Issued: 7 March 2008
Release: Immediate

International Women's Day

Did you know that Scouting is for women and girls as well?

As tomorrow [8 March] is International Women's Day, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the 50,000 girls and 36,500 women currently in Scouting.

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8, is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. It celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.

Girls first joined the Scout Movement in 1976 as Venture Scouts, the Section which previously catered for 15-20 year olds. During 1991 Scout Groups were given the opportunity to admit females to all sections. Since 1 January 2007 all Groups in the UK were open to females as well as males. From age 6 onwards Scouting has something to offer females as well as males.

Helen, a 12 year old Scout from Bedminster, Bristol, commented "Many people think Scouts is just for the boys but that simply isn't true. In my Scout Troop it is roughly a 50/50 split." she added, "Scouting is Scouting, the girls enjoy the same range of activities as the boys".

Neil Salter, County Commissioner for the Scouting Movement in the (former) Avon area, commented "The public perception is that Scouting is a male only environment. Year on year we are seeing an increase in the number of female members who enjoy the fun, challenge and adventure of Scouting."

Further information on joining Scouting, is available from 0845 3001818 or from www.avonscouts.org.uk/join

The Scout Association recently launched a national campaign - Kids Outdoors - to encourage more young people, whether or not involved with Scouting, to enjoy a more active life. [see www.kidsoutdoors.com]

- E N D S -

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PHOTOS

Suitable images to accompany this story:
www.avonscouts.org.uk/media/girl-climbing-1.jpg
www.avonscouts.org.uk/media/girl-climbing-2.jpg
www.avonscouts.org.uk/media/girls.jpg


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FACTS


Facts you didn't know about Scouting...
- Scouting is the UK's largest co-educational youth organisation
- There are 30 million members of the Scouting movement around the world
- There are over 10,000 members of the Scouting Movement in the former Avon area
- There are only a few countries in which Scouting does not exist
- Over 100,000 people take part in Scouting every night of the week
- An estimated 500million people have been Scouts since Scouting was formed
- There are currently more members of the Scouting movement than at any time in the movements 100-year history
- The Scout Association's youth programme for young people - male and female - aged 6 to 25
- DYB DYB DYB DOB DOB DOB [note the spelling] hasn't been used in Scouting since 1967. But, when it was used, it was an acronym for Do Your Best and Do Our Best.


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Background information available at www.avonscouts.org.uk/media

Further information available from:
      Philip Bird
      Assistant County Commissioner (Communications)
      Avon Scouts
      Tel: 07970 514827