The Explorer Belt is a prestigious award available to young people in Scouts aged 16-25. The award focusses on an expedition undertaken outside of the UK. In small teams, participants must complete a project and challenges along the way, all whilst deepening their cultural understanding of the location.
Cardiff and Vale Scouts are leading an expedition located in north-west Europe from 30th July – 12th August 2024, starting in Luxembourg. The expedition lasts for 10 days, with two nights either side of the expedition to add to the overseas experience.
A small core team has already been formed:
- Sean Stacey – Event Leader
- Joe Holmes – Expedition Training Lead
- Ruth Weltch – Expedition Support Lead
We are looking for volunteers who are able to fill the following role descriptors:
Travel
- Arrange all participant and volunteer travel to and from the UK, as well as any internal transfers required to reach travel hubs, accommodation etc.
- Explore options for leadership team vehicles
- Act as an advisor for teams when they are exploring accessing public transport as part of their expedition
- Liaise with other team members to secure accommodation for the participants before and after the expedition.
Prep Events
- Work with the Expedition Training Lead to agree venues for training events
- Agree a budget for food and accommodation and work within this
- Make necessary bookings, and orders of provisions
- Work with the Administration Lead to agree the necessary communications to participants for prep events
Administration
- Support the Event Leader in setting up appropriate communication channels to participants, parents, and the wider Area
- Support the Event Leader with managing the budget for the event
- Act as the first point of contact for the leadership team
- Carry out appropriate data collection
Explorer Belt Experience
- Support teams to plan their presentation (a requirement of the award, to be completed in the UK after the expedition); offering guidance on content and venues
- Along with other team members, plan for the pre/post expedition plans to allow participants to acclimatise, and celebrate their expedition
- Plan programmes for any non-training elements of prep events (team bonding etc.)
Additional points to note:
- Each Explorer Belt team is required to have a ‘mentor’, who can guide the team through the process of planning an expedition. We would therefore like each appointed volunteer to have experience of light-weight expeditions, and/ or the Explorer Belt Award (as a young person or volunteer), as all those appointed will mentor at least one team.
- All roles will involve a significant time commitment from the time of appointment until October 2024, once all participant teams have completed their final presentations.
- All roles are expected to be present at preparation events (every other month), planning meetings, and complete tasks by agreed dates.
- All appointed adults will be required to pay a fee similar to that of the participants (around £900), but financial challenges should be no barrier to volunteering, so please reach out, confidentially if you have concerns
- Some roles may be appointed as role-shares.
Interested?
Step 1: Before 6th April, complete this short expression-of-interest: https://forms.office.com/e/LELp11izf9
Step 2: Await an invitation to attend an informal get-together at the Hub (Maitland Street, CF14 3JU) 4-6pm on Sunday 16th April. Save the date now!
If you have any questions, or wouldn’t be able to attend on 16th April, please get in touch with Sean: sean.stacey@cardiffandvalescouts.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
Sean Stacey
Assistant Area Commissioner – International
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