Royal Berkshire Scout County (The Scout Association)

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County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Royal berkshire
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Royal berkshire
Map of England highlighting the location of Royal Berkshire
Map of England highlighting the location of Royal Berkshire

Royal Berkshire is a Scout County and part of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom. It is concurrent with the ceremonial county of Berkshire, and provides Scouting opportunities for 7,500 young people and adults in the area.

Contents

[edit] Organisation

Management of Scouting in the County of Berkshire is currently divided into eleven Scout Districts.[1] The divisions within the County are reviewed periodically, with the aim of improving the organisation and provision of Scouting in the region. This has sometimes involved the creation or dissolution of Scout Districts, or simply the redrawing of boundaries. For example, the last revision included the dissolution of East Reading and the reassignment of its member groups to neighbouring Loddon and Reading Central.

The Districts combine to provide 120 Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units, providing Scouting for young people from the age of 6 and up. The County also manages the Scout Network, which is the programme section for 18-25 year olds in Berkshire. The County Scout Network consists of a number of Local Scout Networks which currently cover the more populous areas of Berkshire, such as Reading, Slough, and Maidenhead. Other Local Networks are created as and when there is demand for them.

Some aspects of Scouting are run cross-District, for example, Pang Valley and Reading Central have been running a shared Young Leader programme since late 2005, and the Explorer Scout Units have been running joint activities and events, too.

[edit] Kennet District

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

  • Phoenix Explorer Scout Unit
  • Pegasus Explorer Scout Unit
  • Kennet District Young Leader Unit

[edit] Loddon District

District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members
District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members

Loddon District own and maintain a small campsite and hut at Paddick's Patch, just outside of Woodley. This site is also used as the District Headquarters.[2]

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] Maidenhead District

Maidenhead is numerically the largest Scout District in the Royal County of Berkshire with 11 Scout Groups and 1031 members (as at Jan 2008). Most Groups have Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Scouts. The District also has six Explorer Scout Units, including a Young Leader's Unit. The Scout Fellowship, whose members are usually ex-Scouters or retired Scouters who wish to continue their association with Scouting. The District covers Bray, Holyport, Furze Platt, Pinkneys Green, Cox Green, central Maidenhead, Woodlands Park, White Waltham, Hurley and Cookham. Many of the Groups use the river and camping facilities at Longridge during the year.[3]

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] Pang Valley District

Pang Valley covers portions of Reading to the west, and a number of villages in West Berkshire, including Pangbourne, Purley, Burghfield, and Sulhampstead.

The District runs a Scoutlink Unit which provides a Scouting programme for disabled young people across the County.

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] Reading Central District

District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members
District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members
Reading Central Explorer Scouts climbing at Stanage Edge, Yorkshire
Reading Central Explorer Scouts climbing at Stanage Edge, Yorkshire

This District was formed in 1991 from part of the old District of Thameside. It currently covers most of the town of Reading and some of its suburbs, including Whitley, Caversham, and parts of Tilehurst. The villages of Shinfield and Spencers Wood are also included to the south.[4]

Scout Groups

The 1st Reading Scout Group is one of the founding troops of 1908.[5]

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] Slough District[6]

Scout Groups

[edit] South Berkshire District

South Berkshire District covers Crowthorne (including Wokingham Without - St Sebastians & Pinewood), Sandhurst (including Owlsmoor) and part of Bracknell (including Easthampstead, Birch Hill, Hanworth, Wildridings, Great Hollands and Jennetts Park).[7]

[edit] South-East Berkshire District

South East Berks covers Ascot, South Ascot, Binfield, Bullbrook, Harmanswater, North Bracknell (Warfield), Priestwood, and Sunningdale. (The other estates in Bracknell - Birch Hill, Easthampstead, Great Hollands and Wildridings are in the South Berks District).[8]

Groups

[edit] Taceham Hundred District

District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members
District badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members

