I’m kinda new here… what’s this?

Before, what we used to think of as normality went out of the window earlier this year, we typically would share a web-site post each week featuring a series of recaps of our past week of Scouting as well as looking ahead to the following week’s plans.

In a nutshell, what do I need to take from this post?

We’ve sent quite a few emails over the last couple of weeks. Additionally, we’ve shared several updates on the group web-site. To aid you in not overlooking or missed something, this post will provide a handy recap whilst signposting you to the more detailed previous updates.

Some things are due soon, others are more informational. Where there’s something we need your support in doing, I’ll bold the text.

Face-to-face Scouting

Despite being in tier 3 locally, Scouting is deemed an essential provision by the UK Government. We are therefore able to run a face-to-face program, albeit with caveats. Over the last few days, some cubs, scouts, and explorers have enjoyed in-person programs and activities. If you’d like to know more about this and the restrictions, please see the following post.

Design a badge (Competition)

2020 has been a year to remember (or forget). Given we’ve not been able to camp or take part in events where commemorative badges would ordinarily be given, we’ve launched a competition to design a “I survived 2020” badge. The winning design will be made into a real badge, then one made available to every group member for their camp blanket. The deadline for submissions is 15th December. With less than a week to go, please remind your young person(s) and see this post for how to take part.

Video content needed for year-end summary

We are producing a year-end post and need the young people’s support in making it special. Please remind and support your young person(s) in recording something and sharing it with us. The details of what we’re looking to achieve and how to send us content can be found in this post here. The deadline for submissions is the 13th December (this coming Sunday).

Race around the world

Monies are immensely stretched for many charities, organisations and families. Scouting has been massively impacted by COVID. There are groups around the country who are very much at risk of closure due to finances. We don’t want this to be a reality, and therefore we’ve been supporting the UK Scouting initiative to #racearoundtheworld raising monies that will support the 500 groups most at risk.

This event is running up to the 11th of December, so there’s still time for your young person to register, log their miles (even if it’s one!), and get sponsored for doing so. Our group will receive 10% of all donations made. Match donations are also being made – so for every £1 raised, the match donor will also provide a £1. For the full details, please take a look at the following post.

Gift Aid declarations

The membership fees (also known as “subs”) parents/guardians pay are eligible for Gift Aid. Via our Online Scout Manager (OSM), every young person’s key contacts will have had an email asking for parents/guardians to update their Gift Aid declaration. (takes less than 60 seconds)

This is hugely important given it allows the group, a registered charity, to claim 25p in every £1 as additional funds from the UK Government. A link specific to your young person will have been within the emailed message; if you can’t locate the emails, please check your spam/junk folders. If you still can’t locate one for your young person, please let us know: [email protected]

There’s no specific deadline for this declaration; however, we are looking to make a Gift Aid claim in January 2021 and therefore ask you to please update your declarations ASAP. You will need to do this for each young person who is a member of the group.

“Subs” payments – changes to how you pay

From 2021, we will only be taking payments electronically. These will be processed via our Online Scout Manager provision. We’ve written a post about the changes you need to make, plus written to every parent/guardian asking for payment schedules to be set-up ready for collection.

Highlights of the changes:

  • Once your December 2020 subs payment has completed, please cancel your standing order payment
  • Using the link provided in an Online Scout Manager (OSM) message sent at the weekend, please complete the setting up of a payment schedule. You will need to do this for each of the young people in your family who are members of the group
  • We won’t be taking a subs payment in January, the first payment run is set for the 11th February 2021

Please note: From Feb 2021, Explorer Scouts (Scorpions) will pay their membership fees to Barnsley District and not Penistone Scouts. Our colleagues at the District will be in touch with Explorer parents/guardians separately. The above creation of payment schedules in OSM relates to Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts at Penistone.

If you are unable to locate your request to create a payment schedule, please check your spam/junk folders. If you still can’t find it, please let us know at [email protected]

Annual Census

UK Scouting require us to submit anonymised census information regarding the young people on annual basis. We need to provide this in the coming weeks. We have sent an email, per young person, to parents/guardians via Online Scout Manager (OSM). It takes about 15 seconds to respond, and therefore we ask you please to make your updates before Christmas Day.

If you are unable to locate your emailed link, please check your spam/junk folders. If you still can’t find it, please let us know at [email protected]

Checklist

Ooof – there are quite a few things, and that’s why we’ve provided this recap post. We recognise families are busy, with lots on their minds and other challenges to address. These are all important to your young person’s Scouting, and we, therefore, ask you to please some time making sure they are all in-hand.

  • Design a badge
  • Video content
  • Race around the World
  • Gift Aid declaration
  • Subs payments
  • Annual census
  • And… whilst you are in your young person(s) Online Scout Manager records, please take a moment to make sure we’ve got the right email address, postal address, and telephone numbers recorded – especially the emergency contact details, please.

And finally…

We will break for Christmas on Friday 18th December, and return in the New Year the week of 4th January 2021. During the festive period, we hope to catch up on the reconciliation of some badge records, therefore allowing us to package up awards and get them out to the young people in January.

Thank you for your continued support! We look forward to sharing our Christmas post soon.