Scouts ‘let down’ over World Jamboree relocation, chief executive says
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
UK Scouts’ chief executive Matt Hyde has said the organisation feels “let down” over the planning of an event which saw 4,500 members relocated across South Korea.
Concerns over sanitation, access to food for those with dietary requirements and access to medical supplies led to UK Scouts deciding to move young members and volunteers from SaeManGeum, in South Korea’s North Jelloa province, to Seoul on Friday (4 August) - just days into the organisation’s 25th World Scout Jamboree.
Extreme temperatures saw hundreds of people fall ill before organisers announced plans on Monday (7 August) to end the event, attended by 43,000 people, amid fears that the campsite is in the path of Typhoon Khanun, which is forecast to reach southern South Korea on Thursday (10 August).
Hyde told the BBC that the relocation to Seoul has cost around £1m, which will affect the work of the Scout Association for at least the next five years.
He explained that concerns over availability of food and limited access to medical help had prompted UK Scouts to move their “jamboree journey” to Seoul before concerns were raised about the typhoon.
Data from the North Jeolla Provincial Government has since revealed that some 74 per cent of the jamboree's budget of 117.1 billion won (£70m), was spent on the operations of the organising committee.
The committee's expenditure included costly trips abroad, sometimes to countries such as Switzerland or Italy that have never hosted jamborees, according to reports from The Korea Times.
In a video, posted on the UK Scouts website, Hyde said: “We are disappointed in the organisers and the organisation, we do feel let down.”
He praised the work of volunteers and Seoul’s residents for their work in providing “amazing opportunities” for young people involved.
“While we have been on site at the Jamboree, the UK volunteer team has worked extremely hard with the organisers, for our youth members and adult volunteers to have enough food and water to sustain them, shelter from the unusually hot weather, and toilets and washing facilities appropriate for an event of this scale,” Hyde said.
Scouts now staying in Seoul have been offered access to water-based activities, cooking classes and tickets to a local football game, Hyde said.
Chief Scout Bear Grylls has also praised the organisation for its emergency response: “It’s such a shame for so many Scouts I know, but I’ve learnt over the years to always respect such extreme weather and temperatures and to act early to prevent disasters. So many other adventures lie ahead for these Scouts I know. We will: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome!
“Huge respect for all the work so many have put in to help so many Scouts through a tough time here.”
Our hardworking @UKContingent adult volunteers being briefed last night on how they will support our new Jamboree journey in Seoul. They start work this morning running activities, providing support and directing young people around the city #UK25WSJ #DreamWild #DrawYourDream pic.twitter.com/msifRtbkOw
— Jonathan Bailey (@jonwoods1) August 7, 2023
Mark Russell, chief executive of the Children’s Society, added: “Thoughts with my friend Matt Hyde and all the UK Contingent facing such a nightmare at the Jamboree in South Korea. I know these young people couldn’t be in more caring or safer hands. Hope everyone gets home safely.”
Scouts currently spending time in Seoul are due to return to the UK as planned on 13 August.
