From June 1990 until January 2002, I was an assistant scout leader with 1st St Peters in Thanet Sea Scout Group. Along side this role I also became the Group Scout Leader whose main objective is to help the Beaver Scout leader, Cub Scout leader and Scout leader to effectively run a balanced programme for their sections. During this time I still attended the weekly scout troop meetings as an assistant leader, helping to run activities such as hikes, pioneering, boating and nautical skills, summer camps etc.

In December 2001, I was approached by the County team, to come on board and launch a new section into Scouting, Explorer Scouts, for young people aged 14-18 years. This was a daunting task as many Scout groups were opposed to change, and felt that we were steeling their older aged scouts who they used as role models for their new recruits. My title is County Explorer Scout Leader. My remit is to visit as many of the 24 Scouting districts within Kent and promote Explorer Scouting within them. Aid the training of the Explorer Scout leaders within the County and also that of the Young Leaders Scheme. This is for Explorer Scouts who wish to help within the younger sections of the movement. It is important that they too get training on child protection, safety, risk assessments and rules of the scout association. I also organise County competitions for the Explorer Scouts to partake in, namely Masterchef & Monopoly Run. Finally in this role I am responsible for organising the annual presentation ceremony for the Chief Scout Awards and Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Since January 2005 I have also taken on the role of Deputy District Commissioner for Thanet. Our remit is “to lead the Scout district: ensuring that the District provides good quality Scouting for young people, developing Scouting, promoting and maintaining the policies of the Association within the District and proactively managing the adults in the District.” My main responsibilities are for the Scout / Explorer Scout & Network sections within the District. In these sections there are some 600 young people and adults within Thanet. I support the Assistant District Commissioner (Scouts) in encouraging a balanced programme is delivered to the 19 scout troops in the District. I also am heading up the District Training programme for adult leaders and overseeing the Nights Away Scheme. This ensures that when a leader runs a camp or sleepover they can do so effectively and safely.

Since March I have been running a local Explorer Scout Unit. I have 24 Explorer Scouts, fed from 3 Sea Scout Troops, who turn up each week for an imaginative programme ranging from cooking, music nights, service within the local community, camping, international themes, first aid and all the usual scouting skills. I have now recruited a new leader, but as she is new to the movement, she needs a fair amount of guidance and support until she is ready to take on the role permanently. I am overseeing her training as well as that of 4 other adults within the District under the role of a Training Advisor.

As you can probably imagine all this Scouting does not fit into the old caption of
“ Become a Scout leader – it only takes up 2 hours a week”.

To be honest every evening I am either discussing the District with someone, running a section meeting or driving to Gillingham for a County meeting. There are few weekends during the year where a competition or training session is not being held, and those I relish. Luckily for me, having a husband as a Scout Leader and a daughter who loves camping supporting me is invaluable. If it was not for the young people though and the enjoyment I see them getting out of Scouting then perhaps I would not be doing so many scout roles.