Four young people supported by two leaders from Merseyside recently travelled to Manchester to have their say on the future strategy and direction of the Scout Movement. This event was the first of its kind ever to take place in the UK Scout Movement!
On 8 March 2025, young people from Merseyside joined other Scouts from across the UK at the world-famous Etihad Stadium in Manchester, to help shape the future of the Movement.
The landmark youth forum was one of the first events of its kind taking place in early Spring 2025, to help the largest youth organisation in the country to create its next decade of sustainable growth.
Patrick, 14, from West Wirral, said: “This is what Scouts should be about. Scouting is a community and it’s important to share ideas so everyone is on the same page and can focus on the important things. I’m very very proud to be representing where I’m from and shaping the next nine years!”
Daisy, 15, from Crosby, added: “It feels amazing because I can get my voice heard, and I can help to shape Scouts, to help other people have loads of fun! I get to meet loads of new people, and it means that we’ve got a lot of different opinions and ideas. You can take different stuff from different places and just make Scouts an amazing place.”
From every Scout County or Area, two Scouts aged 10 to 14 and two Explorer Scouts aged 14-18, supported by two adult volunteers, have been invited to youth forums in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford to give as many young people as possible the chance to input into the Movement’s future plans.
Dwayne Fields, the recently appointed Chief Scout, said: “It’s important that the future plans of the Scouts are informed by young people, so that’s why it’s essential that young people from Merseyside are able to contribute to the future of the Scout Movement in the next ten years by having their say on our future plans.”
The day forum event consisted of workshops and plenary sessions where those attending were able to examine draft plans for the future of the Movement and update and modify those plans in the light of their experiences.
Lucy, County Youth Lead for Merseyside, said: “It was inspiring to see so many young people coming together to help shape the future of the Scouts across the UK, but also right here in Merseyside. It was great to see that regardless of age or experience our voices can make change, no matter how big or small”
