County Bulletin: Issue 9 (February 2025)

It was great to attend Summit25 where Scouts vision is also getting a refresh Our current Skills for Life Strategy had a bold ambition that by 2025 we would prepare more young people with skills for life supported by amazing volunteers that deliver an inspiring programme. Despite a global pandemic and a cost of living crisis the Scouts continues to flourish but it is now time to think about what the world will look like in 10 years’ time. Seven members of the Lincolnshire Scouts team attended Summit 25 in Birmingham to discuss development of the strategy. Across the weekend there were discussion groups and thought-provoking talks, including a key note speech from the UK Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields and a motivational talk from Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Children’ Society. He delivered some disturbing news about the state of children’s happiness in the UK, it is not great news but also shows the potential that Scouting has to make a positive effect on children’s wellbeing. If you are interested in this their research makes very interesting reading - The Good Childhood Report | The Children's Society The new strategy will be released in early 2026 but I think we can expect to see more about support for the mental wellbeing of children, volunteers and families. We are aiming to provides mental health awareness training for our adult volunteers, and we will let you know when we have arranged dates. If you would like to be part of the team looking at this please email Claire Thompson at Claire.thompson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk We have also added a County Directory to the website so you can see contact the team. This can be found at https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/members/county-team . We will be adding details of our Activity teams next. There are lots of things happening in the county this year so please take time to look through this newsletter, the county calendar on the website and if there is anything you would like to contribute please email it to me at howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk Howard Nelson Lead Volunteer - Lincolnshire Scouts

Cybersecurity Update: Strengthening Our Digital Defences We are pleased to share an important update regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance cybersecurity across Lincolnshire Scouts. As part of our commitment to protecting sensitive data and ensuring the safety of all users, we have been working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to monitor all the County managed domains. This collaboration brings a range of key benefits, ensuring that we are always a step ahead in the fight against cyber threats. Key Benefits of NCSC Domain Monitoring: Proactive Threat Detection: The NCSC uses advanced tools and expertise to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats across our domains in real-time. This proactive approach helps us prevent cyberattacks before they can cause harm. Early Warning System: By monitoring for suspicious activity, the NCSC can alert us to emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities, allowing for timely intervention. Enhanced Security Posture: With the NCSC’s guidance and continuous monitoring, we are able to keep up with the latest security trends and threats, ensuring our defence strategies are always up-to-date. County IT Team's Role: Safeguarding Lincolnshire Scouts The County IT Team plays a crucial role in monitoring for suspicious emails and protecting all users from cyber threats. Key tasks include: Email: The IT team actively monitors all incoming emails to detect phishing attempts, malware, and other suspicious activity. Any potentially harmful messages are flagged and blocked to prevent harm. Incident Response: When a threat is identified, the team rapidly takes appropriate action. Reacting to NCSC early warnings and working with local volunteers to support their implementation. Manage your own group domain? Want to benefit from monitoring by the National Cyber Security Centre? Utilise Microsoft 365 Tools without the headache of managing it locally? Get in touch via the Service Centre - https://scouts.cc . Upskill in Cyber Security: Free Resources Stay one step ahead of cyber threats with the National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) wealth of learning resources! The NCSC offers a range of accessible and informative tools designed to boost your cybersecurity awareness, from recognising phishing scams to understanding the latest threats facing organisations today. Whether you're new to cybersecurity or looking to sharpen your skills, their training materials and guides provide practical tips to help you protect yourself and your work. Empower yourself with the knowledge to spot dangers before they strike - because in the world of cyber threats, knowledge is power! https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/charity/resources Stay safe, stay vigilant! Visit the IT Hub for more information and support - https://www.lincolnshirescouts.org.uk/ITHub.

Spaces still available Open Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025 Hiking Expedition in Yorkshire Open to all Explorer and Network members Lincolnshire Scouts are running an open DofE Silver Expedition for any members who would like to participate. The event includes all planning, practice and the qualifier expedition which will take place in the beautiful Dalby region of Yorkshire. Dates Planning weekend 29 and 30 March Practice 19 to 21 April Planning weekend 26 and 27 April Expedition 24 to 26 May Requirements Participants should be members of Lincolnshire scouting and registered with DofE at Silver level All participants should have completed First Aid and Navigation badges at level 3 Participants should have access to suitable expedition equipment including boots, rucksack, sleeping bag and clothing. Tents and stoves will be provided. Costs The cost for the entire package will be £160 which covers all direct costs including camping fees. Additional costs will be transport (car share available) to the events and your personal food. If you are interested or would like to know more please contact murray.macdonald@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk

Lorraine Derrick will be stepping down from her role as District Lead Volunteer for South Holland District on 31 March 2025. On behalf of the County and the District Trustee Board, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of Lorraine's hard work and dedication in the role. As a result we are now recruiting for its next inspirational volunteer (or team of volunteers) to lead South Holland District. Please click to download the pack which contains detailed information about the role as well as 2 application forms which volunteers can use to either express their interest in the role or to nominate someone else for consideration. We would love to hear from you if you would like to apply or if you would like to find out more information about the role please have a look at the pack . The deadline for all applications is 28 February 2025. Please contact malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or howard.nelson@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk if you have any questions. The application form and more information about the role is enclosed here. Applications should be sent to malcolm.moore@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk Deadline for Applications: 23:59 28th February 2025

Lincolnshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services are very pleased to be offering a free 2 day residential course for over 14’s to provide a level 2 Young Leader Award qualification. This will be held on the 7th to 9th April near Doncaster, Free transport from Lincoln or North Hykeham will be provided by train. Although this is not Scouts Young leader Training, it will be still be very worthwhile. Places are limited so if you know of anyone that would be interested, please use the contact details on the attached picture. This is a great opportunity for young people and should be a lot of fun.

