We can’t find the page you’re looking for This page doesn’t exist. Go to Home and keep exploring. Go to Home

Welcome To the Leaders Section! Please Log in to Access Log In

1st Sid Vale Scout Group, Sidmouth, was founded in 1913. We provide a local resource supported entirely by volunteers, to enable young people from the ages of 6 – 18 years to enjoy adventurous activities such as: camping, archery, climbing, hiking, cooking, life skills, working toward badges and team events. We continue to encourage all our youngsters to take an active part in their community. Our Scouting Sections Beavers 6 to 8 Discover Cubs 8 to 10 and a half Discover Scouts 10 and a half to 14 Discover Explorers 14 to 18 Discover All our Sections are open to boys and girls and meet weekly in term time. Our Explorer Scouts are also Young Leaders, who help support the younger sections. Volunteer with 1st Sid Vale There are so many opportunities to get involved with Scouting at 1st Sid Vale. We have a growing team you can be part of. ​ Be part of the team, doing the things you love, and why not even try something new? Learn more #SkillsForLife Scouting encourages young people to never give up, face their fears, take the initiative and work as a team. Through fun and adventures, they gain character, employability and practical skills. ​ Help young people develop skills for life. Discover more Our Raised Beds Thanks to James Trevett and his team from Combe Garden Centre and Combe Estate for helping us to move our raised beds. Find out what they planted... Sid Vale Scout Centre Opened 20th October 2016 by Jeremy Vine, our brand new Scout Centre is open with a new indoor climbing wall, shooting range, and much more! We are based at the Sid Vale Scout Centre. Our Centre and Pavilion, and the surrounding field and woodlands allow us to offer a wide range of fun and adventurous activities for young people. ​ The Centre and Pavilion are available for hire.

Activities Scouting is full of fun, adventure and friendship. As Bear Grylls, Chief Scout says ... ​ "Two things matter in life: following your dreams and looking after your friends.” Our Scout Group is made up of a Beaver Colony, two Cub Packs, a Scout Troop and a active group of Young Leaders. The sections are run by teams of volunteer leaders and helpers who design a programme of exciting weekly activities that build skills, friendships and confidence. There’s also opportunities to join in weekend activities – like District Beaver Fun days, the Devon County Cub Challenge and the Regional Scout Cooking competition. We aim to offer all our youngsters the chance to take part in overnight stays at least once a year. For Beavers this might mean a sleepover in the Scout Centre and for Cubs a 2 or 3 night camp in The Field or other Scout facility in the County. Scouts are regular campers and also make visits to the Boy's Brigade facility at Hay Tor on Dartmoor. Our Young Leaders are encouraged to plan their own camping expeditions both near to home and further afield. Here's a brief look at some of the activities at Scouts. Climbing Our Scout Centre has a two storey indoor climbing wall. Youngsters get regular opportunities to use the wall during their weekly section meetings and at extra activity days and camps. Almost anyone can climb – you don’t need to be super fit! Good technique is more important than physical strength and our qualified instructors help youngsters to gain skill and confidence on the wall. Climbing is a very social activity – you’re never alone on the wall, and over time it can help develop concentration, determination and problem-solving. Shooting The upstairs room in the Centre is designed to be used as an indoor air rifle range. Target shooting is an international sport and many of our top shooting athletes, including Olympic participants, started their shooting careers in Scouting. Our nationally qualified instructors offer youngsters the opportunity to test out their marksmanship skills - the ability to repeatedly place shots in as small an area as possible on a target. This requires a certain degree of physical skill but it is primarily a mental sport -being able to focus and concentrate in the present moment on the task in hand. Youngsters also learn how to operate in a calm and disciplined manner – they learn how to manage a risky activity safely. Archery Evidence of archery goes back 50,000 years and has its origins in hunting food and defending yourself! However, in scouting today we like to offer it as an exciting and rewarding activity that enables young people to develop a wide range of useful skills. They develop the hand-eye coordination to aim, it builds physical strength as they become better able to control their bow, and they need patience to practice and focus to shut out distractions. Archery sessions are always run as a group so young people learn to take turns and to support each other. They develop confidence as their skills improve. Best of all anyone can do it. Kit can be adapted to enable people with disabilities to enjoy the sport too. We offer archery as an activity within our regular weekly meetings and at special weekend activity days and camps. Camp Craft Why do Scouts like camping? Because it gives us all the chance to learn how to take responsibility- to stay warm and dry and safe and not hungry. This is not trivial, and it requires a great deal of teamwork and individual strength of character to achieve. Scouting is one of many good organisations for young people. But camping is what makes scouting great! So in Sid Vale we aim to offer all our youngsters the chance to camp at least once a year. We like to make the most of the amazing camping facilities we have: a wonderful flat field, surrounded by woodland, off the beaten track. We aim to teach youngsters camp craft skills - tents, fires, knife skills, knots, cooking, map reading and so on - during our weekly meetings and then to make the most of them during camps either at our own base or further afield. Sharing the camping chores, having fun together and enjoying each others company – the bedrocks of scouting and an opportunity to learn skills for life.

