A New District Commissioner for Ripon and District

June 1st: New DC takes the reins

Following a recommendation by the County Appointments Advisory Committee, the County Commissioner is pleased to announce that from Monday 1 June 2020, JOHN LOCKWOOD took up the role of District Commissioner Ripon & District. John is now contactable by email via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ripon & District has a proud Scouting history and as one of the largest in the County it has some very successful Groups and 3 Explorer Scout Units, both large and small, supported by a large & dedicated Active Support Unit.

Our County Commissioner says: "I am sure that every one in the District (and in the County) will all give John full support as he begins this new chapter in his Scouting career. In doing so, I am confident that he will help everyone to offer ever more opportunities for adventure and skills for life to our young members at this most challenging of times and when face-to-face Scouting eventually resumes".

We all know that John will do well - despite the current pandemic

Junk Modelling Competition for the Month of JUNE

Can YOU make something out of nothing?

The Scout County Creative Activities Team is looking to run a different creative competition each month. For June, we would like entrants to get ‘creative’ and make a model from recyclable or junk materials.

The competition is open to everyone involved in Scouting and Guiding in the County of North Yorkshire (from Beavers and Rainbows through to adults).

The competition will be open for submissions until 30th June 2020. Any entry received beyond that date will not be judged. Entries must be submitted to the following email address only: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Using recyclable or junk materials only, create a model. You can do anything so use your imagination to come up with your most creative design and name it! (You may use sticky tape, string or glue to assemble and craft materials/paints etc to decorate).

You will need to take two photographs: one of the materials you are going to use and one of your finished model with a quirky name for it. Submit these for judging by the end of June. The most creative model from each section wins.

All entries must be submitted with the name of the entrant, Section (Beaver, Brownie etc), Scout or Guide Group, District plus Guide County details, an email or postal contact and confirmation that the entry is all the entrant’s own work. The entries will be judged in the appropriate section, all judging will be anonymous, and the decisions of the judges will be final.

For further information please contact;

John A Ives
ACC, Creative Activities
North Yorkshire Scouts
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How handy are YOU?

Weekly Update from the County Commissioner 2/6

This from the CC, Mark Edwards: 

Dear Team North Yorkshire,

Here we are and 10 weeks have now passed; I hope that you and your families are keeping well. You are all still doing a fantastic job. Many AGMs are now in the planning or are due to take place, so well done for that. Your programmes, as always, amaze me but as we go forward, we thought it would be good to share ideas across the County. So, next week we will be setting up a shared Google drive for you to share all your great ideas, templates etc so that we can expand the pool of online ideas. Look out next week for the link.

Scouting Training

Safety and Safeguarding. Please can I ask those that need to complete their online safety and safeguarding do this as soon as possible. There is a new online safeguarding course that avoids the need to use flash player. The links below take you directly to this mandatory training, including the new online safeguarding course.

Safety Training                                              Safeguarding Training

Sunrise to Sunset Activity Day

Sunday 21st June when we celebrate the longest day.

A daylong programme of events that our young people, adults and families can tune in to. A kind of virtual activity day. Look out for the programme release next week. Links to book a place will be available, but please flag up the event with your young people.

I am pleased to reveal our badge for the event that from next week can be ordered at a cost of £1 per badge - It was designed by Max from Elvington Beavers (York Ebor District) and can be worn on the uniform left sleeve cuff for the next 12 months. He has tried to keep it fairly simple so that it can be easily printed as a badge. He has added the farming element partly because he lives next to a farm and knows that farmers work from dawn to dusk and North Yorkshire is a big farming community. Max also wanted to show the different colours of the sun when it rises and sets.

A huge thank you to the many of you who have offered activities. I do have a few ideas that people have put forward, but they are unable to facilitate them themselves. So, if anyone would be willing to do any of these please contact me. I also need a few leaders to be the second leader online for an activity. Again, please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help.

To read the Full Update from the CC including details of the SCOUT NETWORK QUIZ, COMPASS OUTAGE, and VARIOUS TRAINING LINKS just click HERE

Keep SAFE and KEEP SCOUTING.

Mark Edwards
County Commissioner

Once again..... keep smiling AND keep on Scouting!