Scouts 100 and out in force!

Aug 2 2007 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM city centre was overwhelmed by hundreds of youngsters who gathered to celebrate Scouting's 100th birthday.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from across the Midlands flocked to Victoria Square yesterday to take part in a massive party aimed at celebrating the milestone anniversary.

Complete with a cake and balloons, the Square came to life as the youngsters set off to play a version of Monopoly, completing tasks, working out clues and taking photographs.

Organisers said the event was a runaway success.

"We had arranged for 100 Cubs, Scouts and Beavers to attend the celebrations but then we had at least an extra 300 others turn up," said a spokesman for the event.

"It goes to show just how popular Scouting still is, 100 years after it all first began. It was clearly a day enjoyed by everyone and it was great to see so many youngsters proudly wearing their uniforms out and about in the city centre.

"It proves Birmingham has a very strong Scouting movement and we hope it will have attracted many more youngsters to join."

Former Cub and Scout Peter Oldham, County Commissioner for Scouting in Birmingham, said there are currently 5,000 Scouts in Birmingham, ten per cent of which are girls.

He urged more children to sign up to the movement, as well as volunteers to help run the groups.

"For the past 100 years Scouting has played an important role in society, with core values that have stood the test of time," he said. "All our members learn to make informed decisions, have discipline and respect. These Centenary celebrations were a way of showing the world of non-Scouts what they are missing out on.

"Scouting is about magic. There's a spirit about it because the people who do it are special."