Top Our Sections Beavers 6 to 8 Discover Cubs 8 to 10 and a half Discover Scouts 10 and a half to 14 Discover Explorers 14 to 18 Discover All our Sections are open to boys and girls and meet weekly in term time.

About us Teamwork We're all about Teamwork Our activities are run entirely by volunteers - weekly meetings, fundraising, admin the lot! Our Sections are run by teams of Leaders and Helpers many of whom are parents. They are supported by Young Leaders who are volunteering just because they love it. And they may also be working towards an award like the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, Sports Leader Programme or indeed their Queen's Scout Award. ​ Behind the scenes we also have teams of volunteers 'keeping the show on the road' as members of our Executive, Centre Management and Fundraising Committees. ​ If you want to get in touch, please contact us . Discover more Activities New Scout Centre Also on this page Our Facilities Scouting History Fundraising Facilities Our Facilities We are based off the beaten track in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just outside Sidmouth. "The Field" is 4 acres of flat land surrounded by hedgerows and woodland. We have our newly built Centre, our wooden camping Pavilion, a large campfire area, space for altar fires, a wood fired pizza oven, swing ropes etc. There's plenty of space for campers with access to the Pavilion - offering toilets, a shower and a basic kitchen. The Centre is well equipped for activities including climbing, target shooting, crate stacking and so on. It's also a great space for sleepovers with plenty of toilets, 3 showers and a good sized kitchen. Hire our Space History The History of Scouting Without our everyday adventure, the world would certainly be a less interesting place, and if it wasn’t for the talent and originality of one man, the Scout Movement might never have existed at all. This man was Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941), a soldier, artist, actor and free-thinker. Best known for his spirited defence of the small South African township of Mafeking during the Boer War, he was propelled to further fame as the Founder of Scouting. Inspired during the siege by the initiative shown by boys under pressure, BP realised that young people had huge potential that was often left untapped. Already thinking of developing a training programme for young people in Britain, he was encouraged by friends to rewrite his handbook for soldiers (Aids to Scouting) for this younger audience. The Brownsea camp In 1907 Baden-Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in Poole, Dorset, to try out his ideas and brought together 20 boys from a variety of backgrounds. The success of the camp spurred him on to finish what would become a classic book of the 20th century. Scouting for Boys was published in 1908 in six fortnightly parts at 4d a copy. What had been intended as a training aid for existing organisations became the handbook of a new Movement, which secured the royal seal of approval the following year when King Edward VII agreed to the introduction of the King’s Scout Award. In its first census in 1910, Scouting had almost 108,000 participants; over 100,000 were young people. Scouting for all ages It was a global phenomenon. As numbers grew, it soon became clear that young people of all ages and in every country wanted to get involved in Scouting. Wolf Cubs came along for younger Scouts in 1916, followed four years later by Rover Scouts for an older age range. 1920 was also the year of the first World Scout Jamboree. At London’s Olympia, Scouts from across the world gathered to celebrate international unity and the growth of their great Movement. Branching out Lord Baden-Powell died in 1941 but his legacy continued. Scouting became a byword for adventure, usefulness and global friendship. As the Movement spread across the world, Scouting continued to evolve in the United Kingdom. Following heroic work during the Second World War when Scouts acted as coast guards, couriers and stretcher bearers, members continued to show they were truly able to live their motto ‘Be prepared.’ Forward thinking Scouting has never stood still. New branches such as Air and Sea Scouts became increasingly popular, gaining recognition from the RAF and the Royal Navy. Scouts were on hand to help out at major events such as the Queen’s coronation, helping the crowds who camped out overnight to get a glimpse of the spectacle. The Movement continued to grow and move with the times. Rover Scouts and Senior Scouts became Venture Scouts and the badge system was updated to reflect the wider range of activities a Scout could do. Girls were invited to join the Venture Scout section; this was introduced to other sections in the early 1990s. In the true spirit of an inclusive organisation, younger children got to experience Scouting for the first time with the official incorporation of the Beaver Scouts in 1986. Three years later, official headgear was abolished for all sections. Scouting for the 21st Century At the dawn of the 21st Century, the Association again underwent reform with the launch of a new logo, uniform and training programme and the introduction of Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network by 2002. In 2007, the Movement celebrated its centenary and the 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in the UK. Scouting hit the headlines in 2009 when TV adventurer Bear Grylls was announced as the new Chief Scout. Fundraising Fundraising Fundraising is a fundamental part of Scouting. ​ In addition to receiving our young member's yearly subscriptions, we also need to raise money to fund activities and equipment in other ways, involving our parents and young members themselves. In recent years we have enjoyed running many very successful jumble sales, summer fetes and other fundraising events such as the Waitrose Shoeshine, etc.

