In 2011, the next World Scout Jamboree will be held in Sweden, and on a cold November weekend 73 Scouts and Explorers from all over Bedfordshire were invited to come and show the Bedfordshire County Scout Team why they should have the chance to take part in this life changing experience.

From the 73, only 36 could actually go, and after the weekend, two young people from Stotfold Explorers, James Jackman and Matthew Brember were chosen. It is a big honour for them to go, to represent the Unit, Stotfold and the County, and it was a reflection on the strength of the Scouting movement in Stotfold that both were chosen.

Both Matthew and James have been a part of the scouting movement in Stotfold since they first joined as Beavers, and have worked up through Cubs, Scouts and now in Explorers, showing their commitment and dedication to the movement. They are not the only ones representing Stotfold at the Jamboree, since Stotfold Explorer Leader Steve Davies was chosen back in July to be the Bedfordshire Unit Leader for the Jamboree.

Steve says “Now that they have been successful in getting into the Unit, the hard work starts fundraising for the Jamboree, since it will cost each of them £2,200 to go, although the first £200 has been paid by the County, and some of the money will be raised through sponsorship by Bedfordshire Police, The Lord Mayor of Bedford and other organisations. The boys will be doing a lot of fundraising over the next 18 months and we hope that the people of Stotfold will support us in all the activities they will be doing. It’s fantastic to have three of us from Stotfold going, and just shows how good the Scouting Movement is in the town. We will be approaching the Town Council for help, as well as local business to become ‘Friends of the Jamboree’, and of course our own Supporters Association has already been putting money away for them”.

 Pictured below are James Jackman and Matthew Brember receiving the good news from the Jamboree Leader Steve Davies.