1st WESTBURY Beaver Scouts have been working hard on their Community Impact Badge over the last four months, with members raising money for the town’s food bank.
The assistant Beaver scout leader, Diane Perrett, explained what the scouts have been getting up to, “As part of the Community Impact Badge, scouts decide how they can help in their local community or the worldwide community.
“In the past they have helped with litter picking at the railway station and, at Station Approach road, they have entertained residents in a local nursing home, collected donations to the food bank and have raised money to twin our three toilets with toilets around the world.
“This year they decided to collect for the food bank by raising the money themselves to pay for it rather than asking for donations. Each Beaver was given a Smarties tube and after they had eaten the Smarties, they earned money by helping around the house, doing jobs for grandparents, aunties, and uncles. When the tubes were returned, and the money all added up, they had raised the magnificent sum of £132.
“The next task was to take the whole group shopping to spend the money. We had had a look at what the food bank typically puts in a box for a family of four for three days. We printed out that list and split into three teams. With adults to push the trolley and to keep a total of how much had already been spent, the children used the list to find the foods on the shelf.
“There was lots of discussion about different makes/costs of items and ‘we can buy two of this one but only one if we choose that one.’ If there was any money left after completing the shopping list, the children were able to choose some sweets or fun items for the boxes.
“After leaving the donations with Crosspoint, we had a letter from the food bank saying that we had donated 120kg which was amazing! For the final part, the children will be designing their own posters to encourage others to donate to the food bank. The children have had a great time finding out how much food costs and being able to help others.”
Beavers, Cubs and Scouts run in Westbury for children ages six to 14 ½. If you have a child interested in joining, please go to 1stwestbury.org.uk and complete the form found under the heading ‘Join a waiting list.’
If you are over 18 and have a couple of hours a week to be able to volunteer to help run fun, games, and life skills activities for our young people, then please contact Andy Kettlety at scouts@1stwestbury.org.uk
For more information about the food bank, visit www.westburyareanetwork.org