Explore East Devon Camping and Activities in an Outstandingly Beautiful Location . We are based off the beaten track in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the cliff top just outside Sidmouth. Our wooden Pavilion and newly built Centre occupy two corners of a picturesque four acre flat field. Campers can use the basic facilities in the Pavilion or if you are looking for more mod cons we have the newly built Sid Vale Scout Centre - great for sleepovers. ​ The large and flexible indoor space in the Centre can be used for a wide range of activities including climbing and target shooting. Visitors (mainly Scouts and Guides) can hire the whole Centre for anything from a couple of hours to a whole week. Or you can hire just the activity space for a few hours at a time - perhaps to add in an activity to an overnight, weekend or week long camp. Availability is based around our own Scout Group activities. The Field is surrounded on all sides by mature hedgerows and is next to extensive National Trust woodland, with paths leading to the village of Salcombe Regis and the beach at Salcombe Mouth. And for star gazers it's a 5 minute walk to the Norman Lockyer Observatory with its amazing telescopes and planetarium. The regency seaside town of Sidmouth is a couple of miles away for shops, swimming pool, and sports facilities including kayaking, surfing and paddle boarding. Our Spaces to Hire Scout Centre Our brand new Scout Centre has a large main hall (15m x 10m) with a 15m high climbing wall (3 ropes). We also have 3 anchor points for ropes in the centre beam allowing for climbing activities such as crate stacking. There's a second large room upstairs (6m x 7m) that can be used as a meeting/activity space or set up as a target shooting range. There are separate male and female toilets and a disabled toilet/shower room as well as two further showers - making the Centre a great space for sleepovers. The good sized kitchen makes catering for large numbers easy and allows youngsters to get in there and practice their cooking skills too. Scout Centre Outside the Centre Scout Centre Looking across the field towards the Scout Centre Scout Centre Entrance to Centre Scout Centre View of the Field from the Main Hall Scout Centre Patio area with seating Scout Centre Main Hall with 15m climbing wall Scout Centre Upstairs room / Target Shooting Range Scout Centre Kitchen Pavilion A back to basics wooden building approximately 6m x 12m with electricity and mains water supply. It has a small kitchen containing sink, electric cooker, hot water boiler, fridge and freezer. There are two separate toilets, and a third toilet/shower room suitable for disabled use. ​ Great facilities for a traditional camping experience - offering secure storage for supplies and valuables, but not detracting from the joys of camping under canvas. Pavilion Covered seating area Pavilion Back to Basics kitchen Field The Pavilion and Centre are located in the Salcombe Regis Recreation Field. It's a perfect location for all sorts of outdoor activities. Lots of wide-open space - great for games, camping and group activities. Safe and secure because it is surrounded by hedgerows, with a secure gated entrance. We maintain a large campfire area which, thanks to donations from local builders, is well stocked with firewood. Our Scouts have recently built a wood fired pizza oven and there's plenty of room for Scouts and Guides to make their traditional altar fires. ​ We can lend activity kit including pioneering poles, barrel BBQs and sports equipment. Ready to start your Adventure? If you're interested in hiring any of our spaces or have an event in mind, please contact us to discuss availability. Contact us

Cubs Scouts enjoy new adventures whilst making new friends along the way! Their commitment is recognised by over thirty activity badges. As well as regular weekly meetings, Cubs Scouts can also enjoy activity days, weekends and pack holidays. Wider Scope Cubs are between 8 - 10 and a half years old The pack is divided into sixes, each named after a colour and led by a Cub Scout called a Sixer. Challenge and adventure are experienced in a wide range of exciting indoor and outdoor activities that include games, crafts, cooking, visits and outings and of course, camping. These activities offer, through the Cub Scout Programme, the opportunity to achieve awards and badges. Helping others forms an important part of Cub Scouting. Our Cub Pack Leaders Simon (Snowy) Vikki Cubs enjoy a wide range of Activities Going camping, Playing games, Exploring the outdoors, Trying adventurous activities – such as climbing, sailing and archery, Meeting people from their local community, Experiencing the culture of other countries and Keeping themselves and others safe Downloads Badges and Awards A diagram to help you position your badges on your uniform. ​ Click to view/download the PDF

