We need to know anything that might affect how we look after your Cub when in our care: we also have to record that you have told us of anything we need to know, like if they have special needs or religious requirements.
First, log into OSM at https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk
Next, click on Personal Details on the left.
Scroll down and fill in any or all of the boxes there:
- Medical details for any health information, like asthma.
- Allergies for any allergies, like shellfish or nuts.
- Dietary requirements for any food needs, like kosher or halal.
- Additional Needs for any behaviour, cognitive or other information, like colour blindness or speech impairments.
- Notes to Leaders for anything else we might find useful, like English as a second language or has a nappy at night.
(We don't mind which box you put information in, don't worry about that.)
Click the button at the top labelled “I confirm these details are correct.” If you don’t do this then we don’t know that you have told us anything, so we might have missed some vital information.
Then we log in we can see that you have told us what we need to know to keep your Beaver safe:
We start a Cubs meeting with our Grand Howl, which is pretty much as the Scout Website.
Before you start the Grand Howl, choose a duty Sixer
- The leader calls out ‘Pack! Pack! Pack!’
- Everyone makes a circle, standing in their Sixes.
- The leader calls ‘Pack! Pack alert!’
- Everyone stands up straight and smart with their hands by their sides.
- The leader raises and lowers their arms.
- Cubs squat low on the ground with their hands between their feet.
- Cubs call out ‘(leader's name), we will do our best!’
- Everyone stands up and makes the Scout sign.
- The duty Sixer calls out ‘Cubs, do your best’.
- Cubs reply ‘We will do our best!’
- The duty Sixer goes forward and gently pulls the cord to unfurl the flag.
- The Sixer takes a step backwards and leads everyone in saluting the flag, before returning to their Six.
- The leader calls ‘Pack! Pack at ease!’
Annual Report 2024
AGM 17-9-24
Chair’s report
Since being appointed chair at the last AGM I have been meeting volunteers and leaders and getting to grips with how the group operates. I very much enjoyed attending the camp in October - my first experience of scout camps. I am hugely impressed by, and grateful for, the dedication and expertise shown by our leaders and volunteers.
The National scout movement has originated some changes in scouting governance, which we are in the process of implementing. My hope is that they will lead to a more streamlined meeting structure and greater parental engagement in our programme of group activities.
We have welcomed Georg Christ as Group secretary and I would like to express my thanks to Georg for the energy and rigour that he is bringing to the role."
Mike Arundale (Chair of Trustees)
GSL’s (Lead Volunteer) report
Leadership
All sections are in need of regular adult volunteers (Leaders), see sections reports. We used to have two scout troops, we had to amalgamate them due to lack of leaders after covid. The number in the one troop is such that we really could do with being able to start the second again but we can only do this if we have more leaders (this is the same as I wrote last year). Both cub sections need more leaders too Anita from Thursday and Nikhil from Monday have both finished helping this year.
Garden
The garden is looking better than ever, the garden was judged as part of Didsbury in Bloom. We do not know the results yet. A big thank you to Helen Hampson, Rosemary Fielding, Hillary Lowe and Penny Robinson for all the work they put in throughout the year to keep it looking so good. If you would like to help get in touch with Helen
Chair
Mike Arundale has taken over smoothly from Chris Pearse and co-opted George Christ in as minutes secretary. They have both worked had to transform the group exec committee into the group’s board of Trustees which is now the way the scout group needs to be run.
Deputy Group scout leader
I am please to welcome Brian Cosgrove as my deputy, we have managed to formalise this appointment and Brian now has this as a full role as well as lead with the explorers
Scout association changes
It is hoped that by the end of October the scout association database (compass at the moment) will have changed over to a new system and we will all change from sections with leaders to “Teams with volunteers”. It is hoped that the new database will make life easier for volunteers (leaders)
Many thanks, to all our leaders and supporters, who are all volunteers. Well done.
Keith Hampson
Group scout Leader
Treasures report
Although the expenditure has risen considerably in this financial year the accounts are still in a healthy position with a credit balance of £28,610.34 at 31/03/24, this is £9500.00 less than the previous year.
The rise in expenditure is due to paying £6006.00 for the legal fees associated with renewing the lease for the land, also general running costs have gone up. We have also had an increase on repairs to the hut.
As you will see the income is down by around £4000.00 this is due to receiving £1000.00 less is subs and I did not submit a gift aid claim for this year because we were waiting for parents to tick the gift aid box on OSM.
The gift aid claim will be submitted as soon as possible in the new financial year.
