News
29/01/2007
Scouting shines in Saturday papers
Scouting was in the national newspapers again this weekend, as a Times journalist revisited his old Scout Troop.
Ben Machell went back to his Scout roots to see for himself whether the Movement is still relevant today and whether it can appeal to the ‘young people brought up with iPods and Xboxes’. He spent the evening with a Scout Troop in Roundhay, Leeds, which he was a member of 15 years earlier. By the end of the meeting Ben left in no doubt that Scouting is more relevant than ever.
Ben spoke to the Scouts about their experiences and found them particularly enthusiastic when they recounted their memories of last year's summer camp: ‘Everyone starts reminiscing furiously and at volume. For one horrible moment I worry that this unrepentant enthusiasm is actually a cruel wind-up. I can’t help thinking about their cool shoes and casual talk of iPods, laptops and punk bands. But it’s genuine, you start to realise, the more they talk about the things kids their age don’t have access to.’
He also realised how much parents value Scouting: ‘Parents are equally happy to talk about why they’re glad to see their children involved. Tom Nicholson’s (one of the Scouts) mother takes special comfort in knowing Scouting is underpinned by moral principles: “Tom was bullied quite a lot at school and struggled to make friends, but he absolutely loves it here. Even living in the middle of a city, he’s been able to experience so many different things, grown in confidence and taken on responsibilities.”’
The six-page article appeared in Saturday’s Times magazine. To read about further recent media successes visit our Media Centre.
