Scouts and Guides

[watervole]

Just after 2pm, I heard the band and raced out of the house and up the road to watch the rather smaller local Remembrance Sunday parade.  About 80 members of the British Legion following a local youth band, all walking in step with the music, followed by a rather rag-tag collection of Brownies, Guides and Scouts, none of whom (apart from one tall, teenage scout) were able to walk in time.

It cast my mind back to my days as a Guide. Our Guider, known as 'Captain' to the entire village, used to teach us drill once in a while and march us around the hall.  I'm sure it was old-fashioned even then, but at least we were in step when we went on parade.

I'm now fighting off an urge to go and volunteer with a local scout or guide group.  Will people please talk me out of it! (Or alternatively tell me why it might actually be a good idea...)  I was a helper for a couple of years with the Guides, but it was over 25 years ago, and I remember almost nothing about it.

Comments

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Not that I think you wouldn't pass with flying colours but you do realise that even as a volunteer helper you now might have to have have to have a CRB report (Criminal Records Bureau)and you may have to pay for it yourself. All library staff, some of us had worked with children for over 30 years, were searched through the CRB about 5 years back now. Had we not passed we would have been transferred immediately to a department where we would never have contact with children. Luckily the council paid for it. It takes for ever but we were allowed to continue working, I don't think you would be allowed to start working with children with out it. I know all new appointments did not start work until theirs had come through clear.

[pennski.livejournal.com]

I had that for Reading Buddies - but it was free as far as I know.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Free to you in this case but not free, each full search costs £36 per person and probably the Reading Library Service paid it as did my employers. I have heard of people doing volunteer work with children being asked to pay for the CRB when the organisation is a bit cash strapped.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I just filled in my CRB form for Brownies, and the Association paid. I assume it's the same in Dorset. Also it's possible to help out at a unit prior to being checked, so long as there's a Guider present as well.

I would definitely recommend watervole considers volunteering, even if it's just one evening a term. I'm getting a lot out of working with my Brownies, and we always need extra helpers.

[pennski.livejournal.com]

In that case my employer probably paid it as it's part of their community activity drive.

[kerravonsen]

Will people please talk me out of it!
It will be bad for your voice, don't do it. ;-)

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I went to the Poole parade/service, and the only ones truly in step were the CCF kids (obv) and Sea Scouts. The St Johns cadets were, sadly, laughable. I say sadly because I was a cadet mere 15 years ago (ugg, it doesn't feel that long..) and we had drill practice fairly often. Along with first aid, of course :)

I bet there's a school or group nearby that could do with some gardening advice!

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

My Youngest (21) qualified as a Guider, but is planning to transfer to Scouts in protest at the "dumbing down" of guiding. She went on a major camp last summer and was having to do Make Up sessions with the girls. She had been taught when she was a young guide that her predecessors had campaigned to escape house work and beauty training for more exciting pursuits.

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

When I was a scout in the early-to-mid 90s there was essentially zero real drill; I only came across it at (parading to/fro), and immediately before, the annual scouting service in the church to which we were notionally attached.

Don't do it!

[auntygillian.livejournal.com]

You don't want to do it really, cos it will have changed out of all recognition and they certainly won't do drill. Volunteer for befriending old people or homeless teenage mothers instead (search on www.do-it.org.uk/ for volunteering opportumities by postcode - I just found the homeless teenage mothers one in my home town). Plus, don't know how you self-define these days but I was refused a scout warrant for being an atheist. Don't know what it's like in Guides these days, but in scouts leaders have to profess a faith - any faith. Even the scouts are supposed to be 'progressing towards' a faith.