Scouting in Greater London

Scouting in Greater London is about Scouting in the official region of Greater London. It is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. The Scout Association has recently defined Greater London as a Scout Region with a Regional Commissioner. [ [http://www.scoutinginlondon.org.uk/ Greater London Scout Region] ]

There is a single member of the national Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO) covering all the universities in Greater London. [ [http://ssago.org.uk/london/ Students of London Indie Collective (SLIC)] ]

History of Scouting in London

As the capital city of the United Kingdom, London has played a key role in the development of Scouting. In 1909 some troops broke away from Baden-Powell's official Boys Scouts to form the British Boy Scouts. Sir Francis Vane was the leader and previously Baden-Powell's Commissioner for London.. [ [http://www.netpages.free-online.co.uk/sha/bbs-bibli.htm A Bibliography of the British Boy Scouts] ]

One of the oldest Scout Groups in London is the 1st City of London Scout Group, which is still notable as the only Scout Group in the traditional City of London. [ [http://www.cityoflondonscouts.org.uk/news.php?list.1 1st City of London Scout Group] ]

The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held at Olympia, London in the summer of 1920. Here Baden-Powell was designated as Chief Scout of the World.

The service performed by Scouts during war and particularly during air raids and the Blitz on London in World War II is recognised by their presence every year on Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph in London. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/history/scouts.shtml BBC Program on the Scouts at the Cenotaph] ]

A small museum of the story of Robert Baden-Powell is housed at Baden-Powell House in London. [ [http://www.britainexpress.com/London/Baden_Powell_House.htm Baden-Powell House, London] ]

London Scouts celebrated the centenary of Scouting on 1 Aug 2007 in many ways, including the LIVE 07, Festival of Scouting, and a Sunrise Ceremony at the London Eye. [ [http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/events/2007/centenary_news/scouting_rocks_london LIVE 07, Festival of Scouting] [ [http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2845 Scouts Sunrise Ceremony at London Eye] ] The first UK international camp of the new Scouting century was Campdowne 2008 in July 2008, where nearly 2000 participants from the UK and 23 other countries camped at Downe Scout Activity Centre. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/07/30/yourstories_campdowne_video_feature.shtml BBC London report of Campdowne 2008] ]

John May from London become the first UK Scout elected to the World Scout Committee since 1994 at the 38th World Scout Conference in Korea on 16th July 2008. [ [http://www.scoutinginlondon.org.uk/Pages/News/Articles/2008/worldscoutconference.html London Scout Leader Elected to World Scout Commitee] ] [ [http://www.johnccmay.net/scout_biog.htm John May Scouting Biography] ]

The Scout Association Counties

The Scout Association in Greater London is administered through 6 Scout Counties.

Greater London Middlesex West Scout County

Greater London Middlesex West Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering an area stretching from the City of Westminster in the east to Stanmore in the north, Feltham in the south and Uxbridge in the west. It serves the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, and City of Westminster. [ [http://www.glmwscouts.org.uk/ Greater London Middlesex West Scout County] ]

The County has 145 Scout Groups serving over 6,500 young people with 1,600 adult volunteers. It is divided into fifteen districts:

* Acton, Brentford and Chiswick
* Ealing and Hanwell
* Feltham
* Greenford
* Harrow and Wealdstone
* Hayes and Harlington
* Heston and Isleworth
* Pinner and Headstone
* Ruislip, Eastcote, Northwood
* Stanmore and District
* The City of Westminster
* Uxbridge
* West London
* Willesden

Greater London North Scout County

Greater London North Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering an area stretching from central London directly north out to the M25. It covers the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, City of London, Enfield, Haringey and Islington [http://www.gln-scouts.org.uk/ Greater London North County Website] ]

The 2006 Scout census showed that the county has 5029 members.

The County is divided into nine districts, with over 5,000 Scouts in a combined total of 106 Scout groups.

*Barnet
*Camden, City and Islington
*Enfield (Edmonton District joined the Enfield District in 2007)
*Finchley, Friern Barnet and Golders Green
*Haringey
*Hendon and Edgware
*Southgate

Enfield District Scout Band

Enfield Scout District runs a traditional marching band which is open to members of the local Scout and Guide organisations. [ [http://www.edsb.org.uk/ Enfield District Scout Band] ]

The band was formed in 1976, and is a corps of bugles and drums. The band is a member of the Traditional Youth Marching Band Association, and competes regularly in competitions run by the Association across the UK.

Since its formation, the band has continued to lead the District as it marches through Enfield Town for the Remembrance Day and St George's Day parades which are a traditional part of the Scouting calendar.

The band is also available to play at fetes, carnivals and other parades. In recent years the band took part in the 2002 Lord Mayor's Show, a Royal Visit to Enfield by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2003.

In 2007's Centenary of Scouting, the band took part in the London New Year's Day Parade, and played at the 21st World Scout Jamboree. In November the band formed part of the Promise Centenary Scout Band at the Lord Mayor's Show, and also played at the Scouting's Live '07 show at the The O2 in Greenwich, London.

Greater London North East Scout County

Greater London North East Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, to the northeast of London and covers the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. [ [http://www.glne-scouts.org.uk/ Greater London North East Scout County] ]

The County currently has over 7,000 members in 139 Scout Groups, supported by a County Leadership Group, consisting of the County Commissioner, the three Deputy County Commissioners, the County Chairman and a Young Person Representative. This Group meets every two months to review the growth and development of Scouting in Greater London North East.

