Scouts’ honour: We’re stronger than we think, braver than we know

THIS GENERATION of young people has faced challenges like few before. The pandemic has dropped like a shutter between them and their everyday lives.

Cut off from their friends, their schools and even the outdoors, our children are still spending much of the day with just four walls for company.

They’ve been denied the simple joys of play, of fun, connection and belonging.yes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, with the roadmap out of lockdown, but the pressures have taken their toll.

We know from our Yougov research, commissioned by the Scouts, that young people are struggling with their mental wellbeing.two-thirds (62 per cent) of 14 to 18-year-olds said that they felt the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health, with more than half (53 per cent) feeling negative about the future.

Yes, young people are remarkably resilient and stronger than they know, but this last year has been relentless.

That’s where the Scouts have come in. From the get-go, back in March 2020, our volunteers have stepped up to the plate.

When we couldn’t meet face to face, thousands of leaders adapted to meetings on Zoom and carried on delivering skills, hope and friendship into homes.

Young people are naturally curious and optimistic.they’re at the start of their great adventure on Planet Earth.yet, through the prism (or prison) of lockdown and the pandemic, the world has suddenly seemed so much smaller and bleaker.

It’s our role to show them that we can get through this and come out stronger on the other side; that the world is waiting for them.

Some families might even feel like it’s put their children’s childhood on hold. As a father, and as Chief Scout, I find that heartbreaking.

I’ve seen this in my own family as we’ve coped together with the restrictions. As parents and carers, we can help up to a point. But young people need each other and something of their own.

Despite busy lives, our volunteers still lifted their laptop lids because we can’t afford to give up on our young people.we won’t let that happen.

Sure, you can’t smell the wood smoke or the wet canvas online, or feel the grass under your toes, but you can see the smiles on young people’s faces.

It’s our volunteers’ generosity and commitment that’s made it possible for the Scouts to carry on.they have clocked up an astonishing

1.2 million hours of online meetings, creating countless bright moments our young people simply wouldn’t otherwise have had.

One of the few things lockdown has helped us to do is think differently. It’s made us really reflect on what’s important. Living closely together is something

I’m used to from my expeditions. Try crossing the North Atlantic in an open boat, or sharing a tiny tent 18,000 feet up Everest while dressed as a spaceman. In situations like these it makes you realise that kindness is everything.

In close proximity, showing consideration for each other and forgiving small mistakes counts for a lot.

The pandemic has also made us realise we’re capable of extraordinary things, especially when we work together: from the miracle of the vaccine itself to the amazing achievements of our young people.

Our Scouts have been heroic fundraisers, connected with the isolated in their communities. It just goes to show Scouts haven’t forgotten their promise to help other people.

So let’s take a moment to say thank you to our volunteers. They’ve been incredible role models, showing that even when we’ve faced obstacles we can get over them and learn from them.

And let’s say thank you to our young people too, for their remarkable courage and incredible spirit.they’ll never forget this time in their lives, the lessons they’ve learnt and the people who have helped them through it.we’re stronger than we think, and braver than we know.

scouts.org.uk/volunteer

‘We can’t afford to give up on young

people’

North West: It will be dry day although with a lot of cloud and just occasional sun. Light winds. High 11C (52F).

Northern Ireland: Possibly the odd spot of rain for a time. But it will then be dry and sunny. Light winds. High 10C (50F).

It will be dry and fine with sunny spells and patchy cloud. Gentle easterly winds. Mild. High 12C (54F).

It will be dry and fine with sunny spells and patchy cloud. Gentle easterly winds. Mild. High 11C (52F).

A dry day with a few sunny intervals, but also a lot of cloud.

Light winds. High 11C (52F).

Scotland: A largely dull and cloudy day but brighter spells will develop. Light westerly winds. High 13C (55F).

Fog clearing, then dry but with a lot of cloud. Isolated mist patches. Light winds. High 9C (48F).

Dry with a few spells of sunshine, more so later. Moderate northeasterly winds. High 10C (50F).

Dry and bright with long spells of sunshine and just a little cloud. Gentle easterly winds. High 11C (52F).

Today will be sunny and dry with just a little patchy cloud. Brisk easterly winds. High 12C (54F).

Dry and sunny with only a few patches of cloud during the morning. Strong easterly winds. High 9C (48F).

North Sea: Slight. Irish Sea: Slight. Channel: Moderate.

WITH the light at the end of the tunnel thankfully beginning to appear ever brighter in this pandemic, we must now look to the future and how Britain can rebuild itself and prosper again.

The news that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans to have a £5billion fund to help restart the pubs, restaurants, clubs, hair salons, high street shops and other businesses hit hardest by the pandemic is very welcome.

It is also welcome that Mr Sunak looks set to begin fulfilling the election promises of a levelling-up agenda with enterprise zones in the former Labour heartlands recently won by the Conservatives.

All this shows that our Chancellor has a keen eye for Britain to be an economic powerhouse again.

However, he must heed warnings from his own MPS and not raise taxes. Such a move would stymie economic growth, could spell the end for many businesses and will take away people’s money at a time when they most need it.

The scale of the potential disaster is outlined graphically today in this paper by commercial property veteran Tony Lorenz, who has seen no fewer than four recessions in his 55 years in the sector, and says the economic crisis coming makes the others “look like a teddy bear”.

The mantra for the Chancellor inwednesday’s Budget must be to boost economic growth, job creation and encourage spending.

With that, we should be able to bounce back.