This report is part of a series from members across the district for the Annual General Meeting to be held online on 8th July 2020.
Scout Network covers every young person aged between 18 and 25 in New Forest North, making sure they know about and feel confident to make a difference and to go on once in a lifetime adventures and expeditions. Across the district, there have been many 18-25 year olds achieving their top awards such as the Explorer Belt or Queen’s Scout Award during the past year with many rightly celebrating their success across the district.
After a gap of nearly three years, in September 2019, the role of District Scout Network Commissioner was filled, with Steven Osborn being appointed. Part of his role focuses on developing and reaching out to all Network age members of the district and in the months since, he has met with a dozen members across the district and introduced them to the opportunities available to them.
The number of members taking part in Pegasus Scout Network each week has remained steady during the year with some new members beginning to join us when they are able to. A focus has been to raise awareness of what we do with those of Scout Network age and those approaching 18 years of age. During the year, Pegasus members took part in several district events and interacted with Explorer Scouts from across the district including the Eagle Trophy, Christmas quiz and a specific session with Magellan Explorer Scouts. November saw Pegasus join Instagram and share pictures of their exploits both on there and on the existing public Facebook page to show what happens each week.
During the past year, Pegasus Scout Network have taken part in a number of weekly events including escape rooms, meals out, international cooking, sports, bowling and a number of smaller skills evenings. Scout Network members have also helped other Scouts in the area, with members marshalling at the Totton Santa Run in December, organised by the 5th New Forest North Scouts, running bases at the Eagle Trophy in February and the Wally Mansbridge event in March for the Scouts and Guides of Copythorne and marshalling at the Mud Run at Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre in March.
During the course of the year members have also been taking advantage of the opportunities available to them with a number going on expeditions to Lake District with the district in October and to the Cairngorms and the Brecon Beacons with Hampshire Scouts Expeditions (HSX).
While the plans of the members were disrupted in mid-March with the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, Pegasus has continued with a variety of activities online via Zoom. At the request of the members, meeting frequency increased to twice a week and focuses on games, challenges and other social activities to keep members in touch and engaged. These have included virtual scavenger hunts and monopoly runs using the internet and services such as What3Words, card party games such as What do you Meme, virtual escape rooms, challenges based on programmes such as Taskmaster and quizzes made up by the members themselves including an emoji based quiz that was shared so others can take part.
There are lots of plans for activities and events to take place once face-to-face meetings resume and the resolve among members to meet more people and encourage more to join Scout Network is growing. The group are becoming more visible, both through platforms such as Instagram but also through their own bespoke scarf design for the first time.
Thank you for reading. You can get in touch or find out more through our social media accounts or I am happy to chat whenever. Stay safe everyone.
Steven Osborn
District Scout Network Commissioner