It seems like a long time now since we selected the Unit back in November last year and our preparations for the Jamboree are now picking up pace.

Our first training weekend was held at Meggernie in April, where the Unit decided on our name, Haggis Neeps ‘n’ Tartan. We also began to design our badge, which has now been produced and many have been sold already raising funds for the unit. After great deliberation, the leadership team chose our four Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders. This was no easy task and the PLs are now working with the leadership team to plan out our activities between now and the Jamboree.

The Unit is gelling well. While many of our participants are from neighbouring Troops, Companies or Units and know each other from previous Scouting / Guiding experiences and Schools that they attend, the geography of the Unit is very diverse. Our Scouts & Explorers are from the South East Region and our Guides are from Perthshire, Dumfriesshire, Fife, Lanarkshire, Glasgow and West Lothian. It is a great credit to the young people that they are getting on so well.

We held our first fundraiser back in May and our Duck Race raised £800 which was a great start to our fundraising. A big thank you to Gail Fox who was the brains behind this event. Our first bag pack was at Asda, Galashiels last weekend and we have raised just under £1,000. We will be bag packing around the Region between now and next Spring and are very grateful for the support that supermarkets are showing us.

In addition to the centrally organised fundraising events, some of our participants have industrious or even entrepreneur spirits and have been raising money towards their personal contributions by selling cakes and quiz sheets among other activities.

Some of the unit members helped out at Robin Salvesen’s Garden Party in June where we assisted in the preparation of sandwiches, the finishing touches to cream scones and serving teas and coffee. The afternoon was a fantastic advertisement for the unit.

After great deliberation the unit came up with our name of Haggis Neeps ‘n’ Tartan. The badge design came easier and I am pleased to be able to report that badges are available from me or from Alan Willoughby at Valleyfield Street. All Friends of the Jamboree will receive one of these in the post in the near future.

By the time you read this, we will have had our second training weekend at Bonaly and the Patrols will be planning some Patrol activities as well as Unit activities.

With just 338 days to go until we leave for Sweden, it’s going to be a fun but busy year. If you’ve got any questions, please drop me a line at gary.bainbridge@clydescouts.org.uk

 Gary Bainbridge.       Jamboree Unit Leader.