{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EAttending international Scouts events\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAttending an event organised by the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scout.org/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022World Organization of the Scout Movement\u0022\u003EWorld Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)\u003C/a\u003E, either at world or European levels, is an enjoyable and very worthwhile experience.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe UK sends delegates to conferences, seminars and workshops in Europe and around the world to support the development of Scouts. Wherever possible these opportunities are advertised to all members of the movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMostly, we take part in these events as part of a group: at Kandersteg or one of the hundreds of other Guide and Scout Centres in Europe and elsewhere.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPreparation for these activities is vital and your Area/County Programme Team, supported by the Chief Volunteer for International and office at Gilwell Park, will be glad to help.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/7239/world-scout-jamboree-randome-pic-4.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"altText":"Scouts walking in line with lots of different countries\u0027 flags at a World Scout Jamboree.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThe worldwide Scout movement\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts began in 1907 in the UK, based upon Robert Baden-Powell\u2019s ideas and his book \u2018Scouting for Boys\u2019.\u00A0However, the book and programme had great appeal and the idea quickly spread world-wide.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile Scouts\u2019 Purpose, Promise and Law are timeless and universal, the flexible programme adapts to meet the needs of each place\u2019s young people and their society in which they live.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EScouts is an educational movement of and for young people. The purpose of Scouts is to help young people to develop physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually. It\u0027s a voluntary, nonpolitical movement which is open to all and which is based on:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eadherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting from them\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eloyalty to one\u2019s country in harmony with the promotion of peace, understanding and cooperation\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eresponsibility for the development of oneself\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eparticipation in the development of society with recognition and respect for the dignity of all people and for the integrity of the natural world\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ea method of progressive self-education comprising programmes adapted to the various age groups and based upon a Promise and Law, learning by doing, working in small groups, a scheme of personal progression and activities taking place in contact with nature.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Purpose, Principles and Method"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOn the WOSM website, you can read about the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scout.org/who-we-are/scout-movement/scout-promise-and-law\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022The Scout Promise and Law (WOSM website)\u0022\u003EScout Promise and Scout Law\u003C/a\u003E which the Scouts movement was based on.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the UK, we have our own versions of the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/including-everyone/faiths-and-beliefs/the-scout-promise/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022The Scout Promise\u0022\u003EScout Promise\u003C/a\u003E and \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022/por/1-our-fundamentals/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u00221. Fundamentals of Scouting\u0022\u003EScout Law\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The Scout Promise and Law"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is an international, non-governmental organisation which is composed of three principal parts: the Conference, Committee and Bureau.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The World Organisation"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe conference is the \u201Cgeneral assembly\u201D of Scouting, composed of all member Scout\u003Cbr /\u003Eorganisations. Only one National Scout Organisation can be recognised per country (where there is more than one Scout Association in a country, a federation must be formed for world membership). The basis for an organisation\u2019s recognition and membership includes adherence to the purpose and principles of World Scouting.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe conference meets every three years.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The World Scout Conference"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Committee consists of 12 people from 12 different countries, elected to represent the diversity of World Scouting, not their own national interest, in the period between the triennial conferences. Each person normally serves a six-year term. Ex-officio members are the Secretary General and the Honorary Treasurer.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The World Scout Committee"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Bureau is the secretariat, carrying out the instructions of the Conference and Committee. The staff of professionals works out of ten offices - the central office in Geneva, Switzerland plus regional offices in Chile, Egypt, Switzerland, Kenya, Philippines and Ukraine, with sub-offices in Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro, Senegal, South Africa and Russia.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Bureau helps Scout Associations to improve and develop their Scouting by conducting training courses, development seminars, workshops, management courses, preparing publications and advising on organisation, financing, communications etc. The staff also helps to arrange global events such as the four-yearly World Scout Jamborees and acts as liaison between the World Organisation and other bodies, particularly other world youth organisations, organs of the United Nations and government departments, particularly where Scouting wishes to have more support from governments.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The World Scout Bureau"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBureau operations are financed partly by an annual registration fee, paid by Scout organisations on the basis of membership and GDP of the country. Other support comes from foundations, corporations, development agencies and individuals.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESupport also comes from the World Scout Foundation which, while building a capital fund, uses the investment income to benefit World Scouting. The Honorary President is HM Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Finance"}]},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/7221/jamboree-song.jpeg","width":2100,"height":1400,"altText":"An Explorer sings and plays the ukulele.