Every year on 23 April – in honour of St George, the patron saint of Scouts – Scouts across the UK hold some form of celebration. Traditionally, St George’s Day celebrations have consisted of parades and faith services and, for some, these types of events remain popular.
However, in Blackpool, we like to do things our own way… we had a full weekend of celebrations across the town.
Starting off on Friday 24th April, Scout volunteers and local businesses got all dressed up, wined, dined and boogied the night away to celebrate at the annual Scouts Fundraising Ball at Blackpool Football Club. A perfect opportunity to let their hair down and have a fantastic evening with their friends, family, supporters and fellow volunteers whilst raising vital funds to continue their important work.
Then down at Stanley Park on Sunday 26th April, Squirrel, Beaver and Cub Scouts plus their adult volunteers from across the town got together for tomahawk throwing to archery, treasure hunt to pioneering and much more to celebrate St. George’s Day!
Matt Hornby, lead volunteer for Blackpool Scouts said, “a great event and weekend of celebration. Thank you to everyone for their hard work”. The Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Kim Critchley came down to support the event. Emma Hornby, Programme Team Leader, said “young people from all sections worked together in team activities, enjoyed an exciting visit from the emergency services, and made the most of the outdoor setting”.
Blackpool Scouts District President and Army Cadet ambassador Jordan Wylie MBE also came down to get stuck in with some of the activities before launching the ‘President’s Challenge’. This is a new badge and challenge for Scouts to get stuck in with that focuses on building resilience. Jordan said “it was especially powerful to see so many young people renew their Scout Promise, a reminder of the values, commitment and sense of purpose that sit at the heart of everything Scouting stands for”.
Whilst the park was full of Scouts, so was the rest of the town for Blackpool’s first ever Monopoly Run. This saw more than 110 Scouts and Explorer Scouts take to the streets and use the town as a real-life Monopoly board. The teams travelled round town visiting famous landmarks and places to ‘buy’ properties, pay rent and complete challenges to score points.
The concept was simple but challenging. Teams navigated between checkpoints inspired by classic Monopoly properties along with a number of additional local sites earning points by taking selfies at each destination. The catch? They could only travel using public transport, including Blackpool buses and trams, or by walking. Strategic planning, teamwork, and time management proved just as important as enthusiasm.
Claire Hadgraft, Scout Section Team Leader, said “the aim of the day was not just competition, but visibility. By sending Scouts out across busy towns and transport routes, the event helped showcase the positive impact of Scouting to the wider public. Passersby frequently stopped to ask questions, offering encouragement and learning more about what local Scout groups do”.
The Scouts ended the day with a parade through the park, a tradition for St George’s Day, showcasing how proud they are to be part of an international movement.
And then a time to renew the Scouts promise at the bandstand. The Promise helps all young people and adults keep the fundamentals of Scouts in mind. To make sure it’s meaningful, it’s important that every member can make the Promise in a way that truly reflects their personal beliefs. St George’s Day is the time of the year when Scouts come together as a community and reflect on the principles that underpin the movement. Making sure that those celebrations are reflective of the diversity and of Scouts values is absolutely vital to the future of Scouting.
A weekend the young people in Blackpool and the volunteers will not forget! If you want to get stuck in with Scouts, make new friends, and gain skills for life.
