{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Wendy Human, UK Commissioner for Programme ","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12648/pattern.jpg","width":2669,"height":1575,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe new year is well and truly underway. I\u2019m starting to get used to the current world, but it\u2019s still tough. I know that volunteers across the UK are working hard to keep Scouts going \u2013 thank you for all you\u2019re doing.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve heard recently that there\u2019s just not enough out there for Explorer Scout Section Leaders and that it\u2019s especially challenging to find lockdown-friendly programme content for Explorers. If you\u2019ve found something that works well, please would you let us know? We\u2019d love to share your ideas on a wider scale so more people can benefit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat we\u2019ve been working on\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver the past few weeks, we\u2019ve developed some new badge pages, full of hints, tips, and suggested activities to help young people earn badges during this lockdown. There are ideas for Zoom meetings, as well as suggested activities (and a template email for parents and carers) so that not everything you do has to be through a screen. We\u2019ve already covered the \u003Ca href=\u0022http://scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/beavers-health-and-fitness-at-home/\u0022\u003EBeavers Health and Fitness Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/cubs-astronomer-at-home/\u0022\u003ECubs Astronomer Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http://scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/scouts-naturalist-at-home/\u0022\u003EScouts Naturalist Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/digital-maker-at-home/\u0022\u003EDigital Maker Staged Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E. Let us know what you think by clicking on the feedback button on each page.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/4308/activity-cu-astronomer.png","width":347,"height":350,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWork has also begun on the programme for the new early years section. We\u2019ve sent the structure to senior volunteers for approval, so stay tuned to find out more about the badges and awards the youngest members of our movement will be working hard to earn (and wear with pride).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJoining a new section is an exciting time,\u00A0but you\u2019ve told us that it can be a tricky one too, especially when we\u2019re all meeting online.\u00A0 You\u2019ve also told us that saying goodbye when young people move on doesn\u2019t feel quite the same through a screen. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together some guidance for Investitures and moving on ceremonies, whether you\u2019re in \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/running-a-beaver-colony/welcoming-beavers-and-moving-on/\u0022\u003EBeavers\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E, \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/running-a-cub-pack/welcoming-cubs-and-moving-on/\u0022\u003ECubs\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E, \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/running-a-scout-troop/welcoming-scouts-and-moving-on/\u0022\u003EScouts\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E, or \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/running-an-explorer-unit/welcoming-explorers-and-moving-on/\u0022\u003EExplorers\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E. As always, we\u2019d love to know what\u2019s working for you \u2013\u00A0you can let us know with \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ddd9e86b56b641098d6078d62e6704fb\u0022\u003Eour new survey\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s no escaping the fact that lockdown is tough on young people. Despite this, Scouts told us that they want to keep taking action to help others and make the world a better place, starting with mental health. Over the past few weeks, we\u2019ve updated the resources for \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/scouts-helping-others/wellbeing-champions/\u0022\u003EWellbeing Champions\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E. Why not get involved and send it out to young people so they can make a difference as they earn their \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/staged-badges/community-impact/\u0022\u003ECommunity Impact Staged Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E and \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/the-great-indoors-badge/\u0022\u003EThe Great Indoors Badge\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd of course, we haven\u2019t forgotten to update the \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/\u0022\u003Eactivity finder\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E. We focussed on adding content that works online for Scouts and Explorers (and ambitious Cub leaders) with \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/two-truths-one-lie/\u0022\u003ETwo truths, one lie\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E and \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/scattergories/\u0022\u003EScattergories\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinally, you asked us to tell you more about the flexibility around badge requirements and timeframes in light of the pandemic. The team are on it \u2013 and we\u2019ll have more for you soon.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12647/activities.jpg","width":1215,"height":824,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s coming soon\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re working away to add to over 1,200 activities already on the \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities\u0022\u003Eactivity finder\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E, designing something for everyone to deliver online with content for important events like Thank You Day.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re one of the organised ones, St George\u2019s Day may already be on your horizon. If you choose to celebrate, it\u2019s up to you what you do \u2013\u00A0just make sure it includes everyone. We\u2019re working on some resources to help you mark the day too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re also making more science-themed activity bundles that bring together activities around specific themes to make it easier for young people to earn badges through their online sessions. We\u2019d love your feedback on the pages we\u2019ve already made for \u003Ca href=\u0022http://scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/beavers-health-and-fitness-at-home/\u0022\u003EBeavers\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/cubs-astronomer-at-home/\u0022\u003ECubs\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http://scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/scouts-naturalist-at-home/\u0022\u003EScouts\u003C/a\u003E, and a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/activities-and-badges-to-do-at-home/digital-maker-at-home/\u0022\u003EStaged Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E so we know what else we can do to help young people earn the badges that lead to their top awards.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVideo calls are a wonderful way of staying connected, but they can be exhausting too. We\u2019re working on resources that leaders can send directly to young people, including a new batch of \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/scouts-at-home/press-play-and-go/\u0022\u003EPress-play-and-go videos\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re also working with the volunteers behind 1st Digital Scout Group and the Scout Content Scout Active Support Unit to host their content on a national level. It\u2019s an exciting time for working together, as we\u2019re also thinking about how we make it easier for great grassroots content to be shared nationally.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinally, we\u2019re thinking ahead to identify the sorts of activities we\u2019ll need when Scouts can return to (socially distanced) face-to-face meetings.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWe want to hear from you\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, we\u2019re doing all this to make it easier for you. If you\u2019ve got any ideas about anything I\u2019ve mentioned in this blog (or about the programme in general) please do get in touch \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/contact-us\u0022\u003Ethrough the info centre\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Check out our other news this month","buttonLink":{"name":"February","id":null,"url":"/news/2021/february/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"03 February 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48634,"nodeName":"Programme support and what\u2019s coming soon","title":"Programme support and what\u2019s coming soon ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/12648/pattern.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd15abe420","caption":"Pattern","type":"jpg","size":1608748,"width":2669,"height":1575,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Programme support and what\u2019s coming soon ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"What we\u0027ve been working on and what\u0027s coming up to help you deliver amazing programmes. 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