Since becoming Chief Scout earlier this year, I have had the opportunity to meet a great many people in various parts of the United Kingdom. I am of course looking forward to meeting a great many more in the years to come.
But as I go round the country I sometimes wonder if, despite the fact that we are a truly 'worldwide' Movement, do we actually make enough effort to encourage our young people to establish links with other Scouts not only overseas but within our own counties or even countries?
This is one reason why I welcome the arrival of ScoutBase UK. It is a very significant tool to encourage communications and develop national and international links.
Currently we have no easy way to communicate directly with those Leaders who week in and week out, provide the programme that helps young people make the most of life. Through ScoutBase UK I expect there to be much greater access to the latest news and information created by our Movement. Hopefully too there will be much greater contact between the volunteers on our national teams and committees who make the decisions, the Leaders who implement them and the staff at Lancing, Gilwell Park and Baden-Powell House, there to serve both.
The team behind ScoutBase UK are also volunteers. Busy people who run Scout Troops, Cub Packs, Beaver Colonies or Venture Scout Units or whose Group, County or District appointments enable them to help the people who work directly with our young members. It is their initiative, enthusiasm and skill which has created 'our' Web Site. I offer my thanks to them for everything they have already done and all that they are going to do in the future to promote and develop ScoutBase UK.
Please enjoy ScoutBase UK. Even better make a real contribution in the form of news, views and information which can be shared with others.
Best wishes,
George Purdy
Chief Scout
