Scouting in Wales

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Map Wales Location UK.jpg

Scouting in Wales is largely represented by the Welsh Scouting Sgowtiaid Cymru branch of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom, although some groups of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association also operate there.

The Scout Association in Wales is administered through 12 Scout Areas. It has 12,000 young people, and over 3000 adult volunteers.[1] The Welsh Scout Council is the governing body.[2] There is Chief Commissioner for Wales and Commissioners for the various sections - Commissioner for Beaver Scouts (Wales), Commissioner for Cub Scouts (Wales), Commissioner for Explorer Scouts (Wales) and Commissioner for the Scout Network (Wales). The Field Service in Wales comprises two paid Field Commissioners, along with four Local Development Officers funded by various short-term grants. A small team of staff manages the administrative office in Llantwit Major.

Aberystwyth Student Scout and Guide Organisation, Bangor University Guides and Scouts, Cardiff University Scouts and Guide Society, Glamorgan University Guides and Scouts, and Students of Swansea in Guides and Scouts, all affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO), are situated in Wales.[3][4][5][6]

History

The 1st Colwyn Y.M.C.A. Baden Powell Boy Scouts appears to be the oldest Scout Troop in Wales, foundered in late April or early May 1908.[7]

In 1911, Edward, Prince of Wales accepted the appointment as Chief Scout of the Principality of Wales and held this position until he became official patron of the Scout Movement across the British Empire on becoming King Edward VIII in 1936.[8]

In the Centenary year of 2007, The Scouting Association in Wales received 5 wards totally more than 16,000 pounds in lottery cash, awarded under the Awards for All Wales programme.[9] In March 2008, it launched a pilot scheme in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan similar to the Health Challenge Wales Guiding Scheme introduced earlier by Welsh Guides throughout the country.[10]

In 2007 Welsh Scouts were involved with the Scouts for Trees Project.[11] [12]

In 2008, Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice opened its own Scout group. This was the first hospice in Wales to do so.[13]

Welsh Scout Council of The Scout Association

Sgowtiaid Cymru
Sgowtiaid Cymru
Owner The Scout Association
Country Wales
Website
http://www.scoutswales.org.uk/

Scouting portal

Brecknock Scout Area

The Area contains four Scout Districts, Brecon, Builth Wells, Glanusk and Ystradgynlais.

Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Area (CATVOG)

The Area contains five Scout Districts, Afon, Barry, East and South, Penarth and Vale[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] There is an Area Scout Network Unit.[20]

1st Cathays Al Huda

The 1st Cathays Al Huda Scout Group in Cardiff became the first Muslim Scout Group in Wales in 2006 and the tenth in the United Kingdom.[21] Youth numbers are increasing, but a shortage of leaders is reported. [22] Founded in March 2006 by Salah Aboulgasem,[23] the troop was active a year prior to its official establishment.[24] In 2006, 1st Cathays Al Huda had 90 members, composed of a Beaver Scouts section, separate Cub Scouts sections for boys and girls, and separate Scouts sections for boys and girls.[25] According to Aboulgasem, the troop was launched to aid Muslims in taking leadership positions in society.[23] Aboulgasem said that "[t]here's a lack of integration with Muslims" and that a number of Muslims were falling behind in education.[26] Non-Muslims are also permitted to join the troop,[21] and several are members.[27] The language spoken during the meetings is English.[24]

Carmarthenshire Scout Area

Carmarthenshire Scout Area (Sgowtiaid Sir Gar) covers the administrative county of Carmarthenshire, with one exception (i.e. Newcastle Emlyn Scout Group is registered with Ceredigion Area). Since 2005 there have been no Districts in Carmarthenshire and the Area now operates as a single structure.[28]

Ceredigion Scout Area

The Area contains two Scout Districts, North Ceredigion and Teifi.[29] [30] [31]

Clwyd Scout Area

The Area, covering the principal areas of Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, has sixty Scout Groups organised in four Scout Districts, with two having District Explorer Scout Units. The Districts are Flintshire, Llangollen District, Vale of Clwyd (Denbighshire) and Wrexham.[32]

There is a Scout Shop situated at the Wrexham District Scout Headquarters.[32] The County Camp Site, Gladstone Training Centre and John Clarke House, is located between Hawarden and Broughton.

Glamorgan West Scout Area

The Area covers the Unitary Authority boundaries of the City and County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.[33] There were four Scout Districts: Afan Nedd, Cwm Newydd, Swansea and Swansea Gower,[34] but these were amalgamated into one district: Glamorgan West, at the end of 2007.[citation needed]

Gwent Scout Area

The Area has four Scout Districts, coterminous with unitary authorities of the same name: Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen.[35] [36] [37] The 25th Newport Air Scouts are the only Royal Air Force recognized Scout Troop in Wales.[38]

Mid Glamorgan Scout Area

As of 2008, the Area has four Scout Districts, aligned with the bounaries of unitary authorities: Bridgend, CRAI (Caerphilly, Rhymney Valley and Islwyn), Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff. [39] [40].

Montgomeryshire Scout Area

This Area covers the County of Montgomeryshire. There is a single District, also called Montgomeryshire.[41]

Pembrokeshire Scout Area

This Area covers the County of Pembrokeshire.

Radnor Scout Area

This Area covers the County of Radnorshire.

Snowdonia and Anglesey Scout Area

This Area, covering the regions of Snowdonia and the Isle of Anglesey, has three Scout Districts: Conwy, Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey, with 31 Groups.[7] All of these Districts have Explorer Scout Units, and the Area currently hosts a Scout Network.

