Before reading the information below, please ensure you're up to date with the guidance available at scouts.org.uk/coronavirus and gov.uk/coronavirus.
PROGRAMME
The teams at World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and UK Scout Headquarters are in the process of creating Programme ideas to support Scouts at home. Check here: UK HQ and WOSM regularly.
HQ has already developed 'The Great Indoors', which features (quite literally) hundreds of activities for you to try at home. Take a look here.
LOCAL MEETINGS
These can all be done by email or telephone or Skype, either one-to-one or in conference calls. Another suggestion is to use Office 365 or G Suite for your District (if this has not been done already), which both have free plans for qualifying charities. More information can be found on the Microsoft and Google websites.
GOVERNANCE
The NCVO has published some useful guidance to help Executive Committees consider how they can best support Scouts locally during this time.
Any charity that needs an extension to their annual return deadline can contact the Charity Commission to ask for one. Please see their guidance here.
HQ has approved an amendment to the standard constitutions in POR which allows meetings to be held remotely. also allows decisions to be made electronically. This is valid immediately and will be updated in the next update to POR, in early April. The wording is as follows:
• Electronic voting (such as email) is allowed for decision making of the County/District/Group Executive Committee and its sub-Committees when deemed appropriate by the Chair. In such instances at least 75% of committee members must approve the decision.
• The County/District/Group Executive Committee & its sub-Committees can meet by telephone conference, video conference as well as face to face in order to discharge its responsibilities when agreed by the appropriate Chair.
EVENTS
Following the advice to suspend all face-to-face meetings, activities and events, it's important to consider any events you may have scheduled locally, including St George's Day.
The World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) have announced a special edition of Jamboree on the Internet, to take place April 3-5. Details can be found on their website. The following National events have been cancelled:
• Day of Celebration at Windsor
• Beaver and Cub Fundays at Gilwell Park and Woodhouse Park
• Gilwell 24
TRAINING
All adult training courses are cancelled for the foreseeable future but some modules can be completed online at Learning Materials.
LESLIE SELL ACTIVITY CENTRE
The centre is now closed but will be open again once the current situation is over. Please see here.
COUNTY TEAM
The County Office is operating remotely - if you attempt to contact us via phone, your call may not be answered. Please contact Rita via email at bedscouts@btconnect.com.
The County Team is still able to offer support and each of us can be contacted by email.