Over the last two weeks over 380 people have signed the Save Outburst petition and we are grateful for your support and thoughtful comments.

Today we have written to Sale Central Scouts asking them to reconsider their decision to terminate their relationship with Outburst.  A copy of the letter is reproduced below.  We'll update this page with any reply.

Letter delivered to Sale Central Scouts HQ on Monday 14th March:

Dear Executive Committee Members

I am writing to you today as a parent, a local resident and a long-time member of the Scout Association to humbly ask Sale Central Scouts Group Executive Committee to reconsider their decision to terminate their relationship with Outburst children’s club.  In doing so, I would like to share the results of a petition I started two weeks ago through which over 350 local people have expressed their deep sadness that two respected local institutions have been unable to find common ground.  The comments made by signatories are reproduced in full below and the full petition can be found at www.change.org/SaveOutburst

My children attend Outburst children’s club and I have seen correspondence relating to this matter from both parties.  However, I started the petition and am writing to you now of my own volition and at no point was I requested or instructed to do this by Outburst.

I’m sure you would agree that difficulties such as this are never entirely the fault of one party but it can be difficult to step back from the brink after a prolonged period of misunderstanding.  Therefore, all that the signatories of this petition and I request is that both Outburst and Sale Central Scouts “wipe the slate clean” and make a final attempt to overcome their difficulties.  I understand that much of the difficulty is centred on mud and cleaning issues which are not insurmountable challenges.  I am also aware that Outburst have been unable to sign a new hire agreement which could be resolved by small changes to the terms and conditions.  I expect that with a collaborative mindset, creative solutions could be found to many of the other areas of contention.

As you and the Group Executive Committee decide how to proceed, please focus not on the needs of parents, nor the livelihood of the Outburst employees.  Instead, focus on the delight and joy that Outburst has brought to generations of school children and how it could continue to do this if an agreement can be reached.

Yours in Scouting

Anthony Wilson