Avon Scout County (The Scout Association)
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Avon Scout County is a part of The Scout Association, and is concurrent with the former political county of Avon. It provides Scouting to young people in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
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[edit] Organisation
The county is divided into nine Scout Districts. The divisions within the County are reviewed periodically, with the aim of improving the organisation and provision of Scouting in the region. This has sometimes involved the creation or dissolution of Scout Districts.
The Districts themselves divide into a number of Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units, providing Scouting for young people from the age of 6 and up. The County also manages the Scout Network, which is the programme section for 18-25 year olds in Berkshire. The County Scout Network consists of a number of Local Scout Networks.
[edit] Axe District
This District provides Scouting to the area around the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. There is an active Explorer Scout Unit in the District.[1]
Scout Groups
- 1st Banwell
- 1st Blagdon
- 1st Burrington and Wrington
- 1st Congresbury
- 1st Kewstoke
- 1st Locking
- 1st North Worle
- 1st Sandford
- 1st Uphill
- 1st Ashcombe (Weston-super-Mare)
- 3rd Weston-super-Mare
- 1st Milton (Weston-super-Mare)
- 1st Winscombe
- 2nd Worle (Mead Vale)
[edit] Bristol South District
Bristol South is an amalgamation of two former Districts, and was created in 2005. There are 21 Scout Groups, and 4 Explorer Scout Units, with a total of 1,100 Scouters of all ages in the District.[2]
The District also runs a small activity centre at, East Winds, in Brislington.
Scout Groups
- Blenheim
- 5th Bristol
- 11th Bristol (Headley Park)
- 15th Bristol (St Martin's, Knowle)
- 16th Bristol
- 21st Bristol (Gladstone)
- 38th Bristol (LDS)
- 60th Bristol (Bishopsworth)
- 81st Bristol
- 82nd Bristol (St Bernadette)
- 107th Bristol (Whitchurch)
- 127th Bristol (St Annes)
- 133rd Bristol (Newfoundland)
- 145th Bristol (St Christopher)
- 146th Bristol (St Cuthberts)
- 148th Bristol (1st Stockwood)
- 164th Bristol (Holy Nativity)
- 173rd Bristol
- 175th Bristol
- 208th Bristol
- 229th Bristol (St. Aldhelm's)
- 252nd Bristol
- 255th Bristol
- 256th Bristol
- 269th Bristol
- 275th Bristol
- 286th Bristol
Explorer Scout Units
- Aquila ESU
- Newfoundland ESU
- Pyxis ESU
- Supernova ESU
[edit] Brunel District
The Brunel Scout District is a relatively new one, being created in 2005 and covering parts of north and central Bristol.[3]
Scout Groups
- 1st Bradley Stoke
- 1st Bristol Muslim Scout Group
- 1st Filton (St Peters)
- 1st Little Stoke
- 1st Stoke Gifford
- 2nd Patchway
- 13th Bristol
- 17th Bristol
- 32nd Bristol (1st Whitehall)
- 55th Bristol (St Mary's)
- 58th Bristol (1st Eastville)
- 63rd Bristol - St Andrew's
- 66th Bristol (St John's)
- 69th Bristol (St Joseph's)
- 91st Bristol
- 128th Bristol (St Gabriel's)
- 151st Bristol
- 159th Bristol (St Aidans)
- 197th Bristol (1st Stapleton)
- 209th Bristol
Explorer Scout Units
- Solar ESU
- Fromeside ESU
- Northwinds ESU
- Brunel Young Leader ESU
[edit] Cabot District
Cabot Scout District covers the western area of Bristol. As well as a number of Scout Groups, the District runs an Explorer Scout Unit.[4]
Scout Groups
- Royal Bristol Hospital for Children
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- A special Scout Group which allows patients at the hospital to take part in Scouting and has been running since October 2001. Activities are catered to specific limitations of the patients, and are open to any child staying in the hospital and their siblings.[5]
- 4th Bristol (1st Southmead)
- 7th Bristol
- 18th Bristol
- 26th Bristol (North Cote)
- 43rd Bristol
- 44th Bristol (White Tree)
- 56th Bristol
- 62nd Bristol (Horfield)
- 77th Bristol (Redland Park)
- 90th Bristol
- 126th Bristol (Sea Mills)
- 167th Bristol
- 169th Bristol (Brentry)
- 191st Bristol
- 227th Bristol (St Peter's)
[edit] City of Bath District
This District covers the area around the city of Bath in Somerset.[6]
Scout Groups
- 3rd Bath (Monkton Prep School)
- 10th Bath (Combe Down)
- 13th Bath (Oldfield Park Baptist)
