 Essex Scouts Win Top Training Award
The Scout Movement in Essex has won a Regional Training Award for the Essex Experience project, an activity and camping weekend for non-Scout youngsters of secondary school age.
The Essex Experience was launched ten years ago and has trained 280 young adults, new to volunteering, and supported 1,500 young people and its success has earned Essex County Scout Council an Award at the National Training Awards ceremony held at the Guild Hall in Cambridge, September 2004.
The National Training Awards are managed on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills by UK Skills, an independent organization which champions skills and learning. The awards are universally recognized as being the premiere training award in the UK given to organizations who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training.
Gordon Henshall (Deputy County Commissioner for Essex Scouts), Claire Fielder (Community Development Officer for Essex Scouts), Olympic gold medal winner Sally Gunnell (who presented the awards on behalf of UK Skills) and Bill McKenzie of Essex Fire and Rescue Service (course director for the Essex Experience training course).
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Accolades for the Essex Experience At The High Sheriff's Awards 2005
The High Sheriff’s Awards is an annual award scheme to support and reward local people and organisations who tackle crime in their communities. For the voluntary and community sector this is effectively the “Essex Oscars”.
The Essex Experience, which received three accolades at this year’s High Sheriff’s Awards, is part of the external community development arm of Scouting and culminates in a weekend of activities for over 250 young people who are at risk of social exclusion. Thirty young adult volunteers are recruited and trained to act as mentors and leaders to the young people.
Nomination of the Essex County Scout Council for the High Sheriff’s Cup was accepted for the costs of staging the Rock Café, used by young people attending the Essex Experience 2005 event and organised by Pete Chivrall. Claire Fielder received the nomination certificate and cheque for £1,000.
Roger Mullender was nominated for the Essex Police Cup for his “no challenge is too much” attitude and his tireless commitment to the Essex Experience. As a volunteer catering manager, Roger is responsible for providing over 3000 meals out of a field kitchen during the two-week event every September. Not only did Roger receive a nomination certificate but he went on to win the Essex Police Cup. He stated that “the success of the catering was due to the total support of Scout Leaders, Essex Police and Basildon District Council Staff & teachers who make up the team”. Of note is that out of 400,000 people who undertake some form of charity or voluntary work in Essex, Roger received this award for his services to the community.
As part of the “Volunteer Bureau Awards” to recognise exceptional work with volunteers, the Essex Experience (Essex County Scout Council) was nominated by Alexander MacDonald and Nikki Cross, both employees of Ford Motor Company who have been volunteers with the Essex Experience for four years. They both praised the organisers of the project saying “how exceptionally well run it is and that everyone, including the volunteers, leaves the Experience with a real sense of achievement – it’s a fantastic project”. Alexander went on to say “it was the support provided to the volunteers at the Essex Experience that encouraged Ford Motor Company to support their staff to volunteer”.
Claire Fielder with Roger Mullender (winner of the Essex Police Cup) and Dot Parker of the Essex Experience catering team.
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Essex Experience success at the High Sheriff’s Awards since 1997
1997
Essex Experience receives High Sheriff’s Cup
1998
Basildon Challenge receives High Sheriff’s Cup
2000
£1000 grant received towards Basildon Star Challenge
2001
£750 grant received towards Basildon Star Challenge
John Greenslade awarded certificate of personal achievement
Claire Fielder wins Essex Police Cup
2002
£850 grant received towards Basildon Scout Link
John Greenslade awarded certificate of personal achievement
2003
£800 grant received towards Harlow Challenge Offshore
Andy Rothon wins Essex Police Cup
2004
£800 grant received towards Thurrock Challenge Offshore
Bill Mckenzie awarded certificate of commendation
2005
£1000 grant received towards the Hard Rock Café
Roger Mullender wins Essex Police Cup
Certificate of commendation for the Volunteer Bureaux Award (nominated by Ford Motor Company Volunteers). |
