Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
Muddy Scouters
LittlePaul:
--- Quote from: lee celtic on April 01, 2008, 14:48:02 ---I was in cubs and scouts in Partington Manchester from 1976 onwards until going to collage and discovering girls :lol: :lol: now that's what I call exploring ;)
I then ran the local cubs and scouts for a couple of years in Llanberis until the wife was taken ill and had to go to hospital for three weeks so I had three weeks away .When I came back the people who were supposed to be covering had shut it down because they said there was not enough adult support :roll: Two of us had been running it for two years no problem [-X so that's another 20 odd young people on the street corners with nothing to do .And yes I did consider starting up again but I was so disillusioned with the lack of support from within the organisation that I decided not to and just spend more time with my kids.
--- End quote ---
It's almost seasonal with changes of leadership generation - might be worth trying again. I cant believe Scouting isnt massive in North Wales - especially Llanberis, but quite a few towns have only average sized groups with dwindling support. There's no real mechanism for registering interest that if other people did, you'd go help. Not many risk volunteering cos they'd be snapped up, overloaded, and put off again lol.
Our District (Northampton) bought the struggling youth hostel in Cynwyd (nr corwen) about 18months ago, and have refurbished it as a mountain and activity centre. We're up there quite a lot running activity weekends and expeditions. Very envious of your terrain!
Niel:
--- Quote from: Wireless on March 31, 2008, 01:53:28 ---
So I'm not out of order expressing an opinion on Child Protection, since we are all entitled to an opinion, just as I point out to you that I did not mention POR (Policy, Organisation, and Rules).
Child Protection, in terms of that operated by the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) actually uses the terminology 'Children & Vulnerable Adults', not Young Person/People. Perhaps I should point out that it's not called Young Person / People Protection.
Yours in Scouting
--- End quote ---
Yep, but after spending most of last night in A&E with my eldest (Q.A. mostly bored to tears watching the drunks, stoned and arrested under escort) who was assaulted at Explorer Scouts, having just been invested, by some of the older ones (initiation still seems to feature in some units) the Scout Ass. still seems to be failing to recognise, 'children' are often bullied, physically and/or sexually assaulted by other Youth Members far more often than by 'Adult' members...
Niel, who's had to take the day off sick as I hadn't had any sleep.
LittlePaul:
--- Quote from: Niel on April 01, 2008, 17:42:28 ---
--- Quote from: Wireless on March 31, 2008, 01:53:28 ---
So I'm not out of order expressing an opinion on Child Protection, since we are all entitled to an opinion, just as I point out to you that I did not mention POR (Policy, Organisation, and Rules).
Child Protection, in terms of that operated by the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) actually uses the terminology 'Children & Vulnerable Adults', not Young Person/People. Perhaps I should point out that it's not called Young Person / People Protection.
Yours in Scouting
--- End quote ---
Yep, but after spending most of last night in A&E with my eldest (Q.A. mostly bored to tears watching the drunks, stoned and arrested under escort) who was assaulted at Explorer Scouts, having just been invested, by some of the older ones (initiation still seems to feature in some units) the Scout Ass. still seems to be failing to recognise, 'children' are often bullied, physically and/or sexually assaulted by other Youth Members far more often than by 'Adult' members...
Niel, who's had to take the day off sick as I hadn't had any sleep.
--- End quote ---
That's terrible, Ive never seen that in any of ours thankfully. Make sure they have an accident form filled in, that might focus their minds. Someone neutral and not in attendance fills it in, your son writes a report, as do the leaders in attendance. The neutral person filling it in does a summary box too of their opinion of what happened, all of them get looked at by HQ. Dunno if it'll help, but might make a start. Paul
Wireless:
--- Quote from: Niel on April 01, 2008, 17:42:28 ---Yep, but after spending most of last night in A&E with my eldest (Q.A. mostly bored to tears watching the drunks, stoned and arrested under escort) who was assaulted at Explorer Scouts, having just been invested, by some of the older ones (initiation still seems to feature in some units) the Scout Ass. still seems to be failing to recognise, 'children' are often bullied, physically and/or sexually assaulted by other Youth Members far more often than by 'Adult' members...
Niel, who's had to take the day off sick as I hadn't had any sleep.
--- End quote ---
I'm sorry to hear that, I hope your eldest recovers quickly from whatever happened, thats the main thing, and I hope it hasn't put him off Scouting either.
Bullying is something that has to recognised quickly and dealt with early, as the Scouts get older they are supposed to take on more personal responsibility, and given more opportunities to plan and organise time and activities for themselves.
The Leaders having less and less controlling input, moving from a 99% instructional role (Beavers) to a 90% facilitating role (Explorers) as a young person moves through the sections, as they grow and develop.
The minute your back is turned to deal with something else, a problem can occur, and there's often nothing you can do about it as there could have been no indication it's about to happen. All you can do is recover the situation and that really depends on what has happened. The Explorer Leaders are probably mortified that something took place behind their backs, and probably want to discuss the matter with you.
I don't think it's appropriate to think that the Scout Association doesn't recognise bullying by peers as being a problem, there's enough material available from HQ to highlight awareness amongst Leaders, including posters/information, yellow cards that every adult should carry, and..., dare I say it, training Modules, such as the one for Challenging Behaviour.
What has to be recognised is that Leaders aren't Child Care professionals, they are volunteers, and they don't have all the answers although they are probably very experienced with dealing with young people within the age range of their section/unit, what should be in place is an inclusive partnership with parents to minimise or deal with such events.
Difficult I know, if your eldest has only just been invested that night, but do talk to the Explorer Leaders, they are probably very eager to talk to you.
defuzz:
I'll reiterate whats already been said, very sad to hear about yor son's experience and I genuinely hope it doesn't put him off Scouting. I've been following the discussion over on the google group pages and there is certainly some good advice over there.
I think "Initiation" has a very wide meaning. To me, violence or humiliation of a new member is plain old bullying, I know my old scout leader wouldn't have stood for it when I was 13 nor will I if I get any indication of it happening, as a young scout, the first wet camp was a pretty good bonding expereince without the need for singling out of "newbies". But initiation doesn't have to be a bad thing, the whole investiture/going up ceremony is an initiation and is an important part of life as a scout as is the bonding of a troop when they "suffer" in the wet and cold together.
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