Explorers are a go-getting group of young people aged 14 to 18. Together, they make up the fourth section of the Scouts. Our Explorer Leaders Ian Fletcher Our Exporer Troop Our Young Leaders Scheme: The Scheme is a programme of 10 training modules and four missions (projects) designed to help and support those aged between 14 to 18 who work with a section (Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts) as a Young Leader. It gives Young Leaders the skills and knowledge to act as part of the section leadership team, and covers subjects such as a balanced, quality programme, Child Protection, First Aid and leadership skills. The Young Leaders’ Scheme is designed to help Young Leaders to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed in their current role, which can be built on if they decide to take out an adult appointment. ​ You can join Explorers at any age between 14 and 18, although you have to leave on your 18th Birthday. Once you are 18, as an adult you can either become part of the Scout Network (18-25 year olds) and run your own section and activities, or become an adult leader. What we do Explorers is all about doing fun but challenging activities. We recognize that many are doing GCSEs or A levels, so we want to make the evening sessions an opportunity for them to relax, have some fun but with some sort of purpose or aim! We also run additional challenges such as the Young Leaders Scheme, Silver Duke of Edinburgh, and they can also take part in the Ten Tors by joining up with a neighbouring Explorer Unit. Oh, and we will run several camps a year – mainly short weekend camps either at the Scout Centre or further afield. For those who want a real challenge and an experience of a lifetime, there is the Explorer Belt. This award is a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life. So what’s not to like! Interested in volunteering? We’d love to hear from you if you want to be part of our amazing organisation. We have a range of different roles we need filling, from working with the young people with one of our sections, or helping out behind the scenes to continue to make our Group the success it is today. Types of roles include: Helping out with our Working Party which meets every Wednesday to help maintain the centre and field, doing DIY and maintenance jobs. Becoming a member of the Executive Committee – we’re always looking for a range of people with different skills that they can bring to the Group to help it grow and prosper. Skills we are always looking for are planning, administrative, management or financial. If you think you could help – please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

New Scout Centre 20 years of Dreaming , 3 years of Planning , 3 years Fundraising and 18 months of Building ! On 20th August 2016 we opened the Sid Vale Scout Centre and we'd to thank everyone who supported us along the way to secure an amazing facility that we hope will not only support Scouting in the Sid Valley for many years to come but also be a valuable asset to our local community. Jeremy Vine opens our new Scout Centre.

Yes! Adventure is for everyone. Scouts only exists because you make it happen. We know how important it is having easy access to all the information and guidance you need. Whatever your role, we want to empower and support you as much as we can. Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world. You can volunteer and help in many ways; you don’t have to be a regular Bear Grylls. You might have first aid knowledge that you could teach the group, or you might be able to teach our Scouts a thing or two about DIY. If you’re good with accounts you could be Group treasurer, or if you’re a culinary whizz you could run cooking sessions with the young people. Everyone has a skill (whether you know it or not) and we can make use of it. There’s no pressure to continue as a helper or leader afterwards, but hopefully we’ll be able to inspire you by showing how easy and rewarding it can be to volunteer with Scouts. Thinking about volunteering? All of our leaders are trained volunteers, working to make sure Scouting is safe, inclusive and accessible. Some lead a section week in and week out. Others visit occasionally to help run a session or drop in to share their skills. Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds and with a variety of skills. Some of our volunteers have been in scouting for many years, others for just a few months (or weeks!) They either commit to a few hours a week or just give time to help at our events. ​ These are just a few of things that you could become involved in if you became a volunteer: Running our Regular meetings Scouting is becoming more and more popular. We have waiting lists for all our sections and are currently looking for some new adult helpers to support the group as it grows. Fundraising events for our group We fundraise in many different ways, through jumble sale, fetes, family nights such as Ceilidhs and skittle evenings. Car boot sales, fashion shows, sponsored walks etc. At present we have 3 main committees. General Scout Committee Who address such matters as the new building, publicity and ensure the overall effectiveness of the group. Social Committee Who plan and co-ordinate our fundraising events. Fundraising Committee Who primarily look at grant making bodies and also make applications for grants from local and national charities. If you would like to come along and meet us, or find out more about becoming a volunteer we would love to hear from you. Contact us