Scouts from Hampshire join 500 others from across the UK to shape the future of the Scout movement.
Young people from Hampshire have joined other Scouts from across the UK at the world-famous University of Oxford, to help shape the future of the Movement.
The landmark youth forum was one of the first events of its kind taking place in early Spring 2025, to help the largest youth organisation in the country to create its next decade of sustainable growth.
Joe, 16, from Hampshire, says: “It’s fantastic to be in Oxford today at the UK Scouts Youth Forum to represent Hampshire. Scouting is made for young people, so it’s important the future is driven by the young people. So if you don't listen to what they want to do, they're not going to engage with the programme. Events like today help Scouts ensure that their programme relates to their interests to ensure everyone has fun an learns new skills.”
Eleanor Jones, 16, Basingstoke, says as a Young Leader in Scouts mental well-being was an issue she thinks important to discuss “ it's important to have resources, materials and information to help us and the Young Person on how to cope with different things”
Joe and Eleanor being interviewed by BBC Radio
From every area of the UK, two Scouts aged 10 to 14 and two Explorer Scouts aged 14-18, supported by two adult volunteers, have been invited to youth forums in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford to give as many young people as possible the chance to examine the Movement’s future plans, and suggest changes based on their own experiences.
Dwayne Fields, the recently appointed Chief Scout, said: “It’s important that the future plans of the Scouts are informed by young people, so that’s why it’s essential that young people from Hampshire are able to contribute to the future of the Scout Movement in the next ten years by having their say on our future plans.”
The day forum event in Oxford included workshops about the role of youth voice in the Movement’s strategy. Some specifically explored topics like advocacy, equity, diversity and inclusion, safety and safeguarding, sustainability and digital. Young people also considered what the world – and Scouts – will look like in 2035.
Adult volunteer, Dee Wright, who supported young people at the event, said: "Seeing young people confidently share their voices and shape their own adventures is truly inspiring — it’s a powerful reminder of why we volunteer. When young people lead, they thrive, and we get to be part of something that really matters. If you’ve ever thought about giving back, there’s no better time to join us."
Finn’s dedication and commitment to Scouting in Hampshire have been recognised with a County Commissioner’s Commendation. Since joining the Hampshire Scouts Young Leader Team in April 2023, Finn has made an extraordinary impact - not only within the HEAT (Hampshire Explorer Ambassador Team) but across the entire Young Leader community in Hampshire.
From the outset, Finn has played a crucial role in delivering high-quality training, supporting events, and ensuring the smooth running of the Young Leader programme. His contributions to the Chaos Camps and Young Leader Rally have been exceptional, demonstrating his ability to manage people and tasks with skill and confidence. In fact, Finn has been instrumental in leading the organisation of Young Leader Rally, a responsibility he has taken on with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Beyond event management, Finn’s involvement in the monthly Young Leader training sessions has helped train over 150 young leaders in Module A alone - a staggering achievement that highlights his commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders. He not only leads sessions but also takes on the vital behind-the-scenes work, from managing emails to coordinating new recruits. His efforts have been key to the continued growth and success of the programme across Hampshire.
What sets Finn apart is his ability to bring people together and drive progress. He is a true leader in every sense, inspiring others with his dedication and passion for Scouting. His outstanding contribution has not gone unnoticed, and this commendation is a well-earned recognition of his impact.
Reflecting on Finn’s journey, Chloe Foster, a fellow leader and mentor, shared:
“It is an absolute privilege to recommend Finn for this award. I first met him as a participant during a Young Leader training weekend I was running, and he instantly stood out. Since then, I have had the pleasure of watching him grow into an exceptional leader. He embraced the challenge of running training weekends with enthusiasm, and today, he has completely taken over their organisation in Hampshire. Finn contributes so much to Hampshire Scouting, and while a lot of what he does goes unnoticed, it’s essential to highlight his remarkable dedication. He is, without a doubt, an invaluable part of the team.”
Finn’s award is a testament to his hard work and unwavering commitment to supporting young leaders in Hampshire. His influence on the programme will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of Scouting in the county for years to come.
Congratulations, Finn, on this well-deserved recognition!
