East London Scouts

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!

27/05/2026

Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating. 🌙✨

11/05/2026

East London Scouts empowers young people through adventure, teamwork and shared values, to take the lead on making a positive difference in the world.

Volunteer opportunities are available - volunteer with the Scouts and you'll make all the difference to young lives....and feel great.

Drop us an email ([email protected]) to find out more.

08/05/2026

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough! You've inspired generations to become champions for nature and planet Earth.

Sir David said ''I remember my time as a Wolf Cub very well indeed. We learned a lot of useful things and had a great deal of fun''