3rd Aylesbury Scout Group needs adult volunteers to keep up with demand

The Group currently has two Beaver Colonies (boys and girls aged 6 to 8), two Cub Packs (boys and girls aged 8 to 10 ½) and two Scout Troops (boys and girls aged 10 ½ to 14).

The Group is based at Fairford Leys, however they also operate from another site in Southcourt.

Tracey Pickavance, lead volunteer for the Group said: “We currently have over 140 children in the Group and this is about 10% up on last year’s numbers. We are looking for more volunteers, particularly to help run one of our Beaver and Cub sections, which are based at St Mary’s School, Fairford Leys. These sections meet on a Tuesday evening.”

The group is going from strength to strength, with applications coming in all the time.

Lilly Adamson, a Beaver Scout shares why she feels the group has been so successful.

She said: “I love being in Beavers as we do something different every week. One week we might be learning about first aid and what to do in an emergency. The next week we might be making some sandwiches and smoothies and learning about healthy eating and the next week we might be on a muddy walk through the woods.”

Tracey added, “We provide training for every adult volunteer who gets involved with the Group. The training will include giving programme ideas and games to play and how to plan days out or a sleepover. As a volunteer myself, I have had tremendous enjoyment from seeing children achieve something for the first time. This might be going on the climbing tower and reaching the top or getting in a kayak for the first time. I’ve made some great friends from being involved in the Group and the emotional rewards are immense.

"I’ve also trained so I can take children camping. Other people have been trained on adventurous activities such as archery, climbing, canoeing and hill walking.”

The 3rd Aylesbury Scout Group has a rich heritage, and in 2015 celebrated their 90th anniversary.

James Palin, lead volunteer for Buckinghamshire Scouts said, “Scouting gives adults the opportunity to share their knowledge, skills and interests with young people and other adults. They also get the opportunity to gain qualifications in leadership and management via our brilliant training programme. I that the majority of our volunteers get a great amount of pleasure seeing the smile on a Beaver or Cub’s face when they have achieved something. That something might be as simple as cooking a marshmallow on an open fire and putting it between two chocolate biscuits before eating it.”

If you want to know more about how you can help the Group, please visit their website http://3rdaylesburyscouts.org.uk or contact Tracey on [email protected].