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OAC NEEDS YOUR WOOD!

However due to new regulations from The Environment Agency we are ONLY permitted to accept the following for our wood pile:

  • Untreated wooden pallets

  • Clean wood off cuts

  • Clean logs

We are UNABLE to accept the following wood materials:

  • Painted, stained or varnished wood. (E.g.: furniture, door frames, windows frames etc.)

  • Panel and sheet materials (E.g.: Chipboard, Ply board, MDF, Hardboard etc.)

  • Outdoor wood treated with preservative or stain (E.g.: Outdoor furniture, fencing etc.)

  • Wood treated with creosote (E.g.: Railway sleepers, fence posts etc.)

  • Green waste (E.g.: Cuttings, stumps, bushes, shrubs etc.)

If we deposit any other material other than permitted above, we may be charged for its incorrect disposal and could be reported to the Environment Agency- and prosecuted for fly tipping!

WE STILL NEED YOUR WOOD DONATIONS!

Please see the warden before adding wood to the wood pile.  THANK YOU

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Picture of SGS Outdoors logo

Loyalty Bonus Scheme

SGS Outdoors launched its Loyalty Bonus Scheme in September 2001. In the 7 years since it was introduced it has returned over £ 70,000 to Scout Groups and Guide Sections and has assisted us in developing our retail sales. The system has proved itself to be of benefit to both customers and us and is now a firm part of the SGS shopping experience but, in order for it to continue, some changes to its operation are now necessary.

Why do we need to change ?

1. Our trading has increased considerably since the scheme was introduced 7 years ago and therefore the number of groups we are recording sales against also has grown. To maintain records for all those groups has doubled the administrative time involved.

2. The recent re-organisation of the Scout movement introduced Explorer Scout Units. Some of these are independent and some are integral parts of existing Scout Groups. It is difficult for us to know which is which and therefore some Units are not receiving the benefits they should.

3. This growth in sales we have achieved has mainly come from outside our local area. This means it is from areas where Group names and numbers are unfamiliar to us and we don’t know the various formats by which a parent may know a Group. As an example, using an actual Sheffield Group, the 36h Sheffield ( St. Johns, Ranmoor) Scout Group meet in their HQ in Benty Lane, Crosspool, Sheffield. Due to lack of parental knowledge this might turn up in our records as 36th Sheffield, 36th Ranmoor, 36th St Johns, St Johns Scouts, Ranmoor Scouts, Benty Lane Scouts or Crosspool Scouts to suggest just 7 connotations. With the parental spend being spread over many names the Group is not getting the benefit it should, In addition we are recording 7 sets of sales instead of one thus increasing still further the administrative work.

4. A further problem occurs with large Groups who have a number of sections. Again, using a local example, Fulwood Brownies could mean the 53rd, 57th or 194th. We have no way of knowing which and cannot correctly allocate the sale.

5. Even when we have groups recorded correctly it can be difficult due to data protection measures for us to locate the leaders of the group concerned and pass on to them the vouchers they have earned.

6. Due to our current method of recording sales within the shop we are having to omit from the scheme all mail order customers who do not have credit accounts with us and all E-Bay customers . These groups and sections are therefore not receiving the benefit they have earned.

7. With the 6 monthly cut off many small groups do not receive any benefit as they do not reach the £ 100 minimum.

In view of this the new schemes will run for a full 12 months each year.  I hope that from the above you will appreciate that change is necessary for the benefit of everyone

What will happen in future ?

With effect from the end of the current scheme at 31st March 2008 completing purchase vouchers at the shop counter will cease. From April 1st all purchasers, whether they be over the counter customers in the shop or customers using any of our various forms of mail order purchasing will be issued with two receipts for every purchase. The first receipt will be a normal receipt for the purchaser’s own records. The second receipt, a duplicate of the first, will be attached to a small coloured card. The colour of the card will change each year at April 1st. This card, which will have brief instructions on it, is intended to be handed over to the purchasers Section or Group leader. It is up to each group how they collect their receipts. This could be section by section so each section has its own benefit, or pooled as a group so the volume is maximised.

