[Raedwald]

It's a difficult one. I think every organisation has the same issues - from my dealings with the Scouting and Sea Cadet organisations at any rate.

There are several ways of looking at it, I suppose. Yes, there will be a lot of drop-outs, but there should be a few who stay the course and develop a life-long interest (that could take them who knows where?) - it might be a little late for a newbie to be in a position to win gold at the 2012 games, but you never know! But 2018?

Our club has just been asked to provide some basic training/support to a local cob pack that's holding its annual camp over the coming Bank Holiday. THere's no way that all those cubs will keep up with it after the camp (many wont keep an involvement with cubs/scouts beyond the change to secondary education). But if we can sow the seeds in some, then that's a bonus, whenever that seed might grow.

Not sure about whether field would be more attractive to children than target, but it's a thought. We have a few juniors, including my own 14 yr old son, who's interest has just increased because one of his friends (our chairman's son) has also joined. They're even going to be trained/coached together. Hopefully, the fact that there are two of them might help to keep the interest alive.