Good afternoon,

I hope you’re well.

Here is a summary of the information in the email below:

  • Mandatory Safety & Safeguarding training
  • M&S learning opportunities November 2025/March 2026
  • Youlbury Welcome Back Weekend
  • Campsite/Hall hire
  • Bridging the Gap: Understanding Neurodiversity in Your Group
  • Census 2026
  • 16 to 25 engagement day
  • We’re on LinkedIn!
  • Recognition
  • RaidOx
  • District Lead Volunteer Search
  • Young Leaders

Mandatory Safety & Safeguarding Training

The Scouts are reintroducing their zero tolerance on expired or overdue (30 days after start date) mandatory training.

Any training left to lapse will result in suspension from your Scouting roles.

M&S learning opportunities November 2025/March 2026

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.

Manager & Supporter

Youlbury Welcome Back Weekend

Join Us at Scout Adventures Youlbury – 18–19 October

We’re excited to invite you to a ‘Welcome Back’ weekend at Youlbury!

This is a great chance for local leaders to reconnect, hear the latest updates about Scout Adventures, and learn more about our future plans for Youlbury. It’s also the perfect opportunity to start rebuilding our service crews and strengthen our local community.

Main event: Saturday 18 October
Optional overnight camp: Stay through until Sunday lunchtime for more activities and site projects

Find out more and register your interest- https://forms.office.com/e/vDA2zUVbNe

Campsite/hall hire

Does your Group/District have halls and/or camping spaces available for hire by other Groups? If so, please get in touch and let us know details so we can collate a County directory of these spaces.  

Bridging the Gap: Understanding Neurodiversity in Your Group

Our tailored online workshop, Bridging the Gap, offers a straightforward and practical introduction to the basics of neurodiversity. This term covers conditions like Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, and understanding it is key to leveraging the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodivergent people bring.

What the Workshop Covers

  • Core Concepts: What is neurodiversity and why does it matter?
  • Common Conditions: A clear overview of various neurotypes.
  • Practical Tips: Simple strategies for effective communication and creating a welcoming space.
  • Strengths-Based Approach: Focusing on the talents and benefits of neurodivergence.

Crucially, we tailor the content to directly address the specific needs, challenges, and goals of your group. 

Make inclusion a priority. To discuss your group’s needs and book a session, please contact Anne at inclusion@oxonscouting.org.uk

Census 2026

Our 2026 Census takes place from December 2025 to February 2026. The annual process helps us create a detailed record of our youth and adult membership.

For 2026, we’ll take adult data directly from My Membership, removing the need for you to collect and input this data. There’ll be no changes to youth and governance data, which still needs to be collected and inputted on the Census system. 

To help you prepare, here are some actions you can take now:

In the coming months, we’ll continue to share more details on any changes, as well as our updated online guidance.

16 to 25 engagement day

Are you in network or an adult leader under 25? Or an explorer over 16?

The County Youth Team are hosting a 16 to 25 engagement day for Oxfordshire on the 25th October from 10am till 4pm at Kidlington Scout Hut. We’ll have talks and seminars running throughout the day around CVs, Safety in Scouting, Top Awards, Leadership and much more!

So, what are you waiting for? To sign-up please you the following form and we look forward to seeing you there!

Sign-up: https://forms.office.com/e/Tm9pDHaU7e

For any questions on the event email the county youth team on cyc@oxonscouting.org.uk. (Leaders, Network Leads and 14 to 24 Leads please share with your people!)

We’re on LinkedIn!

Did you know Oxfordshire Scouts has a LinkedIn page? We’re starting to use it more regularly and would love your support.

Follow our page https://uk.linkedin.com/company/oxfordshire-scouts to keep up with the latest news, celebrate achievements, and see the fantastic work our volunteers are doing across Oxfordshire. You can also repost our updates to share the story with your connections.

Even better, we want to hear from you! Send us news, stories, or highlights from your group so we can showcase them on our LinkedIn page. Together, we can show the incredible impact of our volunteers and inspire more people to get involved.

Recognition

We have just received another 17 Good Service Awards and 45 Length of Service Awards as well as another 6 Wood Badges.  All awards and certificates have been sent to each District. 

Please remember that anyone can make an award for Good Service on the Membership System.  On your own profile look for Awards and then Nominate someone.  If you need any help in writing the citation, contact your District representative. 

RaidOx

The wildest, wackiest, and most imaginative competition you will ever face! RaidOx offers a weekend of challenges for Explorer and Network units to tackle. Can you make a hiking boot from cake, track down obscure objects, or take part in the largest flash mob Oxford has ever seen? Who will showcase their creativity and skill, and take home the prize?

RaidOx is a weekend event for Explorer and Network members and is held in November. Teams are responsible for arranging their own food, transport, and accommodation. The event finishes at a venue close to the centre of the County.

More information to come soon!

District Lead Volunteer Search

We’re looking for District Lead Volunteers in West Oxfordshire and Oxford Spires (mostly covering the City of Oxford).   Support is also required in King Alfred and Thames Chiltern Districts.      

The role (previously called District Commissioner) leads and manages the delivery of Scouting within the District, reporting to the County Lead Volunteer. The DLVs ensure that the District provides good quality Scouting for young people and proactively supports and manages adults within the District. You will manage and support the Scout District to ensure it runs effectively, and that Scouting within the District develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association.  

To achieve this you’ll be supported by the District Team.  The County Team will support the development of this team, and you’ll work closely with the County team to deliver Scouting. With the post-Transformation delivery of Scouting, the DLV role can be delivered by a team rather than just a single District Lead.  

Please let us know if you are interested in one of the roles, including just having an informal chat about opportunities.  

David.mould@oxonscouting.org.uk

Young Leaders.

A huge thank you to Richard Owen over the past few years for looking after the Young Leader programme. 

Whilst we find someone to take over the role, please continue to share any Young Leaders with the relevant District Young Leader OSM section. 

Currently we are signposting Young Leaders to complete any modules needed via the Hampshire Scouts online learning which can be found at https://youngleaders.hampshirescouts.org.uk/2021/05/18/you-can-now-complete-your-young-leader-training-via-e-learning/ and record the relevant completion of modules within OSM once a certificate of completion has been seen. 

Young Leaders are able to complete Module K by attending an Oxfordshire Adult First Aid Course via the standard Bookwhen site. 

Please continue to encourage Young Leaders to complete their missions during their time with the section. 

For any support or questions please email yl@oxonscouting.org.uk

Have a great month!