FOSE-UK Christmas Message

December 11, 2023

Annual/Life & Reef Knot Donations

Thank you for your donations to the European Scout Foundation

This year has resulted in over £9,000 being donated by the Friends of Scouting Europe – UK and will be used to fund approved projects as advised through regular newsletters you receive from the European Scout Foundation Board.

This has been achieved though your support and attendance at our Reception at the Gilwell Reunion in September and the Speaker of the House of Commons Reception in October.

May I draw your attention to the changes in Friend’s categories of donations, with the implementation of the enhanced donation processing system, introduction of Reef Knot for new Friends and for existing Life Friends who may wish to upgrade to the Reef Knot, with the new suggested donation in 2025.

Are you going to be the first Reef Knot Friend in the UK? My thanks to those who have given annual donations to FOSE and to those who made their donation at the Gilwell Reunion and at the Speakers Reception. In particular to a new Life Friend.

We now have 23 Life Friends, 34 Annual Friends and 3 Group Friends.

Gilwell Reunion Report

At the Gilwell Reunion, we again had an opportunity to promote the Friends of Scouting in Europe – UK, seeking support for Scouting across Europe at the International Zone, meeting many Friends and speaking to Leaders about FOSE. We also held a Reception on the Buffalo Lawn on the Saturday and welcomed The Hon Betty Clay together with many other Friends of Gilwell.

Friends of Scouting Europe – UK Reception with the Speaker of the House of Commons in the Houses of Parliament at Westminster on Monday 23 October 2023, at 6.00pm.

Over 60 Friends and guests attended, with several unable to join us on the day due to Covid.

The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, gave us a warm welcome. He is President of the Chorley District Scouts in West Lancashire. Sir Lindsay thanked each of us for the work we do to support young people.

On behalf of the FOSE Team UK David McKee introduced the following speakers:

Johan Strid – ESF Board member
Robert Woolford (Chair of the World Scout Foundation)
Agnieszka Pospiszyl (UNICEF Project lead)
Nika Gorovska (Scout Leader from Ukraine and Member of World Scout Committee)

This was followed later by Presentations of Certificates and Pin badges to new donors

European Scout Foundation News

You will have received the ESF Highlights: Moments of Impact and Connections 30th November 2023.

The Board Meeting in Basel, Switzerland welcomed Nora Leandra as Legal Advisor and Johan Olof Strid who will assume the role of Vice-Chair, succeeding David Lenny.

The latest news goes direct to your email and the ESF newsletters from the Chair of the Foundation, Vivian, outlining the support being given in grants to projects. Visit http://europeanscoutfoundation.com

If you are not receiving these direct messages, please check your spam. We are aware of some messages have gone to spam. Please advise us if you are not receiving direct messages so that we can check why. Please ensure that you have added ESF emails to those that your service provider will accept.

Message From Our New Board Member

Hope this message finds you well. I trust most of you have had the chance to enjoy our October 2023 Presentation at the recent gathering in Gdansk, Poland and during the online meeting with ESF Country Co-ordinators. It’s a pleasure to connect with all of you again, albeit through email this time.

For those who might not be familiar with me, I joined the ESF Board in May 2023 and now serve as a point of contact for all communication related matters within the Foundation. Whether you have questions, need support, or wish to discuss any communication initiatives for your Scout events and gatherings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you for your dedication to the European Scout Foundation’s mission. Together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the Scouting community.

Wishing you all a successful and inspiring Scouting season ahead.

Milos PopovicI