Guides join in with Community Safety Award Challenge
July 04, 2012 at 10:13 PM
OPERATION INDEPENDENCE JULY 4TH 2012
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visited Lostwithiel to see the potential role of uniformed youth
organisations in assisting communities recover after a major incident or emergency such as a natural disaster.
BACKGROUND
In November 2010 parts of Cornwall were hit by flooding and visited by HRH The Prince of Wales and the
Prime Minister. During conversations between HRH and the then Chief Constable, it was commented that
it would have been good to have seen young people involved during the “Recovery Phase”.
The Community Safety Badge was designed for The Scout Association to be given to members of Scouting
between the ages of 6 and 18. The idea was for leaders to work with members of Scouting and then for
scouts to work with their parents/guardians to help complete aspects of the badge, eg, having quick
response grab bags pre packed within the household; escape routes pre determined in case of flooding or
any other situation that required an evacuation of the house;an awareness of who is vulnerable within the
community and how they could be helped.
Discussions between HRH, Cornwall Council Emergency Management/ Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have led to the creation of The Duke of Cornwall Community Safety
Award. In 2012 this Award was implemented across the county within each of the uniformed youth
organizations. With sufficient interest by all the uniformed youth organisations there is hope that this
Award could be launched nationally under the new title of ‘The Prince of Wales Award.’
Members of Girlguiding Cornwall have been working on this award.
On 4th July the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were directed to the Guides where they had on display items
from the award syllabus. The Guides had to answer questions on the makeup and need of a grab bag,
escape plan and the leaflets.
The five St Breward Guides are Kathryn, Ruth, Bobbie, Anna and Katie who were with their Leader, Heather.
During the afternoon Kathryn renewed her Promise as a Senior Section member.