Whenever a group considers it has enough vouchers it can send or present these to the shop for exchanging into vouchers. They will then be sent vouchers on the same basis as at present ( One £5 voucher for every £ 100 spend plus two bonus vouchers for every £1000 spent ). For administrative purposes it will not be possible to exchange the receipts for vouchers for immediate spending in the shop. The receipts will remain valid for exchange for 12 months but receipts from one year will not be able to be combined with those from another. The issued vouchers will be valid as at present for 18 months from the date of issue.

In future as a bonus to groups from the administrative benefits which we will receive from this change of operation the scheme will include purchases of uniform badges.

We hope that the new scheme will deliver the benefits to all concerned that we plan and enable us to continue to support those Groups and Sections who support us.

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Completing AA Forms

A few pointers to ensure your forms get signed first time (and you get the A/Ac back in time)

  • A/A forms should be sent to your District Commissioner 6 weeks before you are due to go on holiday or camp. This allows for people being away.

  • Please list section as well as Holiday or Camp when asked for "Type of Licence" ie Guide Holiday, Senior Section Camp.  If you hold a holiday licence you can put "see below" and circle all licences held.

  • Please list the name of all leaders or other adults going on camp/holiday on your A/A form.  Your District Commissioner signs to confirm that the appropriate checks have been made and she cannot do this without names.

  • If someone is listed as a leader on the A/A form, they cannot sign it in any other capacity (eg District Commissioner, Camp Adviser)

All Guide and Senior Section forms (holiday and camp) should be sent to Isobel Gowers (details in County Directory)

All Brownie (holiday and camp) or Rainbow overnight forms should be sent to Joan Jackson (details in County Directory)

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CAR PARKING AT THE O.A.C.

Photo of court yard at OACAs a result of feedback from numerous sources, we have decided to amend the regulations regarding car parking at the O.A.C.

Winter Season (1st October – 31st March)

The car park will be open to ALL users of the O.A.C. but we would ask Guiders

a) to remind parents that they should drive with due care and attention and that they should remember that children may be walking on the driveway

b) to advise parents that the car park is very small and that they should park considerately and not obstruct the area designated for emergency vehicles

c) to appoint one adult from the unit to act as car park attendant. This person should supervise the arrival and departure of all children from the unit. He/ she should also wear high a visibility vest (available from the Warden).

Summer Season (1st April – 30th September)

The car park should only be used by Guiders and by parents who are bringing or collecting children from camps or residential holidays. Guiders-in-charge of camps or holiday should ensure that regulations 1a-c above are observed.

The car park must not be used by parents bringing children for day or evening visits. On these occasions, Guiders should make arrangements to meet their girls, preferably at a safe point away from the entrance to the O.A.C. (e.g. Forge Dam or Ringinglow Road). We would also recommend that Guiders ensure that the ‘No Parking’ cones are put out around the entrance gates.

Please remember that the Wardens are not car park attendants and that they should not be held responsible for any difficulties that arise with regard to parking.

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Arts and Craft Lovers

Please remember that there are lots of items and equipment to borrow from County for  your event, Pack Holiday, Camp or meeting.

Please contact Liz Wensley (details in County Directory) to book and borrow

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Outdoor team news

If you are planning a camp/holiday or other activity using parent or other non Guider helpers then you will need to get that person CRB checked! There is no short cut! It takes about 3 months. Your District Commissioner has all the details. Also she will need to write on the document check form that this is for a helper at an overnight event and not a new/prospective guider so that when the form comes back to Sheffield from NEE it ends up with the right person. You know it’s through when they get their Unit Helper card. If you have any queries then do get in touch with Liz Murray

Please remember to allow plenty of time for your A/A form to make its circuit, 6 weeks is the suggestion to allow for advisers being away.

