54 scouts and explorers and 13 adult leaders from the Royal Town are preparing to go on a Jurassic International Jamboree later in the year where they will meet 5,000 scouts and guides from around the world and the Mayor of Sutton Coldfield, Councillor David Pears, says they will ambassadors for the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.
“The Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council recently gave the scouts a community grant”, said Councillor Pears, “for £3,380 for Jamboree clothing with the Sutton Coldfield Town Council logo embroidered on the clothing and equipment. Branded clothing is considered essential kit because everyone at the Jamboree will be wearing different clothing unique to their areas and the Sutton Coldfield Contingent are proud to be from the Royal Town.”
The children will get to participate in many different activities during the 8 day Jamboree on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset in August and meet people from around the world. Everyone has to pay their own costs to attend the event. “The children will be ambassadors for Royal Sutton Coldfield” said the Mayor “and carry a sense of pride with them at the event via their branded clothing. An event such as this will create a legacy. Scouting in Sutton Coldfield believes in supporting the wellbeing and health of the community for future residents through scouting and makes a positive contribution to society and the place we live”.
Councillor David Pears is himself an active volunteer within the community and an avid supporter of children and young adults throughout Sutton Coldfield. Passionate about the town`s historic past and vibrant future, the Mayor has nothing but praise for adult scout leaders from Sutton Coldfield, who are themselves volunteers.
“We should praise and honour our volunteers”, said Councillor David Pears “and all of the volunteer organisations in the Sutton Coldfield community. We all want to make our town a better place to live and work. Sutton Coldfield is famous for being the venue of the World Jamboree in 1957. Scouting is alive and kicking in Sutton Coldfield”.
Transport costs have been provided for the scouts by Town and Country Meats in Wolverhampton and the Chinese community in Birmingham. Corporate sponsors from Birmingham include Ying Wah Travel and Wing Yip Wholesalers. On Sunday 18th March the scouts from Sutton Coldfield East District are holding a Jamboree “Getting to Know You” session with the Mayor and the corporate sponsors at the 6th Scout HQ in Douay Road Wylde Green.
“We are very grateful to all of our corporate sponsors”, said Adam Hodson, Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts in East District “especially Councillor Alex Yip, Ying Wah Travel , Town and Country Meats and Wing Yip Wholesalers. We have also received donations from The Belfry, Lidl and West Midlands Safari Park. The Chinese community are providing Chinese calligraphy activities for our scouts completely free of charge plus origami and team building games! We will also be holding a BBQ with some of the equipment we have been able to buy from the Sutton Coldfield Town Council grant and we hope that the Mayor will try our burgers and hot dogs and join us for lunch! We are all volunteers and our business is to put smiles on young people`s faces.”
Adam is also keen to express his gratitude to the councillors on the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council who granted the scouts their application for a community grant especially Councillor Alex Yip and Councillor John Perks.