Pat Ramsden
Group Treasure
Beaver report
We have been busy with badge work gaining many different badges We have covered elements in all challenge awards, many have gained activity badges which range from experiment to health and fitness to hobbies to builder. Many have gained staged activity awards in swimmer, snowsports, hikes, air activities to name a few. To gain a bronze chief scout award, the highest badge that can be obtained in beavers, each beaver needs to complete the 6 challenge awards and 4 other badge. I am pleased to say that 2 beavers have gained these badges this year. A total of 253 badges have been awarded well done to the beavers for their hard work.
We have had visits from the fire brigade, RNLI, a wheelchair user, a blind person with their dog. We have done a survey in the village about what people thought about Didsbury, following this we wrote to the MP who responded saying he would visit if he was able. We have had only one sleepover this year which was when we did our survey of the village.
We continue to struggle for leaders as a number have work commitments. On a Tuesday we have a regular team of 3 parents who help but we are now starting a rota for other parents to help. On a Wednesday a number of leaders can help less frequently so again we are staring a rota for assistance.
Thank you to all my leader volunteers for all their commitment.
Helen Hampson, Beaver Lead volunteer (Beaver scout leader)
Cub report
The two cub sections, Celts and Saxons, have continued to work together sharing a similar programme with special joint meetings and camps.
In October we joined the Scouts and Explorers for a very chilly Sixers and Seconders’ camp. The smaller group of older cubs allowed us to focus on skills such as backwoods cooking, pioneering and fire lighting.
Then in April, we were able to enter 2 teams into Pike View Hike giving the cubs the chance to practice their navigation and team working skills. Unfortunately we didn’t win a trophy this year, but we’re sure that the opportunity to teach cubs map reading skills as young leaders, helped the explorers to their victory!
We held an exciting summer camp at Dunham in June with kayaking, grass sledging, archery, iron branding, backwoods cooking and a very impressive campfire.
Thank you to Glenn and Mat, our regular parent helpers. Our Young Leaders, Will, Maaria, Caelan, Matty and Edmund have been a huge help- thanks to them. Thank you to Emma, Chung, Michaela and Ian for helping with our camp and to all the parents who helped with our outdoor meetings over the year.
We have awarded 341 badges this year including 7 Silver Chief Scout cub awards, the highest award within Cubs.
Sadly for us, but happily for him, Nikhil has completed his University course and returned to his native London- thank you for your time with us. Matthew (Hathi) has had a change in work circumstances so will not be available as much now. We will need parent help particularly for outdoor and practical activities.
Alison Malkin (for the cub tem)
Scout report
Peter Mayhew
Phoenix Scout Leader
DVESU (Didsbury Viking explorer scout unit)
We have had another strong year in Explorers this year with membership at 24 and regular attendance at meeting between 16 and 20. Our leaders this year are Brian and Kevin with support provided by Keith. I’d like to thank both Kevin and Keith for their help this year.
The highlight for this year was our entry into the Bibby’s Farm Yomp, the explorer event at the Pike View Hike, our team of 4 were successful in winning the event, a huge congratulations on the achievement.
We have had a joint summer camp with the scouts and have an upcoming camp in October. We have built on the explorers skills this year in planning events and the majority of our summer camp was put together by the young people with support from the leaders. We have a growing number of the explorers who currently help in some of the other sections as young leaders and their help is appreciated by all the other leaders. This year we have awarded 4 explorers with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and we have also award a platinum Chief Scout award. Congrats to all the young people on their efforts.
Brian Cosgrove
Explorer Scout Leader
Sticky football
Two lines of Beavers face each other, legs apart and feet abutting each other, hands clasped. Balls are released between the lines and Beavers have to knock them through the legs of the Beavers opposite.
Three Skittles
Two chairs on opposite sides of the circle, three skittles in the middle, a beanbag on each chair. Split the Beavers into two teams and number. When a number is called the number from each team runs to the chair, kneels on it, and throws the beanbag at the skittles. Miss, go get it. First to two skittles wins.
Dodgeball
Beavers run from one end of the hall to the other, adults try to hit their legs with balls.
River Bank
Beavers all line up facing the adult. Adult shouts "river" and the Beavers jump forwards over the river, or "bank" and jump backwards. Switch it up. Jumping the wrong way or landing on the line in the middle and out.
Buzzy Bees
Make a bee, whizz around. Adult shouts a letter: act an animal that starts with that letter (e.g. d gives dog, dragon, dolphin)
Four Corners
Use four cards, label each corner. Beavers run to a corner. Pull a card, all the Beavers in that corner are out.
