Young people from the Isle of Wight have joined other Scouts from across the UK at the world-famous University of Oxford to help shape the future of the Movement.
The landmark youth forum was one of the first events of its kind taking place in early Spring 2025, to help the largest youth organization in the country to create its next decade of sustainable growth.
Scarlett Ford, 17, from Flaming Mallows Explorer Scout Unit in Ventnor, said:
“Young people are the next generation, and they know how they want to world to be when they are older, so today is all about shaping the Scouts’ priorities for the next nine years. I’m pleased to be here representing young people from the Island.”
Naomi Hallam, 14, from East Wight’s Endeavor Explorer Scout Unit, added:
“On the Isle of Wight, we have a Scout forum focused on equality, diversity and inclusion, so it’s really exciting to be here today to make youth voice heard, especially on such an important topic to us.
“Young people are the future, so if we aren’t listening to them then we can’t expect them to be invested in the positive change that’s to come. Today is all about listening to ideas so we can shape positive change.”
From every area of the UK, 2 Scouts aged 10 to 14 and two Explorer Scouts aged 14-18, supported by two adult volunteers, have been invited to youth forums in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford to give as many young people as possible the chance to examine the Movement’s future plans, and suggest changes based on their own experiences.
Dwayne Fields, the recently appointed Chief Scout, said:
“It’s important that the future plans of the Scouts are informed by young people, so that’s why it’s essential that young people from the Isle of Wight are able to contribute to the future of the Scout Movement in the next ten years by having their say on our future plans.”
The day forum event in Oxford included workshops about the role of youth voice in the Movement’s strategy. Some specifically explored topics like advocacy, equity, diversity and inclusion, safety and safeguarding, sustainability and digital. Young people also considered what the world – and Scouts – will look like in 2035.
Adult Volunteer, Emma Brown, 19, from Isle of Wight County Youth Team, who supported young people at the event, said:
“Youth Voice is essential for both young people and adult volunteers, without listening to the young people, we cannot guarantee that they are enjoying scouting, feeling included and making a difference.
“I personally began a Youth Forum specifically focused on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, to be able to give the young people a voice in areas which quite often are overlooked, and seeing the change in every young person’s confidence has been incredibly refreshing and being able to take four young people up to oxford and see how engaged they were was really inspiring. It is one of the reasons why we give up our time and volunteer within scouting.”
