The island’s Scout groups have been able to have their first in-person meetings of the year, since the easing of restrictions following the second circuit breaker lockdown.

Because of the lockdown’s timing, Manx Scouts have not met since they broke up for Christmas, but returned last week.

The Scout Association said that it hopes that this will be the last lockdown the island will see this year and it is putting its efforts into organising a wide-range of activities for the following months.

These include climbing, orienteering, axe throwing, bushcraft, archery, hill walking and camping.

The association is also planning to introduce sea kayaking this year after a recent exercise by the activities team was able to approve the island’s waters as being suitable for this activity.

Manx scouts are planning a four-day camp over what would have been the TT weekend in June, as this year’s races have been cancelled because of the pandemic.

The scouts would typically be engaged in their scorekeeping duties during the TT.

Though the physical scoreboard has recently been removed from the Grandstand, the TT organisers have set up a liaison committee with the scouts, which are expected to still play ’a major role’ in the new form of scorekeeping.

For this year, the association has stated that they would instead be creating something ’a bit different’ to entertain its members during what would have been the racing festival.

Anyone interested in getting involved either can visit: www.scouts.im.