Good Bye James Cumming
Date: 31st Mar 2021
Author: Fiona Hainey
This is my last day as Regional Commissioner for South West Scotland. I have been doing this role now for just over 4 years, starting in January 2017 and I have to say that this is one of the best roles I have had in Scouting to date.
I have really enjoyed working with the Regional Team (uniformed and non-uniformed) in particular with the District Commissioners. As a team we have achieved so much in South West Region from training for adults and young people to explorer weekends and our first regional Explorer Belt in 2019 to Romania. I have too many high points to start and list them all and I would be scared that I missed one out. Similarly, I am not going to start and thank individuals as the region has achieved what it has to date with everyone pulling together and working together for the benefit of the young people and adults here in South West.
A huge passion of mine is Youth Involvement (YI) and I will take that forward into my new role as Depute Chief Commissioner (Perception and Protect) but I feel that this is something that we, here in South West, should be incredibly proud. The Regional Youth Advisory Group (RYAG) led by Miles Goldie as ARC (YI) is one of the strongest and most productive in Scotland and has great plans once we are out of COVID and restrictions are lifted allowing more and more people to mix outdoors, watch this space. The region also has great youth representation at all levels from adult and young leader training to young people sitting on executives and appointment committees, not to fill a space but to have a voice and make sure Scouting is being shaped by and for young people as we move forward.
I would like to thank every adult volunteer for everything they do for the young people in your section, group, district and in the region as without you, there would be no Scouting at all. I hope that things get back to ‘normal’ fairly quickly and hopefully in the not-too-distant future we will be able to meet up again at an event somewhere in a field and get back to what we miss and enjoy the most SCOUTING.
I wish everyone every success for the future, thank you again for all your support over the years.
Keep smiling and stay safe.
For the last time, Yours in Scouting
James Cumming
Regional Commissioner – South West Scotland
North Ayrshire and Arran Scouts
Kyle & Carrick District – All Leaders
Ayrshire East Scouts
Dumfriesshire District Scouts
Galloway Scout Leaders
Scouts Scotland
