Cubs!-and expectations.

[LovelyBath77]

I know it's great and glad they can go but-

Guilt: Constantly feel guilty with the emails asking for help / to bake cakes / to volunteer. Cost: It can get quite expensive- for example trips out £22 and it's around £140 a year for each. Faff- sewing on the badges etc. /getting them their on different days etc.

OK so can deal with these things but now they've started asking my son to 'get your mum to iron the woggle'! This made me a bit cross! FFS, and who says mums have to do the ironing. I have also had 'ask your mum to bake a cake'-same.

Already do quite a bit for school with this kind of stuff and it gets a bit overwhelming.

Cubs should be ironing their own Necko, and sewing on their own badges.

Definitely talk to your group if you're finding the cost too high, our group will always find a way to help families in distress. It doesn't have to be a parent who helps out. We regularly have grandparents, cousins, older siblings etc etc if parents aren't available.

It was at cubs that my dc learned to iron their own neckers. They soon learned that, once ironed the first time, if you roll it tightly and keep the woggle on (or tie in a friendship knot) then you never have to iron it again until you use it for a sling or some other purpose

Mine have been all through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and the eldest 2 are now adult leaders. I can say without a doubt that it has ALWAYS been the cheapest, and by far and away the best value for money activity that any of mine have ever done. Incredibly cheap even if you just counted it as 'babysitting' and didn't take into account all they learn.
Trips tend to be added extras - you can opt to not send them, but, as someone else has said, if there are genuine financial difficulties, every group I've ever had anything to do with, will sort something out discreetly with the family. As well as the group, there are often also District and County funds, and there are definitely National funds which are there to remove any barriers of cost from stopping a Scout accessing a camp, etc.

Not sure why you think it's more important to bake for the school though, than for a voluntary group. If you need to choose, then I'd support volunteers every time.

If you're in receipt of benefits most scout troops have the capacity to help you out financially to ensure your DCs can still attend; there's one at my Scout troop who is entirely subsidised by that. Don't be too proud to ask for help - it's there for people exactly like your DCs.

DS1 has been through Beavers and Cubs and is now a Scout, DS2 joined Beavers last week and I'm the group treasurer. I think it's a gradual thing; you get roped into one thing and it snowballs into more, but if you're unable to help then that's that. You could teach them how to iron and bake a simple cake so they're able to take some responsibility for their hobbies.

Another Exec member and ad hoc parent helper here!

Certainly we can and do help people who are struggling financially, and a lot of trips are subsidised.

Cubs should certainly be ironing neckers themselves, badges can be tough for little fingers though.

We often ask for help from parents, it's the only way things get done. We always get just enough help, a few more regular volunteers would be nice. Not just on unit nights, but admin, planning, finance, loads of little jobs that free up time from unit leaders, as its the little jobs that frustrate them as much as the regular challenges.

My OH runs a Guide unit in a poorer part of town, pretty much single-handed, so I see the difference that supportive parents can make. I also see the difference that Scouts/Guides makes to the kids. Next year she's taking about half of her unit to Ireland, first time some have been abroad.

If you do struggle with the cost due to being in benefits, please do speak to the leaders. They will almost certainly allow you to spread the cost more evenly and most likely be able to partly or fully subsidise some things.

If you're any good at finance, most units I know would bite your arm off for help with their accounts. It doesn't have to be volunteering at meetings (although that is important too!). Fundraising ideas and that you could help implement? (There surely must be more creative things than a bake sale and bag pack). Scout post delivering at Christmas (depending on your disability may not be practical til your dc are old enough to do it themselves). Admin takes up lots of time, many units would appreciate being able to delegate even part of it.

Ds has been ironing his own necker since he started Beavers. If you put the board low enough it's perfectly safe if they're sensible.

Ironing neckers and sewing on badges is part of a cubs housekeeping badge. Get your son to do it. Baking cakes is part of his cooking badge as well. Don't feel guilty. There are also hardship funds available should you need.

I am a Beaver leader and our group absolutely relies on parents helping out. We have 3 leaders/assistant leaders, but nearly always need 6 on a night if we have 24 children there. The 3 of us all have full time jobs, we have 10 children between us, and we give our time free of charge, so we really do need and appreciate support from the parents.

Trips are charged at cost price. Sleepovers are £5 and include dinner and breakfast. Unfortunately some parents still want a justification of how the money is spent :(

OP, please try to be patient - Scouting probably needs you far more than school does (and appreciates you more)!

Op the 'sexist' notes were what caused my daughter to leave scouts after going though Beavers and Cubs. She got sick of the notes that referred to 'the boys' eg could all boys please remember to bring their weekly subs blah blah. There were very few girls but it didn't feel like they were welcome then. I raised it but nothing changed so she begged me to let her leave. They played football every week too for 20 mins and she was bored sitting out watching, they didn't ever suggest she join in. Our local group definitely feels old fashioned and sexist.

Maybe have a quite word with the leaders about saying get Mum todo. As a rainbow and guide leader and Simone who works with kids I know I was bad at saying can you ask Mum to do.... DSD was what changed my mind. I am not Mum to her and never will be (she has a Mum). I may have not crossed their minds, I know I have had to pull DSD's school up lots of times.

As for the cost aspect. Talk to the leaders we can't solve problems if we don't know about them.

We challenged our DS's first Beaver pack leader as they always said "boys" on letters despite there being girls in the group. I also heard the leader saying "If you scream like that, I'll send you to Rainbows". I think some leaders have an old world view that doesn't reflect modern Scouting. I would challenge it.

As others have said, as for financial help.

I agree the badges are a faff. I will be teaching DS to iron his Cub necker after reading this thread!