I am glad Kate is feeling much better,however

[portocristo]

Watching the news about the horrendous rubbish problem in Birmingham,this was followed by Kates film clip rambling about Windermere saying we need to connect with nature and couldn’t help thinking it was inappropriate.I bet cancer sufferers in Birmingham would love to do this instead of holding down a job worrying about col doing chores that I bet she never does and have stinking rubbish with rats in the streets. I have no problem with her video but thought the timing was so off. They sometimes need to read the room.

Or rather, you can't.

Really ? In my area there are waiting lists ? Same with Brownies etc

CandiedPrincess · Yesterday 12:35
**
The people of Birmingham could also dispose of their own rubbish. It's not hard

It’s extremely hard if you’re living on a very low income in inadequate housing with no transport and the tip is 5 miles away!

Why do kids activities need to be relevant, btw? Why can't they just be fun? People, adults and children, do all manner of things for fun. Like crafting. Or bouldering. Not many of these activities are relevant to the future of mankind/society, or whatever is being expected of Scouts. We do stuff with our guides they would never have the chance to do otherwise. None of it will change the world, but they always have tremendous fun. Why isn't the mental wellbeing and enjoyment of childhood "relevant"?

A very good question Randy , and something that is overlooked these days!
my memory is not photographic these days , but I seem to remember there was a big incentive to lift adult burdens from children in developing countries, to allow them a proper childhood with time to play , all youngsters learn through play , even when it doesn’t seem relevant to grown up pursuits.
getting our children outside doing fun things that aren’t digital is very important for their physical health and their mental development too!

You are absolutely correct, @jeffgoldblum . Well done that photographic memory! There have been a number of global initiatives about allowing children time to play. You have touched on something I said above about children seeing enough of the "adult burden" through observing their own adults in their day to day lives. In the developing world, that burden must be enormous, especially as children are actively sharing it much of the time through their own labour/hunger/lack of educational opportunities. Those children live day to day with the "real issues facing young people today". As do most of the children in the developed world.

There are plenty of studies that show play helps children to develop social and academic skills, as well as the practical skills they will learn through a movement like scouts, like being able to read a map, tie knots, make a campfire etc etc.

I guess we will never know why that poster thinks a movement like Scouts is irrelevant. I will take it as one of her usual pokes at Princess Catherine, using the (often unacknowledged) voluntary work of Scout leaders as a medium. Absolutely shameful.

“I will take it as one of her usual pokes at Princess Catherine, using the (often unacknowledged) voluntary work of Scout leaders as a medium. Absolutely shameful.”
🤣 One comment on the RF every 3/4 months or so! And I fail to see how my post is a “dig”. But I am so glad that you are all such keen supporters of the Scouting movement. Maybe you could all offer some of your time to volunteer? We’re very short of help-that’s one of the reasons some waiting lists an And then we can continue to try to extend the benefits of Scouting to a broader demographic.

I’m finding this reply really disingenuous!
either you think the scouts are irrelevant or you are championing their cause ?
which is it?

and as usual asking others what they do , charity, volunteerism, when you have no idea about a posters background is no longer the shut down it was previously.
we have seen it before, normally defending h and m and their “endeavours” .

Sorry, too busy running an extremely in demand Guide unit, as well as various other voluntary commitments helping children to develop their skills and have fun. Maybe you should step away from Scouting if you think it is so irrelevant, perhaps someone who respects the movement will join.

Yes of course you are having a poke at Catherine. Your posting history having a go at her is not complicated.

@jeffgoldblumI have never, ever defended H&M’s endeavours! 🤣

Well, here in the US we are seeing a big move against play for kids in Florida:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/business/florida-child-labor-laws/index.html

Edited typos.

Recollections may vary .

🤣🤣🤣

It's really not. Birmingham has parks like every city. It also has miles of canals with tow path gardens, greenery, wildfowl etc.

There's probably very very few people unable to 'get out in nature' for free or very low cost.

Clearly! I obviously take up far more real estate in your head than is entirely healthy. Perhaps you need a walk in the fresh air?

Ridiculous notion to say RF shouldn’t go engagements because of problems elsewhere.

Oh dear!
my post seems to have struck a nerve, are you ok?

@CurlewKate The PofW bringing some positive publicity to an organisation that you give a lot of your time to is a positive thing, surely?

Or is it more complicated than that?

To be fair to @jeffgoldblum , your unpleasant posts towards Catherine are pretty notorious on these boards. Less mental real estate, more like a massive advertising billboard for something unpleasant, like pile cream.

Reporters are only showing the very worst streets of a very large city, its really not that bad!

Catherine is the co-president of The Scouting Association in the UK. She's just doing her job. I'm not sure why anyone has their knickers in a twist about a video encouraging young people to go out and about and enjoy the outdoors. It's pretty much what the movement is all about.

Blimey. I am genuinely surprised. I’m a Republican so I have made a lot of comments about my dislike of the RF at large. But I can’t remember being specifically unpleasant about the PofW in particular. Even on this thread, my objection was to the Scouting Movements message. Not the person delivering it. But hey ho. If my comments are that notorious I am sure you can provide some evidence?

I said specifically that she was doing her job. I might even have used those words!

I agree.
I am finding some posts a bit bemusing.

And I heard on a news report that there are problems getting appointments for the Tip.