Burley Scouts and Guides

We need a new team leader!

We think you OR your mum / dad / best friend / neighbour might be perfect for this role.

As the leader of the team we would call you the Group Lead Volunteer !

In a nutshell, the Group Lead Volunteer would be:

•  Inspiring and enthusiastic, resourceful and full of energy
• A problem solver, team builder and a leader
• Believe passionately about developing young people and volunteers to be their best

Burley Scouts won’t be the only one to benefit – so what’s in it for you?

This is an opportunity to make a real difference to local young people.

Volunteering with Scouting can be as flexible as you need. If you are worried that you won’t have enough time, why not consider a role share within a small team.

We are here to fill you in on the details. If you want to know more please do get in touch with Tim Haskins, District Lead districtlead@wharfedalescouts.org.uk or 07766441571

We would love to hear from you.

On a morning in October, Burley Rainbows, Brownies and Guides planted 3000 purple crocus bulbs on the village green.

With the agreement of the Parish Council, the local Rotary Club provided the bulbs which are to support the Purple4Polio campaign. The purple colour is to raise awareness and funds for tackling polio around the world. It will serve as a colourful reminder of the progress being made towards a polio-free world.

The crocus bulbs will flower in early spring next year and for years to come.

The girls, parents and leaders did a fabulous job

Waddow Hall, near Clitheroe, is well known in Girlguiding circles — but it holds a particularly special place in the hearts of Burley-in-Wharfedale Guiding members. Our history with Waddow stretches right back to its very beginning.

In 1927, Waddow Hall was purchased by Girlguiding and officially opened with a special ceremony led by members from Burley-in-Wharfedale. The unit’s leader, Anne Shepherd, wrote and directed a play for the occasion, performed by Brownies, Guides and Rangers. In the play, Anne took the role of a blacksmith who forged a key for Waddow Hall’s front door from a Brownie badge. She handed the key to the Fairy — the Spirit of Waddow — who then presented it to Princess Mary, the Princess Royal of Harewood House. Princess Mary used the key to unlock the door of Waddow Hall, declaring, “This Happy House Shall Never Fall.”

For almost a century, Waddow Hall remained under Girlguiding ownership. In 2024, it was purchased by the GT Foundation, which pledged to continue running it as an activity and camping centre for all young members of the community.

In September 2025, Waddow Hall was joyfully reopened — and once again, members of Burley-in-Wharfedale Girlguiding were honoured to take part in the ceremony, “Back to Waddow.” Following the tradition of 1927, Burley members took on the leading roles. A Guide from 1st Burley-in-Wharfedale Guides represented the Spirit of Waddow, joined by Brownies from 1st and 2nd Burley. The Brownies donated their promise badges to create a new key, allowing the Spirit to unlock Waddow’s door once more.

It was a proud and historic moment for Guiding in Burley-in-Wharfedale — one that marks the beginning of another chapter in our shared story with Waddow Hall. Brownies, Guides, and Leaders are all looking forward to returning to Waddow for camps, pack holidays, and adventure days once again!

The Burley in Wharfedale Scouts and Guides AGM was held on 30th June 2025

The chair opened the meeting by thanking all executive members and leaders for their support over the last year. Both Scouting and Guiding units have been very busy of the past year and all groups go from strength to strength. Specific reports that were presented are attached here

Chair’s address AGM 2025

Group Guide Leader Report May 2025

Finance Report 2024-25

There’s a fantastic opportunity at Reva scout sailing centre for anyone interested in water sports. Reva is a 10 acre reservoir close to Hawksworth near Ilkley Moor.

Yorkshire water have generously leased this reservoir for scout watersports activities and there is a superb clubhouse, changing rooms, lecture rooms, kitchen and activity room. There is also a bo’sun store and storage for all sorts of watersports equipment. The centre is generously provisioned with all types of boats, sailing dinghies, kayaks, canoes and safety boats. It really is a dream facility for anyone keen on watersports and a brilliant asset for the scout Association and for all local scout groups.

Unfortunately, we are missing one crucial ingredient. We urgently need lots more volunteers to enable more scouts to be able to enjoy these adventurous sports. So this is a plea to anyone associated, or not currently associated, with scout groups in Bradford, Keighley, Wharfedale, and neighbouring districts who has any watersports skills to step forward and help out with providing sessions for Scouts in this area.

For anyone who may be interested, there is refresher, training and instructor training to get any volunteers up to standard, and used to the equipment. This training will take place on the following dates.

24th of March 2024.

28th of April 2024.

26th of May 2024.

For anyone, without any previous watersports experience, your assistance would also be appreciated, we hope to organise some training for you later in the year.

So if you or a friend or relative know how to sail, kayak, paddleboard, canoe, bellboat , raft or drive a power boat then we’d love to hear from you.

Please contact Antony Cam on antonycam@gmail.com or leave a message on (07484) 705167 to chat about your skills or book in for the refresher training.