Plans being laid for 2021

ALTHOUGH lockdown is still in force groups across Falkirk are making plans for 2021.

Scout Adventures has centres across the UK, offering a wide range of activities and opportunities to earn badges and gain permits.

Across Scotland there are centres at Meggernie in Perthshire, Lochgoilhead in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and Fordell Firs in Fife. Each year tens of thousands of young people take the opportunity to learn new skills and enjoy adventures.

Many groups from Falkirk also travel down to Hawkhirst in Northumberland. It is set in 70 acres of coniferous forest in the Kielder Forest, on the shores of Kielder Water.

This year’s visits were cancelled and although there was hope bookings could be reinstated as the schools started returning, the majority have moved to 2021.

One Scout leader who had planned to take his troop to Hawkhirst, said: “We make the trip quite regularly because it gives the Scouts the chance to spend a lot of time on the water as well as have a go at a massive range of activities on land.

“We’ve done everything from sailing, archery, abseiling, Jacob’s Ladder and tomahawk throwing and hopefully that will continue next year.”

IF you have ever wondered why a neckerchief or neckie is part of the Scouting uniform, then you need to travel back more than 100 years to Lord Baden Powell’s decision to create a youth organisation.

It is mainly a ceremonial item but also has a practical purpose. When it is unrolled it is the perfect size to be used as a triangular bandage for first aid, either to stem bleeding or to support broken bones.

Originally it was fastened in a number of ways but eventually it was decided a woggle was a better way to hold it in place.

It was later decided each Scout group would have its own design and colour to create its own identity.

Across Falkirk District we have 21 neckies representing Scout groups, Explorer units, network and District Scout Active Support.