ALMOST 70 boys and girls filled Bow Village Hall with sound at the annual Mid Devon Scout Group’s tea party for Cubs.

Members of Packs including Bow, Crediton, Sandford, Chulmleigh, Okehampton, Tedburn St Mary and Cheriton Bishop plus Dolton and Winkleigh were there to tuck into a lavish buffet-style tea and to watch and learn from magician TJ from Non Stop Kids Entertainment.

Each Cub Pack had provided a part of the tea, with the afternoon ending with some Cubs showing off magic tricks they had learned.

Everyone had a wonderful and very noisy time.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

But there is one problem and that is not enough people are volunteering to be trained as Leaders. Not everywhere in Mid Devon Scout District, some places have young people who want to join Scouting but cannot because there are not enough adults.

Mid Devon District Commissioner Trevor Waycott said this was one of the biggest challenges facing Mid Devon, particularly in Lapford and Okehampton areas.

“But really the problem is everywhere. We have received some funding to be able to set up what I call a ‘trade stand’ so that we can go to events to try to encourage adults,“ he said.

“We have so many kids who want to join everywhere in Mid Devon. At the moment my wife is doing three jobs - she’s Group Scout Leader at Lapford, Cub Leader and Scout Leader there too because they just cannot get people to help.

“At Bow and Lapford we have spaces for more Beavers and spaces for Scouts in Lapford but everywhere else is just about full up unless we can find more adult helpers.

“We provide training, it is not necessary to have been in Scouting before. If you can boil an egg or know how to use an iron, any basic simple skills are helpful.

“We are open to everyone. Disabilities are not an obstacle. We want the young people to learn from people with disabilities,” added Trevor.

Newest Leader in the Mid Devon Group is Chris Jackson, Assistant Scout Leader for Bow. He says being a Leader is “incredible”, great training with lots of opportunities.

He said he “just needed a kick to do it.” He had been in Scouting as a boy when living in Essex.

Now his daughters are both in Scouting, one is a Cub, one a Beaver. “You do not have to be a uniformed Leader at the beginning. You give as much time as you are able, not every week if you are not able to, week in, week out,” he said.

Ellen Harmer has been Leader with Bow for three years, joining when her son was about to move up from Beavers. He is now a Scout.

Young Leader at Bow is 14 years-old Lily Pengelly-Jones, a member of the Explorers, the most senior section of Scouts. She helps run the Cubs, when she is 18 she can become a Leader if she wishes.

She explained that she wanted to be a Cub but there were none in Bow. So, her Mum, Joanne Pengelly, started the Pack with Trevor five years ago. Joanne is a Cub Leader.

Ellen added that the Bow Scout Group was “desperate” to find a treasurer. She took the job over temporarily. That was two years ago. “We need someone who can do the day-to-day accounts. There is always help at hand if there is a problem,” she said.

Anyone who would like to know more about taking over as treasurer or helping as Leaders should, please, contact Trevor by email at: [email protected] or check Mid Devon Scouts Facebook page.