When Henrietta, leader at Trident Explorers, set out on a walk near her home, she had no idea what was about to happen.
But, when she came across an elderly gentleman who had collapsed on the street and was unresponsive, she didn’t hesitate.
Using her First Aid training, she quickly assessed the situation, sent a bystander to fetch a nearby public-access Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and began performing CPR. At least fifteen minutes later, paramedics arrived and took over his care.
Thanks to Henrietta’s quick thinking and confidence, the patient received the urgent medical attention he needed. Since then, Henrietta has been honoured with a certificate from the Royal Humane Society, presented at an Explorer evening, in recognition of her inspiring efforts.
Another leader at her Explorers Unit, Trident, said they felt “it was important to show the Explorers first hand that First Aid is not just an abstract concept”.
“Henrietta is the definition of a devoted Scout Leader and her Explorer Scouts already think she is ‘the best’. But this award has made those Explorers regard her in another light. It was all they could talk about when they found out what she’d done.
"I am a Leader with Trident Explorers too, but I am also a District First Aid instructor. It is sobering to know that one of my instructor colleagues will have taught Henrietta what to do that day. Very sobering indeed. The hardest thing to do in a situation like this is to overcome the reluctance to act in the immediacy of coming upon it. However, not only did Henrietta do that without hesitation but she was ‘Prepared’ to do a great job of what she did too!”
David, Scout volunteer
This award stands as a true testament to her bravery, selflessness, and ability to remain composed in a high-stakes situation and will hopefully be presented to her in a more formal ceremony by the Mayor of Winchester on the 13th of March.
Her story is a powerful reminder that First Aid is not just a theoretical skill but a practical ability that can be needed at any moment - even during a simple walk.
Henrietta’s actions underscore the vital importance of immediate bystander intervention. Before she arrived, two men had independently stopped to assist and called an ambulance while the patient was still responsive. However, by the time help was on the way, the man had lost consciousness.
One of the men said he had considered performing CPR but didn’t feel capable. According to NHS England, “survival decreases by 10% for every minute defibrillation is delayed, but CPR can increase the chance of survival two-to-three fold.”
Her quick thinking demonstrates the impact of preparation and training and emphasises the value of First Aid education which can empower more people to step up with confidence when it matters most. Well done, Henrietta!
For those interested in learning more, training sessions (Module K for Young Leaders and Module 10 A/B for Leaders) can be accessed via the county website. Sections can also run First Aid evenings to help young people progress toward their next Emergency Aid badge.
The day was packed with activities from bouldering, archery and inflatables, pumpkin carving and crafts, fairground games and even a murder mystery. Then a quick stop for dinner whilst the sun set in the background ready for the much anticipated spooky trail.
From spiders, zombies and creepy clowns to scarecrows, giant octopi and the mad hatter. This years trail was the work of the Ferny Crofts staff taking over a week to create and months to plan, brought to life by an amazing team of volunteers. No words can quite capture the detail and magnitude of the day so why not check out this video.
Fright Night 2023 was an unforgettable experience, filled with spooky surprises, camaraderie, and a whole lot of courage. We hope we haven’t scared you off 2024 is just around the corner.
Find out more about Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre at their website or find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Text: Michael Doncom
The afternoon held at Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre, in Brockenhurst, was in support of a unique tree-planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
People from across the United Kingdom and abroad are encouraged to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” which has already seen millions of people engaged in the project.
His Majesty The King agreed to extend the campaign until the end of March 2023 to allow people to plant trees in memoriam to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who died in September.
Lady Louisa Portal, Hampshire’s Deputy Lieutenant, praised the Scouts for their work while attending the dry November tree-planting session.
She said: “I am thrilled to see so many young people understanding what the Green Canopy initiative is about.
“I think it’s really impressive [the quantity of trees planted at the site] and it makes me really proud to be a Scout. I have always been proud and always will be, and to do a project like this on such a scale is very impressive. Bravo!”
The 421 trees planted at the outdoor adventure centre were in addition to the 1,000 trees planted just before the pandemic.
Two teams worked on this tree planting afternoon, with young people and volunteers from the 6th Hamble Sea Scouts in attendance.
