East London Scouts

17/09/2026

Tourist Tax “Can the minister reassure those young people and their families that this government is not seriously intending to tax a Scout for pitching a tent”

Good to see MPs of all parties debating the Government’s proposed tourist tax and it’s impact on children spending the night at camp.

Our volunteer run Fairmead Scout Campsite in Epping Forest welcomes thousands of inner-city children every year to connect with nature and build their resilience, confidence and skills development. When 70% of young people spend most of their free time on screens, this precious time away is more important than ever.

The Scouts call for a national exemption for overnight stays for under-18s and charity-run hostels, campsites, activity centres, and meeting places.

Help us by writing to your local MP to protect the experiences that boost all our young people’s health, happiness, and future prospects.

Alan Hands
President – East London Scouts
https://fb.watch/v/729RSO1n1/

14/09/2026

Wise words from our UK Chief Scout reflecting on his busy summer meeting young people

In the Independent today the Chief said ‘’I want adults to give their kids more chances to discover what they’re capable of’’

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/chief-scout-whats-wrong-with-young-people-4761211?utm_campaign=social_fb_posts&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawUUq8ZwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMDZFZ0xrSmxpUUJ6VlVKN0xzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe6i55pxsVXW_iWC47JelPGQIKtXXLuJ4JnLLXQv66-nm3gI4b-QKp29XYzh4_aem_6F860WZalUNLlBWrvr0ypg

Article

I spend a lot of time hearing about what’s wrong with young people. But this summer, while travelling across the UK and meeting Scouts from Berkshire to Scotland and many other locations in between, I’ve come away wondering whether society is asking the wrong questions. It’s not about what they can’t do, but what they can.

It all started at the top of a zipline at the Central Yorkshire Scout Challenge Camp. I was stood with a young person who desperately wanted to take the exhilarating jump off the podium and down the line. But they were caught in that familiar moment between “I want to” and “I’m not sure I can”.

I’ve thought about that moment a lot since. I fear many adults spend too much time wondering if young people can cope with challenging things, rather than giving them space to try.

I know from my conversations with young Scouts this summer that there is plenty for them to feel anxious about: the cost of living, uncertainty about the future, frightening headlines and a world changing at extraordinary speed. That doesn’t mean they’re not up for the challenge.

In fact, I’m convinced they are far more willing to challenge themselves than we give them credit for.

We hesitate before letting young people climb higher, cook with a sharp knife, or solve a problem themselves. In trying to shield young people from an uncertain world, do we remove the opportunity for them to discover they can handle it?

Growing up in rural Jamaica, I had the freedom to climb trees, disappear into cane fields and work things out for myself. I was curious, had the space to test myself and was able to discover what I was capable of. You might think that sounds worlds away from the experience of young people in the UK today. But when I moved to London, with my Jamaican accent and interests that didn’t always match everyone else, I learnt how intimidating it can feel to face an uncertain future and wonder if you belong.

Joining Scouts helped me find that sense of belonging. It gave me people who backed me, space to try, and the confidence to keep going. The same is true today: young people need places where they can try something new and either succeed or fail. They need adults who will support them without doing everything for them.

That is what Scouts is all about, giving young people skills for life.
Whether it’s navigating a hike, cooking a meal, camping away from home, public speaking or standing at the top of a zipline, the lesson is often the same. Confidence and resilience come from doing something difficult and knowing there are people around who will support you no matter what.

I don’t recognise the gloomy caricature of a generation unwilling to take risks or engage with the world. I feel so hopeful and optimistic when I meet young Scouts who want to travel, volunteer and help their communities. They are willing to push themselves beyond what feels comfortable. Adults and role models have a responsibility to give them more chances to discover what they’re capable of.

Dwayne Fields - Chief Scout - The Scout Association

I want adults to give their kids more chances to discover what they’re capable of

04/09/2026

01/08/2026

It's our birthday, Scouts!

119 years since the very first experimental Scout camp pitched up on Brownsea Island, Dorset.

We’re so proud of everything our volunteers across East London have done since then to give young people a place to belong. Thank you to you all!

Do you want to join our team of volunteers and help young people develop the skills they need to succeed? If you are interested email [email protected] to find out more.

01/08/2026

⚜️ Local Scout Groups have noticed their waiting lists has grown rapidly and keeps growing, we would love for more young people to join Scouting in Tower Hamlets, however to enable this to happen we need more adult volunteers. Could this be you?

For more than 100 years, Scouts has been helping young people develop the skills they need to succeed in life – skills like teamwork, confidence, and resilience. Scouts is all about fun, friendship, and giving everyone a fair shot at a brighter future.

Research shows that taking part in Scouting can improve your health and welling. In fact, volunteers are 35% more likely to have excellent health at age 50.

Scouting is for everyone. It’s a place where young people, from all walks of life, can learn valuable skills, grow in confidence, and have a great time doing it.

Scouts can change that. We offer young people the chance to get out of their normal routines, experience the outdoors, and build skills that will help them for life. Like being outdoors, that makes a real difference to their wellbeing and growth.

