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The Europe for You! Programme is an initiative of the European Scout Region. It will be of particular interest to members in the Explorer Scout and Scout Network Sections.

Europe for You! is comprised of two elements:

• Where to Stay in Europe and
• the European Scout Voluntary Programme

There is a fact sheet (FS260027) available from the Information Centre on the Europe for You! Programme.

This is a really good resource for leaders and anyone thinking of having a trip to anywhere in Europe. Maybe you are looking for a location for your Troop summer camp, for places to stay when inter-railing or for information about other countries. The aim of 'Where to Stay in Europe' is to give you the information you need about more than 330 different centres in 24 European countries.

The resource gives basic information (size, opening times, prices, location etc.) for each site and contact details to get more information.

Where to Stay in Europe is available from the European Scout Region pages on the internet.

more about Where to Stay in Europe...

The aim of the European Scout Voluntary Programme (ESVP) is to assist young people from around the world to develop their leadership skills and intercultural learning. This is achieved by providing those young people with a residential experience of at least four weeks as a volunteer staff member at a site in another country within Europe. These sites can be one of many possibilities - an existing Scout or Guide Centre or a EuroStep.

The sites range from islands to castles, mountains to flatlands, old and new, from Iceland to Croatia passing through the UK, Poland and Switzerland. At present, all of the sites are established Scout or Guide Centres; many of them are open year round and have been working with volunteers for years. The sites all provide 'basics' such as a bed and food, as well as training and development within the framework of each sites organisation.

Participants in the ESVP must be

• a member of any WOSM recognised Scout association around the world,
• must be aged between 18 and 30 year old when the residential service commences and
• must be prepared to fully complete all of the requirements of the programme.

Participants will receive support for the travel expenses incurred during their period of service. This funding comes from the Fund for European Scouting. Members of WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) only associations can participate in the programme, but would not be eligible to receive any support towards travel costs.

How to get involved:

1. Pass on this information to all potential sites that you think might fulfil the criteria. Many Scout and Guide Centres already offer voluntary opportunities, and could benefit from the support of the ESVP.
2. If you know of a specific project, like a large international camp in the United Kingdom that might benefit from the support of volunteers in the weeks and months preceding the event then the ESVP may well be able to assist.
3. If you want to volunteer yourself, check out where you might like to volunteer by reviewing the information on the ESVP website (http://scout.kaleis.com/index.php?idsousrubrique=55).
4. If you find an opportunity that you would like to get involved in, then please contact the International Office at Gilwell Park usually by mid-September for the following year.

more about The European Scout Voluntary Programme...