Welcome to Ripon and District Scouts

TWO of our District’s Leaders have been nominated for, and have been given an award, by North Yorkshire Scouts in the Category of “Unsung Heroes – Team Players” at the recent North Yorkshire County Scouts Awards Night 2025 

Anne Collins is the heart of Ripon & District's Active Support Unit. Anne ensures that members stay connected, informed, and involved with district correspondence and events. Her ability to coordinate support for numerous district events—often under tight deadlines —has been indispensable to the smooth running of our activities. Her calm and efficient leadership has ensured that this team continues to be a valuable asset to the District.

Jon Aubrey de Lavenu has the ability to drive Scouting forward at Hillside Scouts, through providing much needed IT support and guidance, especially through the recent transformation programme. His teamwork skills have benefited all in Ripon & District, as he also shares his impressive bushcraft knowledge and skills for the District and County teams.

6th Ripon Scouts & Spitfire Explorers participated in a Walking & Navigation Weekend from the Watson Scout Centre recently. Arriving Friday evening and walking Saturday, with activities on Sunday.

Saturday’s walk was 10miles/16km for Scouts and 15 mile/24km for Explorers, taking in some highlights of the North York Moors straight from the Scout Centre. Scouts climbed both “Cringle End” & “Carlton Bank”, whilst the Explorer route also incorporated the “Wainstones” ALL with NO transport required.

Sunday was more relaxed using local permanent orienteering courses as well as navigation exercises in the field adjoining the Watson Scout Centre.

Both sections enjoyed a Campfire on Saturday evening.

Other highlights included, sitting down all together for Saturday evening meal in the dining room. Explorers camping and Scouts utilising the dormitory accommodation.

A good weekend all round, excellent food, fabulous accommodation and plenty to see & do.

Badges gained included (but not exclusively) Hikes Away, Nights Away & Navigation staged awards.

A good time had by all - and they say they can’t wait to book again!

John Goom says........

As you know I was in the finals of the BBC make a difference awards a couple of years ago. The local BBC York Organiser that I dealt with sent me a message asking me to spread the word through Scouting about a NEW CATEGORY for under 16 year olds. 

Here's a link to the main site            https://bbc.in/4aU4RM9

The under 16 hero award link is here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/h2gh8VzBGBzjqh4gsQdZBJ/the-young-hero-award 

The deadline for entries is 31st March so it's a bit of an urgent one to deal with!! 

The Explorer Belt award is a real belt, awarded to Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members upon completion of a 10-day expedition outside the UK, and it is a challenge of a lifetime.

SAM WOLLOMS, who is one of our volunteer Scout Leaders and is a District Explorer Leader, took part in a National Scout Event to BULGARIA last summer to complete his "Explorer Belt".

ROZ BARDON of the 6th Ripon Group  says:"Last Week we were fortunate enough to award him the honour of achieving his Explorer Belt Award".

We ALL join with Roz in congratulating SAM on his magnificent achievement. The Explorer Belt is a prestigious award within the Scouting movement, representing a significant achievement and a chance to experience a different culture and way of life.

To earn the Explorer Belt, you must be an Explorer Scout aged 16 or over, a Scout Network member,  aged 16 or over, and undertake a 10-day expedition outside of the UK.

The expedition involves traveling a minimum of 50 hours over the 10 days, covering areas such as navigation skills, expedition cooking, lightweight camping, and language skills.

The Explorer Belt is considered one of the highest awards in Scouting and a challenging but rewarding experience.

Once again, we ALL join with Roz in congratulating SAM on his magnificent achievement.

Alexander is Leader in the 6th Ripon Scout Group and is aged just 19.

He has lately sailed his boat from Cornwall to the Caribbean Sea and has recently landed on Union Island (after covering some 4,000 miles!)

At only 19 he has crossed a huge Ocean in a boat he fixed up with self-steering gear he made himself.

We should ALL be proud of his achievement.

Explorer Scouts are a “go-getting” group of young people aged 14 to 18. Together, they make up the fifth Section of the Scout Movement (together with Squirrel Scouts, Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts).

