It is 1920 and 8,000 Scouts from 34 nations gather at Olympia, London. Lord Baden-Powell is sworn in as the World Chief Scout and the World Scout Jamboree is born. Taking place approximately every four years thereon in, with only a brief hiatus for World War II, this event becomes the pinnacle of the Scouting calendar, the Olympics of Scouting, if you will.

Fast forward to 2019 and you will find 50,000 young people from over 160 nations gathered at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia, USA to celebrate the 24th World Scout Jamboree, the largest such event ever staged. Co-hosted for the first time by three nations - USA, Canada and Mexico - and under the banner of Unlock a New World, these young people will unlock new adventures, new cultures and new friendships. The World Scout Jamboree is above all an educational event that brings together the world’s young people to promote peace and mutual understanding, to develop leadership and life skills and to embrace the notion of global citizenship. The jamboree experience extends beyond homes - and beyond the boundaries of countries - to create a global adventure that will last a lifetime!

Eleven of these young people have been selected from Chandler's Ford, to represent both their county and the United Kingdom. As if this is not achievement enough, 2019 will also see Chandler's Ford sending six Scouts to participate in Project 19, an educational event promoting Scouting, leadership and life skills across America. A further two boys from Chandler's Ford will journey to Uganda to carry out charitable projects. Their aims are to protect two water wells, to paint and renovate a local school, to provide essential school supplies and to run Scouting activities for the local Scouts.

This is the highest number of participants ever selected from Chandler's Ford and it is testimony to the quality, drive and dedication of both the leadership and the young people themselves. Equally, this is the largest fundraising task ever undertaken by the district, needing to raise an eye-watering £65,290 for everyone to be able to take up the places, which they have earned. This not only covers each participant's expenses, but also contributes to the costs of the UK Scout Team and subsidises the poorer nations, who otherwise would not be in a position to attend. Individuals are working hard on smaller projects and a Committee has been formed to organise a range of fundraising events over the coming months.

Asking complete strangers to make a donation is a big ask, but community involvement in a task of this magnitude is critical. Maybe you have fond memories of your own time in scouting or guiding. Maybe you now have young children or grandchildren of your own, who perhaps one day will want to pursue a similar adventure and they will then be looking for community support. Please help send nineteen of our local Chandler's Ford youngsters on their journeys - any contribution you are able to make, however small, will be put to good use and gratefully received!