Taceham Hundred District is a Scout District that geographically covers the Thatcham locality, extending northwards to include the downland areas around Compton. Taceham is the historical name for the settlement of Thatcham. The District's badge features a hot air balloon (the area saw pioneering hot air ballooning), an oak leaf (from the forests at Bucklebury) and an old cross (from a memorial in Thatcham).[9]

The District also has an active Scout Fellowship.[10]

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] Windsor and Eton District[11]

  • Central Windsor
  • 5th Windsor
  • 7th Windsor
  • 11th Windsor
  • 12th Windsor
  • 1st Datchet
  • 2nd Datchet
  • 1st Eton Wick and Boveney
  • 1st Wraysbury

[edit] Wokingham District[12]

Scout Groups

Explorer Scout Units

[edit] County Administration and Facilities

Some of the Districts within the County maintain small campsites which can be used by any Scout Group or Scout within the Organisation.

[edit] Campsites

There are three campsites within the County. Earleywood is the largest facility, while the other two (Paddicks Patch, based in Loddon District and just outside of the town of Woodley, and the 1st Burghfield & Sulhampstead Scout HQ, in the town of Burghfield and part of Pang Valley District) offer a single pitch with a fire-circle and a nearby hut.[13] [14] [15] All three campsites are available to all members of the Scout Association for activities.

[edit] Events and Activities

[edit] WINGS

WINGS is a major event which is open to all Scouts and Guides aged 10 to 25 in all parts of the world, and is normally held every 5 years in the County. It is a collaboration with Royal Berkshire Scouts and Girlguiding Royal Berkshire. Participants camp in Windsor Great Park, where many of the activities also take place. Other nearby sites are also made use of, such as Dorneywood Scout Camp and Wraysbury Lake.

The next event will take place in 2009 starting 1 August and provides an international experience with seven days of adventure, challenge and fun with opportunities to work with others from across the world and build new and lasting friendships. This a year later than normal due to the World Scout Jamboree taking place in 2007.[16]

Members of Royal Berkshire resting whilst walking in Slovenia
Members of Royal Berkshire resting whilst walking in Slovenia

[edit] Three Towers Hike

Organised by Reading Central District Scouts, the Three Towers Hike is a competition hike held around easter following routes through West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. The Hike is comprised of 3 events suitable for Scouts, Explorers and Adult walkers.

[edit] International Expeditions

The County has a tradition of International Expeditions, where Scouting members from the age of 14 are able to experience and participate in activities outside of the UK.

There was no expedition in 2007, because of the World Scout and Guide Jamboree.

[edit] World Scout Jamboree 2007

Royal Berkshire has been a long-standing participant of World Scout Jamborees and has sent 72 young people to the World Jamboree which was held in July/August 2007. The 21st World Scout Jamboree took place at Hylands Park in Essex. The two Units (Blue Troop and Purple Troop) went to The Netherlands for a post-Jamboree expedition in October 2007.[17]

[edit] South East Berkshire Gang Show

The South East Berkshire Scout District began performing their Gang Show in a local school hall in 1970. It grew larger and after a couple of years moved to Camberley Civic Hall where it stayed for many years until moving to its current venue of the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell. They produce a show every year which takes place in February, their work beginning in September. The Gang consists of around 180 people every year.

[edit] See also

Scouting Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Scouting in the County of Berkshire
  2. ^ Loddon District
  3. ^ Maidenhead District
  4. ^ Reading Central District
  5. ^ The First Troops (pdf). The Scout Association (August 2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
  6. ^ Slough District
  7. ^ South Berkshire District
  8. ^ South-East Berkshire District
  9. ^ Taceham Hundred District
  10. ^ Taceham Hundred District Scout Fellowship
  11. ^ Windsor and Eton District
  12. ^ Wokingham District
  13. ^ Earleywood Camp
  14. ^ Paddicks Patch
  15. ^ 1st Burghfield & Sulhampstead Scout HQ
  16. ^ WINGS 2009
  17. ^ Berkshire Scouts Jamboree Unit

[edit] External links


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