- 21st Bath (Victoria Hall)
- 23rd Bath (Avonvale)
- 28th Bath (Bathampton)
- 31st Bath (St Barnabas)
- 51st Bath (Ascension Church)
- 66th/18th Bath (Weston Village)
- 69th Bath (Lower Weston)
Explorer Scout Units
[edit] Cotswold Edge District
This District covers the southern reaches of the Cotswolds, an area immediately to the north of Bristol. The District also runs a Scout Campsite, Mafeking Hall, near Coalpit Heath in South Gloucestershire.[7]
Scout Groups
- 1st Abbotswood
- 1st Almondsbury
- 2nd Alveston
- 1st Chipping Sodbury
- 1st Falfield (St George's)
- 1st Frampton Cotterell
- 2nd Frampton Cotterell
- 1st Marshfield
- 1st Olveston
- 1st Pucklechurch
- 1st Raysfield
- 1st Severn Beach
- 1st Thornbury
- 2nd Thornbury Christ The King
- 3rd Thornbury (Methodist)
- 1st Winterbourne (St Michael)
- 1st Winterbourne Down
- 1st Woodend
- 1st Yate
Explorer Scout Units
- Endeavour ESU
- Mvumbuzi ESU
- Nike ESU
- Prometheus ESU
- Sharman ESU
- Tohil ESU
- Zeus ESU
[edit] Gordano District
Gordano Scout District covers the Gordano Valley in North Somerset, immediately to the south of Bristol.
The District also runs a Scout Campsite, Glenny Wood, which is now open again following maintenance work.[8]
Scout Groups
- 1st Backwell
- Cleeve Claverham & Yatton
- 1st Clevedon
- 2nd Clevedon
- 1st Crockerne
- Long Ashton (All Saints)
- 1st Nailsea
- 2nd Nailsea (Holy Trinity)
- 1st Portishead
- 2nd Portishead
Explorer Scout Untts
[edit] Kingswood District
Kingswood Scout District is to the north east of Bristol, and covers some parts of South Gloucestershire.[9]
Scout Groups
- 1st Frenchay
- 19th Kingswood (1st Warmley)
- 24th Kingswood
- 28th Kingswood (1st Downend)
- 29th Kingswood (2nd Hanham)
- 34th Kingswood
- 37th Kingswood
- 42nd Kingswood
- 46th Kingswood
- 54th Kingswood
- 67th Kingswood
- 74th Kingswood
- 78th Kingswood
- 85th Kingswood
- 194th Kingswood
- 1st Wick
Explorer Scout Units
- 229West ESU
- Downend ESU (DES)
- Tyndel ESU
- Young Leaders Unit
Local Scout Network
[edit] Wansdyke District
This District covers the area in the south east of the County, but does not include the city of Bath. The District also has the Chelwood Scout Campsite, which is owned and managed by the 1st Keynsham Scout Group.[10]
Scout Groups
- 1st Chew Valley
- 2nd Clutton
- High Littleton
- 1st Keynsham
- 1st Midsomer Norton
- 2nd Paulton
- 1st Peasedown St John
- Publow with Pensford
- 1st Radstock
- 1st Saltford
Explorer Scout Units
- Argus ESU - based in Saltford
- KESU - based in Keynsham
- Mercury ESU - based in Peasedown St John
- Saxons ESU- based in Midsomer Norton
Local Scout Network
- Bath and Wansdyke Scout Network (BWSN) - based in Keynsham
[edit] Campsites
There are 7 Campsites or Activity centres within the Avon area:
[edit] BP Boathouse
The BP Boathouse, situated in Harbourside in Bristol, is named after a warehouse keeper, Benjamin Perry. It is used as a Water Activity and Training Centre, and is jointly owned and managed by Avon Scout County and Girlguiding Avon and South Gloucestershire.[11]
[edit] Chelwood
Chelwood is a camping field owned and managed by the 1st Keynsham Scout Group, in the Wansdyke Scout District.[12]
[edit] Cleeve Hill
The City of Bath Scout District maintains a campsite and hut just to the west of the city.[13]
[edit] East Winds
Bristol South Scout District maintains a campsite and hut in Brislington, near to the centre of Bristol.[14]
[edit] Glenny Wood
Glenny Wood consists of a seasonal camping field and lodge in Portishead, North Somerset. The site is maintained by Gordano Scout District.[15]
[edit] Mafeking Hall
Mafeking Hall is located near Coalpit Heath, in the Cotswolds of South Gloucestershire. As well as the hall, there are a number of camping fields available to Scouts and Guides.[16]
[edit] Woodhouse Park
Woodhouse Park is an Activity and Camping Centre managed by Avon Scout County, sited in South Gloucestershire, and overlooks the Severn crossings.[17]
The site has five large camping fields, and two buildings which can be used for accommodation or training purposes. Woodhouse Park offers a large range of activities, either on site or nearby. Site hosted activities include Abseiling, Pioneering, Tracking, Climbing, Archery, and Air Rifles. Off-site activities include Sailing, Kayaking, and Caving.
