Hundreds head to camp for Scout event

More than 1,200 Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Volunteer Helpers from across the region are heading to Wearside for the annual Confido adventure weekend.

The three-day event, which begins tomorrow and is organised by Durham Scout County, is the biggest of its kind in the North of England.

Held at Moor House Adventure Centre, near West Rainton, youngsters aged between 10 and 18 will enjoy more than 50 activities, ranging from extreme adventures including Zorbing and Segway Safari to more traditional outdoor pursuits such as abseiling, archery, backwoods cooking and pioneering.

Confido 2017 will also be supported by a host of community groups and external bodies running workshops designed to encourage the young people to expand their horizons.

On Saturday night, the entire Confido campsite will be transformed for a massive themed party, with live bands and competitions in the marquee and the woods transformed into a spooky haunted mansion.

The entire Confido programme is designed to give young people the opportunity to challenge themselves to do things they wouldn’t normally experience day to day.

Confido 2017 is overseen by a team of more than 200 adult volunteers who co-ordinate everything from event planning and management to entertainment, activities and catering; bringing skills from their professional life such as project management, engineering, sound and lighting.

More than 1,000 hours of planning goes into this weekend’s event and the number of the volunteer team is growing year on year.