The Scouting Memorial Project is a national campaign designed to raise awareness of "Remembrance". It aims to raise funds to build and maintain a Scouting memorial to remember those who have given service to Scouting and their communities, especially those members of Scouting who have suffered through conflict.

The initial idea for the project came about 5 years ago when a team of Explorer Scouts (aged 14-18) from the 64th Birmingham Scout Group visited the National Memorial Arboretum during a Diamond Chief Scout Award expedition. They spent 4 hours there and left inspired by the Arboretum yet disappointed that, although there are a number of other youth organisations represented, there was no Scouting memorial.

The idea was then developed further a year later when 10 Networkers from the same Group completed an Explorer Belt expedition in northern France and Belgium. They spent 10 days walking along and exploring the Western Front between Amiens and Ypres gaining a real appreciation of the sacrifices made by people of their own age. This really bought home the subject of Remembrance on a very personal level.


Explorer Scouts on their Diamond Chief Scout Award expedition
Explorers doing a project on Remembrance, at the National Memorial Arboretum, as part of their Diamond Chief Scout Award expedition.
Networkers on their Explorer Belt in northern France
As discussion on this subject grew we increasingly heard stories of Scout Groups whose members had suffered through conflict; some with injuries and some who gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice. Many of these individuals were aged 18-25.


 

We need to raise £140,000 to design, build, insure and maintain the Scouting memorial for the next 20 years.

The £140,000 will be raised through donations made through our online giving site; Groups and Districts running their own fundraising events; and donations from the Memorial Badge appeal. A table showing the approximate budget of the project is shown below:

Our first move as a project team was to look at how we could quickly raise national awareness of the Scouting Memorial Project and give it an identity, whilst also giving our young people a sense of ownership.

In true Scouting style we decided to engage our young people within Birmingham County and Lichfield District in a badge design competition – unfortunately we couldn't roll this out any wider due to time constraints.

The brief was to create a Memorial Badge specifically for this project that clearly showed a link to both scouting and remembrance, and that could be used to raise awareness and give an identity to The Scouting Memorial Project.
The winning design was by Connor White, a 10 year old cub from the 87th Birmingham (1st Bierton) Scout Group.

 

 

The Scouting Memorial will be sited at the National Memorial Arboretum located in the centre of England in Staffordshire and will lie within Lichfield Scouting District.

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK's year-round centre of remembrance. The Arboretum commemorates and celebrates those who have given their lives in the service of their country, all who have served and suffered as a result of conflict, and others who, for specific or appropriate reasons, are commemorated.
The Scouting Memorial will join memorials already set up at the Arboretum by other youth organisations including Trefoil Guild, Boys Brigade, Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade


PHOTO: NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

 

One of the foundation stones of the Scout Promise is to help other people. Since Scouting was founded, the service given by so many leaders and helpers to young people cannot be underestimated. In addition, the principles and skills engendered in Scouting have led many youth and adult members to give self-sacrificing service to other people across the world in areas of difficulty and conflict..

The project is not only about raising funds for a memorial, but also about raising awareness of remembrance. We aim to create a focus for national Scouting remembrance and to increase the education and awareness of our young people to the concept of remembrance by recognising the service and sacrifices made by others on our behalf. With ongoing conflicts this recognition is just as relevant today as it has ever been.
Over the last 3 years we have been working to gain support to move 'The Scouting Memorial Project' forward on local, regional and national levels. We now have the full support of Gilwell and have drawn together a project team from within Birmingham County. We have widened the initial scope of the memorial to include remembrance of all members of The Scout Association who have given service to Scouting, with a special mention for those members who have suffered through conflict.