{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Rob Murray, Chief Volunteer for International ","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EIn less than two years\u2019 time, UK Scouts will welcome representatives from 176 National Scout Organisations to London for the 44th World Scout Conference. Together, these delegates will carry the hopes, ambitions and priorities of more than 60 million Scouts worldwide.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor us, this is a once in a generation opportunity to influence the future direction of our global movement and celebrate the values that unite us.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EA global movement with impact\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, I had the privilege of joining the UK delegation to the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo. It wasn\u2019t a sightseeing trip or a week of ceremonial speeches. It was a pivotal moment in our movement\u2019s history.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe decisions we took and the conversations we had will shape Scouts for years to come. Specifically, they helped inform the Strategy for World Scouting launched last year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhat struck me most was how deeply connected we are as Scouts, to one another, even across vast distances and diverse experiences.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/egbkalje/44th-world-scout-conference-master-logo-rgb-1.png","width":2401,"height":1401,"altText":"The image shows the 44th World Scout Conference Logo ","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EShared values across the Commonwealth\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Cairo, we spent valuable time with friends from across the Commonwealth, reflecting on our shared culture and our common challenges. We also expressed our collective aim to see young people connect and learn from one another. Whether you\u2019re a Scout in Birmingham or Barbados, we found the same passion for service, adventure and global citizenship.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs we listened to Scouts from the Maldives and Belize, the impacts of climate change became painfully real; rising sea levels, more frequent storms and disappearing coastlines. We only need to think of the recent hurricane that hit Jamaica to be reminded of that. But we also heard stories of hope.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people are rolling up their sleeves, leading adaptation projects, championing sustainability and building a generation of #PlanetChampions. That spirit of action is something every Scout in our movement can be proud of.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EStanding up for peace in times of conflict\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome of the most moving moments came from our conversations with Scouts in Palestine. Amid the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, they\u2019re providing water, running community kitchens, teaching survival skills and offering vital support to children and families.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese conversations continued at the European Scout Conference in Austria, where we also heard from Scouts in Israel. Again, we listened to powerful examples of Scouts supporting local communities during times of grave pain and loss; from delivering supplies to offering emotional support. We heard stories of Muslim, Jewish and Christian Scouts working together to promote the value of peace and unity.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Sudan, where conflict has persisted for many years, Scouts continue to provide vital support to local communities, including to children and adults displaced by the devastating floods of 2024 and ongoing violence. Scouts have helped rebuild lives, restore dignity and strengthen communities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese examples reminded our delegation that we have fellow Scouts living our Promise in the most difficult circumstances. Their courage shows us what it truly means to be a Scout.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/xgifw1p2/conference-image.jpg","width":351,"height":485,"altText":"The image shows Ayesha Karim, UK Youth Lead at the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo","caption":"Scouts at the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhy does all this matter?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 1907, our Founder, Robert Baden-Powell, brought 20 young people together on Brownsea Island, sparking a movement that now spans every corner of the globe. We have over 600,000 members here and continue our ambitions for young people to join our movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2027, 120 years on, the world will return to the UK. Delegations of Scouts, representing each nation, including the UK, will gather in London, put on their neckers and shape the future of our global movement. It will be both an honour and a responsibility.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EYour role in the journey\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver the next two years, we\u2019ll be sharing updates, stories and opportunities to get involved. From supporting the event to helping our delegation understand the priorities of young people across the UK, British Scouting Overseas and the Overseas Territories, there\u2019ll be many ways to contribute.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMost importantly, we want to make sure your voice is heard. Our delegation, which will be made up of six people, will be working to make sure young people shape our mandate for change; clear, confident and rooted in the values we share.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis\u0027ll be our moment, our opportunity, our chance to welcome the world and show our committed to a stronger, more unified movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s make this a moment that inspires futures generations for the next 120 years.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFind out more about the World Scout Conference and follow the journey to London on social media. Follow us @ScoutConf on \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022http://instagram.com/scoutconf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstagram\u003C/a\u003E or on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.facebook.com/scoutconference\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFacebook\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Support our Solidarity Fund","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHaving more diverse voices at the conference means we can grow a stronger future for World Scouting.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo help make this a reality, we\u2019ve set up a solidarity fund to support those delegates who might need financial assistance to attend the conference.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/44th-world-scout-conference/44th-world-scout-conference-solidarity-fund/\u0022 title=\u002244th World Scout Conference Solidarity Fund\u0022\u003EFind out how you can contribute\u003C/a\u003E (including sending leftover foreign currency).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThank you.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Help make this the most inclusive conference yet","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":"09 December 2025","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":88110,"nodeName":"Why the 44th World Scout Conference matters to us all","title":"Why the 44th World Scout Conference matters to us all","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/p2dlq1ak/world-scout-conference-logo.png?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc68f2e720c0d0","caption":"World Scout Conference Logo","type":"png","size":64377,"width":405,"height":217,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Why the 44th World Scout Conference matters to us all","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"A once in a generation opportunity to influence the future direction of our global movement and celebrate the values that unite us.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84ODExMCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/december/why-the-44th-world-scout-conference-matters-to-us-all/"}