1st Thatcham Scout group on the look out for new leaders

A THATCHAM Scout group is on the hunt for new leaders.

The 1st Thatcham Scout Group currently has five leaders to assist 54 young people across its Beavers, Cubs and Scouts sections.

Scout leader Nick Forbes said the unit was looking for enthusiastic people aged over 18 who would enjoy working with young people.

He said that some leaders had left having "lost their jobs during the pandemic and moved out the area".

"We have done really well keeping our young people but now we are meeting face-to-face we need more adults to meet safeguarding ratios and we just haven't got them," he said.

"If we can't get the volunteers we will seriously need to consider running sections on alternate weeks so that leaders can keep things going. At the moment we are having to restrict the numbers because we don't have enough adults."

Mr Forbes said it was more than map reading and knots and added: "most of what we do is hands on and we are trying to teach the young people life skills and have a lot of fun, and it can be very satisfying."

The unit meets on Mondays from 6pm until 7.30pm, and between 5.30pm and 6.30pm and 7.30pm and 9pm on Tuesdays.

Contact info@1st-thatcham.org.uk or visit the 1st Thatcham Scout Group Facebook page for more information.