{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"We were incredibly proud that Scouts once again supported the annual Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 December.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ELed by our \u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-people/joint-presidents/\u0022 title=\u0022Joint Presidents\u0022\u003EJoint President, HRH The Princess of Wales\u003C/a\u003E, the service brought together 1,600 people of all faiths from across communities in the UK. The volunteers and supporters from a huge range of charities were all chosen as people who showed love, kindness and empathy this year.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver 30 Scouts and volunteers attended from Bury, Belfast, Surrey, London and Manchester. The young people had special responsibility for candle lighting (perhaps because of our reputation as skilful fire lighters) as well as for taking photos of the event from a young person\u2019s point of view.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAmong the groups represented were 44th Bury (R.O.B.O.T.) Scouts, part of Bury and Ramsbottom District and 1st West Byfleet Scout Group in Surrey, who are celebrating their centenaries.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/4ayn1j33/scouts-supporting-together-at-christmas-carol-service-2024.jpg","width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":"The image shows two Scouts in uniform and neckers looking past the camera. They\u2019re stood with three men in uniform with their hands behind their backs. They\u2019re all stood inside Westminster Abbey and there\u2019s a Christmas tree behind them all. ","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EAn honour to attend\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We all had an amazing time,\u2019 said Dawn, Lead Volunteer at 44th Bury Scouts, \u2018a true memory to be cherished for many years.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Our Scouts thoroughly enjoyed the evening,\u2019 said Jo, Lead Volunteer at 1st Byfleet. \u2018It was amazing! Thank you so much.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESeveral national volunteers were also invited. Michael Marks, General Secretary \u2013 International Forum of Jewish Scouts, said: \u2018It was a wonderful occasion and a real honour to be there.\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe service was also attended by many members of the royal family, including TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales\u2019 own family.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/pv3ga0vi/scouts-supporting-together-at-christmas-carol-service-2024-2.jpg","width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":"The image shows four Scouts wearing uniform and neckers. They\u2019re sat in a row inside Westminster Abbey. One Scout (third along) is reading the Order of Service.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EA star-filled line up\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe inclusive service featured performances from Paloma Faith and Gregory Porter as well as students from the Royal Ballet School. There were also readings from HRH The Prince of Wales, Olympian Adam Peaty OBE, Sophie Okonedo CBE, Michelle Dockery and Richard E. Grant.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOlympian, Sir Chris Hoy MBE, and Paralympians Lizzi Jordan, Danni Khan were among those who supported Scouts with the candle lighting.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach guest received a special letter from HRH The Princess of Wales, thanking them for all they have done to help other people.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"This was a very memorable and enjoyable event. Our Scouts appreciated being involved in this service, and all of us were treated almost like royalty by the Palace staff. We were led directly into the Abbey, where Scouts were encouraged to take photos using old fashioned film cameras. We\u2019ll hopefully see the results of our photographers\u2019 efforts! Thanks to all the staff who were very kind and accommodating.\n","attribution":"Paul, volunteer with 1st Byfleet","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ETrees for Scouts\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGuests also added notes to a \u2018Kindness Tree\u2019 placed outside the Abbey, so they could dedicate a decoration to someone who had supported them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere was a final Christmas gift for many Scout Groups in London. Several of the Christmas trees from Westminster Abbey were gifted to Groups on a first come, first served basis, and delivered after the service in time for end of term Christmas celebrations.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u2018Together at Christmas\u2019 Carol Service will be broadcast as part of \u003Cstrong\u003ERoyal Carols: Together At Christmas\u003C/strong\u003E, a special programme airing on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve and repeated on the morning of Christmas Day.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"How to watch the carol service","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"10 December 2024","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Our Joint Presidents","url":"/about-us/our-people/joint-presidents/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Scouts help out at Royal Christmas Carol Service in Westminster Abbey (2023)","url":"/news/2023/december/scouts-help-out-at-royal-christmas-carol-service/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":84078,"nodeName":"Scouts support Royal Together at Christmas Carol Service 2024","title":"Scouts support Royal Together at Christmas Carol Service 2024","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/4ayn1j33/scouts-supporting-together-at-christmas-carol-service-2024.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1db4ae81b215900","caption":"Scouts Supporting Together At Christmas Carol Service 2024","type":"jpg","size":3745639,"width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Scouts support Royal Together at Christmas Carol Service 2024","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"We were incredibly proud that Scouts once again supported the annual Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 December.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84NDA3OCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2024/december/scouts-support-royal-together-at-christmas-carol-service-2024/"}