This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A LACK of volunteers has forced the suspension of scouting activities in Ennis.
The 1st and 4th Clare Scout Group which is based in Station Road, Ennis, has been forced to suspend all scouting activities until enough volunteers come forward to help continue the service.
The association currently caters for 150 children from around 130 families in and around Ennis.
Letters have been sent out to parents and a public meeting on the issue will be held on Thursday, September 21, at 8.30pm in the Scout Hall.
Scout leaders say that suspending activities is a “drastic measure” but felt they were left with no other option.
The association has operated in Ennis for 79 years and scout leaders say a number of steps have to be taken for scouting to continue.
The group is looking for ten people to be members of a Parents and Friends Committee which is required under the constitution of Scouting Ireland.
In the letter, the group states; “Without this committee we should not be operating, our Group Leader with the help of scouters has carried out the burden for the past 12 months. A practice which is now going to stop. The scouters have enough work to do giving life skills to your children”
The group also say that at least eight new scouters are required in order to meet Child Protection Guidelines
“Under our Child Protection Guidelines, we have to keep within the recommended ratio of adults to children and should not operate if we do not have enough scouters to ensure the safety of your children.”
If the numbers are not met, the group say children looking to join the scouts may have to be placed on a waiting list until places become available.
All people applying for positions in the scouts will be vetted by the Gardaí and trained by Scouting Ireland.
The group say activities may be suspended indefinitely unless a committee is appointed at Thursday’s meeting.
The decision came the same week as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern claimed the spirit of volunteering was dying out in Ireland.
Addressing a taskforce on active citizenship, Mr Ahern said, “It is not just about the practical, day-today pressures which shape how we live. There is a concern that we have become more materialistic, maybe even more selfish. And if we have, I believe many people would conclude that, for all our new wealth, we are much the poorer.”