The main tree, which a plaque can identify to commemorate the occasion, is a liquid amber tree which displays maple-like leaves and takes on a beautiful and long-lasting autumn colour.
Martin Rudd, a volunteer with Hampshire Scouts, was impressed by what was being achieved. He said: “It’s fantastic seeing everyone come together to support this project that was instituted by the late Majesty The Queen. I’m really pleased that we got such a lovely tree and my thanks go to the team at Ferny Crofts who have sourced everything and made this possible.”
Harry, 12, a Scout at the Hamble Sea Scouts group, said: “It makes me feel really good that we have planted all these trees. We have spent the whole day out in nature and getting our hands dirty and doing good. Personally, I think I have planted almost 50 trees today. It makes me feel happy these trees will be here for a long time.”
Rohan, 12, encouraged other young people to join this project and others alike.
He said: “If you try tree planting you might like it, especially when later in life you can come back and see them it’s going to be a nice boost of your childhood memories and you will have a great sense of accomplishment and it will be a nice feeling.”
For more about The Queen’s Green Canopy, go to queensgreencanopy.org
Pictures and words by Sam Poole.
October saw Beaver Scouts from across Hampshire come together at Paultons Park in Romsey for our annual visit. Even though they are only aged between 6 and 8, the largest rides were no challenge for the adventurous young people. From the log flume to the dinosaur-themed rides, there was a ride for everyone.
Some groups were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Chip the Beaver, our Beaver Scout mascot. As he wandered around the park, he got to meet many of our Beavers who got to take a photo with him. Even members of the public stopped by to get their photo taken with Chip. He was lucky enough to go on one of the many rides at Paultons, taking on the challenge of the Viking boats. For one young person, it was time to be invested into the Scouts, and the adult volunteers wanted to make it extra special. They were lucky enough to give their promise to Chip, who then presented them with their necker in the presence of their fellow Beavers.
Peter Knott, the lead for programme across Hampshire, said "I spoke to so many Beavers and their Leaders during the day and the Leaders were so grateful for the opportunity, the Beavers just wanted to tell me how brave they were and what colour ride I should go on next!"
Due to the young age of the Beavers, certain rides at the theme park require them to be accompanied by an older person. Every year, we have young leaders aged 16 – 18 sign up to join the Beavers on the ride to make sure they get to do everything. This year was no exception, with 45 young leaders on hand to go on the rides as many times as needed. For many adult volunteers, this helped them tremendously, giving them a break from going on the rides and enabling them to entertain the young people who did not want to do a particular ride.
Michael Collins, the lead for Beavers in West Hampshire and the event organiser, spoke to the volunteers on hand across the two weekends. He said "over the 3 days we had about 1000 Beavers and 1500 of us in total and as far as I can see a good time was had by all. It wouldn't happen without all of you."
Chloe Foster is well known within the County. She was the first to achieve the Top Award trio of the Queen's Scout Award, Explorer Belt and the Scouts of the World Award and is now a volunteer within the County.
Following her last Birds of the World badge project, Chloe is now back with the Bugs of the World badge challenge encouraging our Scouts and other young people including members of Girlguiding to look down and notice the little critters that make our world tick.
Just like the previous award, this also helps raise money for other good causes. Last time, for the Birds of the World, the £1,000 raised was initially to support Chloe to attend an international expedition to Tanzania in 2020 to build a medical centre. When this couldn't happen, it instead went to the Hawk Conservancy for the Vulture Trust to help the birds that the badge had been focused on. For the Bugs of the World, this will allow Chloe to attend Hampshire Scout's Project 23 as a Team Leader.
Project 23 is a European expedition for those who applied to attend the World Scout Jamboree in 2023 but were unsuccessful. It's a chance for as many young people as possible to get abroad on a journey and adventure just as exciting given the unfortunately limited number of people who we can take to Korea.
We had a chat with Chloe about the journey so far.
"It makes me feel proud that I was able to do this and even though I couldn’t go on the Tanzania 2020 trip, the money raised is still going to an amazing cause and something I feel strongly about as an animal lover.