Paper Snowballs
Take a great pile of newspapers, tear up and make balls. Split Beavers into four, drop the balls around. Beavers have to throw the balls onto the other Beavers' corners. Stop, count and score.
Beaver Story (Duck Duck Goose)
Beavers on the circle. Go round naming them with Beaver Story names. Read the story: when you get to a name, those Beavers jump up and run round back to their places.
Wink Murder
Beavers on the circle. Send one Beaver out, the Inspector. Appoint a Beaver the Murderer. Bring Inspector back in, centre of the circle. Murderer winks at other Beavers, who die: Inspector has to catch them. Three accusations allowed.
Find My Shoe
Everyone takes off a shoe and places it in a big pile in the middle. Lights off, everyone has to find their shoe before the lights come back on.
Paper Tails
Rip up long bits of paper. Beavers put them in the back of their trousers and run from one end of the hall to the other. Adults try to catch their tails as they go past.
Clapping (What's the Time Mr. Wolf?)
Adult stands at the end of the hall, facing away. Beavers approach until the adult turns: any Beaver moving is out.
Or adult stands at the end of the hall, facing the Beavers. Clap, they start moving, clap again they stop and freeze.
Or adult has a torch, turns it off, and Beavers move in the dark.
Torch Finding
Play outside in a big contained area. Adult goes and stands in the area. Beavers set off with torches to find them.
Catch the Dragon’s Tail
This is actually a Chinese game!
All players stand in a line, their hands on one another’s shoulders. The first person in line is the head of the dragon, and the last is the tail.
The head tries to catch the tail by manoeuvring the line around so that she/he can tag the end player. The line must not break.
All the other players do their best to keep the head from catching the dragon’s tail.
When the head catches the tail, all players move forward one position while the player who was in front as the head now becomes the tail.
The Confused Dog
A game from Palestine.
Everyone in a circle, one person in the middle. Throw a ball around the circle until the person in the middle catches or touches it, then the thrower has to go in to replace them.
Kebeto
A game from Ethiopia.
Sit in a circle. One person is it: he goes round the circle carrying a necker. He drops the necker behind someone and tries to run round the circle back to that place. The person who had the belt placed behind her has to run after and catch him before he gets back to her place and takes it, or she now is it.
Straw Boots
A game from Lithuania.
Stand in a circle, holding hands. Walk round chanting “Straw boots, soles of sticks. Straw boots, soles of sticks.” Then hold your left foot in your left hand (everybody) and hop on your right foot chanting “Can’t jump, got a pain in my leg. Can’t jump, got a pain in my leg.” Circle back, chanting “Straw boots…” and then hold your right foot in your right hand and hopping and chanting “Can’t jump…” Repeat going faster each time.
Little Fishes
All the Beavers at one end. One Fish. The Beavers run to the other end, the Fish has to catch them. Anyone tagged becomes a sea anemone and can also tag and catch Beavers, but has to stand still.
Scouts is famous for its badges. You don't have to get them: it's what suits you and your Beaver. But we use them encourage Beavers to take part, to do new things and to achieve things and grow.
You can just leave it to us: your Beaver will get a few badges if they just come to Beavers. You can pick some badges that look fun and do them at home. Or you can go for the Bronze Chief Scout Award: this is the top award that Beavers can get, and you will have to get some particular badges.
Doing badges at home
This is how to tell us you've done badges online: if you want to just bring things in and tell us, that's fine too!
We do all our badges in Online Scout Manager - the same place we do all our admin. You can log in there and see badges your Beaver could get or have got: just click on the Badges link on the left:
Click on a badge and you can see the requirements. You'll also see a button labelled "COMPLETE AT HOME":
Click on COMPLETE AT HOME and you can tell us your Beaver has been working on a badge:
- Submit a photo showing your Beaver working on the badge, or their work, or anything else.
- Tick the box for what part(s) of the badge this covers.
We then look at it and check it off and try to send your Beaver an encouraging message.
That's it! When a badge is completed they will be presented with it at the end of an evening (often the last week of a half-term). You are always welcome at 7.25pm to watch.
Bronze Chief Scout Award
If you are ambitious, the Bronze Chief Scout Award is the top Beaver award. Your Beaver can put it on their Cub uniform when they go up. You get this automatically by completing other badges:
- All of the six red hexagonal Challenge Badges.
- Any four of the round blue and yellow Activity Badges.
The hardest ones to get are all the Challenge Badges: we'll do a lot of the parts at Beavers, but you will have to do parts of them yourselves. We're happy to help, though, do get in touch!