{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"This the biggest crisis Scouts have faced in a generation, says Tim Kidd, UK Chief Commissioner. The pandemic has brought so many challenges, but we\u2019re more determined than ever to keep supporting our young people through the pandemic and beyond. He explains our plan of action to support groups in immediate need as well as to prepare for the years ahead.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/6490/fdl-homepage.jpg","width":1268,"height":664,"altText":"The Scouts Fleur in purple","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThere is really only one priority right now: to keep our groups open.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u2019ve heard from so many of you personally, and you\u2019ve all got your own story to tell about how the pandemic has affected you and your groups. Despite your heroic efforts, many of you are struggling just to keep going.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou need funds to pay the bills, for the most basic costs, and of course, you need volunteers. And this happens at a time when young people need us most.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo many groups, especially those in areas of deprivation, were already struggling, even before the pandemic. If these groups close, then not only will this generation miss out on the skills, hope and opportunities, we provide, but future generations too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why everything we\u2019re doing now is focused on supporting those groups locally most in need, and delivering essential services nationally so we can keep supporting young people during the pandemic and beyond.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe pressures we\u2019re facing\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest pressures we\u2019re facing, locally and nationally, are financial. If ever we\u2019ve been saving for a rainy day, then this is it. It\u2019s raining hard.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve already supported Groups to access funds locally. We\u2019ve already announced an increase to the membership fee with \u00A31.50 ring fenced to support groups in the most need. But even this isn\u2019t enough.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECentrally, the pandemic has drastically reduced our income. Sales at Scout Store are significantly down. Our Adventure Centres remained closed and we\u2019ve already shut our conference business at Gilwell Park. The income that normally subsidises our core services simply isn\u2019t there.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen the crisis began, we immediately acted to reduce our costs. Furloughing more than 50% of our staff helped reduce costs in the first stages of the crisis.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, our reserves are running down and longer term decisions need to be taken to safeguard the future of our movement locally and nationally.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re now having to take further, painful steps. What we\u2019re doing now might feel dramatic, but I\u2019m convinced it\u2019s for the long term benefit of our movement\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe action we take now will mean that we can generate funds for those who need immediate help, and also help us build back better and more quickly when the crisis passes.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo what are the key steps we\u2019re taking?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReducing costs and generating income \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELike so many other charities at this time, we\u2019ve had to reduce our staff headcount. For those who\u2019ve worked with our dedicated team, you\u2019ll know just how committed they are to supporting us. The total reduction in staff over our consultations will see 100 posts being removed, making a net annual reduction of nearly \u00A32.27 million pounds.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENearly every team is affected, and as you can imagine, it\u2019s an incredibly tough time for our staff and their families. Livelihoods are at stake, and we\u2019ve had to say goodbye to many valued and long serving members of the team. At the same time, we\u2019re being careful to protect our frontline services to you, our volunteers. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re also taking tough decisions on the properties we own and run. We currently operate seven adventure centres, offering activities and experiences to Scouts, school and youth groups. Taking into account the income they generate, the amount of investment they need and availability of other campsites in the areas, we\u2019ve decided to reduce to four centres \u2013 Gilwell Park, Youlbury, Great Tower and Hawkhirst.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe are working with the Counties who own Buddens and Woodhouse Park to identify the best operating model for the centre in the future and we\u2019ll now move to sell Downe Scout Adventures in Kent.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn an ideal world, we would not have to do any of this. But facing the biggest crisis in a generation, we need to act.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve also decided to sell Baden-Powell House in London. I know this will come as a shock to some. However, the numbers simply don\u2019t add up. Considering its high value and prime location in central London, it simply isn\u2019t supporting the movement in the way it should be, and the pandemic has hit business further still. The company that runs the hostel is also experiencing financial challenges. Just 2% of those who use the building are Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe building will also need \u00A36 million of investment in the coming years, and we don\u2019t believe we should borrowing millions of pounds for this, especially when our cash flow is under so much pressure. So, with a heavy heart, we intend to sell the building.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe sale, when it is realised, will support our essential services, including safeguarding, programme, safety and volunteer recruitment. Without these, we simply cannot operate. The sale will support a sustainable future for our movement and provide a generation of opportunity ahead. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI know that Baden-Powell House and Downe are special places for many of you. I\u2019ve my own treasured memories of days spent there, and I know you will have too. That\u2019s why we will honour their legacies and preserve their unique heritage. However, given the stark choice of whether to continue to support young people with skills for life, or preserve bricks and mortar, then I know which side of the fence I fall.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe sale of the assets, which will take time, will help replenish our reserves. This will allow us to focus on supporting local Scout Groups.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut these sales will take time and many our Groups don\u2019t have time. They need help now.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoin our #RaceRoundTheWorld\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why we\u2019re launching our biggest ever appeal. I\u2019ve been a Scout almost all my life and there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve noticed that marks us out: we help each other in times of crisis. It\u2019s that spirit of solidarity and friendship that makes us who we are.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why I\u2019m so inspired that we\u2019ve launched our #RaceRoundTheWorld\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re aiming to raise \u00A3300,000 for the 500 groups hardest hit by the crisis. It\u2019s a campaign for everyone, both young people and volunteers, Scouts and non-Scouts. All you need to do is join your section team led by our Scout Ambassadors, travel a mile, any way you\u2019d like and get sponsored by family and friends. It\u2019s really that simple.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETogether, we\u2019re hoping to make it all the way around the world. While it may sound like a small step to take, it\u2019s likely to have a massive effect on those groups that need it. It\u2019s about getting funds to those who need them right now.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou, our volunteers, are the people who make Scouts happen. You\u2019ve worked harder this year than ever before and your commitment has inspired every one of us. \u0026nbsp;Every pound we spend, every minute we give is creating the communities we want through the pandemic and beyond.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat we do now matters in the future\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf we act now, we can continue to support young people now, and for years to come. We can continue to proudly play our part in the heart of our communities supporting young people.\u0026nbsp; Let\u2019s never forget that Scouts is a lifeline for so many young people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPlease keep supporting each other, and keep supporting young people. Please galvanise your teams to support #RaceRoundTheWorld\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMost importantly, let\u2019s never lose heart. Our movement is bigger than all of us and in this most difficult of times, it falls to us to keep it going.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThank you for everything you\u2019re doing. You\u2019re all shining lights.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"05 November 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48599,"nodeName":"Why we need to take action now for a brighter future","title":"Why we need to take action now for a brighter future\u00A0","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/6490/fdl-homepage.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd0c842420","caption":"FDL Homepage","type":"jpg","size":93039,"width":1268,"height":664,"altText":"The Scouts Fleur in purple"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Why we need to take action now for a brighter future\u00A0","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"UK Chief Commissioner, Tim Kidd explains our plan of action to support groups in immediate need as well as to prepare for the years ahead.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODU5OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/november/why-we-need-to-take-action-now-for-a-brighter-future/"}