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English Heritage - Press Release

30th August 2001

Scouts from 10th St Pancras Scout Troop step back in history at one of London's hidden architectural treasures, St Pancras Chambers, today at the launch of the Scout Heritage Badge, sponsored by English Heritage.

The St Pancras Scouts are studying the Victorian Chambers - the former Midland Grand Hotel - in order to gain the Badge. English Heritage - the recognised leader in heritage education - is investing £10,000 over two years in the promotion of the Badge to encourage more young people to take an active interest in their historic environment.

Around 500,000 boy and girl Scouts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being encouraged to study for the Heritage Badge when regular meetings re-commence after the summer break this autumn. English Heritage has produced a colourful poster and booklet aimed at getting Scouts and Leaders interested. Study categories include helping to preserve an aspect of local or national heritage, becoming involved in a traditional entertainment group or studying an aspect of history. The St Pancras Chambers project falls into the third category.

English Heritage offers free visits for Scout Groups at its 409 historic properties and has also made available the expertise of its nine regional education officers to help inspire and smooth the way for Leaders. And every Scout achieving the Badge will receive a free family day out to an English Heritage property of their choice.

English Heritage Education Manager Ken Glen said, "We are delighted to be able to reach young people in this way. We're keen to dust down the image of heritage as being dull and stuffy and present it in a new and relevant way. We need young people to care about their heritage - after all, they're the ones who are going to have responsibility for it in the future."