1. HQ Coronavirus Support
    www.scouts.org.uk/coronovirus is updated daily and has all the information you need about Scouting and COVID-19.
    You may also wish to share it with your parents & carers too.

 

  1. DBS Checking
    This can now begin again. All those that are 30, 60 or 90 days or have already expired, we have another 90 days as of today to process these checks.
    Joy has been keeping a record of all the DBS Checks that have expired and will start and contact each group and give them a list of the DBS Checks that need to be renewed.
    Remember we only have 90 days to complete expired ones as well as all the others that will now begin expiring too, so please make sure these are completed in a timely manner.
    If any Group is struggling to keep on top of them, please let Linda know and she will find someone who will give you a hand.

 

  1. Mandatory ongoing Learning
    HQ are focusing on getting the overdue safety and safeguarding training up to date, we have been contacting groups and GSLs and thank you as our percentages have dropped month by month but we do still have a lot that need to be completed.
    We still have some outstanding, so please encourage Leaders in your Groups to complete this. They can all be done online even if you completed the last training online too.
    You cannot return to face-to-face Scouting if either of these modules are out of date. Linda will also not be able to renew or issue any Activity Permits if these are out of date too.
    If anyone is unsure if there Safety or Safeguarding needs renewing, please contact Wendy LTM.

 

  1. Supporting the Programme
    Thank you for all the online Scouting that has been going on around the District!
    If you find there are some young people who don’t want to get involved online, don’t worry and don’t force them. Just keep them in the loop so they can join in if/when they are ready.
    Don’t forget there are the Bricktopia LEGO session available for parents & carers to book on to, free of charge.
    The North East Region is also going to be putting on a Summer of Scouting. More details to follow.

 

  1. AGM and Acounts
    Remember that inline with POR all groups are required to hold an AGM and provide an approved copy of their accounts to the District Treasurer.
    Each group needs to ensure that they still hold there AGM and that their accounts are completed and approved even though we are not face 2 face scouting at the moment, a copy of the accounts can still be sent over to John Jobling until you can get these approved in person by your Group Auditor.  Please also remember we should also have accounts for the Explorer Units too.

 

  1. HQ Census 2020/2021 and membership fees
    In February / March 2021 when you are due to pay the 20/21 fees the district levy will be zero, this will be paid for by the district (£3.75) as a one off.
    The County membership will be reduced to £5.75 per person reduced by £2.50.
    HQ membership have proposed an increased which goes for approval this month, they have 2 proposals:
    £6.00 per person increase
    £7.50 per person increase of which £1.50 will be ring fenced for support to Groups.
    So for Groups, the overall amount per person will be very similar to this years fees due to the saving at District and County.

    Collecting the Census is changing from next year. The numbers will now be collected on 15th of October and payment remains in the following February / March.
    So this year, numbers will be collected on 15th October 2020 and payment for these numbers will be collected in February / March 2021.
    This will mean that you can budget easier.

    With the date being moved forward, we ask that you contact all current non-active members to see what involvement they wish to have in Scouting going forwards. Please don’t put pressure on anyone to join in with online Scouting during these conversations, it’s just about finding out what they want to do once we return to face-to-face Scouting.
    It may be best to do this before the Summer holidays and before you return to face-to-face Scouting, so you have an idea of numbers when planning.

 

  1. Getting back to scouting as we know it

    We have now moved to the AMBER phase, but no one can meet until the Section has prepared appropriate risk assessments and had these approved by the District Team.
    Risk Assessments need submitting through the HQ Smart Sheets form. This then gets sent to Linda, who is working with a Team of Leaders from across the District to approve each one. The Team may provide some comments or adjustments back to you, to ensure consistency across the District.
    This is not a race and should not be done if your Section Leadership Team do not feel ready to return yet.

    Linda has sent an email to all GSLs, with key links to documents from Scouts.org.uk about completing the Risk Assessments.

    As we move from AMBER to YELLOW, you will need to update your risk assessment and have it approved again.

    The Team plan on sharing any good examples, top tips and suggested content after receiving each new Risk Assessment, so we can all help each other. Look out for these in the newsletter.

    If you have missed any of the HQ webinars, please go and watch the recordings, they are essential to understanding the process.

 

  1. Any other business
    None

    An email will be issued with a date for the next meeting.