DRIVERS will soon be able to show their support for Operation Covert after a Kidderminster firm pledged 1,000 special stickers to our campaign.

The car sticker, declaring "I'm Supporting Operation Covert", will go on sale later this month in aid of our campaign to rebuild the torched centre at Rhydd Covert near Bewdley.

The stickers will be sold from the Shuttle/Times and News offices in Blackwell Street and through Wyre Forest Scout groups.

Operation Covert is asking for a minimum donation of £1 for each sticker.

Kidderminster company, Exilco, came forward with the offer a week after 500 unique badges were donated by Stourbridge firm, Webb Tolley, to sell in aid of Operation Covert.

Both badges and stickers will be on sale by the end of November.

Exilco director, Tim Hollis, said he had a strong personal reason for pledging the company's support.

He said: "Myself and my brother run the business and, with our third brother, we were all Scouts and spent a lot of our youth at Rhydd Covert.

"Now my daughters are going to Rhydd Covert as part of Guides so we are happy to lend our support.

"For anybody growing up, it is important that children have good role models and the adults at Rhydd Covert provide that."

District commissioner for Kidderminster and District Scout Council, Dave Denton, said: "This is a chance for people to show their support and a good way of promoting the appeal."

Exilco is based at Foley Industrial Estate, Beauchamp Avenue, Kidderminster. The family business was set up in 1975 and employs 10 people.

Centre at heart of Scouting life

THE centre at Rhydd Covert is at the heart of the Scout movement in Wyre Forest, a movement that helps about 700 district young people develop crucial values of responsibility and citizenship.

Scout groups have existed in Wyre Forest since 1909 - two years after Robert Baden-Powell founded the movement.

There are 13 Scout groups in the district. The groups mostly comprise the three types of Scouts, to suit different age ranges.

Beaver Scouts are for children aged six to eight, Cub Scouts are for eight to 10-and-a-half-year-olds while Scouts are for children aged 10-and-a-half to 14.

The children meet once a week and take part in a set programme to achieve a series of badges that reward skills such as camping and orienteering.

These outdoor skills - which include mapping and fire lighting - are at the core of the Scouts age group and are put to the test at Rhydd Covert and with expeditions throughout the UK.

The Cubs spend their time learning the basic skills to prepare them for Scouts while, for the youngest Beaver Scouts, the emphasis is on "fun and friends".

All youngsters work towards their Queens Scout Award, which emphasises the importance of good citizenship with activities such as first aid. This is usually attained during their time in a District Explorer Unit, which is for teenagers aged 14 to 18.

There are four District Explorer groups, along with the 13 district Scout groups. The Scout groups are in Wolverley, Franche, Comberton, St Johns, Spennells, Cookley, Harkaway, Blakedown, Birchen Coppice, Habberley.

Two groups, meanwhile, are dedicated to Air Scouts and Sea Scouts while Scoutlink caters for children with special needs.

District commissioner at Kidderminster and District Scout Council, Dave Denton, said: "Scouting provides an opportunity for youngsters to pursue different activities that they wouldn't normally be able to pursue, especially outdoor activities.

"It enables young people to discover themselves, become more independent and become good citizens."

Donations top £1,000

OUR appeal has cruised passed the £1,000 mark as more and more Shuttle/Times & News readers reach into their pockets to help Wyre Forest's Scouts. About £1,400 has been pledged to Operation Covert in the two weeks since the appeal was launched.

Donations ranging from £2 to £120 have been given to the Shuttle/Times and News by post, at our offices in Blackwell Street and to Kidderminster & District Scout Council. The figure is up £1,000 from just seven days ago - and it is all thanks to you.

How to help

If you wish to make a donation to Operation Covert, you can:

l Call in at the Shuttle/Times & News offices in Blackwell Street, Kidderminster, during normal business hours from 9am to 5pm.

l Post donations to Operation Covert, c/o Oliver Evans, Shuttle/Times and News, 6 Towers Buildings, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster DY10 2DY. Please make cheques payable to Rhydd Covert Campsite.

l Post donations to Sam Rees, Rhydd Covert treasurer, 20 Wilton Avenue, Kidderminster DY11 5PR.