Assistant Beaver Scout Leader, Simon Gates, has announced he will undertake a huge Personal Challenge in 2008, with the aim of promoting Scouting locally. The tour, known as 'OnTour,' will see Yo-Yo travel the county to learn more about scouting and its activities in the 9 districts surrounding Cambridge.

OnTour follows a period of relative quiet compared to Simon's previous activities. In 2004, he set off on a challenge to study the socio-economic differences of scouting around the country...and learned a lot about scouting along the way. However, a lot has changed in 4 years and Simon ultimately wants to achieve something broader but closer to home.

"In Cambridgeshire we're very good at writing about the big events, but actually have very little to say about what goes on during those weekly meetings that make scouting what it truly is. This tour has been set up to change just that"

"I want to give the leaders and scouts a voice and will publish their views as part of what I find and learn along the way. It's not going to be easy, but it's a challenge and I like a challenge!

OnTour will feature special reports from groups around the county, but will also include weekly updates from TriBe that will give parents an insight into the activities of the 12th, 18th and 26th Cambridge Beavers.

But the tour won't only be confined to Cambridgeshire. Yo-Yo is also lining up a visit to his former Scout Troop in London, the 5th Islington, whom he served as a Scout Leader for 6 months in 2005/06 before changes to his working circumstances forced an early end to the arrangement. Simon will also return home to Worthing, West Sussex, for a three day tour in the summer.

Reports from the tour will be available as blogs on the Cambridgeshire Scout website, but will also feature here at 18th Central. As a result of the tour, Simon has launches 'Project Yo-Yo' to encourage more young people to write about their Scouting experiences and to take an active interest in I.T.