Scout groups booming again as children hope Zoom era is over

Scout groups had to move online during each lockdown and numbers dwindled but now groups can meet again and the children could not wait to see their friends.

Group Scout Leader Roy Clarke, known as King Louis, has been involved in scouts for 48 years after starting in a group at the age of eight.

He now runs the 21st West Stafford Castlechurch scouts and cubs in Lovelace Close, Stafford, and 53 children are now part of the groups after lockdown ended – more than before the pandemic began.

"We've been doing things online but it's not the same," Roy added.

"We've met between the lockdowns. The hardest one was the third lockdown as schooling was online as well.

"We've done quizzes online, different challenges regarding tying knots and paper activities after leaders delivered kits to their houses. We had a pilot do a talk too.

"But some of them just didn't want to join online, I think in the last couple of weeks we were down to four or five scouts join.

"And now we have got more kids than before the pandemic but we want to grow even more. We need more leaders too.

"They call it skills for life, we try to teach them different things, independence, leadership and the ability to think they can achieve anything.

"We want to get back to camping and trips out too."

Roy said the main difference since the pandemic started has been "trying to enforce distancing"

"We started with shorter length meetings too and have plenty of sanitiser," he added. "We've also started using the church hall because it's bigger than our hall."

Beaver Leader Fox, aka, Annabel Clarke and the daughter of Roy, had brought along her two-month-old baby Jimin Clarke-Bromley, the youngest new member of the group.

She said: "I've wanted to be back in person for ages, I don't like Zoom anyway and I've noticed the Beavers don't like Zoom especially as they've been online with school.

"Now that we're back we're going to start doing more badge work and blowing stuff up with vinegar and baking soda."

While some of the younger children were running around and rolling on the grass in the sunshine, older members can take on more responsibility, such as Oliver Vanraemdonck, 13, who has been involved in the scouts and cubs since he was nine.

He said: "We came back in person a bit last year but we've been at home for quite a while.

"We've been meeting virtually, making camp fires, fireplaces, but it's not as good.

"It's been a bit difficult but we get along.

"We learn about how to survive in the wilderness and a lot about helping the environment and people around Stafford.

"Meeting other people is the best part."

Edward Chandler, 12, added: "The camps are the best, we go a couple of times a year but we haven't been recently.

"Normally at the camps there's activities like climbing and we get to go on hikes and play games with the rest of the group.

"We did some stuff online but it wasn't as good."

Charlie Ward's eight-year-old sister Esme started at the group after the most recent lockdown.

Charlie, who said he is nearly nine, said his favourite part of the club is playing games such as duck duck goose.

"I also like hide and seek," he added.

"We made chocolate cake in a mug on Zoom. I'm happy to be back with my friends."

• For more information, to sign up a child or to help as a leader, visit http://21stweststafford.scoutsites.org.uk/