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On Saturday 1 July, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin visited Conwy District Scouts at their Rowen camp to learn more about the group and their activities and how funding allocated from the PCC’s Your Community, Your Choice initiative is going towards their camp maintenance project and for the wider benefit of the young people of the county.
Your Community, Your Choice is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023 and, over the past ten years, a total of over £500,000 has been awarded to more than 150 projects working to reduce crime in their areas and to support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. The Your Community, Your Choice fund supports grass-roots projects and is supported by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police. The funding for Your Community, Your Choice comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Funding From Your Community, Your Choice is being used for the maintenance of the Rowen Scout campsite, which was the first dedicated scout campsite in Wales in 1931. The building that stands at the site was moved to the location following the Second World War and was one of the original prefabricated buildings from Conwy used during the construction of the Mulberry Harbour at Conwy Morfa used in the D-Day landings. The campsite is central to the provision of scouting activities, not only within Conwy, but from groups across North Wales with the site being booked all year round.
While at the camp, the cubs cook on wood fires and sleep in tents. The funding from Your Community, Your Choice has been partly used to fund a wood burning stove for the camp HQ building. During his visit, the Commissioner met District Commissioner, Jim Pitts, and Cub Leader of 1st Conwy Cub Pack and Rowen Scout Camp Warden, Ray Castle. He also saw the 1st Conwy Cub Pack taking part in an archery instruction session. The 1st Conwy Scout Group was formed in 1910 and is one of the oldest scout groups in the world.
Jim Pitts, District Commissioner for Conwy Scouts, commented: “We enjoyed welcoming the PCC to Rowen. Our project for the maintenance and improvement of the campsite supports our aims to give young people skills for life.
“We offer new challenges and encourage the Scouts to get outdoors and get stuck in. The experience of camping develops individual qualities, such as self-resilience, appreciation of nature, teamwork, friendship and respect for the environment.
“Scouting actively engages all our young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. Scouts proudly act with care, respect, integrity, cooperation and explore our own and others’ beliefs.”
North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “It was a pleasure to visit Rowen and to see the historic campsite, which has played such a pivotal role in the story of scouting in the UK. As both a former Cub and Scout myself, I am pleased to be able to support the ongoing improvement of the camp, so that even more Cubs and Scouts can enjoy its facilities. It’s also right that this funding should also partly come from cash seized from criminals, putting much needed funds back into the community for the benefit of all.”
PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers said: “At PACT, we recognise the huge value that community organisations bring to the people of North Wales, this is especially true of those that seek to offer worthwhile and useful pastimes for the younger members of society, giving them skills and knowledge that they can adapt throughout their adult life. We are very pleased to support the development of the Rowen campsite so that it continues to be a centre for scouting for the whole region. It is awe inspiring to think this scout camp has been active for over 90 years.”
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop stated: “North Wales Police is proud to support Conwy District Scouts in their work on improving facilities at their Rowen campsite. Policing and Scouting share many of the same values – most importantly service to the community. I am sure that the funding from Your Community, Your Choice will help the camp to thrive into the future.”