Week in and week out, they gather in groups called “Units” to try new things, make new friends and conquer the small task of changing the world.

On 5th February 2025, the newest Explorer Unit in the District opened.

“Herriot Explorers” (as they are called) will be meeting weekly at Hillside Scout Group's HQ at Knayton. They already have 6 new Explorer Scouts from the area and they are hoping to expand quickly thanks the facilities they already have available. 

Explorers start small but think big, always challenging themselves to do more and be more. 

A focus on food has already been established with the new Unit's Explorer Scouts choosing to do a “mystery food cooking competition” on their 2nd meeting. 

Scouting is open to people of all faiths and of none and must therefore take account of the different religious obligations of its members whilst upholding the essential spirit of the Promise.

There are also alternative wordings for Squirrel Scouts, Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts (including Explorers, Network and all other Adults) as well as alternatives for Buddhists, Christians, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Atheists or those of no faith backgrounds (thus making 112 variations in total across the board).

If you wish to see the full range of Promises see the Association’s website at -

https://www.scouts.org.uk/por/1-our-fundamentals/112-variations-to-the-wording-of-the-promise/

It was a bitterly cold evening, on Saturday 11th January 2025, when Twenty Members and their partners from our local "District Active Support Unit" (DAS), together with some District Leaders, ventured out to The Bay Horse Inn at Rainton, near Ripon, for their Annual DAS Dinner.

This year, due to a General Scouting Re-organisation in the UK, sees the disbanding of all local DAS Units - so it was to be the LAST SUPPER of its kind!!

After the Meal, and lots of Banter, our Outgoing Active Support Manager, Anne Collins, thanked all THIRTY PLUS D.A.S. members for ALL the work they, and their predecessors, had put in on behalf of the Scout District over the 30+ years since being formed. This was first as a “District Scout Fellowship” and more latterly (after a name change) as a “District Active Support Unit”

It is pleasing to note that the Unit also had an amazing SEVEN Silver Wolf Holders (Scouting’s Highest Award) in its membership on disbandment! In strict alphabetical order they are - Ian Bardon, Peter Bardon, Mike Collins, Eric Fell, Steve Hall, Ian Hick, and John McGrath.

Albeit the end of DAS as an Active Unit, many of the Ex-DAS members WILL be continuing to work with individual Scout Groups and with the District as Leaders, Helpers, Volunteers and Trustees, as and when required.

Thus, I’m sure, Scouting will continue from “strength to strength” in the future, both in this District and over the whole UK!! 

Volunteering can be a brilliant way to boost your mental wellbeing. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping young people get skills for life, and you might even learn a lot about yourself along the way. 

Scouts can make you feel good in other ways too. We’ll guide you to an opportunity where you’ll: 

• Make friends and meet people 
• Try new things and challenge yourself 
• Get outdoors and get stuck in 
• Positively impact your community 
• Create vital opportunities for young people 
• Make memories that’ll last a lifetime

 

If you can only occasionally help, that’s OK. Whether you’d like to be an activity planner, tea-maker or craft creator, we appreciate any time you can spare.

To VOLUNTEER just use the CONTACT tab on the front page of this website.

 As most of you will already know, "Scouting" is a Global Youth Movement that builds friendships, experiences, and skills for life, shaping young people's futures as active citizens. More than 500 million young people and adults have joined and experienced the power of Scouting's non-formal education since it was founded in 1907.

Since then, the Scout Movement has continued to grow and is now active in 176 National Scout Organizations. Today, over 57 million young people, supported by millions of dedicated volunteers, take part in Scouting activities and events worldwide.



His Majesty King Charles III became Scouts' Patron in June 2024.

The King continues a long tradition of the Monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Before His Majesty King Charles III, the post was previously held by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the duration of her 70-year reign.

A champion for young people.

Patronages typically reflect the interests of the member of the Royal Family involved.

Over many years, HM King Charles III has consistently championed young people across a range of charities, including Scouts and The Prince’s Trust.