Kenyan scouts set up camp

Macclesfield and District Scouts have once again arranged the visit of a group of young scouts from Kenya to the UK, and local MP, David Rutley, joined them recently for a welcoming BBQ at Gradbach Scout Camp in Leek.

The welcoming BBQ, which was also attended by Cllr Adam Schofield, the Mayor of Macclesfield, was a great opportunity for the Kenyan scouts to meet with their UK counterparts and make new friends.

The group of six Kenyan scouts and their Leader, Michael Murimi, will spend five days at Gradbach, camping and acclimatising to the UK. They will then go on to take part in an international scout camp organised and run by Cheshire County Scouts at the Cheshire Showground. Finally, they will have five days of ‘Home Hospitality’ when they will stay with local residents with links to the scouts, and enjoy time sightseeing in and around the local area.

Macclesfield and District Scouts maintains close links with their counterparts in Kenya, and visits are arranged on a regular basis. The visits are organised by Macclesfield and District Scouts Commissioner, Mark Eden, and funded through grants and donations to the Scouts. As well as financial contributions, donations can include food and consumables, and camping gear.

Speaking after the event, David said, “It was a pleasure to meet the group of scouts from Kenya and wish them well on their trip. As this visit demonstrates, scouting is a truly international movement and a great way for young people to make friends and learn life-long and practical skills. There are also plenty of volunteering opportunities for adults and I would encourage anyone interested in providing support to contact Macclesfield and District Scouts through their website: www.mcscouts.org.uk”