Needless to say I contributed generiously.
Sometimes there's an idea about that children and young people are really rather self absorbed and generally want to apply any physical or mental effort to doing something beyond just entertaining them but in my experience this is often wide of the mark.
A good many do get involved in things from learning a new sport, skills such as first aid, conservation or fund raising.
Recently Harry aged 8 appeared on Blue Peter who starting doing things such as his 100 mile bike challenge in Beavers and never really stopped doing things.
He recently completed a cycling challenge from Land's End, Cornwall to John O' Groats, Scotland raising some 21,000 pounds for St Tiddywinkles, the national charity for Hedgehogs.
His fundraising activities meant he was awarded his Gold Blue Peter badge with Chief Scout Bear Grylls and presenter Shini.
He has plans to continue in his fundraising activities, supported by his parents.
In the past table top sales were popular where various items generally of at least good quality would be donated and you would sell them which is what we have going on here with the Cubs from the 1970's.
They of course aren't for sale!
There are on this bookstore a variety of boys and girls storybooks, annuals and even a Geometry textbook and recycled pots to keep the money including a "float" with change in between two boys who would be expected to calculate any change themselves mentally.
This was the kind of thing I also did.
By doing such things in the community, it keeps you very much in the public's eye and provides opportunities to spread the word about what you do.
That set a new Guiness authenticated record for the maximum amount of money raised by a individual camping having started this back in 2020 during "lockdown" having been gifted a tent by a man who was in that hospice with the message to have an adventure.
His achievement, in all weathers is a fine example of just what young boys and girls can do and he truly deserved the many awards bestowed upon him for it.
He's recently picked a new bed as as a thirteen year old, he'd grown physically quite a bit since he slept in the original.
We are moving ever more into the Christmas season and apart from getting a community tree by public fundraising with lights on the Green on Sunday scouts in that district will be escorting one Santa Claus on his visit around all the houses and raising funds.
Unlike last year where that couldn't happen so a JustGiving funding raiser was used instead for local fund raising this year they'll be back normal with buckets and real money.
This year has not been a great one due to that one thing we cannot control although the Scout Association (and other members of the scouting family) did much sterling work keeping scouting alive during lockdown and are are working through arrangements subject to local guidance on reopening, something many beavers, cubs and scouts are beginning to enjoy again.
There is however a worry on the horizon and it is this:
Traditionally fundraising has involved various kinds of community events, sponsored activities. car boot sales, fireworks displays and the like but thanks to Covid much of this has proved impossible meaning some 500 Scout Groups are at risk of closure due to insufficient funds to pay for activities and the like.
Now like me you may well feel this is would be a terrible shame for children and young people because you learn so much though scouting apart from the friendships that are formed so the Scouting Association are holding a fund raising campaign and event "Race Round The World" to try to avoid this.
You can either take part in an event OR make a donation for which you will need a debit or credit card.
I've donated, perhaps you may like to help out?
