My name is Dave Baker and I am one of 4 Adult Leaders from Unit 33 of North Yorkshire / Durham Scouts selected to represent my country, my County and Scouts from the UK at the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2019.

Unit 33 is made up of 36 young people (Scouts and Explorers) plus their 4 Adult Leaders from the North Yorkshire and Durham Scouting Counties.

As a Leader going to the Jamboree, between now and the summer of 2019, I need to fundraise £1,800 to enable me to go to the 24th World Scout Jamboree to support, lead and oversee the 36 Scouts of Unit 33 on this cultural and educational trip of a lifetime.

This is without doubt a unique and once in a lifetime adventure for Scouters from the UK, both youing people and adults. So I need your help please.

I need to raise £1,900 between now and the summer of 2019.

A huge element of the whole Jamboree expereince is to fundraise your way to the Jamboree. And we all need to fundraise by doing a number of events and activities over the next 18 months or so.

My first fundraiser is to take part in a sponsored Unit 33 abseil off the Teesside Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough.

I would like to raise £450 towards my final total by getting sponsors to do this amazing abseil. The event takes place on the 24th February 2018.

Each Scout participant in Unit 33 and across the UK need to raise in the region of £3,500 in total! So literally, every little helps.

Dave and the Jamboree...Hand in hand...what an opportunity...

I am passionate about Scouting and my allegiance has always been to 1st Topcliffe Scout Group. In recent times my volunteering in North Yorkshire has grown as I am a member of North Yorkshire Scouts County Executive Committee for over two years now and I am also part of the Committee for my group. I have also achieved the Queen’s Scout Award and hold a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Believe it or not, the 24th World Scout Jamboree will be my first ever camp abroad as a Scout, partly due to limited opportunities when I was younger. It has always been a dream of mine to one day take part in a Scout camp abroad and lead a group of youngsters overseas so to finally earn the opportunity is amazing!

Going to the Jamboree is certainly aiming high so I intend to make the most of it all and that includes the planning and fundraising elements - as well as getting to visit the USA again!

I applied to be part of the North Yorkshire Leader Contingent in the role of Assistant Unit Leader and I have also taken on board the responsibility of Communications Champion for the Unit.

Honestly, I cannot wait to experience my debut World Scout Jamboree in 2019. It will be an honour and a privilege to represent North Yorkshire and the UK in West Virginia.

The best part of Scouting for me is giving young people opportunities to experience life changing adventures, which in turn creates memories, fun times and friendships that I hope will last a long time after the Jamboree.