Our Patch AUTUMN 2017
The 28th Hammersmith tours Tesco, camps, gets muddy on the Thames and sells cakes
Your shout
DYB, DYB, DYB
Do Your Best! It’ s the mantra of scouts, guides, cubs and beavers, but a shortage of leaders threatens the future of this beloved institution. Tim Harrison reports from the campfire
The scout movement has never been more popular in west London, with active scout, guide, beaver, cub and brownie groups enjoying activities which don’ t need mobiles or screens. But a dire shortage of willing and able leaders means much of the demand simply can’ t be fulfilled, with the volunteer gap threatening a treasured tradition.
Tony Smith joined 18th Chiswick as a cub, 60 years ago. He restarted the troop in 2014, helped by St Nicholas church.“ It was my first group when I joined as a cub in 1954,” said Tony. The aim is to add scouts( age 10 and over) to the current 24-strong cub pack.
A part of the Thameside Grand Union scout district, 18th Chiswick meets at the scout HQ behind the Pilot pub off Wellesley Road.
“ The problem is leaders,” said Tony, reflecting a crisis which affects Hammersmith, Fulham and Chiswick.“ It’ s all about lifestyle. When I was a boy I remember Chiswick’ s Cherry Blossom shoe polish factory [ near Dukes Meadows ]. The factory hooter sounded at 5pm, and everyone left.
“ Well, very few people finish dead on
4 / 5
5pm anymore; 9 to 5 jobs are a thing of the past, yet we start beavers at 5.30pm, cubs at 6.30pm and scouts at 7pm. A lot of parents just haven’ t got home by that time.”
There’ s no financial burden to being a leader or volunteer; every cost is covered, including uniforms, training and clearance checks to work with children. Throughout the district there are more than 1,000 young members … but that number could double if there was a reservoir of leaders.
Where else could you do climbing, rugby, first aid, website design, fire station visits, trampolining, caving and camping for subs of just £ 35 a term?
We need more people to come and help, people with an affinity for working with children
“ It’ s the cheapest baby-sitting service in London,” quipped Tony. If you’ re interested in volunteering, drop Tony an email at smudgers87 @ gmail. com
Another of west London’ s highdemand beaver and cub groups is also creating a scout troop for 14 to 18-yearolds … but it, too, needs leadership help. The 28th Hammersmith is one of three groups in a borough which once boasted 15, and has a long waiting list of eager youngsters.
“ Getting adult volunteers is a national problem, with more than 50,000 children on waiting lists across the country,” said acting group scout leader Neil Docherty.“ We don’ t advertise for youngsters; we don’ t need to. But helpers are urgently needed.”
The 28th Hammersmith, which is part of West London scouting district, has a thriving beaver colony( age sixeight), and a bustling cub pack( eight- 10s) – each with a waiting list – but is now forming a scout troop to retain the interest among 11s to 14s. Around 18 beavers meet at St Stephen’ s social club, Gayford Road, W12, while the 36 cubs meet on Fridays at Greenside primary; led by a team of eight adult volunteers. Neil, who lives in Shepherds Bush with his wife and family, says the new scout group will also meet at Greenside primary.“ We’ re very excited as it means we’ ll be able to offer a fantastic scouting experience from six to 14, before they move on to our explorer unit, where they stay until they hit 18,” he said.