The County is divided into eleven districts:

*Barking and Dagenham
*Chingford
*East London
*Epping Forest South
*Hornchurch
*Ilford East
*Ilford West
*Newham
*Romford
*Squirrels Heath
*Waltham Forest South

Greater London South Scout County

Greater London South Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering an area stretching from the Lambeth in the north to Woolwich in the east, Putney in the west. [ [http://www.gls-scouts.org.uk/ Greater London South Scout County] ]

The County is divided into nine districts:

* Albany District
* Battersea
* Greenwich
* Lambeth
* Lewisham Manor
* Lewisham North
* Royal Eltham
* Wandsworth, Putney and Roehampton
* Woolwich

Greater London South East Scout County

Greater London South East Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley, an area stretching from the Orpington in the southeast to Bexleyheath in the north. [ [http://www.glsescouts.org.uk/ Greater London South East Scout County] ]

The County is divided into eight districts:

* Beckenham
* Bexleyheath
* Bromley
* Chislehurst
* East Wickham and Welling
* Erith and Crayford
* Orpington
* Sidcup

Greater London South West Scout County

Greater London South West Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering an area stretching from Sanderstead in the South East to Hampton and Whitton in the North West. [ [http://www.glswscouts.org.uk/ Greater London South West Scout County] ]

The County is divided into five districts:

*Croydon
*Richmond
*Royal Kingston
*Sutton
*Wimbledon and Wandle

Activity Centres and Camp sites

Three of the four Scout Association Activity Centres are in Greater London. Baden-Powell House is a hostel and conference centre in central London. Gilwell Park is a camp site and activity centre, as well as a training and conference centre for Scout Leaders. It is close to Chingford, London. The White House at Gilwell Park has been the headquarters of The Scout Association since 2001, although Baden-Powell House (the former headquarters) still facilitates some departments of the Scout Association. Downe Scout Activity Centre is in Kent, but was owned by the Greater London South East Scouts from 1987 to 2005, when the site became under the direct control of The Scout Association.

The Greater London Middlesex West Scout Association County is responsible for the Chalfont Heights camp site 30 minutes from London in Buckinghamshire. Originally purchased in 1938, it was operated by Scout Headquarters until 1970 when it taken over by the Greater London Middlesex West County as its County campsite and Training Centre. [ [http://www.chalfont.info/ Chalfont Heights camp site] ]

Danemead Scout Campsite, Scout Park, Bounds Green (Haringey District Scouts) and Frith Grange are associated with the Greater London North Scout Association County. The County is also responsible for Enfield Scout Sailing Association (ESSA). [ [http://www.essa.org.uk/ Enfield Scout Sailing Association] ]

The Training ship RRS Discovery, Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition vessel, moored on the Embankment near the Temple was used by the Scouts between 1937 and 1979, when it was handed over to Maritime Trust and relocated in Dundee. The Docklands Scout Project was then created. [ [http://www.lordamory.org/history.htm History of Docklands Scout Project] ] The Project is on the Isle of Dogs, in East London, east of the financial City of London and opposite Greenwich across the River Thames. [ [http://www.lordamory.org/ Docklands Scout Project] ]

The Greater London North East Scout Association County also owns (through its Districts) the following Scout Activity Centres: Crow Camp, Fairmead Scout Campsite (East London District), [ [http://www.fairmead.info/ Fairmead Scout Campsite] ] Hargreaves Scout Campsite (Ilford East District), [ [http://www.hargreavescamp.com/ Hargreaves Scout Campsite] ] and the Michael Mallinson Centre ( Waltham Forest South District). [ [http://www.walthamstow-scouts.org.uk/mally/htm/ Michael Mallinson Centre] ]

Greater London South Scout Association County owns the South London Scout Centre, the closest camping centre to central London at Dulwich. [ [http://www.slsc-thefort.org.uk/ South London Scout Centre] ] Lewisham North Scout District is responsible for Frylands Wood Scout Campsite. [ [http://www.frylandswood.co.uk/ Frylands Wood Scout Campsite] ]

Wilberforce Scout Centre is owned by Bromley Scout District of the Greater London South East Scout Association County. [ [http://www.glsescouts.org.uk/county-facts/campsites.htm Greater London South East Scout County Local Campsites] ]

Yr Hen Neuadd ('The Old Hall'), Bethesda, Gwynedd, North Wales, originally a Salvation Army Hall, was converted in 1970 by the Greater London South West Scout Association County as an Activity Centre. [ [http://www.glswscouts.org.uk/bethesda/yhn_index.htm Yr Hen Neuadd] ]

The Bears Wood Training Centre and Pinewood Campsites are the responsibility of the Croydon District

Polyapes Campsite lies just outside the county boundaries but is managed jointly between Royal Kingston and Esher Districts.It has been in continuous use since 1929. [ [http://www.polyapes.com/homepage1.htm Polyapes Campsite] ]

21st World Scout Jamboree

There were 36 Scouts from Greater London North taking part in the 21st World Scout Jamboree in August 2007. The Enfield District Scout Band played at the Closing Ceremony. [ [http://www.glnjamboree.org.uk/ Greater London North Jamboree Unit] ]

The Greater London North East Scout County sent forty-five Scouts to the 21st World Scout Jamboree. Thirty six, plus four leaders, acted as a whole contingent while the remaining nine were part of another contingent with Guides from Cambridge and a Scout troop from Montserrat. [ [http://www.glne-scouts.org.uk/archives/centenary/archives_centenary_contingent.html Archives - Centenary News - Contingent] ]

Two contingents from the Greater London South East Scout County attended. [ [http://www.glsescouts.org.uk/scout-focus/international/2007-contingent/index.html 2007 GLSE Scout Contingent] ]

Gang Shows

* SOUWEST Gang Show. Greater London South West Scout County. Secombe Theatre in Sutton.
* ShowStoppers Gang Show. Greater London North East Scouts Gang Show. Started 2003.

ee also

* Girlguiding London and South East England

References

External links