Scout Fellowship is a group of adults who have one thing in common - a wish to support Scouting. A Scout Fellowship welcomes men and women of all ages, interests and backgrounds. There is no need to have been involved in Scouting or Guiding before, all that is required is a willingness to give some of your time to Scouting. In return you will make friends and be able to join with others doing whatever you decide. A Scout Fellowship has its own social and activity programme.
The aim of the Scout Fellowship is to "Provide Active Support", with the emphasis being very much on supporting the youth programme in an active manner, at all levels of the Association from the local Scout Group to National level.
Active Support encompasses the talents of the Scout Fellowship of all ages and abilities, whether it is physical, mental, geared to a particular technical skill or general support. It could be as a badge examiner, a Training Adviser to new leaders, catering for courses, running pioneering courses, assisting with hill walking, rock climbing etc. We all have something to offer as far as supporting Scouting is concerned whatever our age or ability.
In fact, active support means just about anything!
The Scout Fellowship is a large part of the 'backbone' of the Scout Movement - supporting the young people and voluntary leaders wherever help is required. The key to our success is our flexibility - we're here to help.
Glenys Shelley Wow! Have I seen some changes in Scouting since I started as a 15yr old Cub Instructor in the 50's with the 29th Cardiff Group in Canton District which than had 10 Scout Groups. In those days we had Wolf Cubs and the training scheme included balancing a wooden block on the head, sewing on a button hopping a set distance and taking part in jungle dances.
At 18 I took out a warrant as assistant Cub Master but after only a few months the 20th Cardiff (St Catherine's) found themselves with a huge Cub pack and no leaders and I was asked to take it over and stayed for 30 years. During that time I also held warrants as District Cubmaster, assistant leader the leader trainer.
When Canton District merged with Elt and Fairwater District to become Cardiff West District, I became assistant District Commissioner Cubs and continued with the Cub Scout leader training in the County. In 1990 I became AAC Cubs Scouts for 10 years until Keith Burfoot took over as Area Commissionerand I changed to my present post of AAC General Duties. A title which covers a multitude of sins: Adult Training, Fellowship, Miskin Scout Camp, Area swimming gala, Nights Away assessor and any other duties the Area Commissioner asks me to take on.
I attended the World Indaba in 1962 and was on the staff of all the
Welsh Jamborees from 1960-1985, have served on the Welsh Scout Council in various capacities, at present I am Chairman of the Welsh Fellowship team. I have also run the County Cub swimming club for 27 years and lots of other events and jobs too numerous to mention.
Yes huge changes have taken place in every facet of Scouting since I started but some things never change. The Scouts of today in common with the Scouts of yesteryear still agree that the best part of being a Scout is sleeping in a tent in a field, lighting a fire and cooking a sausage on a stick, building a shelter in the woods and taking part in activities where they get wet, dirty, muddy or preferably all 3 at the same time!