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17th July 2003

The Scout Association today welcomes the report by the Department for Education and Skills Working Group on 14-19 Reform (published yesterday). The recognition of wider achievements, such as the range of adventurous activities young people undertake in Scouting, was commended as a positive factor in encouraging young people to pursue their education, who otherwise might not do so.

Formed in 1907, The Scout Association provides an exciting programme for those aged between six and 25. The introduction of the new Explorer Scout Section last year for 14 to 18 year-olds is already resulting in more young people both joining and continuing their involvement in the Movement. Recognising their participation in activities such as Scouting will help to keep them on this path, which broadens their horizons and provides skills not taught in schools.

A spokesperson for The Scout Association said: "Employers are becoming aware of the quality of the modern progressive training programme for adults and young people involved in Scouting. More and more are discovering the skills learned as a Scout such as leadership, teamwork, self reliance and ability to communicate, are valuable tools in the workplace for both existing and potential employees.

"The core elements such as camping, hiking, expeditions, water activities and adventure are still very much at the heart of Scouting, with the emphasis very much on learning by doing.

"Scouting offers young people opportunities that would not normally come their way - and plenty of fun too!

"It is an education for life, an introduction to the university of life, illustrating anything is possible. Scouting is a Movement ... on the move.

"The Government has already committed itself to broader methods of study post 16, through the introduction of Wider Key Skills, and Scouting should be seen by formal education as a valid method of gaining essential life skills. The Scout Association looks forward to taking part in the consultation period that runs until 16 October."

Notes for Editors:

• Scouting is the UK's biggest co-educational youth movement offering young people aged 6 to 25 and adults the experience of a lifetime
• Worldwide it boasts nearly 30 million members in 216 countries
• Every Year 50,000 Scouts travel to every continent to climb mountains, canoe down rivers, help developing countries build schools and to have fun and adventure!
• Each night of the week 100,000 people go to Scouts. That's more than the Millennium Stadium can hold!
• Scouting will be celebrating its centenary year in 2007!

The Scout Association has actively participated in the Network for Accrediting Young People's Achievement. With members from many large national voluntary youth organisations, The Network promotes co-operation between key national accrediting bodies. Through the National Youth Agency, it has recently published a second edition of the 'National Framework of Awards in Non-Formal Educational settings'. It offers a comparison to policy makers of the informal awards available and promotes Network links to the National Qualilfications Framework.

For more information on this topic see the DfES website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/reform1419.shtml

Further background information can be accessed from the Scout Association's corporate website http://www.scouts.org.uk/ and its Members' website http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/.