Festive Message from Stuart Robinson – District Lead Volunteer

Over the past few weeks and months, I’ve been incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and support I’ve received across South Ribble Scouts. It’s been a busy start, but a very positive one, and I’ve already had the opportunity to see first-hand just how well our Groups are doing.

From NAN form approvals and AGMs to programme delivery and events, it’s clear that Scouting in South Ribble is flourishing. The commitment shown by our volunteers to providing safe, fun and engaging experiences for young people across all sections is something to be proud of.

Since coming into post, my start has been a little stop-start — with a wedding and honeymoon in the mix — but during that time I’ve been hugely grateful to Jon Nutten and Rik Whittaker for supporting teams and keeping things moving while I was away. Thank you both for stepping in and ensuring continuity during a busy period.

One of the highlights so far has been seeing the scale of activity taking place across the district. Since October alone, our Groups have delivered over 500 nights away — an incredible achievement, particularly at this time of year, and a real testament to the effort and planning that goes into providing adventurous opportunities for young people.

As I continue to settle into the role, there is still much to learn and many people to meet. My two main priorities as we move forward are programme and development. I’m keen to ensure we offer a strong, high-quality district programme that supports all young people, alongside meaningful development opportunities for our volunteers — whether that’s Scouting skills, leadership development or permit pathways.

With that in mind, part of my early focus has been strengthening the District Team. I’m really pleased to share that we’ve successfully recruited to two key roles:

• Andy Taylor (Stig) as Programme Lead

• Katy Thompson as Volunteer Development Lead

Both bring a wealth of Scouting experience, and I’m sure you’ll join me in offering them a very warm welcome to the team.

It’s also been a pleasure to see how our Groups have marked key moments in the Scouting calendar. Halloween and Bonfire Night were celebrated safely and creatively across the district, with some fantastic activities taking place. Remembrance Day was particularly well observed, both locally and at district level. It was an honour to take part in the District Parade in Leyland, and my thanks go to Rik Whittaker for ensuring the event ran so smoothly. Seeing so many young people and volunteers representing Scouting with pride and respect was a real highlight.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to June, whose support and guidance during this period of transition has been invaluable. Her steady presence and willingness to help have made a real difference.

As we head into December and the festive period, I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned rest alongside the celebrations and activities still to come. On behalf of the District Team, thank you for everything you do — not just for the team, but for one another and, most importantly, for the young people who benefit from the opportunities you create throughout the year.

If you have any thoughts, ideas or feedback, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to meeting many more of you as we continue to build on the great work happening across South Ribble Scouts.