"I’m also grateful to everyone who helped and supported me and bought my badges. I feel that by just creating a simple badge, it has helped me achieve so much.
"I’ve achieved my Scout of the World Award, I became the first person in Hampshire to complete all their top awards, I raised money to send out to Tanzania to help build a medical centre, I raised money for a critically endangered bird."
"Vultures are misunderstood animals and people have bad impressions of them due to movies and how they always play the villain. Vultures are actually a key part to cleaning up animal carcasses, but unfortunately the carcasses are being poisoned by poaches intentionally to kill the vultures. It's a big problem and one that few are fully aware of, but videos and information like this helps.
"I was shocked to find out all this information and I just can’t believe this is going on and the impact that it’s causing. Vultures are the most threatened group of birds in the world and no one knows about it. I wanted to help them by donating the money raised from my badges to them and to make more people aware of the severity of their endangerments.
"I learnt so much more about these birds when I went to the Hawk Conservancy Trust and what they are doing to support and help them, including their breeding programme. I got to see how majestic and amazing they were, nothing like the movies depict them out to be. I absolutely loved watching the vulture fly on to my hand and holding one."
"There is no doubt that I was devastated. I’ve always wanted to go to Africa and help with a community project, learn their culture and see animals in the wild.
"But I was more devastated for the young people. I had a lovely group of inspiring young people who were so ready to do good in Africa and help build a medical centre. They had done so much hard work fundraising for the money including a whole weekend bag packing in multiple shops. Unfortunately, it was hard to know what to do to help them through it as it was such an alien time for everyone. I did organise some Zoom call quiz nights for the young people but everyone was just sitting tight and waiting for the pandemic to blow over.
"Once we were back to some kind of reality, I decide to throw myself into a new adventure and apply to be a leader for Project 23, a three-week expedition road trip through Europe. This trip provides all the young people who did not secure a place on the World Scout Jamboree an opportunity to experience and be part of an international expedition. I was over the moon to be offered a place, as well as being offered to be a team leader which I was very honored to be chosen for."
"I’ve just learnt so much and have loved the journey these badges have created for me and I want to continue this by releasing another Scout challenge badge. BUGS OF THE WORLD.
"This badge will follow a similar format to the Birds of the World badge but this time I want to educate young people on bugs. This will then help me fundraise for Project 23 where I am a leader of a group and provide a memorable experience to 33 young people."
Complete some challenges from a list covering creating something, discovering more and exploring for bugs in your own garden.
You can find out the latest with her project at the dedicated Facebook page for Bugs of the World or email [email protected] to get the full details.
Whatever someone’s background or belief, sexuality or race, we continually celebrate that Scouts is good and accessible for all.
And that’s exactly what has been happening in Hampshire with Explorer Scouts who have engaged with their recent Inclusion event.
The 1st Fareham Scout Group welcomed more than 30 young people, aged 14 to 17, from across the Denwulf District and the Meon Valley areas to meet two inspirational speakers who have faced their own challenges and triumphs around Inclusion.
First to speak was Lt Cdr Oliver Brown of the Royal Navy.
Lt Cdr Brown shared his story about going from being diagnosed with HIV, and contemplating suicide as he was medically suspended from his job, right through to getting help, and using his time on suspension to research HIV, review the policies set out by the Armed Forces and work out how he was going to challenge the heads of the forces with his findings.
Lt Cdr Oliver was successful in challenging these policies and this has led to a national change in policy and can now continue to enjoy his career.
He said: “Being diagnosed with HIV in November 2019 was a shock and my knowledge of what my life would become was lacking.
“I did not even know if I would be able to remain in service. I was glad to learn this was not the case and my life would change very little except for one tablet a day.”
Those present had the opportunity to ask questions and explore the importance of the matter in more detail.
The other speaker included the co-chair of the first Chichester Pride event, Mel Hamilton.
Mel shared her story from being born a male to becoming a transgender female and how she approached the many different challenges such as telling her family, having to move away from her support network and dealing with many things on her own.
She also gave the background of how the Pride movement was formed and what it stands for.
Gary Callaghan, the lead volunteer for the Fareham-based group, emphasised that these events are important for all.