[edit] County Administration
The Scout County of Avon administers and supports Scouting in the Counties of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and in South Gloucestershire.
The administration offices covering the 'Avon' area are at the Scouts' Camping and Activity Centre at Woodhouse Park.
[edit] Events and Activities
[edit] Gang Shows
[edit] Bath and District Scout and Guide Gang Show
This Gang Show was started in 1997, and generally has a cast of about 60 Scouts and Guides from the city of Bath.
[edit] Bristol Gang Show
The Bristol Gang Show is an annual production held at The Bristol Hippodrome, in Bristol. As the production is a Gang Show the cast is made up entirely by members of the Scouting and Guiding movement; many of the supporting members are also involved in Scouting and Guiding. The show currently takes place in October/November time, usually to coincide with the English school holiday held at this time. The show itself is a variety show, with singing, dancing and comedy. The show has a live orchestra, contains many different styles of songs such as 'pop' songs past and present and songs from musicals.[18]
In the 1930s there were two Boy Scout Revues, but it was not until 1971 that the Bristol Gang Show as it is now known was held. The 1971 show was performed not at the Bristol Hippodrome, but at the Victoria Rooms, the cast consisted of 85 Cubs and 59 adults. The show was a huge success and over 6000 people attended, the need for a larger venue was obvious. So, the 1972 show was held at the Bristol Hippodrome. In 1974 the Bristol Gang Show became Avon County Gang Show as the county of Bristol had become part of the Avon.
In 1975 the standard of the show was officially recognised when it was awarded the Gang Show Emblem to wear on the red Gang Show neckerchiefs, this is an important award for a Gang Show to receive. Ralph Reader, who founded the Gang Show idea, came to see the show in 1978 and gave it much praise. In 1997 the show celebrated its Silver Jubilee, and regained its title of Bristol Gang Show. In 1999 girls were introduced into the junior cast, and now account for about half of the total junior cast. The show now has a cast of about 120, and is one of the most professional Gang Shows in the UK.
The 2007 show took place between 30 October and the 3 November, once again in the Bristol Hippodrome. 2007 celebrates 100 years of Scouting, and marks 25 years since the death of Ralph Reader who conceived the idea of a Gang Show.
The Bristol Gang Show started in its current form in 1971, but there were a number of Boy Scout Revues in earlier years. The show comprises around 120 cast members, from both the local Scouting and Guiding organisations, with a live orchestra playing music from many genres, including modern pop and more traditional and classical pieces.
The Gang Show was first performed in the Victoria Rooms, but moved to the Bristol Hippodrome the year after when it was realised how popular the show was with the general public. The show has remained there since.
In 1975, the Gang Show received the prestigious Gang Show Emblem, allowing participants to wear it on their neckerchiefs.
The show continues to be held annually, in late October or early November to coincide with a school holiday.
[edit] Marching Bands
There are a number of marching bands from around the County:[19]
- Brislington Scouts & Guides
- 5th Bristol Scouts
- 15th Bristol Scouts & Guides
- Bristol North West Scouts & Guides / Polar Stars
- Nailsea Scouts & Guides
- Ravens Scouts & Guides
- 148th Stockwood Scouts
- 37th Kingswood Drum & Bugle Corps and Cadet bands, both of which are currently the national champions for the British Youth Bands Assosciation
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Axe District
- ^ Bristol South District
- ^ Brunel District
- ^ Cabot District
- ^ Scouting at Bristol Royal Hospital (html). Scouting. The Scout Association (Aug/Sep 2005). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ City of Bath District
- ^ Cotswold Edge District
- ^ Gordano District
- ^ Kingswood District
- ^ Wansdyke District
- ^ BP Boathouse
- ^ Chelwood
- ^ Cleeve Hill
- ^ East Winds
- ^ Glenny Wood
- ^ Mafeking Hall
- ^ Woodhouse Park
- ^ Bristol Gang Show
- ^ Band Links A-F (html). British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations (2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
[edit] External links
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Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding around the world