Thank you to everyone who has logged in and used the new system. Your support with using the new database has been greatly appreciated. We are pleased that some of the initial issues are now being resolved and headquarters are continuing to work to solve problems. The new learning modules are working, and a quick reminder that all members need to renew their safety training by 14th July. Every issue raised with us has been fed back to HQ and they are working through some fixes. HQ have advised us that the issues with login to the system has improved. They have also resolved some issues around viewing permissions, with more fixes due soon. We are aware of some issues with the data explorer functions, so your District Lead Volunteer has been sent a spreadsheet of all members. Please keep raising issues by emailing golive@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for now. We are able to respond to this quickly and provide support where needed. It is likely that we will moving towards a more local base support in the future. Everyone should have received an email on 10th January with key FAQs and information in, but here is a reminder of the key points below: Key Information: You can log in via https://membership.scouts.org.uk even if you didn’t receive an invitation from HQ Your username is your email address and you click 'forgot password' to reset the password and gain access You can find online guides here https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/ Please email the County - Go-Live Support golive@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk for any help.

Manager and Supporter Learning Achieving Growth - 8th/9th March - Bemrose Centre, Drum Hill The East Midlands Learning Team are hosting a course as part of the Manager and Supporter learning path. This is a great opportunity to elevate your leadership skills and work towards the Manager and Supporter wood badge. To book onto this course got to https://bookwhen.com/emrt

Young Leader training weekend 11th - 13th April 2025 Key Details: Arrival: From 6:00 PM on Friday Collection: By 3:00 PM on Sunday Accommodation: Indoor accommodation is available on a First-come, First-served basis. Camping is also available (please bring your own tent). Kit List and Itinerary will be sent out closer to the event What to Expect: Training modules A–J to help you progress towards your Young Leader Award. Additional opportunities For skill development and Fun activities. Food: All meals will be provided throughout the weekend. Cost: The event is subsidised by the County; we ask For a £15 contribution per participant. Payment details: Lincolnshire County Scout Council, 09-01-27, 91841993, Payment Deadline: 01.03.2025 Flexibility: Can’t attend the whole weekend? That’s Fine! You’re welcome to join us for: A single day Specific modules One Night Please make contact to arrange an alternative schedule. Accessibility: If you require reasonable adjustments to participate Fully, please get in touch to discuss your needs. We’ll do our best to support you. How to Book: Complete your booking using the link https://Forms.oFFice.com/e/E2vdn4ekwA We look forward to seeing you there! Shacklewell Hollow Scout Site, Stamford Road, LE15 8ǪǪ Contact: Ellie.Broome@LincolnshireScouts.org.uk

Paracord Discount

Any leaders who are currently running the scheme or are interested in finding out more about it to explain to their scouts or explorer sections, please sign up for the Leaders day on Saturday 1st March. During this day the County Duke of Edinburgh’s award advisors will be updating you on their current plans, giving up to date briefings from HQ and supporting you with any problems you may have. There will be copious amounts of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or squash, but bring a mug and some lunch and find out all you need to know. 7th Grantham Scout HQ, Earlsfield Lane, Grantham NG31 7NT Saturday 1st March from 9.15am till 4pm.  Please follow this link to register for the day. Event registration D of E Google Form

Lincolnshire Scouts are running a World Scout Organisation Scouts of the World Discovery weekend (SOWA) on Saturday 22nd February and Sunday 23rd February at Ketton Scout HQ. SOWA is one of the world Top awards for young people and it all starts by finding out about the award at a discovery event. There are options to stay overnight and be fully catered for during the event. Why not find out more and perhaps this could be the start of something amazing. Register now. https://forms.office.com/e/FxkWpcwu8r

The Lincolnshire Go Kart Team are looking to expand their membership and bring ex-members back into their ranks. They are a really friendly fun team who have already recruited some members who have just left explorers. If you would like to find out more about the team, they have some more preparation days on 1st March and 4th April before their busy summer which includes Isle of Wight, Kent Jamboree and Norjam for a start. For more information or to register an interest, get in touch with Andrew Bailey on bailey-a12@sky.com

Quietly and in the background over the last 18 months, a new behemoth has been developing in the county store. This is our new mobile cave trailer, fully equipped for groups, districts or county activities. It is almost ready to be released into the wild on April 6th and we are now looking for volunteers who are willing to train on the cave system and be prepared to run the activity at County events. Those who are already trained on the Sudbrooke indoor cave system will just need a familiarisation session with the new trailer to use it, but we are looking for more volunteers to run the trailer. If you would like to get involved please contact either Carolyn Greig Carolyn.greig@lincolnshirescouts.org.uk or Neil Onyon neilonyon@gmail.com to register your interest.

Pride Team Leader needed

Lincoln Scouts Target Tournament entries are now open! This is the same as the Archery Competition, but we have now added Tomahawks for people to compete in. Taking place 12th & 13th July 2025 This is open to all Scouts, Explorers, and Adult Volunteers from all Districts. It's £6 to enter per sport, this will get you a badge along with if successful a shiny medal. To book in please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lincoln-scouts-target-tournament-tickets-1096025926049?aff=oddtdtcreator Payment can then be made to the team. To keep up today with any tournament news please follow the new Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/19utN9ZrFg/ Any questions regarding the tournament please email: lincolntt@lincolnscouts.org.uk Entries close 12th June.

The Evboo booking system for Chill Out should be live by 9.30pm on Thursday 6th February. As soon as it is, the Programme Team will share this to section leaders as well as including it on as many social media platforms as possible. Keep your eyes peeled, and Chill Out!