He said: “Events like these are really important not just within Scouting, but for the whole of society.
“It would be great to see more events like this happening across our communities and hopefully this event can be a catalyst for change.”
For more information about the Scouts approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, go to scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/
Words by Sam Poole
On 24th April Chief Scout Bear Grylls honoured nearly 300 Scouts from all around the country with their Queen’s Scout awards.
They were presented with the award at Windsor Castle and joined by Scout Ambassadors Warwick Davis and Tim Peake, in front of family and friends in what was a fantastic celebration of achievement.
The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest honour in Scouting and is awarded for outstanding personal achievement.
This honour is achieved by young people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges, which includes service to their community, completing an expedition in wild country, undertaking a five-day residential project in a new environment, developing an existing talent or learning some new skills to build on what they have already learnt in the Scouts.
These young people will have shown that they are dedicated and willing to learn all they can, which will provide them with opportunities to gain skills for life.
Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Queen’s Scout award recipients are the absolute pinnacle of determination, grit, and perseverance. They’ve contributed to their communities and developed skills along the way, and earning their Queen’s Scout awards is just another step in their journey to personal growth. These Scouts are an inspiration to all others around the world thanks to their hard work and I find myself full of admiration for every single one of them.”
There were 11 young people from the county awarded their Queen Scout Award:
Paul Bell, the lead volunteer for Scouts in Hampshire, praised the young people for their achievements. He said: "It’s absolutely fantastic to see 11 young people from Hampshire awarded their Queen’s Scout Awards at Windsor over the weekend. Each of them has had a unique experience, and have made memories for life, so the ceremony is the perfect way to celebrate. I’m really impressed by their achievement and am confident this will inspire many other young people to work towards the same in years to come."
The annual Windsor Castle event has been held since 1934 on the Sunday nearest to St. George's Day.
St. George is the Patron Saint of Scouting. Since the Queen’s Scout Award began, over 100,000 of these awards have been presented to young men and women for outstanding personal achievements and service to their local communities.
They have learned new life skills and developed them into what will one day be useful for their careers.
Scouting offers over 200 different activities varying from archery to kayaking with all of them being tailored to help young people develop skills for life in the most effective way possible.
Exploring the wonders of Space is fascinating for people of all ages – especially when you can ask an astronaut about their own experience.
That’s exactly what young people from the 8th Portsmouth Scout Group (Southsea) got up to when they were given a surprise visit by Tim Peake, UK astronaut and Scout ambassador.
The Zoom visit, which took place on 18th February 2021, saw more than 30 young people and 6 adult volunteers beaming with smiles as Tim jumped on to thank volunteers for all they have been doing to teach young people skills for life during the pandemic.
He said: “I want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who have been keeping these online Scout meetings going through this period of lockdown.
"I know it's not easy doing all these Scout meetings by Zoom. You guys are doing the right thing keeping in touch, staying in touch with friends, and thank you to the adult volunteers for everything you do."
Tim joined in the fun, answered questions and thanked the volunteer team for their amazing work.
While face-to-face meetings have been suspended and meetings have taken place online, volunteers from the group have coordinated Space themed sessions, various team-building activities, and have engaged with The Great Indoors throughout the pandemic.
Ben, a Cub Scout, drew a poster designed to recruit astronauts. He based his poster on Tim Peake saying: "Tim Peake is my favourite astronaut and I think we need more people like him to go to space."
Mr Peake did compliment Ben's posters pinned behind him on his was and compared them to the artwork Tim had on his own wall.
When Tim was asked about his favourite memory of the Scouts, he said: "I have always been a fan of the outdoors and, frankly, if I was outdoors I would be happy doing anything.
"I know that it has been a real struggle [to do activities outdoors] in the last year, but as a Scout, if I was camping, lighting fires and going on hikes then I was happy.
"As a young teenager, one of my most fun things was doing a night hike and you were able to walk across the South Downs or wherever you may be so I encourage everyone to engage with a night hike like that."
Youngsters from both the Cub Scouts and Scouts section were on the call concluding their space-themed series in a way they’ll never forget.
Words by Sam Poole
