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Scouts from across the East Norfolk District braved the rain on Sunday to take part in the annual St George’s Day celebration. St George is a Patron Saint of Scouting. Baden Powell choose St George to be the Movements Patron because he felt his qualities were the same as a good Scout. St George’s Day is April 23, and on that day Scouts remind themselves of their Promise and Scout Law. Not that a Scout ever forgets either but, on St George’s Day, they make a special point of thinking about them and renewing their promise together.

This year the theme for St George’s Day was focused around the Scouting Ambassadors and their professions. Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers all took part in a wide range of activities such as producing a news report to pole trekking as well as building mountains from paper cups and rowing with mops!

Each year, the East Norfolk District Flag circulates around the groups. This year it was 1^st Belton’s turn to hold the flag. The St George’s flag was also awarded to North Yarmouth Scout Group for their achievement over the past year.

The final flag to be awarded was the Union Flag. This was presented to the Network and Top Awards team for their achievement over the past year.

The Peter Batley box was awarded jointly to 1^st Belton and North Yarmouth Scout Groups. It is awarded for community involvement. Both 1^st Belton and North Yarmouth engaged with their local communities over the past year with a range of activities from street light surveys to making random acts of kindness to the residents of a village and will place some photographic memories in the box as a keepsake of their projects and achievements.

We also celebrated some Scouting awards. Gerry Harman from 1^st Gorleston Scout Group was awarded The Silver Wolf which is the highest award made by The Scout Association “for service of the most exceptional character”. Our sincere thanks and congratulations go to Gerry for his dedication to Scouting over the past 35 years – a truly deserved award.

We also celebrated our very own DC, Shelly O’Keefe who received her 25yrs service Award. Once again, we are all truly thankful for her dedicated commitment to Scouting in Norfolk and the fun and excitement she helps to deliver to young people in Scouting.

If you are interested in joining Scouts as a leader or young person, please visit www.eastnorfolkscouts.org.uk for further information or email [email protected] .

Some more pictures form the day….

Scouts from across East Norfolk celebrated their achievement of Top Awards today at the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth.

The afternoon was hosted by East Norfolk Youth Commissioners, Harri and Jake, and East Norfolk’s District Commissioner, Shelly.

Young people were recognised for achieving many different awards: the Chief Scouts Bronze, Silver and Gold Award; and the Chief Scouts Diamond Award. There were also some Young Leaders who celebrated receiving their Young Leader Belt. Young people in the District who went over and above their commitment to Scouting were recognised and Shelly presented them with a District Commissioner commendation.

The Scout Association also recognises the adult volunteers that dedicate their time to enable Scouting to happen in East Norfolk – those volunteers go over and above what is expected. At the Hippodrome today, Shelly recognised adult volunteers from the East Norfolk Active Support Unit, 1^st Bradwell and North Yarmouth Scout Groups as well as a member of the East Norfolk District Team with a District Commissioner Commendation.

The Chief Scout, Bear Grylls also recognises the contribution that volunteers give to Scouting and as such, has awarded a Chief Scouts Commendation award to volunteers from 1^st Caister, 1^st Gorleston, 1^st Great Yarmouth, 1^st Martham, 2^nd Gorleston and North Yarmouth Scout Groups as well as a member of the East Norfolk District Team.

The Scout Association has a national award scheme that recognises adult volunteers for exceptional contributions to Scouting. The Award for Merit is given for outstanding service over a minimum period of 12 years. It was a privilege for Shelly to recognise six people with their Award for Merit today. Peter Clarke, Julie Southgate, Elizabeth Tyler, John Saddington, Teo Utting and Roger Pumphrey were all recognised this afternoon.

For those volunteers who continue their exceptional service for a further five years, we are able to award The Bar to the Award for Merit. Shelly recognised Michelle Jones today for her Bar to the Award for Merit.

The Silver Acorn award can be awarded to adult volunteers after at least 20 years of service which is especially distinguished and better than outstanding. It was with great pleasure that Shelly was able to recognise Linda Hansby Patterson with her Silver Acorn today.

Finally, The Bar to the Silver Acorn Award can be given for a further 5 years of distinguished service after receiving a Silver Acorn Award. Mark (Danny) Daniels was recognised today for achieving this award for his service and contribution to Scouting far over and above what is expected for adult volunteers.

The afternoon concluded with a special visit to the Hippodrome Circus Museum where adults and young people were able to spend some time looking around the artifacts and displays from across the years.

