Scouts from Greater Manchester East join 500 others from across the UK to shape the future of the Scout movement.

Four young people supported by three leaders from Greater Manchester East Scouts recently travelled to Etihad Stadium to have their say on the future strategy and direction of the Scout Movement. This event was the first of its kind ever to take place in the UK Scout Movement.

Held on Saturday 8th March 2025, young people from Greater Manchester East Scouts joined other Scouts from across the UK at the world-famous Etihad Stadium in Manchester, to help shape the future of the Movement.

The landmark youth forum was one of the first events of its kind taking place in early Spring 2025, to help the largest youth organisation in the country to create its next decade of sustainable growth.

Phoebe Barnes, 12, from Tameside, said: “I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to be here today. It’s good to do these activities because it shows what’s good right now and how we can improve in the future. By being here now, I can tell others in my group what I’ve done today and how it’ll affect the future of Scouts.”

From every Scout County or Area, two Scouts aged 10 to 14 and two Explorer Scouts aged 14-18, supported by two adult volunteers, have been invited to youth forums in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford to give as many young people as possible the chance to input into the Movement’s future plans.

Dwayne Fields, the recently appointed Chief Scout, said: “It’s important that the future plans of the Scouts are informed by young people, so that’s why it’s essential that young people from Greater Manchester East are able to contribute to the future of the Scout Movement in the next ten years by having their say on our future plans.”

The day forum event consisted of workshops and plenary sessions where those attending were able to examine draft plans for the future of the Movement and update and modify those plans in the light of their experiences.

Dan, Greater Manchester East County Youth Lead, from Tameside, who supported young people at the event, said: “It’s amazing that we are able to offer this incredibly unique opportunity to the young people within our county, giving them the platform to make it known what really matters to them, and enable them to shape the future of the movement.”