Brownie Overnight Experience booking forms are elsewhere in Guide news, especially for those units who normally have no chance of an overnight experience but everyone will be welcome. Offers of help from Guiders and Senior Section members also gratefully received.

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Things you need to know about activities at the OAC

Guidelines and Risk Assessments

Follow this link to get a copy of the risk assessments

This is to give you the chance to read them before arriving at the OAC. Giving you the opportunity to prepare yourself and your group.

Guidelines are included for canoeing, archery, indoor climbing wall, adventure course, weaselling and climbing from the OAC

Risk assessments

Risk assessments are now available for all activities at the OAC, these include:

  • Weaselling
  • Climbing (indoor and out)
  • Archery
  • Canoeing
  • Adventure Course
  • Problem solving/night line/pioneering/shelter building
  • Orienteering
  • Standing camps
  • Indoor accommodation
  • Climbing frame
  • Grass sledging and go-kart
  • Water based activities to include pond dipping and rafting.

These are available from the OAC via email or post, or from Sue Shelley via email. We hope to get them on the county web site soon.

How to use the risk assessments

Read and take note of anything that may affect the activity for you and your group.  Please do not make any changes to the risk assessments, however you may need to add something that affects your group, e.g. if you have a child with special or medical needs.

Any accidents or incidents that occur during the activity need to be reported to the wardens at the OAC in case changes need to be made to the risk assessments.

When to get a copy of the risk assessments

Do not ask too far in advance of your visit as updates may occur. Three or four weeks beforehand is sufficient.

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Guide Silver Rose Bowl

In 1956 Sheffield County Guiders started planning for celebrations to be held in 1957, which was the centenary year of Lord Baden-Powell’s birth. It was proposed to purchase a silver rose bowl with money to be raised by the units during the year.  The Rose Bowl was then to be presented to the Cathedral in memory of Lord Baden-Powell.

In July 1956 a silver bowl was chosen by the Commissioners and £100 expenditure was approved by the committee.  (The first bowl shown to the then Provost was not accepted),

Thinking Day 22nd February 1957 was the beginning of the celebrations and on that day a special service of re-dedication for all Scouts and Guides was held at the Cathedral.  The Guides who were also celebrating “Thinking Day”, the 69th birthday of Lady Baden-Powell, were led by Mrs John Renwick, Assistant County Commissioner (later to be Lady Renwick).  During the service the bowl was handed to the provost the Very Rev. J. Howard Cruse, by a Ranger, a Guide and a Brownie representing the different branches of Guiding.

It was agreed by the Cathedral authorities that the bowl would be filled with flowers and displayed every Easter and Christmas.  Funds to purchase the flowers were to be collected from each Division in turn.

This has been the situation to date, however it has now changed.  The Insurers will now no longer insure any piece of church equipment that cannot be firmly secured or locked away.  The bowl has no way of fixture and so cannot be left out securely. Following a meeting with the Canon Precentor The Very Rev. Howard Such, who was very keen that the bowl should be on show, it has been agreed that the bowl will be kept in a locked cabinet and displayed for a month twice a year; one of those months will be February.  

Any group wishing to make a visit to the Cathedral to see the bowl should ring and make an appointment. The bowl will be removed from the vault and members can examine it in the Chapter House.  It is well worth a visit.

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Friends of OAC

Friends of OAC was set up in 1988 with 14 founder members.  The aim of Friends is to support  the centre and give people the opportunity to keep in touch with all developments and activities.  Membership is open to people involved in Guiding and to anyone who is interested in the OAC.

Over the years, almost £5,000 has been raised.  This money has been used to buy new equipment, including trek carts, new tables for Plimsoll, fridge/freezer etc and help children enjoy holidays at the OAC.  We meet twice a year - in the Spring for a coffee morning and again, usually in September, for Friends' Day when members have tea and also a chance to look round the centre and meet old friends.  Two news letters are sent out each year.

The minimum subscription is £4 per year.  At present, we have over 50 members but would welcome more.  Application forms are available from the OAC and from Divisions.

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