Beaver colony will close unless volunteer leaders are found

Despite the shortage of leaders there’s a waiting list of children wanting to join

A local Beaver colony may have to close unless new leaders come forward to help run the weekly meeting.

North Banbury Scout Group runs colonies for children aged from 6 to 8 years in both Hanwell Fields and Mollington.   Both are very popular, with waiting lists to join.

Last September the Beaver leader in Mollington announced she wanted to stand down.   Since then the group has been searching for volunteers to take on the role.

So far that search has been unsuccessful, so from next week the colony will be reducing to running once a fortnight, with leaders from the group’s other sections looking after the children in the short term.

If no volunteers come forward by the end of the school term the colony will have to close.

Philip Tree is the Group Scout Leader and leading the search for potential new leaders   He said: “Since COVID Scouting has lost so many adults – we lost 50% of our leaders and I think people just haven’t got the spare time now. I think it’s across all voluntary sectors.

“But Scouting is flexible and you can give as much or as little time as you want.   There’s various ways that groups can work around these sort of things.   So if someone comes and says I can only do every other week, that’s fine, we’ll find someone else to fill in the other weeks if we can.”

Philip believes Beavers can play a big part in a child’s development.   He said: “I think it’s very important.   They need somewhere to go, need somewhere to work with young people of their own age, work in teams and learn new skills.

“Scouting is skills for life…   Most of the badgework they do is centred around games and activities, so it’s not as formal as school, but they are learning things at the same time.”

Mr Tree can be contacted by email or on 07592 002037.

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Published: 04/03/2024 02:29pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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