Third Hucknall Scouts looking to recruit as pack numbers decline post-lockdown

A Hucknall Scouting group are looking for more children to sign up after seeing the size of their pack almost half.

Third Hucknall Scouts, who meet in a purpose-built scouting hut on Beardall Street, next to the Royal British Legion, have seen the dramatic decrease since reopening following the easing of social restrictions.

Before the first lockdown, implemented by the UK government to minimise the spread of the Coronavirus disease in March of last year, around 20 boys and girls aged between 10 and 14 attended the group; they now have just 13 members.

Group leader Mark Boag said of the decrease in numbers: "Yes it does worry me but our younger sections are running quite healthy again at the moment so we'll eventually have a follow through but that's going to take another year.

"We're running quite healthy at the moment but come December/January, three quarters of these scouts go up to Explorers so then I'll be down to a nominal number of four or five scouts. In thirty years of being a leader I've never seen numbers that low, we've only ever gone below ten scouts once and we picked it up so having that few scouts is quite scary really."

Mr Boag is keen for parents looking for activities to get their children involved with to consider scouting.

Asked about the advantages of scouting, he said: "Children are learning all the time, they're learning life skills which people don't get to learn, children don't know how to light matches, they don't know how to light fires, they've never used a knife properly, we teach them all of those skills. We teach them proper basic life skills; when they leave us at the age of 14 they can actually cook a meal for themselves and they are self-sufficient at home. So bring them to scouts, they get the outdoor life as well as being taught indoors."

The group are Covid safe as they have to stick to the rules set by the Scouting Association in order to operate.

"All the scouts have to wear masks unless they're exempt, on coming into the building and they are socially distanced coming into the scout hut. They all have to clean their hands with sanitiser. The hut is sanitised prior to them coming in because we obviously have other groups using it, so as the leaders when we get here we sanitise round and then as we leave, we sanitise."

As well as scouts, 3rd Hucknall caters for all age groups with Beavers, Cubs, Explorers, Rainbows, Brownies and Guide meetings held weekly at the same venue.

The group didn't meet for over a year due to Coronavirus restrictions but held virtual meetings over Zoom to keep the interest of its members. However, whilst it was a decent enough substitute given the circumstances it just couldn't compare with face to face scouting.

"We've got a fantastic group of kids and they've all been so pleased to come back in to do proper scouting and we're pleased to see them back when we've not seen them for over a year and coming back into it is really nice," said Mr Boag.

The enthusiasm of the scouts in attendance is also abundantly clear. Ewan has been a member of the scout group for two years.

He said: "I enjoy it all. I enjoy learning about maps and exploring; planning a route and deciding which ways would be the best way to go.

Asked what advice he'd give to children thinking about joining scouts, he said: "It'd be a good idea to come, you get to learn new things and meet new people."

Leon has already utilised the first aid skills he learnt at scouts to maximum effect, saving the life of a man he found lying unconscious in a Hucknall street.

"This man had a chain round his neck and he was on the floor and he wasn't breathing, so I called an ambulance for him."

Leon also put the man in the recovery position and admits he wouldn't have had a clue what to do if he'd faced that situation without his scouting background.

The pack is now run by Mr Boag, whose association with 3rd Hucknall dates back nearly 40 years as he attended the group as a scout and venture scout himself. He then became a leader and has held the position for 33 years.

He said: "I've now got parents bringing their children to me and their parents were my scouts. It's really nice to see that; it is really encouraging."

If you are interested in registering your child at 3rd Hucknall scouts or other groups then please email [email protected].