Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Please could all parents of current and past pupils and all past CH scouts look at the facebook page of CH Scouts, past and present. You will see a long discussion which needs supporting if we are to keep scouts alive at CH.

I had no idea that the scouts is struggling. My son joined this year as he was a scout before joining CH. I (and he) will be sad if it is discontinued.

Sounds like you should get young Josh on the case !!

I think he is (and Matt?) - on Facebook

Josh is very on the case! As is Jack RH. They need support over this - can any old Blues help by reading the facebook comments (all 109 of them as at 7am this morning!) and either commenting there or sending a letter to the head. Please, please can old Blue Scouts and current parents get involved.

I can't find it in facebook - could you please post a link or it's full name. I'm very sorry to hear that it's struggling. My dd was a guide and was quite interested in joining, but she said that she hasn't joined because ' they havnt been told about it / are limited to only one active' in the second form. She would love to know more.

search for CH scouts

pinkhebe wrote:search for CH scouts

There are actually two CH Scouts threads / names / whatever. The one you want is

http://www.facebook.com/groups/156983594370188/

There is a lot there so the original post is the first one shown but click "see more"

From there you need to go just a little bit further down and click "view all [112] comments".

You cannot post unless you "like" or so I have been told

Having read the Facebook page it sounds to me like CH want to offer lots of "flashy" expeditions presumably to attract more fee paying pupils. Inevitably these would cost money and probably the only people who could afford them would be the affluent full fee payers, I assume that the school will not pay as they do not have spare funds. Scouts is for everyone and very much based on the same ethos as C.H. It seems to me that if CH could back a good advertising camapign within the school and also keep parents advised of what is going on Scouts could easily be re-juvenated and refreshed at CH. Nationally the Scout movement is growing in popularity and many troops have waiting lists to get in. I believe the current leaders at CH do an excellent job and are really committed to CH Scouts, they probably need a bit more help and support from the school to increase its popularity.

Found the Facebook page - thank you pinkhebe.

Mr Atticus has just told me that he is very happy to volunteer occasionally ( he has never been a scout, but sometimes helps out at ds2's beaver group.

CHDad wrote:Having read the Facebook page it sounds to me like CH want to offer lots of "flashy" expeditions presumably to attract more fee paying pupils. Inevitably these would cost money and probably the only people who could afford them would be the affluent full fee payers, I assume that the school will not pay as they do not have spare funds. Scouts is for everyone and very much based on the same ethos as C.H. It seems to me that if CH could back a good advertising camapign within the school and also keep parents advised of what is going on Scouts could easily be re-juvenated and refreshed at CH. Nationally the Scout movement is growing in popularity and many troops have waiting lists to get in. I believe the current leaders at CH do an excellent job and are really committed to CH Scouts, they probably need a bit more help and support from the school to increase its popularity.

I read this differently. They seem to have a problem with a shortage of fully qualified leaders; the school seems to have woken up to the dangers should a scout accidentally break a nail or worse and the insurance could be voided by not having all the eyes dotted and tees crossed.
There is the added problem that it is not seen as an "in" thing so numbers have been declining for some time (and, although not actually written, more adults are unlikely to help unless it is seen as a popular well attended activity).
There seem to be two schools of thought; some say that there have been no camps or other outdoor activities for several years but others strongly contradict this.

I do NOT see this as a money raising wish of the school; I see them as considering scout type activities in a favourable light and want it to succeed (they are willing to put a bit more money in IF it would help). The school is already subsidising some activities ( the cost of air in scuba activities has been mentioned but out of a school of +/- 800 should they continue to subsidise an activity followed by (at a guess) 35?

Scouts at CH is now in a quandary. Pupils can go home with great frequency so are not around for weekend activities. There is a near infinite choice of other activities, many of which involve far less physical effort an.d I suspect, do not have the full publicity support of the school - as you write, a few words by the headmaster outlining the scouts' latest activities could bring renewed interest

As I and others have written, the opening of the Facebook debate seems premature; a lot is going on in the background and this is not helping.
BTW I have no mandate to write on behalf of any of the parties.

Thank you CHDad. I am a mother of a Dep, who is very involved in Scouts. Apparently, there is now a petition and a poster campaign going around school. Also, apparently, the Head was unaware of all of this until it was pointed out to him on Saturday - after the comments on FB. Please put your messages on the FB site if you are able - you have to either "like" the page or ask to join.

I have just found out the Chris Brickel will be paid by CH. Therefore, why can't the school fund the current scouts and pay towards a Scout Leader, rather than bringing in a company who specialise in (amongst other things) Stag and Hen nights and corporate team building???

Scouting is supposed to be so much more than just doing outdoor activities, it is interesting to read one of the the Scout Associations webpages and be reminded :
http://scouts.org.uk/cms.php?pageid=1828

Chris Brickel says he wants to re-brand the Scout organisation at C.H. What he means is close it down and bring in his Company to run an alternative, not the same thing at all !

Rather than 're-branding' as Chris Brickel puts it - wouldnt it be more honest to close the Scouts down and then let him start something else up.

I cant see how you can 're-brand' a National Entity like a Scout Group otherwise!!