September Crofton Beacon Article

The summer break is the time when traditionally Scouting Leaders take a well-earned break from organising
and facilitating challenging, exciting and stimulating activities. So now is an ideal time to thank them all for
doing exactly that and to thank them in advance for the forthcoming year’s programme. Crofton Scout Group is
a well-established and popular group, with some members staying with the group all the way from the Beaver
Colony through to the Scout Troop and other members joining at different points along their scouting journey.
Everyone is welcome to join us, irrespective of gender, need or cultural background and we aim to ensure the
movement is open and accessible to all and that people are treated equally and with respect. We are an
inclusive Group which embraces diversity and shares the Scouting Association’s vision that “Scouting is an
inclusive, values based movement and membership is open to all those who share our fundamental values”.

Adult volunteers  play a vital group in ensuring the success of the group; from the Scout Leaders and their
Assistants  who help to deliver the programme of camps, narrowboat trips and (the ever popular) wide
games each week,  to our executive committee members including Diane, who is a whizz at completing
yet another grant application form to help fund the activities we provide,  to Julie our Treasurer who ensures
we keep all the group’s finances in order and spend that money wisely!

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and experiences; from people who are able to offer their support
every week to help run the amazing camps to others who can offer an hour from time to time to help support
the fundraising needed to ensure the group’s ongoing success. If you are interested or would just like more
information,  or if you support a young person who would like to come and try Scouting for themselves please
email info@croftonscouts.org.uk  and we will ensure the right person  gets back to you. 

Yours in scouting

Joanna Burton

Crofton Scout Group Secretary 

Hello all

The 2nd Wakefield ( Crofton) scout group Annual General Meeting including bring a grown-up to scouts night is scheduled for 7pm Thursday 13th June 2019, to be held at The Sidings in Crofton.

Members of the Scouting  Association , parents/carers of current or previous members and members of the general public are welcome! 

Crofton beacon article

Crofton beacon article December

It’s a few weeks away from Christmas as I write this quick message from 2nd Wakefield (Crofton) scout group. By the time you read it, we will be a few weeks on and looking to the New Year! 

And that’s how quick scouting time flies-in our scout group we have leaders that started to volunteer when their children had just started in Beavers ( our youngest section) and are still volunteering their valuable time long after their young Beaver has moved through the Cubs and Scouts sections and left the group to put all those invaluable life skills into practice. 

It is truly rewarding to see our young members utilise the survival skills, friendships and knowledge they develop in scouting in their day to day young adult life. Still able to smile whilst striking camp in the snow or hiking through a muddy field in the middle of winter? Might not seem a skill that can be utilised in adult life but it helps develop team building skills, enables them to support others in difficult situations and build emotional resilience!

We have three active sections in our group and if you know a young person between 6-14 who would like to join the adventure and see what striking a camp in the snow is actually like then please emailinfo@croftonscouts.org.uk and I will gladly put you in touch with the relevant section leader. 

And if you are a little older and have an hour or two ( or more!) and would like to join as a volunteer then please drop me an email at the same address. 

So from this scout group secretary who started 10 years ago agreeing to volunteer with a bit of fundraising and has enjoyed watching  one scout utilise those  skills in adult life and who is about to see a second  scout soon leave Crofton and move onto Explorers

 ( the district sections for scouts aged 14-18) I would like to thank all our volunteers and wish them and you a happy healthy and peaceful 2019.

Yours in scouting

Joanna Burton

Crofton scout group secretary 

👍A big well done to everyone that helped👍
It was cold but they were still smiling and doing a roaring trade supporting the rotary club

Annual General Meeting 2018

Thank you for making the effort and coming to this years AGM.
Hope you enjoyed the bring a parent night.

Here is a copy of the Minutes, Report & Accounts for 2018.

2nd Wakefield AGM minutes sept 2018

AGM GSL REPORT 2018

2nd Wakefield (Crofton) Scouts Annual Accounts 2017-18

Invitation to our Annual General Meeting 2018

We are holding our AGM on


Thursday 27th September 7pm at Shay Lane School, Crofton.


All are welcome.

Water Games 2

More water games pictures

National Vision for Scouting

The national vision for scouting makes interesting reading. Please see the following link: http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/strategy/vision-for-2023/.

Cubs update

Over the last couple of months, the Cubs have learnt some new communication skills including Morse Code, semaphore and sign language.  However, now the nights are lighter (and hopefully warmer), our meetings will move outdoors.

The programme for this term includes exciting activities such as orienteering around Haw Park Wood, den building at Newmillerdam, grass sledging at Calder Drift district camp site and launching rockets at the Sidings.

We also have adventures organised like a trip on the Wakefield District Narrowboat where cubs will have chance to pilot the boat themselves and open the lock gates. 

Our final meeting before the summer holidays will be our annual water games night at the Sidings which we have with the scouts.  Everyone gets thoroughly soaked (even the leaders) but it’s great fun.

A message from the executive committee

According to the Scouts website scouting (which includes Beavers, Cubs and Scouts)  “helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. Scouting helps young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world!”

Being a parent of two children who are in scouting I can appreciate that the activities that they take part in definitely contribute towards the above points – but as they are in a fun environment the children are not aware of the life skills that they are gaining!  I would like to share with you that our Scouts in Crofton get the opportunity to take part in the most amazing experiences, these can be as diverse as kayaking, abseiling, gliding and expeditions to name but a few.  These are with their new and old friends so what is not to like?

The weekly fees and the contributions towards camps and trips that parents pay cover the normal running costs.  However we rely on fund raising for replacing and upgrading old equipment eg tents, and for purchasing those “extras” that enhance the scouting experience.  One example is the grass sledges which the children love. Just to note that all the leaders are volunteers and give their own time for the weekly meetings and trips which we all appreciate.

There are certain grants that we can apply for (on occasion),  however we also have to raise funds through other means for example bag-packing at Supermarkets or selling food at the Sidings fund day.  If anyone has any ideas about fund-raising, or can offer any help in this area we would be very grateful.  All the money goes back to the Scouts where they will gain memories from their experiences that will stay with them for a life-time.

Any ideas please contact me on the email address below.

Diane Goodfellow

Executive Member

dianegoodfellow@croftonscouts.org.uk