BRITISH SCOUTING IN PORTUGAL
Nov 24th 2014, 9:56 am
#1
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BRITISH SCOUTING IN PORTUGAL
I am the Deputy Scout Commissioner for British Scouting Overseas for France, Spain & Portugal. We currently have 4 Scout Groups in France, and 4 in Spain. Portugal is currently dormant.
So we are looking to expand into areas of Portugal where there is a strong British community that needs Scouting. We are currently looking for Scout Leaders for all sections. Previous Scouting or Guiding experience is a bonus but not essential as full training is given, and all British Scout Groups are supported by France & Iberia Scout District and through them, British Scouting Overseas. Please note that all Scout leaders are vetted to check they are suitable to work with children both in UK and Portugal.
Note that this is a request for Scout Leaders to form Scout Groups and Sections at this stage. Please do not contact me yet if you have children who want to join Scouting, that will come later.
Many thanks
So we are looking to expand into areas of Portugal where there is a strong British community that needs Scouting. We are currently looking for Scout Leaders for all sections. Previous Scouting or Guiding experience is a bonus but not essential as full training is given, and all British Scout Groups are supported by France & Iberia Scout District and through them, British Scouting Overseas. Please note that all Scout leaders are vetted to check they are suitable to work with children both in UK and Portugal.
Note that this is a request for Scout Leaders to form Scout Groups and Sections at this stage. Please do not contact me yet if you have children who want to join Scouting, that will come later.
Many thanks
Nov 24th 2014, 7:08 pm
#2
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Re: BRITISH SCOUTING IN PORTUGAL
There is a very active scout troop already in the Lagoa area.traditional in that they wear the original Baden Powell bush hat. I believe they have expat members.Our neighbours son is a member.
Nov 24th 2014, 10:14 pm
#3
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Re: BRITISH SCOUTING IN PORTUGAL
There are two Portugeuse Scout Associations recognised by the World Scout Bureau. The largest is the CNE (Corpo Nacional de Escutas) which are Catholics and the smaller AEP (Assocation de Escoteiros de Portugal) which is non-denominational. We work with both of these Associations. He may be a member of either of these or a pseudo non-recognised scout-type Group. If he is happy, that is fine.
British Scouting in Portugal goes back to the origin of Scouting. One of the first British overseas troops was in fact in Oporto (the 1st Duero) in 1910. We existed originally for sons of the military and expats who return to UK after a 1 to 3 year tour so that they could continue Scouting without breaks. We also exist because often (initially at least) it is difficult to integrate due to a language, cultural or religious barrier, for instance Christians in a country where there is only Islamic Scouting. The other criteria is that the person has good English as either their first or second language. Lastly because people like to keep up the customs and traditions of their homeland.
We have the permission of the host Scout nations to operate in their country and part of that agreement is that we do not take host nation nationals. But if they are say half British-Portuguese, they can join us but not fully Portuguese, as they have their own Associations. We can take Australians, Americans, Brazilians, other Europeans etc, anyone who can speak good English. We always run the British Scout core programme adapted to local conditions. There are other similar foreign Scout Groups (predominantly the Boy Scouts of America) operating in countries around the world.
The are also Girl Guide units including British, who operate in a similar manner. British Scouting takes both boys and girls, the British Guides abroad take only Guides. There are British Guide units in Portugal.
British Scouting in Portugal goes back to the origin of Scouting. One of the first British overseas troops was in fact in Oporto (the 1st Duero) in 1910. We existed originally for sons of the military and expats who return to UK after a 1 to 3 year tour so that they could continue Scouting without breaks. We also exist because often (initially at least) it is difficult to integrate due to a language, cultural or religious barrier, for instance Christians in a country where there is only Islamic Scouting. The other criteria is that the person has good English as either their first or second language. Lastly because people like to keep up the customs and traditions of their homeland.
We have the permission of the host Scout nations to operate in their country and part of that agreement is that we do not take host nation nationals. But if they are say half British-Portuguese, they can join us but not fully Portuguese, as they have their own Associations. We can take Australians, Americans, Brazilians, other Europeans etc, anyone who can speak good English. We always run the British Scout core programme adapted to local conditions. There are other similar foreign Scout Groups (predominantly the Boy Scouts of America) operating in countries around the world.
The are also Girl Guide units including British, who operate in a similar manner. British Scouting takes both boys and girls, the British Guides abroad take only Guides. There are British Guide units in Portugal.
