Scouting in Northern Ireland

Scouting in Northern Ireland is represented by three Scouting associations. The Northern Ireland Scout Council is part of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom, which is the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) recognized Scouting association in the United Kingdom.[1] Scouting Ireland is the national Scouting association and the WOSM-recognized Scouting association for the Republic of Ireland,[2] although its membership extends to Northern Ireland. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a member of the World Federation of Independent Scouts and operates one group in Northern Ireland.[3]

Overview

The Scout Association has seven Scout Counties covering the 6 counties that make up Northern Ireland plus the City of Belfast. These counties are overseen by the Northern Ireland Scout Council which is a registered charity in Northern Ireland with charity number 103542.[4] The Scout Association, Northern Ireland is an observer member of the Federation of Irish Scout Associations (FISA).[5]

Scouting Ireland is part of Northern Scout Province and has five Scout Counties. The Northern Province Commissioner is currently Wendy Morrow.[6] During the Troubles the number entering the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland skyrocketed as parents were eager for their sons to participate in Scouting rather than join the Provisional IRA like many young men of the time.

The Northern Ireland Scout Council and Scouting Ireland are running a Scout Citizenship project to improve the relationship between the two Scouting associations in Ireland.[7]

History

120 Northern Ireland Scouts, along with 12 leaders, took part in the 21st World Scout Jamboree to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting at Hylands Park near Chelmsford, Essex in 2007.[8]

Scout Counties

The Scout Association

The Scout Association

membership badge
Country United Kingdom
Founded 1908,
incorporated 1912-01-04
Founder Baden-Powell
Chief Scout Bear Grylls

County Antrim

The Scout County of County Antrim covers the County of Antrim in Northern Ireland. The four Scout Districts are Antrim and District, Lisburn and District, Mid Antrim, South East Antrim.

County Armagh

The Scout County of County Armagh covers the County of Armagh in Northern Ireland. The three Scout Districts are Lurgan and District, Armagh and District, and Portadown.

City of Belfast

The Scout County of City of Belfast covers the City of Belfast. The five Scout Districts are East Belfast, North Belfast, South Belfast, South East Belfast and West Belfast.

County Down

The Scout County of County Down covers the County of Down in Northern Ireland. The three Scout Districts are Strangford, South Down and North Down. The county has a current membership of 2279 young people and 445 adults.

County Fermanagh

The Scout County of County Fermanagh covers the County of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. The County has no Districts and has just nine Scout Groups. The County Commissioner is Katrina Armstrong.

County Londonderry

The Scout County of County Londonderry covers the city of Derry and the surrounding county of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The three Scout Districts are Coleraine, Londonderry and Mid Ulster.

County Tyrone

The Scout County of County Tyrone covers the County of Tyrone in Northern Ireland. The four Scout Districts are Clogher Valley, Dungannon, Omagh, and Strabane.

Scouting Ireland

Scouting in Northern Ireland
Country Ireland (NI & ROI)
Founded 2004
Membership 33,971 (2006)
Chief Scout Christy McCann
Website
http://www.scouts.ie

Brian Boru Scout County

Brian Boru Scout County covers parts of County Armagh and County Tyrone with a total of 9 Groups.

Down & Connor Scout County

Down & Connor Scout County covers County Antrim, County Down and Belfast with a total of 15 Groups. The 2006 Phoenix National Patrol Challenge was held at Tollymore Forest Park Co. Down.[9]

Erne Scout County

Erne Scout County covers County Fermanagh with a total of 7 Groups.

Errigal Scout County

Covers part of Counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Donegal with a total of 17 Groups.

North East Ulster Scout County

Covers part of counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Antrim with a total of 9 Groups.

Camp sites

The Scout Association

Scouting Ireland

Sections

For details of sections in The Scout Association see The Scout Association Sections. Within Northern Ireland there is an affiliated feeder organisation, The Northern Ireland Squirrel Association, which is for young people aged four and five years living in Northern Ireland.[15]
For details of sections in Scouting Ireland see Scouting Ireland Sections.

Beaver Scouts started in The Scout Association in Northern Ireland in 1965. Scouts Ireland started the section with considerable help from the Scout Association in 1979.[16]

For details of sections in the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association see B-PSA Organisation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Northern Ireland Scout Council
  2. ↑ "WOSM Circular Nº 9/2004" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. May 2004. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  3. ↑ Baden-Powell Scout Association
  4. ↑ "The Scout Association, Northern Ireland Scout Council". The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Federation of Irish Scout Associations
  6. ↑ "Si Northern Province". SI troops in Northern Ireland. Scouting Ireland. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
  7. ↑ The Scout Citizenship Project
  8. ↑ BBC News Report
  9. ↑ "Phoenix Information Pack" (PDF). Scouting Ireland Events Team. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
  10. ↑ Scout Activity Centres: Crawfordsburn, scoutactivitycentres.org.uk, accessed 21 October 2013
  11. ↑ Masefield, Robin (editor) 2011, Twixt Bay and Burn: A History of Helen's Bay & Crawfordsburn, Bayburn Historical Society (p. 114)
  12. ↑ Cladagh Glen Scout Centre
  13. ↑ Tipperary Wood Campsite
  14. ↑ The Ireland Funds - Your Money at Work : The Castle Saunderson Project
  15. ↑ The Northern Ireland Squirrel Association
  16. ↑ History of Beavers

External links

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