is currently undergoing a review across all activities to ensure its ease of use and robustness. For the first stage of this, the Activities Team would like to hear the views of the members most closely involved in the scheme. Therefore any Activity Advisers, Activity Assessors, District Commissioners or Section Leaders are invited to respond with their thoughts on the scheme under the following headings to activities@scout.org.uk by end of July. What is your role within Scouting? How easy is the scheme to operate? How easy is the scheme to understand? Does the authorisation process work quickly enough for you? Do you have the skills to carry out your role within the scheme? Are current resources provided to support the scheme useful and informative? Do you have any other thoughts on the scheme? Please reply Direct to Gilwell at activities@scout.org.uk

Deputy Centre Manager A post has arisen for one lucky person to fill this exciting position. Pay circa £18,000 We are looking to find someone to understudy the existing Centre Manager and assist in the running and management of this busy camping and activity centre. Applications are invited from those who have excellent inter personal skills - friendly manner - a knowledge of camping and residential rules - competent in Word and Excel, plus general computer literacy - basic practical skills - knowledge of Health & Safety rules - current clean, full driving licence. A general awareness of woodland and turf management would also be of benefit. If you think this job is for you, then send your CV, plus a hand written letter indicating why we should choose you for the job to; Bill Hindley. Centre Manager, Thriftwood Scout Campsite, Orchard Avenue, Brentwood, Essex CM13 2DP All full applications will be acknowledged. For general enquiries phone (eve) 01277 226571 Closing date Tuesday 25th November. Interviews 13th - 14th December Service Crew We are always looking for new members. If you are 16 years old, happy to clean toilets, willing to work one weekend a month, then read on. Members of the join a Crew of their choice, we have one for each weekend of the month. We provide training in Activity instruction for climbing & abseiling, archery, shooting and canoeing. Other tasks include general maintenance work and looking after the needs of campers. Accommodation and food provided. Still interested, then phone Bill on 01277 226571. Bill Thriftwood

With Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts now all eligible to gain the Chief Scout Award, we have had to introduce a new system of notifying County of individual achievement of this badge. The procedure will be that when a member gains this award, the District will continue to be responsible for presenting the badge to the member. This has always been the procedure for Scouts achieving this award under the old programme and remains unchanged. At the time of completing the award, the relevant section leader should complete a postcard, which can be obtained from your local badge supplier / Local Scout Shop from mid September. Once completed, this card should be sent to the County Secretary in the envelope provided with the card. The information provided will enable County to keep a central record of members who have achieved the award and will be invited to a special presentation event at a later date. Details of presentations will be advertised later this year and members will receive personal invitations.

Brilliant, fantastic, Professional and entertaining are just some words to describe GLNE Showstoppers 2003. The show entertained over 700 people in two performances at Chingford Assembly Hall on Saturday 25th of October. I am truly amazed and delighted at the talent we have in our County. I must say a BIG thank you to the cast, the numerous adults who supported the show both back stage and front of house and in particular Mike Hayward and Peter Ford. Once again, thank you all for making me so proud and for putting on such professional performances. Regards Dean J Milton County Commissioner GLNE

I am pleased to inform you that we have received further funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation for the above fund. If you are an adult member in our County and are due to attend a training course you are eligible to apply for 50% towards the total cost of the course from this fund. Courses / training includes all activity courses such as archery and climbing and first aid. It doesn't include leadership courses such as Residential and Leadership one or two. For more information and an application form, visit the County Website at www.glne-scouts.org.uk. All completed forms should be sent to Andy Holden - County Treasurer. Dean Milton

I am extremely pleased to advise you that the census figures for the last quarter are up again by 107 (1.45%). This means we are now 398 (5.46%) up on the census figures submitted to HQ in January. This is excellent news and I would like to thank every leader in the County for all their hard work in achieving this increase in membership. Dean J Milton County Commissioner

It is the Policy of the Scout County of greater London North-East to safeguard the welfare of all members by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm. 1. When Leading, Supervising, Instructing or assisting any climbing session, no adult shall be alone, at any time, with any young person. There must always be another responsible person in attendance and both must always be in a position to observe the actions of the other. Both must be fully aware of their responsibility, one to the other, and to the young people, in this "buddy" situation. If there are more than two adults then all must comply with the above. 2. At no time will the Leader or assistant/s allow a situation to develop where they cannot see and hear what the other is doing, whilst working with young people. 3. No session shall be run with less than two responsible people being in attendance, if two adults are not available do not run the session. Any responsible person will fit the definition of an assistant, a parent for example (subject to the usual checks. Rule 3.1a. POR) 4. Young people should fit Harnesses to themselves, after demonstration by adults, with visual checks by the adults. Restrict contact to checking tightness of waist belt and tightening of it, if necessary. 5. The safety rope should be threaded through the harness and knotted by the young persons themselves, after demonstration by adults, with visual checks by the adults. (Fitting of gear and knot tying can be taught without physical contact) 6. When instructing the climber on position of hands and feet, do not make physical contact with the climber, verbal instructions only (except in the event of an emergency) 7. If for any reason physical contact around a person's crotch or chest (female) area cannot be avoided, maybe in an emergency, be sure the assistant is in close attendance. 8. Be fully aware of the advice on the yellow card "YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST" and with the advice above, put it into active practice. The foregoing advice is meant to help protect both young people and adult members of the movement, you are vulnerable no matter how well intentioned you are. By putting into practice the above advice you lessen the risk of being involved in a situation that requires answers, answers which you may find difficult to substantiate, particularly if the Rules of the Association and the foregoing advice should be ignored, Adult as referred to above shall be taken as a person of a minimum of 18 years of age. Further information contact; Geoff Preston 01277 810977 Geoff Preston 7 Wantz Cottages St Mary's Lane West Horndon Brentwood CM13 3EL

Individual Competition District Competition 1st Jamie Cockett Alex Gordon Thomas Banks Epping Forest South 2nd Daniel Willoughby Walthamstow 3rd Paul Barns Ilford East

All Queen's Jubilee badges should have been removed from uniforms on 31st December 2002. Please ensure that this is done at the earliest possibility

A scout in 27th Chingford is the first Gold Certificate winner - Oliver Goodman.

Attention District Chairmen, Secretaries & Treasurers Book a date for D. A. D. No - not an extra Fathers Day! This is the District Administrators Day Sunday 9th March 2003 9.45-4.15p.m. Venue to be announced. Much more detail to follow - just book the date now!