{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Jade Slaughter","standfirst":"We\u2019re proud to share that our latest annual membership figures show another year of growth, including a wave of new sections opening in areas of deprivation across the UK.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"mediaBlock","areas":[{"items":[{"value":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/ePOevYVP9dI?feature=oembed","gridType":"embed","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass"}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESince 2014, we\u2019ve been focusing on bringing Scouts to some of the UK\u2019s most disadvantaged communities: this is part of\u00A0\u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022 title=\u0022Skills for Life\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022margin: 0px;\u0022\u003Eour strategy\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u00A0to ensure all of the UK\u2019s young people have access to services that allow them to develop essential life skills. The new figures reveal that we\u2019ve now opened 1,280 sections in areas of deprivation. This means that nearly 20,480 young people from the toughest to reach communities are now a part of the UK Scout Movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo generate this growth, we\u2019ve employed development officers to work in local communities, seeking out community leaders and meeting places, and setting up these new provisions. They then support the new sections for a few months to ensure they\u2019re self-sustaining and can continue offering high quality youth work once the development team moves onto new challenges.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"mediaBlock","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/2169/young-child-takes-part-in-scouting-activity.jpg","width":2083,"height":1172,"altText":"A young child holding on to a stick.","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003ELinda Anneh-Bu, a Scout Leader from a group which started in 2018, said, \u2018Scouting is a bit of lifeline to the community round here. It gives the young people really fun and exciting things to do and helps them develop skills that will help them in later life. I am proud to be part of the team that gives new opportunities to our young people.\u2019\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDespite this focused development work, the waiting list for those wanting to experience Scouts has also continued to grow, with more than 60,000 young people now wanting to join us in the UK.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETim Kidd, our UK Chief Commissioner, said,\u00A0\u20182018 has been another strong year for Scouts, as the movement continues to go from strength to strength in the UK. I am so proud we\u0027re continuing to grow the movement. We reach out to the UK\u2019s young people, giving them skills that will help them to succeed in life, long after they have left Scouts.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0027That\u2019s why I\u2019m particularly proud of the work we\u2019ve done in communities across the UK that may not traditionally have access to Scouts. We\u0027re able to give close to 22,000 UK young people in areas of deprivation the chance to develop skills that will help them succeed in life. This is a real achievement, and is core to the Scouts\u2019 ongoing mission to prepare young people with skills for life.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBear Grylls, Chief Scout, was also thrilled to see the new figures. He said, \u2018I\u2019m so proud that we continue to see so many young people and\u00A0adult volunteers signing up for Scouts to not only have fun and experience adventures, but also learn skills for life.\u00A0As a movement, we want to make sure all of the UK\u2019s young people have access to these opportunities, which is why it\u2019s so important that we are seeing such strong growth for the movement in some of the most challenging areas of the UK.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022margin: 0px;\u0022\u003E\u0027But to do more, we need more volunteers! We still have more than 60,000 young people who want to join and gain new skills but are unable to do so. If you want to make a difference to the lives of young people,\u00A0feel more motivated and confident and learn some new skills then please\u00A0give Scouts a go.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"quoteText":"Scouting is a bit of lifeline to the community round here. It gives the young people really fun and exciting things to do and helps them develop skills that will help them in later life.","attribution":"Linda Anneh-Bu, a Scout Leader from a group which started in 2018","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"mediaBlock","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/2162/two-children-use-colouring-pencils-and-pens-to-create-art.jpg","width":2000,"height":1335,"altText":"Two children using colouring pens","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EExamples of new provisions opened in areas of deprivation in key English regions:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people attending these Scout groups are drawn from the 10% most deprived wards in England.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELondon \u2013 Willesden Scout District\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2017 Census: 284 Members in the Scout District\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2018 Census: 384 Members \u2013 A 35% growth on 2017\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2019 Census: 544 Members \u2013 A 42% growth on 2018\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThirty-five year high \u2013 the last time they had over 500 members was in 1983\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIn 2017, the District had 36 Section Leaders; they now have 73\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThirteen new sections opened in 2018\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENorth East\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;- Byker Scout Group\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA new Beaver Scout Colony and Cub Scout Pack have been opened, catering for 16 young people \u2013 they are supported by seven adult volunteers\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENorth West \u2013 1\u003Csup\u003Est\u0026nbsp;\u003C/sup\u003EWythenshawe\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETwo Beaver Scout Colonies have been opened (48 young people)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETwo Cub Scout Packs have been opened (48 young people)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA Scout Troop has been opened with 20 young people\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA total of 32 adult volunteers have been recruited\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEast Midlands \u2013 2\u003Csup\u003End\u0026nbsp;\u003C/sup\u003EShirebrook\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA Beaver Scout Colony, A Cub Scout Pack and a Scout Troop have been opened catering for 40 young people, supported by five adult volunteers and a full set of Charity Trustees (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWest Midlands \u2013 148\u003Csup\u003Eth\u0026nbsp;\u003C/sup\u003EBirmingham (St Dunstans)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETwo new Beaver Scout Colonies have been opened, catering for 50 young people, supported by 16 adult volunteers\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESouth West - Bridgewater Scout Group\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThree new sections have been opened, catering for 35 young people spread across Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout sections\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEight new volunteer leaders have been recruited to support the work\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESouth East - 2\u003Csup\u003End\u0026nbsp;\u003C/sup\u003ESouthampton\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the last year, a new Scout Troop has been opened to cater for nine young people with more being recruited later this term. The Troop is supported by five adults.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEast Anglia \u2013 1\u003Csup\u003Est\u0026nbsp;\u003C/sup\u003EJaywick\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThree new sections have been opened catering for 21 young people, spread across Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout sections\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEight new volunteer leaders have been recruited\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"17 May 2019","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":40264,"nodeName":"Over 20,000 young people in areas of deprivation join Scouts","title":"Over 20,000 young people in areas of deprivation join Scouts","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/2152/a-girl-cub-smiles.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd2e008760","caption":"A girl cub smiles.jpg","type":"jpg","size":270986,"width":2000,"height":1335,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Over 20,000 young people in areas of deprivation join Scouts","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"We\u2019re proud to share that our latest annual membership figures show another year of growth,","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80MDI2NCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2019/may/over-20-000-young-people-in-areas-of-deprivation-join-scouts/"}