{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Rob Murray, Chief Volunteer for International  ","standfirst":"Each year, an International Peace Light is lit, which is then carried throughout Europe and beyond. It\u0027s a powerful symbol of peace \u2013 and is more relevant now than ever in these troubled times. Since 1986, Scouts have played a key part in spreading the flame, and its message of peace throughout the world.  \n \n","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ECarrying the flame\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re honoured that in this, the 39th year of the Peace Light, Emily Jones, a World Scouting Youth Representative, and member of the UK International team, will be carrying the light to the UK.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/jh4a0wdr/emily-jones-a-world-scouting-youth-representative-4.jpg","width":1020,"height":574,"altText":"Emily, a World Scouting Youth Representative and member of the UK International team, holding the International Peace Light","caption":"Emily, a World Scouting Youth Representative and member of the UK International team, holding the International Peace Light","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EContinuing a great tradition\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach year, a child from Upper Austria kindles a flame from the \u2018Eternal Flame\u2019 from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria where it\u0027s distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of peace, to their own countries.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts can then take the light on to churches, hospitals, care homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural and political importance \u2013 to anybody that appreciates the significance of the gift.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn past years, the light has been presented to Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, the former King Hussain of Jordan, EU Presidents and member of the European Parliament.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/bxgpyeg0/emily-jones-a-world-scouting-youth-representative-and-member-of-the-uk-international-team-2.jpg","width":1020,"height":574,"altText":"The image shows Emily Jones, a World Scouting Youth Representative, and member of the UK International team, standing outside in a navy polo shirt and red white and navy necker. She is standing with her hands clasped in front of her and she\u0027s smiling at the camera. ","caption":"Emily Jones, a World Scouting Youth Representative and member of the UK International team","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow the flame will travel to the UK\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEmily will attend a special peace ceremony, with young members of British Scouting Overseas, on Saturday 6 December 2025 at The New Cathedral in Linz, Austria. This is where she\u0027ll be entrusted with the flame on behalf of our membership.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EShe\u0027ll then (very carefully) transport this back across the Channel and finally take it to Gilwell Park, the home of Scouts on the edge of Epping Forest, arriving on the evening of 8 December.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe light will be kept safely in a storm lantern beneath altar in the Open Air Chapel at Gilwell throughout December.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/hvdf2naf/candle.png","width":1070,"height":730,"altText":"The image shows a lit candle in the centre on a dark background.","caption":"","link":null},{"quoteText":"The Peace Light is a beautiful opportunity to celebrate our global citizenship as Scouts and reaffirm that peace is a fundamental human right that we must uphold for one another. It\u2019s an honour to be bringing the Peace Light, and it\u2019s messaging back to the UK on behalf of our Scouts.","attribution":"Emily Jones","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow you can be part of it and continue the Peace Light\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027d be pleased to welcome you to Gilwell Park (E4 7QW) anytime from 9 to 24 December 2025, so you can light a lantern of your own from the Peace Light. You can then carry this light and its gift of peace to your area. Last access to the Peace Light is 12pm on 24 December.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou\u0027ll find the Storm Lantern containing the Peace Light beneath the altar in the Open Air Chapel. Please be respectful and careful when you light your own lantern from the flame and make sure you close the lantern afterwards. Please note this is self-run and not staffed. Thank you.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"05 December 2025","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Scouts for peace: How we can help build a better future","url":"/news/2025/january/scouts-for-peace-how-we-can-help-build-a-better-future/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":88020,"nodeName":"The International Peace Light is coming to Gilwell Park","title":"The International Peace Light is coming to Gilwell Park  ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/jh4a0wdr/emily-jones-a-world-scouting-youth-representative-4.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc68267f2bdfe0","caption":"Emily Jones, A World Scouting Youth Representative 4","type":"jpg","size":94291,"width":1020,"height":574,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The International Peace Light is coming to Gilwell Park  ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Scouts play a key part in spreading the flame of the International Peace Light, and its message of peace throughout the world. 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