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Young people have their say on Scouting's future

30/11/2007

Almost 100 Scottish Scout Youth Members aged 14 - 25 took a unique opportunity to have their say on the future of the Movement last weekend at the Scout Centenary Scottish Conference, which took place at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort.

For the first time, young people from all over the country held a Youth Summit at the conference and interacted with other delegates to shape the future agenda of Scottish Scouting.

Through workshops and various interactive sessions, the young people challenged adult delegates on their thinking for the future and generated fresh, innovative ideas to ensure Scouting in Scotland continues to reflect the needs of young people in the future.

The conference, attended by 360 delegates, also aimed to smooth the transition towards a new structure based on eight regions which the Scout Association in Scotland will adopt from April 2008.

Scottish Scouts Young Spokesperson David Morton, 20, from Inverness, said: "When I first heard there was to be Youth Summit at this year's Conference I was really pleased. All Youth Delegates seemed delighted to have the opportunity to shape the future of Scouting and I think everyone - young and old - had a brilliant time. All the Adults seemed really impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the Youth Delegates, when they presented their conclusions in front of the full conference on the final day. After hearing all the ideas I'm sure that Scouting in the next Century can only go from strength to strength."

As well as looking forward, the conference also reflected on and celebrated this year’s World Centenary of Scouting and included a civic reception on Saturday evening, hosted by Highland Council.

Delegates also heard from motivational speaker Pauline Sanderson, an explorer and adventurer who was the first person in the world to do ‘History’s Longest Climb’ - a journey from the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the earth) to the top of Mount Everest.