Of the above.Hello hive mind!
I have a swimming up problem. Two of our Beavers are due to swim up to Cubs in early November (they turn 8 about halfway through October). Their mother was notified by email about this in the middle of August - both by me, and by my ABSL who handles badges (she contacted the mother about the Personal Challenge badge and mentioned the move up to Cubs in November). We had no reply so assumed all was fine. I then contacted people on the waiting list to say that there were spaces available, and these have now been taken up.
At our registration evening last night, the mother of the swimmer-uppers told me that they would be too tired to start Cubs and it would be too late a bedtime for them. (Beavers is 5.45-7pm, Cubs is 7.10pm-8.30pm). My ABSL inadvertently let slip that they would have to start Cubs sometime before they were too old to do so at 8 1/2 - and this was then pounced on as "oh, then they could stay until they are 8 1/2?" The Cubs leader is willing to defer their entry.
I don't want to do this! For one, I have already given their places to others on our (long) waiting list. Second, all new Cubs find it tiring - my son did, I know the ones he swam up with did. If I keep these two on for this reason, I potentially have to do it with others.
I note that the Scout Association guidance on age flexibility says that young people can join Cubs from age 7 1/2, although it's for YPs between 8 and 10 1/2. And that it also says this: "The opportunity for a young person to progress through the sections within Scouting is fundamental. All young people should be encouraged to move into the next Section at, or near to the core age range of the Section. The Programme and awards for each Section have been designed with these core age ranges in mind, and have been developed primarily for participation and involvement with the required flexibility to allow all young people to enjoy and achieve." To me, the flexibility is supposed to accommodate those with SEN or similar, but I guess it could be read to also cover those who find it hard from a fatigue point of view.
My options are:
- say no, they need to move up to Cubs at age 8 - will annoy the mother
- say no, but they can choose to not attend either Beavers or Cubs between ages 8 and 8 1/2 - will also annoy the mother
- defer the new joiners and allow them to stay on - will annoy the new joiners
- as we may have one spare place, allow them to share it and do one week in every two (so child A one week, child B the next week)
What would you do?
Thanks in advance.
Annoy the mother...
Plan B/ Become Navigators and have a more flexible age range![]()
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