It is a great feeling to start a New Year with good intentions, and having been out of things for a while it’s great to be back to work and Scouting.

I would like to thank everyone who has sent me good wishes and kept in touch during the time I have been unwell, it was very much appreciated.

I am back but do treat me gently…..please! I am really enthused however by all that is going on across the Region. There is a great deal happening that is exciting and I think we have a number of things to shout about.

Our Jamboree Unit are nearly finished their fundraising marathon and will have two more training camps before going to Sweden and the planning of Clanjam will ensure a great event for those coming from as far away as Denmark and Taipei to Bonaly this summer.

Our census is nearly all in …perhaps by the time you read this everyone will have finished and we are looking at a potential growth yet again with Borders and East Lothian both showing rises as are Morningside and Pentland. Details appear elsewhere but the 13.5% growth in Borders is really encouraging and a big thanks to all across the Region who have helped make the numbers grow.

The Development Project has helped with this growth but we still have plenty of work to do and Scott Burton has begun to work directly with a number of Groups as part of the development plan and this work is paying dividends already. Remember to look at the ‘development resources’ section on the Regional website and submit a ‘note of interest form ‘ if you are interested in getting some help.

Scott was at the Regional Conference and the results of that were well documented in the last newsletter. One of the results of this was the confirmation of the district review and this is detailed elsewhere in this newsletter and you will all be able to contribute to this vital piece of work in a number of ways so please take the opportunity to do so, your view is important.

The really bad weather of December is now behind us and we can look forward to the lighter evenings and the onset of outdoor Scouting again (or is that tempting fate) but I do hope that all of you have great Scouting in the term ahead and I look forward to meeting up with you again at events over the next few months.

Dorothy