{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EWhat is the Thanksgiving Service?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThe National Scout Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving is a special church service hosted by The Scout Association at Westminster Abbey. It is a national event to celebrate and give thanks for all the volunteering that takes place within Scouting.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThe occasion is an opportunity for Scouts to celebrate the achievements of some of their longest serving volunteers, and those who have been awarded some of the association\u2019s top honours, such as the Silver Wolf award.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EHistorically the service was an annual event jointly hosted with Girlguiding but since the last joint event in 2019, it has been a Scout led event taking place every other year.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EWestminster Abbey features a memorial plaque to Robert and Olave Baden-Powell and many attendees like to visit this plaque before or after the service to give thanks for their roles in setting up the Scouting and Guiding movements. The historic relationship Scouts (and Guides) have with Westminster Abbey which makes this celebration possible.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EWho attends?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThe event is normally attended by 2000 adult members of Scouting from across the UK, British Scouting Overseas and British Overseas Territories travel to London to attend with their guests.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003ETickets are not available for general sale but are gifted to certain members to recognise their service to the Scout Movement. In recent years, priority has been given to adults who have gained their Silver Wolf or Silver Acorn award. A small number of others may also receive tickets to attend in recognition of their contribution and service to Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022 style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the service\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThe service features hymns, readings, prayers and young people delivering testimonies about their time in Scouts. Led by the UK Chief Volunteer, the Scout Promise is renewed by all members of Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThough the event takes place in a national Church of England venue, and features some elements of Christian ritual, it is our aim to provide an inclusive service that celebrates the achievements of all members, regardless of their personal faith and beliefs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022 style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdditional information\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk//media/rmsk2pxr/secular-reading.pdf?id=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service%2FJustImagineADifferentWorld%2Epdf\u0026amp;parent=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Secular Reading\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?id=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service%2FJustImagineADifferentWorld%2Epdf\u0026amp;parent=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service\u0022\u003ESecular Reading\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\u0022 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk//media/fxfdb3mz/20022026-order-of-service.pdf?id=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service%2F26%2D02%2D20%20Scouts%20%2D%20OoS%2Epdf\u0026amp;parent=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u002220.02.2026 Order Of Service\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?id=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service%2F26%2D02%2D20%20Scouts%20%2D%20OoS%2Epdf\u0026amp;parent=%2Fsites%2FUKEvents%2DThanksgivingService%2FShared%20Documents%2FThanksgiving%2026%2F2026%2FOrder%20of%20Service\u0022\u003EOrder of Service\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/md1lig52/sdw2602204315.jpg","width":6381,"height":4789,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/xm5drmjw/sdw2602200167.jpg","width":4696,"height":3535,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/tz5pn3er/sdw2602204435.jpg","width":6606,"height":4958,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image behind","cta":"View the gallery","body":"\u003Cp\u003EYou can now view a selection of photos from the 2026 event. Photography by Stephen Way.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECredit to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster/Picture Partnership.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Thanksgiving 2026","id":null,"url":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/203494865@N05/albums/72177720332557036/","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":null,"title":"Gallery","image":"/media/i0qmag3q/sdw2602204463.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dcb2064d7407f0","imageFocus":"","imageId":89097,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"The Scouts and Guides\u0027 annual Thanksgiving Service for volunteers","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"Thanksgiving Service","versionDate":"14 July 2023","reviewDate":"29/06/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":39640,"nodeName":"Scout and Guide Thanksgiving Service","title":"Scout and Guide Thanksgiving Service","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Scout and Guide Thanksgiving Service","headerSubTitle":"","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"490499","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"The Scouts and Guides\u0027 annual Thanksgiving Service for volunteers","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC8zOTY0MCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/national-events/thanksgiving/"}