout’s Obligations

Members of the Blandford Scout Group are expected to take an active role in the activities of the Pack. The following should be considered the minimum commitment from a Cub: 


  • Attend all Cubs Meetings unless ill or away 
  • Join in every activity, at least having a go 
  • Take part in St. George’s Day Parade (around 23rd April and is a religious event) 
  • Take part in Remembrance Parade (Sunday on/before 11th November) (exemptions for religious reasons is of course fine as this parade is followed by a church service)
  • We also run a Winter and Summer Camp which is an important part of the badge work. 


A number of other events are organised for the Cubs throughout the year, and it is hoped that Cubs will make the most of all of the opportunities available. 


Please let us know if your young person does not want to be part of the pack anymore. There is often a waiting list so it is good to know as soon as possible. 

Parental Support

You will occasionally be asked to be an additional adult helper for a trip or activity. Each term, on OSM the programme will be shown and if we require help there will be sign up option that you can press to sign up and it will let you know if you need to bring anything extra with you. This is system is great as parents can choose the most appropriate night that fits their likes and abilities but it does rely on parents checking and signing up! Please don't ignore the pleas for help and please try to sign up to at least 1 session per term so that it makes it fair on all families. If no help is available some sessions/events may be cancelled.  


As an occasional/additional helper once a term you do not need to be DBS (police checked) but you MUST NOT be on your own with any Cub(s). Please always make sure you are in view of at least one other adult!


We need many volunteers to keep everything going within the Scout Sections (Beavers, Cubs & Scouts) and the Executive Committee that look after the hut and fundraise for activities, events and materials for Scouting in Blandford. If you would like to volunteer in any way then please email blandfordscoutgroup@gmail.com. 


All Parents are asked to be vigilant in bringing their Cubs directly into the building and ensuring a leader knows they have arrived, and also to collect them promptly from within the hall. 

Communication

We try to produce a programme each term which gives as much detail as possible about the activities that term, this can be viewed on OSM. However, this often changes as term goes on. We try to keep the Cubs informed of what is happening and any changes or extra information.  We will then reiterate that information, as well as other things, by email. You can control which email address we use in your OSM account. 


We also have a Facebook Group 'Blandford Scout Group' which can be found below. You will need to ask for permission to join but this is NOT a private page, so beware of what you are posting.

Our Facebook page

Financial Matters

We are a voluntary organisation, which receives no financial support from local or central Government. The Leaders do their best to offer quality scouting for the lowest possible cost. The main source of income is the membership subscriptions paid by all members. This is currently subs of £35 per term, and should be paid by the second week of each term. 


This subscription not only covers the basic costs of the sections but a sizeable chunk of this goes to The Scout Association to pay for the ‘Insurance’ for each member of the group. This will cover each member at any scouting event. It also contributes toward to the expenses and upkeep of our Scout Hut. 


Camps and some special events will also require a certain cost to be covered. Costs vary and details will be given each time. If the cost makes it difficult for your child to join in then speak to one of the leaders and we will make arrangements.

 

Please pay any fees using OSM, if online is not an option please provide a cheque payable to 'Blandford Scout Group' and place in a clearly marked envelope with; Cub name, Cub Pack name and what the cheque is for (our treasurer is amazing but she isn't psychic). Then post through the white letterbox on the Office door in Cub Room.

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Camps

We usually organise two events in the year. Winter Sleepover is Friday to Sunday in November (over Remembrance parade weekend) usually at our Scout Hut. Costs approx £10-£20


Summer Camp is Friday to Sunday in June/July. We are camping in tents and usually use a reasonably local Scout Camp Site. Cubs usually have a chance to do 2-3 adventurous activities; i.e. climbing, water activities, rifle shooting or archery. Usually costs around £30-£50

Activities & Supervision

An important part of the appeal of Scouting is the provision of adventurous activities. The Scout Association has strict rules regulating these activities and, when appropriate, trained instructors are used for these activities. Adventurous activities or trips are often organised throughout the year as part of the Cubs programme. Full details and a full kit list will be issued prior to each event. 


Leaders have to follow and abide by the rules and guidelines laid down in the Scout Association publication ‘Policy, Organisation & Rules.’ If you wish to see a copy of P.O.R., or a copy of the Pack session/event risk assessments, or if you wish to know more about this subject please feel free to ask one of the leaders. 

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Moving Up

When a Cub approaches the age of 10½ they will begin to look towards moving up to the Scout Troop. 


We usually transfer Cubs over at the start of a term or after half term. We will try and discuss the moving on with the young person and their families sometime after they turn 10. We encourage Cubs to try Scouts for a week or two before the end of the term as well as attending their usual Cub sessions, as a settling in.


Subs collection will continue as normal, a few free sessions are available to anyone new to Scouting.

Questions?

We have tried to include most of the information people ask for, but if you have any other questions then just get in touch with one of the leaders or email blandfordscoutgroup@gmail.com

Scouting is a movement, ever evolving & adapting to meet the needs of young people & the world today

fun we have at cubs

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