Coronavirus

Looking for some simple quick activities or even some more involved ones? Remember that the Youth commissioner’s daily challenges and iJam weakly challenge videos are all still online and contain a range of quick challenges and some more challenging activities. We have also mapped all the weekly challenge videos to Scout badge work requirements so you can easily tick off your members achievements.

Youth Commisioners challenges | Weekly summer challenges

Please also remember that all Birmingham sections can take advantage of the OSM Gold subscription feature and OSM have just launched a huge variety of the activities that can be undertaken by the Young People remotely and work towards their badges.  If you haven’t already- log on and take a look and utilise this great set of resources to keep as many of our Young People engaged with Scouting during this period.

There is a whole section on socially distanced ideas on the Scout Association website.

The national programme team at Gilwell have put together a wide range of programme ideas and activities for you. There is the excellent programme planning tools at scouts.org.uk as well as a range of activities specially chosen to be suitable for online Scouting.

If that wasn’t enough, Online Scout Manager has their excellent “badges on line” which can be accessed by every group using the Free OSM access paid for by the County. And of course there is always the 1st Facebook Scout group which is always full of great programme ideas!

There are lots of different video calling platforms. As a County we have tried and tested a number of different solutions. The three main solutions we have tried are Google Meet (attached to the County Gmail), Zoom and Microsoft Teams. It has been agreed that most of the solutions offer fairly similar options. As such, we understand that if there is one that you are used to, then you will likely continue using it. If you have not used any before then we have produced the following which will assist:

Creating a virtual meeting using Google Meet

Creating a virtual meeting using Zoom

Running a virtual meeting Hints and tips

While technology is an important part of the virtual meetings, it is just as important to note that virtual meetings have a completely different vibe to the face-to-face meeting. It is important to lay some ground rules down to the young people. Below we have included some top tips:

• Always follow Scouts HQ Yellow Card
• Have a practice first with friends or leaders
• Write off the first 5 minutes for hellos
• Mute people when they aren't speaking
• Turn off private messaging (if available)
• Do dress appropriately
• Do make the session animated
• Do be yourself and have fun!
• Don't carry on side conversations
• Don't cover the microphone
• Do try to set some “offline” challenges to give you something to talk about when you get back.

As you will be running meetings for young people, it is important to remember Safeguarding still applies. The link below is designed for schools but it is very informative and worth a read before running a meeting. Although the young people are not on site and as such ratios for different sections are not needed, at least 2 leaders minimum should be on any meeting.

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/news/2020/march/undertaking-remote-teaching-safely/

The Scouts also have some excellent guidance here
With specific guidance on the different platforms that are available - here

The platforms above are all about hosting a meeting, there are some useful tools that you can use while running your meeting:

• Kahoot (https://kahoot.com/) - An interactive quiz that the young people can take part on their phones.
• Mural (http://mural.co/) - An interactive whiteboard
• Padlet (https://en-gb.padlet.com/) - An online share tool

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.

Headquarters have approved an amendment to the standard constitutions in POR which allows meetings to be held remotely. It also allows decisions to be made electronically. This is valid immediately. 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.

Annual General Meetings
We've received the following advice from the Charity Commission:
"If you feel that in the best interests of your charity and to follow the governments public health guidance it is necessary to cancel or postpone your charity’s AGM (or any other key meeting) that will be fine. You should record the decision you have made to show good governance.

As long as you as a trustee body are satisfied that the decision to not go ahead is in the best interests of the trustees, membership and beneficiaries the Commission will support you in this.

More information can be found here.

Blackwell Adventure is currently closed.

More information

For any booking enquiries please contact the team on info@blackwelladventure.co.uk or 0121 445 1285.

All activities, events and training courses have been cancelled through to the end of January.  Meetings are being held virtually where possible, and the situation is being monitored on a regular basis. Where events are cancelled all costs will be refunded to participants. If this is the case then we will contact you directly.

The following Birmingham events have been cancelled or postponed:

BrumJam - moved to 31st July - 7th August 2021
NSGSO - moved to Sunday 1st August to Sunday 8th August 2021

If you are attending an event organised by Birmingham Scouts that does not appear here, please contact the County - info@birminghamscouts.org.uk

All face to face Training due to take place has been cancelled however, the team are looking into another way of delivering this to you via online conferencing. Many of the modules do have either e-learning or a workbook that you are able to work through and to discuss with your TA for validation. Please see the link below to all the training Scheme Modules should you wish to look at an alternative method of training.

Training Modules

First Aid training is now available as a 3 hour online module which means that on completion of this, once available you will then need to complete the face to face section. Please click here to book onto the next online course.

For all other mandatory training courses please click the following links:
Safety | Safeguarding

Processing disclosure applications and re-checks

While all face-to-face Scout meetings and activities across the UK are suspended, Headquarters have taken the decision to stop processing disclosure applications and re-checks. This will be the case until the suspension on face-to-face Scout meetings and activities is lifted.

What this means during the Coronavirus situation

• Volunteers will not be suspended when a disclosure re-check has not been undertaken and a valid disclosure obtained.
• Volunteer line managers will continue to receive the reminder and suspension emails as these are automated through Compass. During this period please disregard these emails.
• Volunteer line managers should not add any new adults during the Coronavirus situation and should not process the suspension of volunteers during this period.
• Volunteers whose disclosure expires during this period may continue to meet digitally, following the advice and guidance issued on holding virtual meetings to make sure we keep all members safe.

Processing disclosure applications and re-checks when the suspension on face-to-face Scout meetings and activities is lifted.

Once face-to-face Scout activities and meetings resume, new disclosure applications can commence and volunteers whose disclosure has expired will be able to continue in their roles for a limited period (expected to be 90 days) before suspension will be necessary if a valid disclosure is not obtained. HQ will set a date when all volunteers who don’t have a valid disclosure must start the process to renew their disclosure.

The team at HQ have created guidance which can be found here.

To support Appointments Committee and Panel meetings to take place virtually. For more support in providing this please contact Simon Cardall, Chair County AAC - simon.cardall@birminghamscouts.org.uk

The health and wellbeing of our youngsters and adult volunteers is very important to everybody involved in Birmingham Scouting.

This new section aims to collate the great resources that are available to keep us all safe and well during these challenging times.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/help-others/community/better-mental-health-for-all/

https://youtu.be/Qcyc68d6OAk

Headquarters has now put in place a framework which all groups and sections must consider and follow before they are allowed to restart face-to-face scouting. There is a dedicated page on the Scouts website containing all of the information that you now need to digest, in order to start your preparations for the return to face-to-face scouting.

More information

In summary, the move towards a return to normal scouting will be governed by a four level system which will be regularly reviewed and updated on the above webpage.

Red – current level – no face to face Scouting is allowed
Amber – face to face Scouting in small groups (likely a patrol/Six) in an outdoor location with the necessary adult ratios
Yellow – face to face Scouting in larger groups (possibly up to 20) in an outdoor location with necessary adult ratios
Green – face to face Scouting can take place indoor, subject to any social distancing rules in place at that time.

Listen to how other leaders have restarted their sections face to face:

More information