Six young people from Thanet have been selected to represent Kent and the UK at one of the world’s largest international youth events – the 26th World Scout Jamboree, taking place in Gdańsk, Poland, from 30 July to 8 August 2027.
They will be joining over 50,000 Scouts from almost every country in the world for the once in every four years event.
The World Scout Jamboree is renowned for bringing together young people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to promote peace, sustainability, leadership, and global citizenship. Participants take part in international team challenges, skills development, cultural exchange and environmental projects, creating lifelong friendships and experiences.
The six Scouts and Explorers from Thanet have been chosen following a competitive selection process. However, attending the Jamboree comes with a significant cost. Each participant must raise £3,600 to cover travel, accommodation, training, equipment and activities.
Part of this cost also includes a solidarity contribution, which helps ensure that Scouts from developing nations, disadvantaged backgrounds and challenging financial situations are able to attend the event.
Speaking about the opportunity, one of the participants Thomas Bathurst, who attends 1st Garlinge Scout Group, said the Jamboree will be a “life‑changing experience” and is appealing to the Thanet community for support.
The group has begun reaching out to local charities, organisations and businesses to help fundraise for the trip. Donations of any size can make a meaningful difference in helping the Scouts reach their target. To ensure transparency, all donations are paid directly into Thanet District Scouts’ official account, a registered charity.
They’re also holding a charity car wash at Ramsgate Fire Station, Newington Road on Saturday 9th May between 10am – 4pm. Proceeds from this event will be split between the group and the Firefighters Charity.
In return for community support, the young Scouts have offered to visit organisations after the event to share their experiences, skills gained and stories from the Jamboree, along with photos and presentations showing how local generosity helped them represent Thanet on the global stage.
The World Scout Jamboree has previously helped participants build confidence, leadership skills and a deeper understanding of global issues, with many former attendees going on to become youth leaders and community volunteers.
Anyone wishing to support the Thanet contingent’s journey to Poland can contact Thanet District Scouts for further information on [email protected]
