Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 11:00am

Scouts enjoying a surge in membership

by Rose Harland

DAREDEVIL youngsters looking for adventure are finding it thanks to a rather traditional source - the Scouts.

More and more young people are joining the Scouts, which is celebrating its largest membership growth for 22 years, with one Bracknell-based Scout group proving so popular an extra troop for 10 to 14-year-olds has had to be started to meet the growing demand.

Steve Prower, group scout leader at 2nd Bracknell Scouts, said: "My group has been particularly successful. In the last 12 months we've had to open a second group which we can only do because we have a small but dedicated team of leaders to help."

Bracknell's Explorer Scouts, aged between 14 and 18, have one of the biggest increases in Berkshire, with 54% more scouts signing up and vowing to 'Be Prepared'.

Mr Prower, who takes Scouts from Bullbrook, North Bracknell and Martin's Heron, said: "It's not 'uncool' to say 'I'm in the Scouts' at the moment whereas a few years ago things were different.

"When you're young, sleeping in a tent has got to be the greatest thing in the world and it's nice to see that children can still get simple pleasures compared to just sitting in front of an Xbox."

But it's not just simple pleasures on offer these days, with Scouts enjoying more extreme activities such as snowboarding and street sports.

Earlier this month Mr Prower's Explorer Scout group, which meets at the Scout Hall, Freeborn Way, Bullbrook, got in the saddle and cycled from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Whitley Bay in North Tyneside via the Pennines and Gateshead's The Angel of the North, as part of the C2C bike ride.

He said: "I was really impressed with them, they worked together as a team and really gelled as a unit - and they wouldn't have had the opportunity to do it without the Scouts."

But the Scouts' popularity means there is a real need for adult volunteers to help run Bracknell's numerous groups.

Mr Prower said: "We're always looking for more people - if I had volunteers I could open another Beaver pack tomorrow.

"Leaders get so much out of Scouting, being able to help these youngsters develop and seeing the look on their faces when they are enjoying themselves makes it all worthwhile."

For more information about joining the Scouts, as a Scout or a leader, visit www.2ndbracknell.co.uk or www.berkshirescouts.org.uk

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