PRESS RELEASE: Jessica Nguyen from the 13th Wimbledon Scout Group has been selected from South West to represent the UK at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan in 2015. She will be part of the a unit of 36 young people aged 14-17, who will be guided by four volunteer leaders from South East and South West London who have been specially selected to support the unit during their adventure.

Jessica is one of 36 successful young people candidates chosen for the trip of a lifetime after impressing at a special selection event. Jessica was selected at a selection event at Polyapes Scout Campsite where she had to complete a variety of team activities and creativity tests to demonstrate why they should be part of the unit.

Preparations for the Jamboree have already begun and continue over the next year, during which time they will grow in confidence and learn many new skills. The unit will bond over a series of weekend camps and activities on the lead up to the Jamboree to ensure they are fully prepared for the trip.

Jessica will be part of part of the 2,400 Scouts and Guides attending the Jamboree from across the UK. Before the event the UK Contingent will travel to Tokyo before heading down to Kirara-hama where the specially built Jamboree site is located.

Over the 10 days at the Jamboree, Jessica will join with 30,000 Scouts from around the world and they will camp, live and work together for 10 unforgettable days of celebration and international friendship.

They will work together to find out about each countries cultures and faiths, learn new skills, take part in adventurous activities and tackle some of the biggest issues facing the world today.

Attending the Jamboree is an opportunity of a lifetime for Jessica and the rest of the UK Contingent to represent the 500,000 UK Scout Association members. Not only will they get to meet 30,000 people from nearly every country in the world - and share their knowledge and experiences whilst working towards greater international understanding - this Jamboree offers them the chance to learn new skills that they can use in other aspects of their life.

Between now and the summer of 2015 Jessica will bond with the unit from South West and East of London learning how to live and work together for their adventure of a life time. Activities will include: • Building a sense of team work and togetherness, • Prepare for a period of three weeks away from home in a very different cultural setting, • Developing the skills needed and prepare themselves for the life changing experience, • Fundraising as a unit the £3600 per participant attendance fee.

Jessica from 13th Wimbledon Scout Group said: “I have never been to a Jamboree before and I wanted the experience and opportunities that being part of an international Jamboree can bring”

Chief Scout, Bear Grylls said: “Congratulations to Jessica and all the other young people who have been selected to represent their communities at the World Scout Jamboree in Japan in 2015. Over the course of the Jamboree these young people will be able to meet people from around the world, take part in amazing adventures and experiences and be challenged to think about global issues in a new light. I wish them all the best and I know they are going to have an amazing time over the 18 months in the run up to the event”

ENDS Notes to Editors • The 23rd World Scout Jamboree Japan2015will take place from 28th • The Jamboree will be held at Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, Japan • For more information about the UK Team please visit http://www.ukcontingent.org.uk/ • On the 70th world will gather at Peace Dome in Hiroshima • The theme of the Jamboree is “A spirit of unity”

• In an event that involves young people from more countries than attended the 2012 Olympic Games, 30,000 Scouts will camp, live and work together for 10 unforgettable days of celebration and international friendship.

• For 10 days, young people work together to find out about each others’ cultures and faiths, learn new skills, take part in adventurous activities and grow as global citizens to tackle some of the biggest issues facing the world today.

• Every four years, 30,000 young people from almost every country in the world come together for one of the biggest adventures in Scouting.

• For 10 days, young people live and work together to find out about each others’ cultures and faiths, learn new skills, take part in adventurous activities and tackle some of the biggest issues facing the world today.

• The Jamboree is organised and run by several thousand adult volunteers from around the world, who give up their time to enable the young people to have an amazing experience and ensure the safe running of the event.

• The first World Scout Jamboree took place in London in 1920. In 2007 the UK hosted the World Scout Jamboree as part of Scouting’s Centenary Celebrations.

Based on information supplied by Peter Marshall.