Adrian Wray's Speech

Firstly many thanks for inviting me this evening, and it is great pleasure to be with so many Network Members and supporters of the Scout Network.

I am told that some 70% of tonight's participants are Network members.

Normally at these events I am placed on the top table with the County Commissioner, being told what they think someone from the head office wants to hear - no offence County Commissioner, I prefer to be with the members to find out what actually happens at the grass route level - to find out about the truth of the County.....

Or even worse, I could have been sitting on the table with the Regional Commissioner, they are even worse than the County Commissioner - sorry Dean did not see you sitting there.

But honestly, being with likeminded young people certainly makes my job as UK Advisor for Scout Network worth the hard work to see Network members taking part in Network events and being part of a growing and adventurous section.

It is also great to see Network members and other guests from surrounding Counties - hopefully you can learn from the success of the Scout Network in Derbyshire. I know that there are other County Commissioners' and District Commissioners' in the room and I do hope that you will have the opportunity to speak to Derbyshire Network Members to find out about the section, because without your support Scout Network will not develop.

Some three years ago before I had the opportunity to become the UK Advisor for the section the section was named 'Notwork' because people did not understand the flexibility of the section, people could not get their heads around a section that did not have to meet every week, a section that members could dip in and out of when they wanted to, a section that had a social side, a section where members did not have to participate in awards - all of these new options had never been seen before and I think that scared people away from a section with such a flexible approx.

Over 100 years ago BP said "Scouts puts the youngsters into fraternity gangs, which is their natural organisation whether for games, mischief or loafing".

The success of Scout Network is down to these gangs - whether that's a local gang of friends or being part of the worldwide gang that is International Scouting. For Scout Network to take off, we needed to create gangs of friends having great fun and adventure and to ensure that each group have that spark of inspiration to ensure that the Scout Network aspires to great heights, and you in this room tonight, are the ones that have made and can make that difference and that can achieve a great success for Scout Network in the future.

Derbyshire have succeeded in bringing these groups of friends together and have over the time set up a number of Scout Networks across the County that have been and continue to be successful, in fact eleven Networks all with their individual identity from the 'Ay Up me Duck' in the Peak District to the 'Lynx' Scout Network in Derby. All of these running their own programmes ranging from Quad Biking, quizzes, walking, camping, pizza challenge and some unusual events like the Crazy Cold Winter Camp - good luck with that one, that's one that I'm not attending and also I dread to think what the Christmas Show and Tell evening was all about!!

But at the same time, each of the Networks coming together taking part in all types of activities from the Tall Ships Race, the 3 Nations International Trip, to 'Its Just Not Cricket' and I'm not a cricket fan but somehow I do not think that this that activity was played at a cricket ground!!

But all honesty, each of the Networks does run a programme that the members want to do and enjoy doing. The Networks are also mindful of recruiting and have their own way of promoting the section to Explorer Scouts through their NetEx Challenge.

It is interesting that some work we have carried out over the last few months across the Uk with Network members, in relation to the programme shows that typically 49% of a Network programme was based around Skills & Development, 15% camping, 7% International, 2% Community and 28% Social events - compared with some 4 years ago the typical programme was 75% social based.

We also know that some 65% of our total member ship are Leaders in other sections and like to attend Scout Network to escape from the weekly grind of running Scouting and having responsibility of younger members - again proves that Scot Network is a great tool for District Commissioners to work with the section in order retain members to become leaders and at the same time have fun and continue their own personal development in gaining awards.

Even though not all Network members want to gain awards, again it in interesting to see the growth in Queens Scouts Awards in the Scout Network Section and again over the last few years Derbyshire has seen its share of the success of more Scout Network members gaining the Queens Scout Award - another success that shows that Network is working.

To make Scout Network happen you need that right person in the driving seat as the County Scout Network Commissioner. Now over the years Derbyshire have road tested a number of Commissioners, but saying that, the role I feel, apart from the County Commissioner role, and I have to keep in with them, is the hardest role out there - and it does not suit everyone.

We can easily get limited by the daily grind of running Scouting and forget about the grand vision - where we are trying to get to - to make the Scout Network section the best. It was Lauren Bacall that said that "imagination is the highest kite one can fly" - so it is important that we all in this room all fly our kites as high as possible because by doing so, we can make a real difference to Scout Network.

Even though that Derbyshire have managed to burn out a number of commissioners, it has grown and developed and from what I have seen, over the last 18 months certainly has developed and grown not only in membership, but in local Networks.

Some may say what is so difficult about growing a section and developing a section - well we know that the Scout Network is run by the members for the members, in real terms this rarely happens at a county level and in most cases it is a partnership role between the Network Commissioner and the Network Chairperson, - but until the recent appointment of Lucy as the Network Commissioner, Derbyshire Network had been run by the members under the Chairmanship of Danny Weaver.

At this stage, I would like to thank Danny on behalf of the Derbyshire Network members for his leadership through the last 18 months as without that spark of inspiration from Danny - I do not think that the Network in Derbyshire will be as developed as it is now - well done.

Scout Network still has a long way to go, still has allot of goals to win and battles to fight, but Derbyshire is well on the road to winning its battle - this will require more work under the leadership of Lucy, but the rewards will be huge with more activities, more members working towards Baden Powell s dream of people learning about one another and their place in the world - helping it make a better place - and I am sure that's got to be a goal worth striving for.

I guess that the road ahead for Derbyshire Scout Network might contain a few sharp bends and the odd bit of road works, but it clearly has the potential of a motorway rather than the dual carriageway - but what it turns out to be is up to you.

Thank you

Adrian Wray
UK Scout Network Advisor