Believe it or not, scouting in the north of Cambridge is proving very popular at the moment. Figures recently released by the County Scout Council suggest that membership across the city has grown by over 3% in 2007, which is equivalent to a small scout group!

Though growing numbers is a good thing, there is also a potential problem. By the end of 2008, all of the local Beaver Colonies, Cub Packs and Scout Troops will be full or near full...including the 18th!

So what will happen to the 18th Cubs when they reach Scout age and all the local troops are full?

Moving On
Traditionally, Cubs have moved on to join either the 12th or 26th Cambridge Scout Troops when they leave the 18th. But as these groups also run their own Cub Packs, their Scout Troops are filling up much quicker than normal. If they wish to take more scouts, they need more leaders... and these are in short supply.

In some cases, many scouts will leave the movement when they reach scout age, not because they don't want to continue scouting, but because they don't want to leave their group. Even at 10½, some Cubs can be particularly loyal to their group. The same is true for Scouts when they reach 14.

Best of both worlds
Once upon a time, the 18th Cambridge Scout Group did have its own Scout Troop...but a lack of leaders over time led to its eventual demise. However, with the population of north Cambridge about to boom, with attractive developments like Arbury Park, Northstowe and the Guided Bus bringing people into the area, maybe it's time to have a think about how we can best accommodate growth in the area, and how we can welcome even more people into the local Scout Movement.

Over the last few years, the 18th Beavers and Cubs have been working closer together and the group is beginning to feel more like a family. With this in mind, is it now time for the 18th to consider opening its own Scout Troop?

Join the debate...

If you would be interested in developing scouting locally, or would like to put your name forward to help with the Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or potential Scout Troop, please contact:

Alan Leader (Group Scout Leader): gsl@18th-cambridge.org.uk

Your views...

Christopher Gawthrop-Bleet, Leader
"I think creating our very own Scout Troop would create many unique and wonderful opportunities for young poeple that we are not able to achieve with Beavers and Cubs. We could do more for our local community and also increase our development and training programs for new young leaders bringing in new and exciting ideas into the movement.

My younger scouting days ended with the 18th Cambridge Cubs when I had to leave to join another Scout Troop. There was only one group available to go to at the time with no one I recognised from my own group. Wanting to be back at the 18th with my friends and the leaders I grow up with, my days as a Scout ended shortly after.

I still wonder today what I might have achieved at that young age if the 18th Cambridge had its own Scout Troop for me to go to?"

Simon Gates, Leader and Executive
"Without a doubt, I believe the 18th can play a major role in providing scouting opportunities for a vastly expanding North Cambridge. The group as a whole is beginning to gel together really well and I believe our mix of exciting activities, new experiences and a relaxed 'family' atmosphere will encourage the young people to want to continue scouting beyond Cub age at the group.

If we can find the right sort of leaders to take on this challenge, who share the group's philosophy on scouting, then I believe anything is possible!"