Scout Association Camp Sites

The Welsh Scout Council maintains two Welsh headquarters sites in Snowdonia: Yr Hafod - the specialist Mountain training centre situated in the glacial Ogwen Valley and Cornel, a large camping and indoor accommodation site situated on the banks of Llyn Crafnant, high above the Conwy valley. Both of these facilities are available to all youth organisations.[42] [43]

Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Area is responsible for Jubilee Fields [44], and has joint responsibility with Mid Glamorgan for Miskin Mill.[45]

Carmarthenshire Scout Area is responsible for the Cwm Rhaiadr Scout Camp.[46]

Clwyd Scout Area has four campsites: Cae Llwyd, Coxwood, Gladstone, and Rowallan.[47][48][49][50]

Glamorgan West Scout Area is responsible for Silver Cross Scout Centre. [51] The Swansea Gower District is responsible for Parc-le-Breos Scout Campsite on the Gower Peninsula.[52] Craig Gwladys Camp Site at Cadoxton, Neath is the Neath District Camp Site.[53]

Gwent Area is responsible for Botany Bay Training and Activity Centre.[54]

Mid Glamorgan Scout Area is jointly responsible with Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Area for Miskin Mill Scout Village, which has been in continuous use by Scouts since 1929.[45] [55] Dolygaer Scout Activity Centre is in the Mid Glamorgan Scout Area.[56]. The recently-merged district covering the Caerphilly unitary authority area is responsible for Islwyn Scout Parc.[57]

Gwersyll Y Bryniau Scout Camp, Machynlleth is in the Montgomeryshire Scout Area.[58]

St Brides Scout Camp, Haverfordwest is in the Pembrokeshire Scout Area.[59]

Snowdonia and Anglesey Scout Area's Conwy District is responsible for the Rowen (Gwersyll Parc Mawr) site [60] Its history has been described on BBC Wales.[61]

There are some activity centres in Wales, run by English Scout Counties:

Gang Shows

There are two Gang Shows in Wales:- Cardiff and Newport.[67] [68]

See also


References

  1. Sgowtiaid Cymru; Scouts Wales
  2. Welsh Scout Council structure
  3. SSAGO list of clubs in Wales
  4. Aberystwyth University Scouts and Guide Society
  5. Bangor University Scout and Guide Club
  6. Cardiff University Scouts and Guide Society
  7. 7.0 7.1 Conwy County District
  8. The Prince of Wales and the 1937 Coronation
  9. Awards for All Wales programme press release
  10. Health Challenge Wales
  11. Welsh Scouts for Trees Project
  12. Scouts for Trees Project
  13. First Welsh Scout Group in hospice
  14. Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Area Website
  15. Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Area Districts
  16. Afon District
  17. Barry District
  18. East and South District
  19. Penarth District
  20. Catvog Scout Network
  21. 21.0 21.1 "First Muslim scout group in Wales". BBC. 2006-03-27. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5gdUkWb5I. Retrieved May 9, 2009. 
  22. World Volunteer Web
  23. 23.0 23.1 McCarthy, James (2008-09-27). "Scout leader kicked out for harassment". South Wales Echo. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5gdUmU0zd. Retrieved May 9, 2009. 
  24. 24.0 24.1 "Uniformed youth groups: Welsh, Muslim and Scouts". Children & Young People Now. 2006-05-10. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5gdUoq0ED. Retrieved May 9, 2009. 
  25. Official 1st Cathays Al Huda website
  26. Sanderson, Terry (2006-04-05). "British Scouts start down the road of religious apartheid". National Secular Society. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5gdUrAOnK. Retrieved May 9, 2009. 
  27. Mourant, Andrew (2006-07-21). "Muslim cubs just want to have fun". Times Educational Supplement. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5gdUtUhuS. Retrieved May 9, 2009. 
  28. Carmarthenshire Scout Area
  29. Ceredigion Scout Area Website
  30. North Ceredigion District
  31. Teifi District
  32. 32.0 32.1 Clwyd Scout Area Website
  33. Glamorgan West Area Website
  34. Afan Nedd District
  35. Gwent Scout Area Website
  36. Monmouthshire District
  37. Newport District
  38. 25th Newport Air Scout Troop
  39. Mid Glamorgan Scout Area
  40. Bridgend District
  41. Montgomeryshire Scout Area Website
  42. Hafod
  43. Cornel
  44. Jubilee Fields Camp
  45. 45.0 45.1 Miskin Mill Scout Village
  46. Cwm Rhaiadr Scout Camp
  47. Cae Llwyd Camp Site
  48. Coxwood Camp Site
  49. Gladstone Camp Site
  50. Rowallan Camp Site
  51. Silver Cross Scout Centre
  52. Parc-le-Breos Scout Campsite
  53. National, County and District Camp Site Directory 2003
  54. Botany Bay Training and Activity Centre
  55. Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Campsites
  56. Dolygaer Scout Activity Centre
  57. Islwyn Scout Parc
  58. GLSW Guide to Campsites - Gwersyll Y Bryniau Scout Camp
  59. GLSW Guide to Campsites - St Brides Scout Camp
  60. Conwy District Scout Camp Site
  61. BBC Wales on Parc Mawr
  62. Yr Hen Felin Cottage
  63. Cynwyd Youth Hostel bought by Northampton Scouts
  64. Coetmor Mill
  65. Coetmor Mill
  66. Yr Hen Neuadd
  67. Cardiff Gang Show
  68. Newport Gang Show


External links