Like you, I spend a lot of time wondering what the future holds and how I can make the most of it. For me, this includes thinking about what Scouting in East Lancashire looks in the coming weeks, months and years too.
Scouting is facing a major funding crisis at both national and local levels. Our funds are limited, but even more so with the COVID-19 crisis and the impact that this has had on our county campsite, Bowley.
With Scouting’s face-to-face meetings cancelled and some great programme being delivered online by our volunteers, it leaves me some time to lead our Board of Trustees in considering what the financial implications of COVID19 are for us. We have already made the difficult decision to temporarily closed Bowley. The Trustees are working hard to strip any unnecessary expenditure from the budgets. Still, I believe we need to think too about our Groups and Districts who will, undoubtedly, face financial challenges in the short term.
I am looking for some volunteers to set up and join a ‘County Funding Action Group’. This group will look at ways that we can increase funding for Scouting in East Lancashire and in turn, reduce our reliance on capitation funds in the future. I hope that by doing this, we can pass our savings onto local Scouting to relieve some of your impending financial challenges.
If you’re interested in being part of our action group or would like to know more, please contact our Office via countyoffice@eastlancashirescouts.org.uk.
