25 January 2007

MP WELCOMES GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE FOR SCOUTS' CENTENARY

Clwyd South MP, MARTYN JONES has welcomed a pledge by the Government to put almost £1.5million behind plans to host 40,000 scouts from 216 countries at this summer's Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, between July 27 and August 8 this year.

The announcement was made by Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector who said the Government will give the UK Scouts Association £1.495m to support of the event.

The World Jamboree takes place every four years and is hosted in a different country each time. It was last held in England fifty years ago, when scouting celebrated 50 years of the Scouting movement in the World Scout Jubilee Jamboree.

Commenting on the announcement, Martyn Jones MP said

"I am delighted that the Government is keen to support the incredibly valuable benefits this will bring, and recognising the work of one of the country's most well-loved movements.

"There are 14 Scout Groups in Clwyd South - scouting is very popular amongst young people in the area, and indeed across North Wales as a whole.

"I wish local Scouts my very best wishes in this important Centenary year"

Local and national activities and events around the Centenary will go on throughout 2007, involving 500,000 young British people and creating an estimated 100,000 local community-based volunteering opportunities. The Jamboree will see 40,000 young people taking part in community projects, and celebrations will have a special focus on social cohesion and increasing levels of volunteering.