Volunteer and provide exciting opportunities for children

A Scout group is being re-opened at the Syke Community Base and Chapel and the search is on for a team of volunteers to make this happen and provide exciting opportunities for local children and young people.

District Commissioner for Pennine, Alan Sharkey, said: “We need volunteers to put Syke Scouting on the map again.

“We have a variety of roles to offer, and there really is something for everyone.

“Volunteering is flexible too, even if you can’t offer your time every week, there’s lots of things to do behind the scenes or you can work on a rota system with other leaders and helpers.

“Scouting opens the door to so many amazing opportunities for its adult members too. You really do develop skills for life.”

40th Rochdale (Syke) Scout Group has a long history in the area but closed some time ago due to lack of volunteers. Now, a new team of leaders is being recruited to launch the group again at Syke Chapel with a view to starting sections for Beavers (aged 6-8 years), Cubs (aged 8-10.5 years) and Scouts (10.5-14 years).

The group aims to open its doors in spring 2019 to local children and young people but needs more volunteer leaders and committee members to ensure that the group has enough adults for all the sections to run the exciting and varied programme that Scouting offers.

If you’re interested in getting involved with Scouting in Syke, please contact Alan Sharkey via email gsl.syke@pennine.gmnscouts.org.uk or call 07774 135 599.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “The Scouting Movement is a massive force for good, touching many, many young lives. Above all, it gives millions of children the chance to live and learn about the wild and to experience real adventure.

“The Scouts also help young people to develop empathy and kindness, we do so through our volunteering and community projects.

“Today, in a world that sometimes feels fractured and insular, empathy and kindness are more important than ever.

“We give the UK’s 460,000 Scouts the opportunity to develop their powers of empathy while working towards their Community Impact Badge, mixing with people from different backgrounds.

“As a result, there are now over 22,000 Scout Dementia Friends across the UK. The role involves the Scouts learning about dementia, partnering with people affected and giving their time and energy to help their local community become more dementia friendly.”