NEWS

2022 was an action-packed year for 1 st Madrid Scouts. As part of our aim to provide a safeenvironment to take risks, have fun and learn Skills4Life, some of our top activities wereSNOWZONE skiing and sledging, horse riding and visiting a working farm in Collado Mediano,learning Morris dancing at the spring fair and being suddenly joined by Darth Vadar and theStorm troopers, creating games and activities for our young visitors from Fundación DownMadrid, going to Aranjuez for kayaking and paddle boarding, the summer all-sections waterfight, winter camp in Aranjuez with a history of energy show provided by Joe, and learningmore about electricity at the Nicola Tesla exhibition Caixa Forum.It was difficult year for many reasons across the world, but we did what little we could to help.We got to know 2 Ukrainian families personally, who had just escaped Donbas and through ourwider network, leaders and parents did what they could to help. We managed to provide themwith sufficient technology to keep in touch with family and keep in touch with schooling andwe tried to be a contact point for help. We picked them all up from the hotel they were placedin by Cruz Roja and brought them to St George´s for an afternoon.This was the same day we were doing a collection (to be distributed by Caritas Nuestra Señorade las Americas) of warm coats and fully equipped school rucksacks for Ukrainian children tostart school straight away. The 4 girls and 2 boys aged between 7 and 16 and their mothers,were able to take them home straight away. With my daughter and her Belarussian friend whospoke Russian, we took them all for a day in Madrid and a picnic in el Retiro, helping them usethe public transport for the first time. I kept in touch with them and just before Christmasreceived a message that they had decided to return home as the war doesn´t show signs ofstopping, and they thanked everyone for their kindness and wished us all a Merry Christmas.We planted a tree for the Jubilee with the British Ambassador Madrid Hugh Elliott in StGeorge´s School garden, had a Jubilee themed camp at Gredos with a 1950s style street partyatmosphere with 70 years of music, pass the parcel, musical chairs and pin the tail on thecorgi. The end of the year meant we also visited the Embassy along with 1 st Majadahonda tosign the condolence book and planted purple and white flowers around our Jubilee tree.We ended the year with a Christmas theatre event inviting all the parents, families andfriends. Each section did a sketch on stage and everyone joined in singing 12 days of Christmas.We sold cakes and mulled wine, bringing the total we’ve raised for our Explorer going to WorldScout Jamboree Korea to €850 over last term. Jordan McCullough our Southern EuropeanDistrict paid us a surprise visit, joined in the fun, and handed out a couple of awards.We hope you all had a wonderful break with your family and friends and look forward tohaving another fun filled year together. Happy New Year!CatherineGroup Scout Leader 1 st Madrid British Scouts.

H.E. Hugh Elliott British Ambassador to Spain and Andorra with 1st Madrid British Scouts planted an oak tree in St George’s School Madrid, where 1st Madrid is based. Tree was planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. It was a combined event with the pupils of St George’s joining in with 1st Madrid to write hopes and wishes to hang on the tree with coloured ribbons. A commemorative plaque will be added to the foot of the tree, so come and look for it next meeting. 

ACNUR is the Spanish wing of UNCHR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.A representative of ACNUR explained the work that they did with refugees. We were a stunned to find out that the average time a refugee can remain in a camp is 20 years, once they are displaced by war or natural disaster.With A Christmas Carol, the theatre company Face2face joined St George’s School and 1st Madrid British Scouts in raising money for Afghan refugees. €1 from every ticket was donated, along with all drink and snack sales, the total raised was €983. This amount would pay for medical care for 10 families for a year.