Scouting offers a chance to build self-confidence, learn valuable skills, and become part of a community that’s about more than just having

Help us take real steps to make sure young people from all backgrounds can join Scouting.

If you are interested in joining our team of volunteers please visit ww.eastlondonscouts.org.uk or alternatively email [email protected]

Creating the do-ers, and give-it-a-goers in Hackney & Tower Hamlets.

03/07/2026

East London Scouts

Week by week, our volunteers empower almost a thousand young people across Hackney and Tower Hamlets to learn new skills, make new friends and stand on their own two feet.

They’re our everyday heroes. They shape young people’s lives for the better, and find out a whole lot about themselves in the process, too.

Could you volunteer sharing your skills and talent?

Our door is open to people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds, and we’re only able to change lives because people like you lend a hand. We’re talking about tea makers, tidy-uppers and skill sharers. We’re talking about mini bus drivers and first aiders. We’re talking about students who want to boost their CV, and parents who volunteer so they can spend more time together as a family.

Whatever your skillset, lend a hand for as little or as much time as you can spare, and we promise you’ll get more out than you put in. Because whether you’re helping another volunteer to run an activity, organising a night away, or buttering 120 slices of bread a group of very hungry eleven year olds - no two Scout meetings are the same.

The difference you make, though, is always great. We provide the training. You show up, get stuck in, and make memories for life. Sounds fun? Worthwhile? It is.

Drop us a line at [email protected] and join in the fun.

29/06/2026

Scout, Soldier, Somme – remembering the life of Roland Philipps, former District Commissioner of East London Scouts on the anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.

Background - Roland Philipps – District Commissioner of East London - Influential and innovative, his books and training built the foundations for the growth of Scouting globally and continues to benefit young people in East London today. He spoke on the radio and gave speeches to large crowds which helped the early first steps of Scouting flourish and grow.

His character could be summed up by his own words to the Scouts of East London

‘’Enthusiasm should roar forth like the north wind and froth and bubble-like Niagara Falls’’

Having spent two years immersed in developing East London Scouting in August 1914 Roland’s plans were interrupted. He was one of thousands of young men who enrolled into the army.

Soldiering didn’t inhibit his enthusiasm for Scouting and from training camps and whilst serving on the Western Front his letters to Lord Baden Powell were full of plans for Scouting after the War.

An estimated three and a half million men fought and over one million were wounded, captured or killed just from this one battle. Many of the Brits served in 'pals' battalions formed of men drawn from the same communities, clubs and workplaces.

Roland Philipps wrote '’They have given me leave to choose my own men and my 16 include four first rate patrol leaders from East London'’

He made a significant investment on behalf of East London Scouts, on joining up he purchased a house in Stepney Green which in the event of his death would be left to his Scouts. Sadly, in the first days of the Battle of the Somme Roland was killed. He was deeply mourned by those who knew him and thousands of Scouts attended his memorial service.

The house Roland had purchased ensured Scouting continued and expanded after his death housing up to 30 adults who delivered activity across the area, and funds raised from the sale of the property 60 years later continue to fund a District meeting place, subsidised events and activities for the 900 youth members scouting in the area today through the charity Roland Philipps Fund for Scouts.

Roland was also a Scouting Advisory Commissioner for Preparatory Schools and threw himself into every kind of social service volunteering with Dr Barnardo’s Homes, the Waifs and Strays Society, the Mission to Seamen and many other charities.

We take time this month to remember this extraordinary man particularly those in East London Scout District where the headquarters is named after him, his emblem is on our District badge and scarf, and his ongoing generosity supports a quality programme.

Nine years ago, East London Scouts joined Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prime Minister, many thousands of the great and the good at a moving service in Westminster Abbey.

After the service we started a vigil and I had the honour of reading a letter from Roland to Scout Founder Baden Powell sent from the front whilst East London Explorer Scouts joined the Welsh Guards to provide an honour guard at the tomb of the un-known soldier. A moving event as we reflected on the human cost of war and recommit to bring communities together and work for peace between nations.

Alan Hands
President East London Scouts

25/06/2026

This is Explorers for a new generation. Be part of it.

Today is a big day as Scouts relaunches Explorers (scouts for 14-18 yrs) with new badges, new branding yet essentially Scouts continuing to be a safe and fun space for young people to try new things, have adventures and make friends for life

Over 3,000 young people and volunteers helped shape the refreshed programme, which reflects how teenagers live now, preparing them with the skills for life and work.

https://bit.ly/4akcL2w

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ_y3XaCazj/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

12/06/2026

Water activity weekend

Last weekend we gave 120 of our youth members the chance to learn new skills and enjoy new activities including canoeing, sailing, kayaking and pulling. A big thank you to Kevin, Alex, and all our volunteers who helped make the weekend a success.

Our water activity centre – The Dockland Scout Project (Lord Amory) – is on the Isle of Dogs.

02/06/2026

We’d like to say a great big thank you to all our amazing Young Leaders (aged 14-17) this Volunteers’ Week. 🙌

Your hard work helps children and young people from across East London, aged 4 to 14 years of age, gain skills, build confidence and find a place to belong. Thank you!