Scouting as an International Organisation
Scouting in the UK has just under 500,000 members. When Scouting started in the UK, it rapidly aroused interest in other countries and it is now a truly international Movement with over 25 million members spread through 210 countries and territories. The number of countries recognising the values of scouting and accepting its principles continues to increase.
Scouting plays a major part throughout the world in developing core values of citizenship amongst young people and also in providing assistance to populations beset by natural disasters, especially in the developing world. Scouts in Africa, supported by the worldwide organisaton, may be found engaged in a wide variety of projects designed to benefit their local communities: clean water and healthcare projects are just two examples.
Similar community projects based on local need are undertaken by Scouts in other parts of the world and UK Scouting is deeply engaged in providing assistance where possible, often enabling young people from the UK to participate actively in overseas projects. On other occasions, UK Scouting provides help by bringing young people (whether Scouts or not) to the UK: for example, children from Chernobyl have been hosted in the UK to give them a recovery period free from the damage insidiously inflicted by their polluted environment.
International links, visits and camps are encouraged and Scouting is very keen to promote international understanding and co-operation amongst young people in the belief that such values will be reflected in their adult lives.