Good afternoon,
I hope you’re well.
Here is a summary of the information in the email below:
- First Response – 10A & 10B
- Gang Show Open Rehearsal
- Safety update
- Membership online sessions
- Oxfordshire Scouts AGM
- Oxon Gathering 2025
- Motion Picture licence
- DofE volunteering results
- Process for gaining a woodbadge
- Scout adventures opportunities
- M&S learning opportunities November 2025/March 2026
- Scouts of the World award
- Summer Reading Challenge
First Response – 10A & 10B
We have a variety of First Aid courses available in the County until the end of the year.
Module 10a+b (full 6 hour course) or 10b (30 minute practical) – please note to attend a 10b course, you will need to have Module 10a part completed, which can be found here.
Details of all the courses can be found here.
If you have completed an external first aid course, or if you have completed Module 10a Part 1 & 2, please could you send the certificates to Firstaid@oxonscouting.org.uk.
Gang Show Open Rehearsal
We are now encouraging new and existing cast members to sign up for the 2026 Show and we will start with an Open Rehearsal on Sunday 6 July 2025 for members of Junior and Senior Gang.
This will take place at Botley Primary School and we are welcoming everyone with a social picnic and then a rehearsal of new material. We will start 12:30pm and finish at 4pm.
If you can’t make the Open Rehearsal, you can still join the Cast. But you do need to Pre-Register via this Form (https://forms.gle/PJVJCDP5BwCCkzqu7).
Junior Gang: members will be 8 years of age by 14 February 2026
Senior Gang: members will be Year 7 (from Sept 25) and up to 30 years of age.
All must be active members of either Scouts or Girlguiding in Oxfordshire.
We also have a Mini Gang. This is a brilliant introduction to Gang Show, and a fantastic training ground for future Junior and Senior Gang stars! Rehearsals are shorter and they perform in one section of the Show. They must be active members of either Scouts or Girlguiding in Oxfordshire.
Mini Gang: members will be 6 or 7 years of age by 14 February 2026 (they might be 5 years of age during rehearsals).
Mini Gang members will not attend the Open Rehearsal in July but will still need to register via the form (link above). We will then organise a gathering of our new Mini Gang in September and details will be sent out to parents in advance.
We often hear (too often) from parents that they were never told about Gang Show and that their child would have joined up sooner if they had been given the information.
This is an amazing opportunity for young people to find expression, build confidence and make lifelong friendships. And it can be a turning point for many, a genuine transformation. You just never know who will discover that moment and will truly shine.
So please share it and positively promote it. You don’t have to be the biggest fan of theatre skills yourself – in the same way that not everyone loves camps or outdoor adventure – but your young people get to choose and if it turns out it’s for them, you will have ensured that they are still learning Skills for Life. The development we offer them comes in different forms – Gang Show is one of them so please give it the same level support that you would for other County activities and events.
Safety Update
If you are planning an event which will involve the public or the public have access you will now need to consider the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 also known as Martyn’s Law.
Below are links to the government factsheet, also is a link to the HSE guidance for running events safely:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/running.htm
If you would like further support please contact the county safety advisor at safety@oxonscouting.org.uk or Safety Team at HQ safety@scouts.org.uk
Safety for Trustees Workshop
Following the session on safety for trustees at the county conference we can offer this at group/district level if required, please county safety advisor at safety@oxonscouting.org.uk to discuss a convenient date/time (Session should last about 1 hour).
Writing Risk Assessment Workshop
Just to remind everyone we can run a session on hints and tips for writing risk assessments, again please contact county safety advisor at safety@oxonscouting.org.uk.
Membership Online Sessions
We are putting together a number of drop-in sessions for you to gain support when using the membership system – the next one is Thursday 10 July. Please book onto the session here.
Unsure how to do something that is vital to your role? Drop in and we can help you out.
Oxfordshire Scouts AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Oxfordshire County Scout Council is to be held on Tuesday 23rd September 2025. Everyone is invited to attend. If you would like to join us the AGM is being held at Beckley Village Hall, Woodperry Road, Beckley, Oxfordshire, OX3 9UZ – 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Oxon Gathering
It’s back!
We’re excited to share information on Oxon Gathering, taking place from Friday 12th September – Sunday 14th September 2025, for anyone who volunteers in Oxfordshire
During the weekend we will have various activities, social time and informative and useful workshops. During the workshops we’ll be covering a range of topics and practical sessions to help up skill, refresh and experiment. The days will be a series of workshops, and the evening more relaxed and social based activities so you’ll be able to pick if you join us for the weekend, overnight, day or just a morning or afternoon.
