{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWe believe no Scout, under 18-year-old, young adult or adult youth work volunteer supporting young people should be charged the proposed Tourist Tax for overnight stays. The cost and admin would mean fewer young people will get to enjoy the benefits of camping and nights away.\u202F\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany organisations and individuals, including Scouts, have already challenged this proposal. They have written to their local Mayors, and also to MPs who have raised this in Parliament.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow will this impact on Scouts?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf introduced by a local Mayor as it stands, the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-leaders-handed-powers-to-drive-investment-in-communities\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Overnight Visitor Levy press release on gov.uk\u0022\u003EOvernight Visitor Levy\u003C/a\u003E would mean an additional cost for each young person under 18, young adult or adult youth work volunteer when they spend a night away from home in that area \u2013 even if it is camping outside their local Scout Meeting Place. This is surely an unintended consequence of the new powers.\u202F\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow can I help?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you agree with our concern, we would like you to raise this with your local Mayor and MP.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWriting a letter and sharing our social media posts would really help highlight the issue locally and nationally, helping prevent any negative impact of the Tourist Tax on Scouts.\u202F\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Download the template and contact your MP or Mayor","buttonLink":{"name":"Visitor Levy template letter to Mayors","id":null,"url":"https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/puphsu24/overnight-visitor-levy-letter-to-mayors-sept-2026.docx","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":{"value":"003982","label":"003982"},"alignment":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShare our social media posts\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7505962268375900160\u0022\u003ELinkedIn\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.facebook.com/reel/1979797232686529\u0022\u003EFacebook\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.instagram.com/p/DdWQvOzDKg0/\u0022\u003EInstagram\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/oomlfr5g/place-to-belong-outdoors-24-jpg.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"Image shows chief scout dwayne fields outdoors speaking to some Scouts who are wearing helmets","caption":"Chief Scout Dwayne Fields has responded to the plans","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat\u0027s the background?\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":true,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe government has announced that it is planning to\u202Fhand Mayors and local leaders the power to introduce an \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-leaders-handed-powers-to-drive-investment-in-communities\u0022\u003EOvernight Visitor Levy\u003C/a\u003E \u2013 a fee on overnight stays in England. This is also being referred to as a \u2018Tourist Tax\u2019.\u202F\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe proposal\u202Fwill allow Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a levy and how the revenue should be invested in their area, in consultation with their residents and local businesses.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"What does \u0027Tourist Tax\u0027 mean?"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBack in February we expressed our concerns about the potential impact of this on our ability to offer overnight stays to our young people, and we published a piece by our Chief Scout setting out our concerns. \u003Ca href=\u0022/news/2026/february/keep-nights-away-accessible/\u0022 title=\u0022Keep nights away accessible\u0022\u003EYou can read our response here\u003C/a\u003E.\u202F\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow the proposal has been confirmed by the government, although legislation will still need to be passed in parliament, we are making the case that there should be a national exemption for under-18s, young adults and adult youth work volunteers supporting them, and charity-run hostels, campsites, activity centres, and meeting places.\u202F\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDwayne Fields, Chief Scout\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u0027We\u2019re sure our legislators did not intend for these new laws to stop Cubs from Hackney going to camp in Epping Forest or Explorer Scouts from Manchester sleeping under the stars in the Cumbrian fells. Let common sense prevail and help us protect the experiences that boost all our young people\u2019s health, happiness and future prospects.\u0027\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"What has been Scouts\u0027 response to the Tourist Tax?"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWe have sent out a template letter to CLVs which they can send to their regional Mayors and MPs on this issue, and we hope this will generate support for our position with key decision makers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe have also shared our concern on social media, sharing videos of the questions raised in Parliament about this, referencing Scouts.\u202F\u003C/p\u003E","label":"What actions has Scouts taken against the Tourist Tax proposal?"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EHow can I make a difference?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo help keep nights away opportunities accessible to all, please share our social media posts\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7505962268375900160\u0022\u003ELinkedIn\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.facebook.com/reel/1979797232686529\u0022\u003EFacebook\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.instagram.com/p/DdWQvOzDKg0/\u0022\u003EInstagram\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can also \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/puphsu24/overnight-visitor-levy-letter-to-mayors-sept-2026.docx\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Visitor Levy template letter to Mayors\u0022\u003Ewrite to your local Mayor and MP using this template letter\u003C/a\u003E requesting:\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA national exemption for all youth group members, including under-18s, young adults, and adult youth work volunteers, to protect youth development opportunities.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA national exemption for charity-run hostels, campsites, activity centres, and meeting places, recognising that they\u2019re distinct from commercial accommodation providers.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENo further administrative burdens to be placed on small-scale, volunteer-run facilities.\u00A0\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis would really help highlight the issue locally and nationally, helping prevent any negative impact of the Tourist Tax on Scouts.\u202F\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"","cta":"Download the template ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnsure Scouts can continue making nights away as accessible as possible.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Visitor Levy template letter to Mayors","id":null,"url":"https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/puphsu24/overnight-visitor-levy-letter-to-mayors-sept-2026.docx","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#003982","title":"Help Scouts amend the Tourist Tax","image":"/media/wbbcm0cc/db-20240523-2660-173635-jpg.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dd46abdc7e4e80","imageFocus":"","imageId":91224,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"17 September 2026","reviewDate":"01/01/0001","redirectUrl":"","id":91220,"nodeName":"Help oppose the Tourist Tax for under 18s","title":"Help oppose the Tourist Tax for under 18s","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Help oppose the Tourist Tax for all youth group members to protect youth development ","headerSubTitle":"","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC85MTIyMCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-campaigns/help-oppose-the-tourist-tax-for-under-18s/"}