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bring them to the UK. There will be no visa fee, language tests or salary The Borneo Expedition will now take place in the summer of 2023 in order that
requirements for them to be able to come. The government is also setting up a new participants can be fully prepared and the fundraising can be achieved. The
new community sponsorship scheme to allow for local communities, faith groups expedition team will be launching the new plans this month.
and others to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to come and live in the UK. To show our
commitment, the Prime Minister has appointed a new Minister for Refugees to If you’re aged between 14-18 years old and you would like to have fun, meet
oversee this process. new friends, experience new indoor and outdoor activities, learn skills for life,
discover new places, cultures and communities, our Explorer Scouts normally
I know that thousands of people across Dorset have already been very generous meet on a Tuesday evening at 7pm (at the Scout Hut or at an activity location).
in their donations towards the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis. I would urge people Several of our Leader team are trained DofE Supervisors and Assessors to Gold
to donate money rather goods, particularly as the Polish Government have Award level so you can participate in the DofE scheme and the Queen’s Scout
recently said: award alongside our regular programme. For more details and information please
email Helen on helen.uj@hotmail.co.uk or Julien on julien@media4.co.uk
“We call on everyone wishing to help not to organise further collections of in-kind
donations, as their transport to Poland – followed by a lengthy unloading, storage,
selection and distribution procedure – generates disproportionate amounts of Group News
additional work and cost, which proves ineffective and counterproductive to the
needs of those affected. We encourage everyone wishing to help to organise Our on-going problem, however, is
fundraisers and direct donations of funds to verified organisations that will use the with adult help. As you can
funds received for assistance provided in accordance with the strict needs and imagine, looking after 80 energetic
effective operation in the long term.” and enthusiastic youngsters
requires a lot of adult supervision
You can find out more ways to help on my website, including links to charities and we are always on the look-out
working in and near Ukraine, and refugee charities closer to home. for more volunteers- either in the
As President Zelensky reminded us, the joint prize of peace and freedom is never ‘uniformed branch’ as Leaders
quite secured, and therefore we must always do everything we can to support and Assistant Leaders, or as non-
those who defend it. uniformed occasional helpers. We
also need some help on our
Please do get in touch if you need help and support, including Executive Committee which meets
if you have family fleeing Ukraine. You can contact me via around 3 times a year and manages the Group with such matters as finance and
email michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or call my office on fund-raising, looking after our Headquarters building, meeting requests for new
01202 624216. equipment and resources from our active Sections, etc
You may have an existing or latent skill which we could use – an outdoor activity,
a craft, musical ability, cooking and catering, first aid, financial experience,
carpentry, building maintenance, gardening, etc, etc – there is practically no limit
LOCAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT to the life skills and opportunities we introduce our youngsters to! Some roles may
require training which is provided for free, much of it now on-line.
Michael Tomlinson MP  If you are at all interested in helping us to continue to provide this much-needed
Michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk
holds regular surgeries and popular youth provision in the local community, please get in touch with me,
in the constituency. For  01202 624216 Phil Ventham philipventham@gmail.com or 01929 471215 or any of the Scout
Leaders who you might know.
details of forthcoming  www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk
surgeries or to make an PS We have bags of firewood for sale - £5 per bag – proceeds towards the 2023
appointment, please @Michael4MDNP Expedition to Borneo. Contact Julien Lightfoot on 07710 944434 or 01929 472277
contact his office.

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