Scouting in Bognor Regis is best for fellow districts in county to follow
Pioneering work is being carried out by Scouts and their leaders in Bognor Regis.
County commissioner Robert Sawyer said the Scouting district which covered the town was the best in West Sussex at involving young people in its work.
“They are leading the way in West Sussex. They have got a lot of young people in leadership roles and, in the past year, they have had a number of members gain the Queen’s Scout Award. which is the highest award in Scouting.
“There are also five Scouts from here going to the jamboree in America.
“Especially on the youth side, there are one or two other districts that I would recommend taking a look at what is going on in Bognor Regis. It is somewhere that is going in the right direction,” he said.
The Scouting district of Bognor Regis is one of the smallest in area of the ten in West Sussex.
But Mr Sawyer said it punched well above its weight when it came to taking part in county-wide activities.
“They always support what we are doing. At a Go Beaver event recently, there were 100 from Bognor Regis out of 800 in all,” he said.
The popularity of Scouting around the town showed the movement was still relevant to young people as the 21st century progressed.
“Scouting is about finding your feet and gaining confidence in a safe place. They may not be able to find their voice but coming to Scouting enables them to do that,” said Mr Sawyer.
He made his remarks at the Bognor Regis and District Scouts’ annual meeting last week. The event at the Newtown Sports and Social Club saw awards presented to the leading Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers of the past year.
Tsunami Explorer Harry Mason scooped two individual awards and earned a share of a team award.
He was named as the young leader of the year and the Explorer Scout of the year as well as being one of the Explorers who gained the Bill Robinson Award.
Engineering student Harry, 17, said: “It feels really good to have won these awards. I’ve been in Scouting for about 10 years. It has given me more confidence.
“It’s all about meeting new people and it’s like having a second family.
“I like the activities, canoeing and climbing are my favourite ones, and being a Young Leader and helping to push the next generation of Scouts.”
He also credited Scouting with helping his ambition to become a product designer and engineering after he has finished his current course at Chichester College.