Oxon Gathering will take place at the Jubilee House, Girlguiding Oxfordshire’s headquarters, Horton Rd, Oxford OX33 1AQ
Activities start from 7.30pm on Friday evening and conclude 1pm on Sunday. You are welcome to attend from 4pm on Friday. There is plenty of camping space, so why not make a weekend of it?
Book your place here: https://forms.gle/2SCN6fKfX3aQMgXTA
Motion Picture Licence
We wanted to remind you all that Oxfordshire Scouts has purchased a motion picture licence which covers all Groups to show films and TV programmes. This means if you have previously purchased a licence for the Group you no longer need to renew this as we have you covered already!
DofE volunteering results
With 139 young people currently enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme across Oxfordshire Scouts it’s amazing to find out that between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025 DofE participants in the County volunteered a total of 1,391 hours! That has a social value of £8,901!
The Top Awards Team are immensely proud of the dedication, effort and achievement of young people making an impact in their community.
If you’re interested in starting DofE in your Explorer unit or Network then please email DofE@oxonscouting.org.uk.
Process for gaining a woodbadge
One of our wonderful volunteers Rose has created a flow chart for the process in assigning and gaining a woodbadge. The process is attached to this email.
Scout Adventures Opportunities
We have a couple of exciting opportunities that may be of interest to any Explorer and Network members or young leaders in your group:
UK Trainee Program (for those aged 18+)
https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/uk-volunteer-instructor-programme
Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Residential (also 18+)
https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/gold-dofe-award-residential
M&S learning opportunities November 2025/March 2026
Hampshire Learning Team have arranged a round of M&S courses as below.
SKILLS OF MANAGEMENT – 15th & 16th November – Holiday Inn, Eastleigh
Do you have newly appointed adults in a managers or supporters role that has yet to compete the learning and may be has an ambition to gain their M&S woodbadge? Then this is the weekend for them.
The course will work through the recommended learning to support adults in these roles.
The weekend will be non-residential, but attendance both days is mandatory.
MEETING THE CHALLENGES – 14th March 2026 & ACHIEVING GROWTH – 15th March 2026 – venue to be confirmed
This is the follow up weekend to complete the managers and supporters wood badge.
This weekend will be non-residential. Attendance can be for just one day or both this time.
We have taken the decision to make the Skills of Management course two days rather than residential but attendance at both days will be compulsory, Although we are at the Holiday Inn, five minutes down the road there is a Premier Inn which may prove cheaper for overnight accommodation. It will be down to County/Districts/Groups to decide if they are covering costs, but Hampshire will be invoicing the daily rate for attendance to cover the venue for delegate out of County (as has always been the case). Previously this has been £46 per day per person. I just need confirmation from Region that this will remain the same.
Currently, local uptake has been low, which is why I am highlighting this to you all. Because of the contract with the hotel, we need to decide if the course will go ahead before the end of July, so I would ask that if you know of possible attendees, you encourage them to sign up before 14th July via our County website.
Scouts of the World award
Are you aged 18-25, want to build skills and make a positive impact on the community? Perhaps completing your Scouts of the World Award is for you! The first step is completing a Discovery which teaches you more about the award and the global context of it before you complete a community project of your choice!
Our neighbours in Hampshire are offering a Discovery in Tadley on 14-16th November 2025 and it’s open to all. Sign up here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-9mZu8v7SZDZMAxVfD_RjVraRMWEr-4k7DdSJd0Xm7argxw/viewform
Summer Reading Challenge
Explore nature and discover the outdoors with a FREE children’s reading challenge at your local Oxfordshire library!
From 5 July to 6 September, children across Oxfordshire can collect stickers as they enjoy reading library books. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to carry on reading over the holidays and have fun at the same time.
The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden, celebrates adventure, fantasy and the great outdoors. We’ll be inspiring children to tap into a world of imagination through reading and exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
Children will be encouraged to read at least six library books, eBooks or audiobooks of their choice over the summer holidays. As they read they collect stickers – and if they complete the challenge, they will be rewarded with a Story Garden medal and certificate, and entry into a prize draw.
Under 4s can take part in a mini challenge with their own special collector’s folder and stickers.
Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge at Oxfordshire Libraries at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge. There’s also the Summer Reading Challenge website (summerreadingchallenge.org.uk) where children can find book recommendations, games and competitions.
Have a great month!