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWorld Scout Membership\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are currently more than 50 million Scouts, both young people and adults, across 216 countries and territories.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are 174 countries with internationally recognised National Scout Organisations. You can find a list of National Scout Organisations on the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scout.org/worldwide\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022National Scout Organisations (WOSM website)\u0022\u003EWOSM website\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are 26 main territories where Scouting exists, often as overseas branches of member Scout organisations:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAnguilla\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAntarctica\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAruba\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBermuda\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECayman Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECocos (Keeling) Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECook Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFalkland Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFaroe Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFrench Guiana\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFrench Polynesia\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGibraltar\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGreenland\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGuadeloupe\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMartinique\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMontserrat\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENew Caledonia\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENorfolk Island\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPuerto Rico\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ER\u00E9union\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESaint Helena\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESaint Pierre and Miquelon\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETurks and Caicos Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EVirgin Islands, British\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EVirgin Islands, U.S.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWallis and Futuna\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Internationally recognised National Scout Organisations"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are 21 countries where Scouts exists, either in early stages of development or widespread, but where there is no National Scout Organization that is yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. They are:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECentral African Republic\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDjibouti\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEast Timor\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEquatorial Guinea\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEritrea\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGuinea-Bissau\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIran\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EKyrgyzstan\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMali\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMarshall Islands*\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMicronesia, Federated\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESaint Kitts and Nevis*\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESamoa\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESomalia\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETonga*\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETurkmenistan\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETuvalu*\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EUzbekistan\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EVanuatu*\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStates of*\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENauru\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPalau\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENote: In the independent countries marked with an asterisk (*), there is a Scout Association which has a branch that is a WOSM member.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Countries with no National Scout Organisation"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are 5 countries where Scouts, to WOSM\u0027s knowledge, doesn\u2019t exist. In some, Scouts wouldn\u2019t be allowed. These are:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAndorra\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPeople\u0027s Republic of China\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECuba\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDemocratic People\u0027s Republic of Korea\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELao People\u0027s Democratic Republic\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Countries without Scouts"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWOSM maintains official contacts with the Scouts of Macau, and French Polynesia, which are associate members of the Asia-Pacific Scout Region, and with the Scouts of the Netherlands Antilles, an associate member of the Inter American Scout Region.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Promo","cta":"Find programme activities","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFind programme activities to learn about Scouts around the world on our activity finder.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Activity finder filtered link","id":null,"url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities?type=International%20activities\u0026name=scouts%20abroad","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"World Scouting activities","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Take a look at the figures","body":"","link":{"name":null,"id":null,"url":"https://cms.scouts.org.uk/media/11930/world-scouting-membership-figures.pdf","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"World membership figures","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"","link":{"name":"Information about our bid","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/44th-world-scout-conference/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"World Scout Conference 2027","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Information about all aspects of World Scouting.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"14 July 2023","reviewDate":"03/11/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":39485,"nodeName":"World Scouting","title":"World Scouting","type":"contentPage","image":{"url":"/media/3571/female-leader-and-group-of-cubs.jpg?cc=0,0.09907917068235449,0,0.057086445879301555\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daee4569be1530","caption":"Volunteer back and group of Cubs","type":"jpg","size":5944436,"width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"A volunteer Scouts hoodie from behind with two Cubs in the background"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"World Scouting","headerSubTitle":"","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"Information about all aspects of World Scouting.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC8zOTQ4NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/global-scouting/world-scouting/"}