Shelly, District Commissioner said “It was a great pleasure to recognise so many young people in the district with their top awards. They have all worked so hard so it was nice to celebrate with them all”

Harri and Jake, Youth Commissioners added “presenting the awards at the Hippodrome made it really special for the young people. Hopefully they enjoyed the afternoon in such an iconic venue which makes all their hard work worth while”

East Norfolk Scouts is always looking for new volunteers to help deliver a youth led scouting experience for young people. If you feel you want to be part of our adventure, please get in touch! www.eastnorfolkscouts.org.uk or email [email protected]  

Within the East Norfolk Scouting District, we feel it is extremely important to recognise adult volunteers for their service to Scouting.

Awards are an opportunity to make that occasional ‘thank you’ even more special, they are for those volunteers who, over time, you find yourself thanking more frequently.

District Commissioner Commendations are for those members who go over and above their role within the District and the National Good Service Awards recognise outstanding contribution to Scouting at Group, District, and County which is at a considerably high or outstanding level.

Training is also a large part of what we all do as volunteers, continuously learning new skills and making sure we are the best Leaders we can be.

It is important to recognise this learning and so we award a Wood Badge to signify the completion of this training, the effort and the commitment that our members give.

At the AGM on Wednesday 15 June, we recognised some the Scouters that are part of the District Team and presented them with the following awards:

Denise Goldspink – Young Leader Team

Wood Badge (Young Leaders)

Sheila Bakewell – District Active Support Unit

District Commissioners Commendation

Jennifer Chetwynd – Local Training Manager

District Commissioner Commendation

Teo Utting – Nights Away Coordinator

Award for Merit

Michelle Jones – Assistant District Commissioner Cubs

Bar to the Award for Merit

Mark (Danny) Daniels – District Chairman

Bar to the Silver Acorn

Scouting is a great way to have fun whilst gaining Skills for Life and East Norfolk has ten Scout Groups and five Explorer Units that meet to offer opportunities for fun and adventure to over 400 young people aged 6 to 18 in the Great Yarmouth and surrounding areas, supported by 150 dedicated adult volunteers.

If you would like to join our adventure, please visit www.eastnorfolkscouts.org.uk or email [email protected].

On Saturday 4^th June East Norfolk Scouts celebrated HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. As she reaches this historic milestone, HM The Queen has served the nation for 70 years as monarch.
HM The Queen is one of the Patrons of Scouting, so this makes it an extra special occasion for us in East Norfolk. Many Scout groups have marked this special occasion by planting a tree for the Jubilee, lighting a beacon or writing a letter to the Queen to say Thank You.

East Norfolk District Scouts wanted to show their appreciation in their own special way. 200 members of East Norfolk Scouts gathered at The Minster Church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and enjoy an afternoon of Royal themed activities.
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers, aged six to eighteen, have joined together in Royal Fancy Dress for a Platinum Picnic and Pudding Party, with some Royal activities on offer too.

There were Posh Picnics and Platinum Puddings to be shared “street-party” style, Royal Bingo, Jewelled Crowns and a Queen Treasure Trail. There was also a Jubilee Photo Booth where everyone could have a special commemorative photograph taken to remember this unique occasion.

Shelly O’Keefe, District Commissioner said, “Today has been a great day! It has been wonderful to see so many young people having fun and celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee!”

James, a Beaver Scout, said “It has been good. I have enjoyed writing a letter to the Queen and eating my lunch.”

Harriet Goldspink & Liam Segust recently gained their Queen Scout Awards and attended the Windsor St George’s Parade this year. “It is an honour to be Queen Scouts and have been invited to Windsor Castle to be recognised for our achievements, made even more special by celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year”.

In years to come everyone will remember exactly where they were during the Jubilee celebrations and East Norfolk District have helped to create those memories of young people and adults in Scouting joining together to celebrate.

Scouting is a great way to have fun whilst gaining Skills for Life and East Norfolk has ten Scout Groups and five Explorer Units that meet to offer opportunities for fun and adventure to over 400 young people in the Great Yarmouth area, supported by 150 dedicated adult volunteers.

If you would like to join our adventure, please visit www.eastnorfolkscouts.org.uk or email [email protected].

North Yarmouth Scout Troop are the first to complete the Badge.

The D.C. Challenge is a revisit of a local badge that was available in the 1980’s, with a twist to make it relevant for today.  
The theme for 2022 is Community Impact in our local area and the wider world.
Everyone including Leaders and Active Support Units can take part in the D.C. Challenge along with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

Read how the North Yarmouth Scouts completed their Challenge HERE

Over 50 Scouts from Groups across East Norfolk enjoyed a day of “Target Activities” on Saturday 30 April.
Leaders delivered sessions for Air Rifle Shooting, Tomahawk Throwing and Archery to introduce the skills to Scouts who had not experienced them before and to advance the skills for those who had previous experience of the three activities.