“Children are our future”, is a statement with a lot of truth. Their education and development is undertaken by parents, guardians, teachers and leaders from various organisations within their communities.

As they develop, it is hoped that they will become an integral part of that community and be able to foster respect for what makes that community, families, business and the environment.

One of the most respected and active organisations are The Scouting movement, which has made many changes to attract and retain membership from those early years in childhood to teenagers and adults.

Only seven years ago a Scout Group was formed at Aycliffe Village, meeting at The Old School, now the Village Hall on Monday and Thursday evenings to cater for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Within those short years their membership has grown to such and extent that they have waiting lists to join. Angela Raw and Margaret Lenehan both expressed a desire for anyone who would like to help in the running of the scouting movement in Aycliffe Village to contact them.

This growth has been due to a lot of work in the community and fund raising events to furnish the movement with equipment, materials and transport. As this is a special year due to the Queens Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympic Games Acle have designed their own neckerchief with symbols to commemorate these events.

Another group that shares similar values in working with and supporting communities is Freemasonry. Being aware of the rapid growth and the contribution those Scouts have made in their community, they have donated £400 towards additional materials for the group. The presentation was made by Joe Bulmer and William Swift to Wendy Etheridge (Akela)

Wendy introduced her guests as “These gentlemen are Freemasons who have their own hand shake as we do, signs as we do and help those less fortunate as we do”. Those few words adequately summed up the similarities of the two organisations and who knows what these young scouts will do in their own future lives.

If you would like any further information or can assist this group in anyway please call Margaret Lenahan on 07809 708709 or Wendy on 07850 000969.