December 2023 Newsletter

Christmas is nearly here and we’re getting in the festive spirit at 3rdCB. Over the past month the Beavers have been on a winter walk, complete with chips at the end, and kick started December by making Christmas biscuits and decorations. The Cubs have been busy doing their artist badge, drawing, making and painting models of a fruit bowl; they’re finishing up the term with their Christmas party on 20 Dec. Renown Sea Scouts have been putting their creative skills to the test again, doing foley artistry – making their own sound effects for videos; the boys are excited for some Christmas Craziness at Kids Kingdom and their traditional dress-up Christmas dinner at The Den.  Solebay Sea Scouts have reflected on the meaning of Remembrance by writing and reading out their own poems, along with discussing what items they would take if faced with evacuation from their homes due to a global disaster. The Explorers are looking forward to their own Christmas tradition of Ice Skating in London (and hopefully serenading commuters on the train home with Christmas Carols).

If you’ve been into The Den recently, you may notice it’s looking a lot brighter. We recently had the walls re-plastered and painted. Thank you to Amy, Oscar and Louise for all the painting, and Jon for making it all happen. We hope you’ll agree it looks a lot nicer, and everything will be back on the walls soon.

In this newsletter:

• Christmas Carol & Toy Service at The Den
• Farewell Akela – and welcome… Akela!
• Curry Night
• Group Annual General Meeting
• Presentation Evening
• GSL’s Christmas Message
• Dates for your Diary

Christmas Carol and Toy Service – Sun 10 Dec

Each Christmas we host a carol service at The Den with New Road Fishermen’s Chapel, and all youth members and their families are very welcome to join us. The service starts at 11:00.

We’re also collecting toys & gifts again this year, for those Children in our city less fortunate than ourselves, on behalf of the Marigold Centre. We ask for donations of toys or children’s books, these can be new, as new, unwanted gifts or something out-grown. Unwrapped please to help the Marigold team give them out appropriately.

The obligatory mince pies and refreshments will be served after the Service. After the service there is Sunday Duty Patrol for Stormy Petts and Whales.

Farewell Akela – Welcome… Akela!

This year marks the end of an era for the Cub Pack. Our Akela, Tricia Smith, will be stepping down at the end of December.

She started volunteering with 3rd Chalkwell Bay on 16 August 1988, that is a staggering 35 years with the same section. Alongside Cubs, Tricia has used her experience to support adults in Scouting beyond 3rdCB in various Assistant District Commissioner roles.

Her commitment to the Group has been amazing and I am pleased to say we are not losing her completely, as after a short break she will be returning to support the Cub Leader Team.

Tricia is handing over as Akela to Chantal Snarey, who has been on the Cub Leader Team for 10 years. Whilst Tricia may be a hard act to follow we are lucky to have such a strong, capable and experienced leader taking over. I am sure you will all join me in thanking Tricia for all that she has done in making the Cubs such a vibrant section.

Currytastic Night of Fun

Thank you to everyone who came and supported our Curry Night on 19 November.

We filled the Tandoori Parlour with 78 members with their families & friends for some delicious food, exciting games and a good catch up.

This fabulous afternoon raised £580 for 3rdCB – which is amazing!  Watch this space for a Chinese meal in early 2024!

Annual General Meeting

Wed 10 January 2024 @ 20:30

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 January at 8.30pm at The Den. This has been postponed from the planned date in September to enable the audit of the accounts to be completed satisfactorily.

The AGM is a legal requirement of our charitable status, allowing members of the Group Council (that’s all parents, leaders, Active Support members and other supporters of the Group) to receive a formal reports on our activities and accounts for the past year, scrutinise the management team, and to elect or nominate members of the Group’s Trustee Board (formerly known as the Executive Committee), who manage the Group and its finances for the forthcoming year. Youth members are more than welcome (encouraged even) to join as well, but under UK charity legislation aren’t allowed to vote. The agenda, annual report and accounts will be published at 3rdcb.org.uk/event/agm23/ in due course.

Presentation Evening

Sat 10 February 2024 @ 19:00

Our annual presentation evening to celebrate the achievements of our youth members over the past year and present their top awards will be at Leigh Road Baptist Church on Sat 10 February. We hope to see as many of our youth members and families there as possible.

Photos from the last month