On Monday 18 July 2016 a group of over 30 beavers, cubs, scouts and Explorers attended a presentation ceremony at Swinton Town Hall presided over by Karen Garrido the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford.
Also present was Eileen Johnson the Group President and Susan Leonard the District Commissioner. Ellesmere District covers Eccles, Monton, Irlam, Cadishead, Walkden and Worsley.
All the children present had achieved the Chief Scouts Award – the highest award possible in each section- bronze for beavers, silver for cubs, gold for scouts and platinum for Explorer Scouts. To qualify for the award the child concerned has to attain all the challenge badges relevant to their Section.
These challenge badges cover a range of activities and are, for all sections, World, Skills, Adventure, Outdoors, Teamwork, and Personal, in addition scouts must achieve the Expedition and Team Leader challenges.
These are aimed at helping children grow into responsible adults who have shown themselves able to be self-reliant and helpful to other people, they must also have gained a number of activity badges and these range from book reading and collecting right through to ice skating and horse riding, there is a badge for almost every interest or hobby.
The Chief scouts awards are very prestigious and hard to earn , showing a level of commitment, enthusiasm and attainment.
The awards ceremony was a follow on from the Celebration of Excellence Day held at Bispham Scout camp the preceding weekend where the award winners were able to showcase their skills to their parents in fields such as archery, axe throwing, fire lighting and kayaking amongst others.
The Lady Mayor, Karen Garrido told the children and their parents that they should all be immensely proud of their achievement and said that it was a great privilege to present the awards to the children.
She told them how great it was to see so many happy faces there this year and hoped to see even more there next year. It was a great cause and they had all worked hard with help from their leaders and from their parents.
