Contents
Introduction
Useful contacts
What's Merseyside Network?
Explorers, what's next?
How to make the move a success
The Award scheme
CRB and Capitation
Your checklist to becoming a Network member
Registration forms
Introduction
Welcome to your Merseyside County Scout Network, if you’re an Explorer or already a Networker welcome to one of the most exciting sections in the county and also one of the largest Networks in the UK! WOW I hear you say.
It’s your Network so the more you put in the more you'll get out!
Network is alive and kicking in Merseyside! As you will see throughout this pack PINK! is a major part of our identity! (One of our mottos is TH!NK P!NK). It has helped us get recognised, not only across Merseyside but all over the UK. If you would like one of our pink products, whether it’s a t-shirt or a hoody just log on to our Website www.scout-network.com! But don’t worry you don’t have to be pink to be in Network, that’s your choice!
This pack has been designed to give you all the info you need. Whether you’re an Explorer leader wanting to know where are the Networkers, Explorer nearly 18 and worried what happens when you leave Explorers or even a Networker just wanting some advice.
Its all here, ready and waiting for you to read on …………….
Useful Contacts
If you ever need to ask a question or don’t know who to turn to, this page is for you!
Firstly our website should be able to answer most the questions you have and then you can also become a fan of Network on facebook!
www.scout-network.com www.facebook.com
Here are the contacts you can turn to in your area …….
CSNC / Lee Allwood /North Merseyside
Southport
Formby / Andrew Tinsley
Jon Cottrill /
East Merseyside
St Helens / Danny Mercer /
Mersey Central:
Altside
Crosby / Mike Hussey
Helen Taylor /
South Liverpool / Alex Carroll /
Wirral Network:
Bebington
Birkenhead
West Wirral
Wallasey / Paul Jones (PJ) /
Web Site Manager / Liam O'Malley /
Who is Merseyside Network?
• Registered member of the Scout Association between 18 – 25
• Take part in many different and exciting activities.
• Based In and Around Merseyside
•
One of the biggest Networks in the UK
• Dynamic & forward Looking
• Self motivating, Run by the members for the members
•
A good laugh!
The practical stuff is
· We meet 8pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month in The Cross Keys Pub in Liverpool, near Moorefield’s Train Station. For directions go to Google maps and search “Merseyside Network Social” it’s the 4th item down (Letter D).
· The website is the one stop place for every event information and galleries. Why not sign up for our Forum & get chatting, were a friendly bunch! www.scout-network.com
· Were also on facebook, so become a fan today! Search for Merseyside Scout Network
· We try to arrange a one day activity each month, check the website & facebook for more information.
Explorers, what next?
It’s a strange time for Explorers, some can’t wait to move on to Network, some find it hard. So here are a few common questions and answers.
Q - Why only meet once a month, we meet every week at explorers
A - Network covers the whole county, so its hard to expect people to travel large distances every week, also lots of Network members work and have their on own section to run every week. We meet 8pm on 3rd Thursday of every month in The Cross Keys pub in Liverpool, it’s on Earle Street!
Q – We want to meet more regularly is that ok?
A – Of course! Networks meet locally in their District or local area to enjoy a wide range of activities, if you want to meet and arrange activities as Network members locally that’s great, just make sure you drop a Network Leader or CSNC a line to make sure they are kept in the picture!
Q - I'm 18 today what should I do to become a Networker
A - Well happy birthday! Firstly get in touch with Jan our administrator ( ) she will provide you with a registration form and CRB form if you haven't had one already. Then get onto the website and see what’s happening! Now all you need to do is come along to the next meeting or network event and we will see you there!
Q - How do you find out things and organise stuff if the meeting are only once a month
A – Most information, including Event news & booking forms are passed through e-mails, Net-Txts and the website, but don’t worry if your not online, we will send out information via snail-mail if preferred. Also if you have a member in your local area who is online, ask them to pass information onto you and your local Network.
How to make the move to Network a success!
It is important that when you are nearing the Network age you start to get involved and find out about Network. The Scout Movement loses a large proportion of members when they move section to section. Here are our top 5 tips for making the move successful
Top five tips for moving to Network
1. Log on to the www.scout-network.com and facebook to find out what's happening
2. Get in touch with your local Network or come to the monthly social
3. Invite Network to come down to your Explorer group now to have a chat
4. Organise a joint activity, we will happily come to your next camp
5. Register now through Jan our administrator at
Here are a few more ideas to make the move happen successfully
Awards Schemes
Network is about personnel development and the award scheme supports this, here is an overview of the Awards you can achieve!
Chief Scout's and Queen's Scouts Award
During your time at explorers you will hopefully have had the chance to start your Chief Scouts Platinum award and or/the Chief Scouts Diamond awards. At Network you can continue these and also complete the Queens Scout award.
These are exciting and challenging awards, interlinked with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Network provides you with the ideally opportunity to complete the areas needed. The full details are available on the scoutbase website (http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/badges/network-index.htm )
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme aims to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people, which is of the highest quality and the widest reach.
This awards scheme is now a part of the new Scout training programme. The new programme enables you to use the activities you complete in your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme to count towards your Chief Scouts Awards & Queen Scout Award For further details on the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme visit the The Award (www.theaward.org) website, or the Wirral Scouts Expedition Group website (http://www.wseg.org.uk/)
Explorer Belt
The Explorer Belt is the challenge of a lifetime, which is open to Explorer Scouts aged over 16 and members of the Scout Network. It is a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings a real understanding of a different country, its people and way of life.
The Explorer belt is sometimes described as 'the antidote to the package holiday'. It is designed to help young people develop a real understanding of another country by travelling through that country, completing surprise projects, working as a small team and meeting local people.
CRB and Capitation
Network is an adult section which makes it easier to organise events and get on with having fun and self development! But we all have responsibilities within the scouting movement. Here are a few of the important issues that every Network member must understand.
When and how do I pay capitation?
If you pay capitation within any section or Scout group then you are covered. If you are only involved in Network then you will need to pay capitation. The exact amount changes every year. Please contact Jan at for full details of costs and how to pay.
CRB, what is it?
Every adult in Scouting over 18 needs to be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The CRB - an executive agency of the home office, it is set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. By providing wider access to criminal record information, the CRB helps employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involving contact with children
The CRB is free to adults in Scouting, but must be successfully completed to enable you to go camping and attend activities. For advice, help or a CRB form please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jan at
If you need further information regarding the CRB go to http://www.crb.gov.uk/
I just want to be a Networker, help!
Just use this simple check list and you can’t go wrong!
□ Fill in the attached form! Send to Jan at
□ Complete your CRB and pay your capitation via Jan at
□ Become a fan of the facebook Group “Merseyside Scout Network”
□ Log on to www.scout-network.com and find out what's happening
□ Come to an event or the monthly social and start joining in!
□ That’s it, lets start having fun! Welcome to Merseyside Network!
Registration form ….
Your DetailsFirst Name / Last Name
Nick Name / DOB
Mobile No
Home No
Home / Term Time / Until
Address / Address
Post Code / Post Code
Scouting / (Please Leave Blank If None)
Group / CRB Check / YES / NO
District / CRB No
Appointment / YES / NO / Capitation Paid / In Group / In Network (Cross out)
Signed (The information I provided to true and accurate) / Date
Please return all registration forms to Merseyside Scouts County HQ, Tawd Vale Scout Camp, Lowry Hill Lane, Lathom, Lancashire, L40 5UL.
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updated 08/02/11 LA