Stephen Morris, Chairman of 1st Shepperton (St Nicholas) Scout Group sounds a warning bell about the future of scouting in Shepperton ‘Can you imagine a world without Scouting?’ The question is posed on the Scout Association website, and unless something changes dramatically, that unimaginable world may be facing Shepperton within 18 months.
Scouting began with a camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in 1907. By June 1910, the first meeting of the 1st Shepperton Scout Troop had taken place, with 25 Scouts registered. Over the next 105 years countless Shepperton lads (and more recently lasses) have benefitted from the training for life that Scouting gives them. They learn about leadership, working together, putting others first — and have a great time into the bargain.
In 2015 Scouting may be almost unrecognisable from that envisaged by Lord Baden Powell: like all successful organisations Scouting has evolved with the times. It’s no timewarp with outdated activities. But it still instils excellent values in young people and gives them life-long benefits in terms of character and integrity.
Shepperton people are duly proud of its scouting heritage, none more so than David Fern, who has held the post of Group Scout Leader for an impressive 27 years. Yet his fear, and that of many of us involved in scouting in Shepperton, is that he may well end up overseeing the demise of the Group and having the dubious distinction, after decades of dedicated hard work, of being its last Group Scout Leader.
The challenge the group faces is a shortage of people prepared to become leaders. The uniformed leadership team has dwindled to just six, who between them have three scout sections to run (Beavers for 6-8 year olds, Cubs for 8-10 years olds and Scouts for 10-14 year olds).
They will probably not forgive me for pointing this out, but their average age is around 55. Not one of them now has a child in any of the scouting sections. And two key leaders have given notice that they want to retire in 2016, with a combined service of more than 40 years behind them.
If nobody comes forward to replace them, the message is a very stark one. Shepperton will not have a scout group. The opportunity that thousands of young Sheppertonians have enjoyed will not be open to future generations. That would be nothing short of a tragedy.
If you think you may be able to do something, anything, to avert this tragedy 1st Shepperton (St Nicholas) Scouts would love to hear from you. Being part of the Scout leadership team is to be an essential part of this community of Shepperton we all value, is to enjoy friendship and fellowship with likeminded people and is hugely satisfying as you put something unique into tomorrow’s Shepperton citizens.
Contact us on stnicksscouts@btinternet.com or call David Fern on 01932 244767.