Introduction 

A World Scout Jamboree is an event for young people aged between 14 and 18 and is a gathering of Scouts from all over the world for an exciting programme of global development, peace, cultural understanding, adventure, fun and friendship.  It takes place every 4 years and is organised by a local organising committee of the host country, supported by volunteers from across the World to manage all the departments needed to create a mini city for 2 weeks    

The UK Scout Association has a long history of sending large number of Units (36 young people and four leaders, divided into four patrols) as part of a UK Contingent to attend World Scout Jamborees.  The units represent each of the UK’s counties and countries/regions.   Each Jamboree is a very different experience based on its location and design but there are also many common factors of such an international event,   

The 26th World Scout Jamboree will take place in Gdansk, Poland in July/August 2027.   

The UK contingent will set the main Jamboree fee for UK Participants and confirm this cost to counties. This will include the Jamboree fee, travel, accommodation/food and most of the activities during the trip.   

Wes Sussex Contingent would then add a top up fee to this cost, decided by the to cover the cost of training events, local kit (i.e. T-shirts/hoodies), group equipment etc 

Details of Timeline 

Apply using the online application form here

Below you will find more information about each of the roles within the team

Person Specifications  

Unit Leader, Deputy and Unit Leadership Team Members – West Sussex Contingent Unit to World Scout Jamboree  

World Scout Jamborees are fantastic events and their impact on those that attend can be, in some circumstances, life-changing. Many young people and adults return from Jamborees exhausted but elated! The role of the Unit Leadership team is key in making sure that all the participants in the Unit have a positive experience of the Jamboree – from the moment they are selected right through until the end of the Jamboree experience (which may not be for many months after the Jamboree ends).   

Being a Unit Leader, Deputy Unit Leader or Unit Leadership Team Member is challenging but is also extremely rewarding. The below points indicate some of the skills and experiences that would be beneficial for those applying for a Unit Leader, Deputy Unit Leader or Assistant Leader role.  

Not everyone will have all the skills. Many skills and experiences are transferable from other situations (e.g. family life, work, other voluntary commitments). There are also many skills and experiences that would be valuable, but we have not got room to list every desirable characteristic here.  

Please use this part of the document (along with the role description) to help focus your application.  

Please note: 

The Jamboree will be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. All applicants should be aware of the nature of what is expected and be confident that they are able to contribute to all aspects of the Jamboree experience from the build-up, through the Jamboree and beyond. 

Applicants should be aware that the Jamboree experience may last up to three weeks, subject to final confirmation on the makeup of the experience and therefore will need to be sure they have the support of employers and family to be able to commit to the event.  

Further, there will be a significant number of weekend and evening commitments in the build up and applicants should be confident they have time available amongst other commitments to fulfil the obligations of the role. 

Expectations and Commitments from the UK Contingent and West Sussex Scouts Team 

As a member of West Sussex Unit Leadership team, you can expect the following support and guidance from: 

West Sussex Scouts local Team: 

• Support with running the young person recruitment (if required) 

• Support and advise for developing the budget  

• Access to local mentors / people with experience from previous world events to advise 

• Regular review conversations, to identify and provide support for your own development and that of your team 

• Upon request support with training or fundraising events with the young people for the unit 

• Support with fundraising advice or grants towards the adult leaders Jamboree Fee (where possible) 

The UK Contingent Team: 

“The World Scout Jamboree is one of the largest outdoor education events for youth on the planet! Tens of thousands of Scouts from all over the world come together to camp outdoors and join in fun activities where they make new friends, learn about other cultures, and develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime.”                                                     

 World Organisation of the Scout Movement website 

As the UK Contingent, this is our aspiration for our young people and the leaders supporting them. For many this will be the longest trip without their families and the experiences will shape their appetite for further adventures and give them tools that will aid them in life and build a legacy of future Scouting volunteers.   

To support our Unit Leadership teams there will be: 

• Regular check ins with the Unit Support team 

• Regular updates with new information and reminders for payments and data provision deadlines 

• Face to face meetings for Unit Leaders and Unit Leadership teams 

• Training to support Unit Leadership teams be prepared for the specific challenges a Jamboree brings and have the skills to support their young people  

• On event support for welfare, emergencies, safety and safeguarding   

Role Descriptors

Unit Leader – West Sussex Unit to World Scout Jamboree 

Responsible to: Nominee of County Lead Volunteer 

Responsible for:
– Deputy Unit Leader
– Unit Leadership Team Membership Team Members (x2)
– Youth participants 

Main Contacts:
Nation / West Sussex County Lead Volunteer and International Team Lead 

Internal:
– Unit Leadership teams of other Jamboree Units
– County Advisers and County Scouting Volunteers  
– District Lead Volunteers (or nominees)
– Headquarters: UK Contingents Office, UK Contingent Leader, UK Contingent Management & Support Team 

External:
– Unit members
– Parents and supporters of young people in Unit
– Sponsors and supporters of the Jamboree Unit
– Media contacts (in partnership with County Media Development Manager) 

Role summary: To lead and manage a West Sussex Jamboree Unit attending the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland in 2027.  

Main Activities: 

• To attend the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland and be responsible for the safety and operation of the Unit 

• To manage the Unit leadership team 

• To set and monitor budgets and manage the finances of the Jamboree Unit within guidelines set by the West Sussex Scouts with appropriate support 

• To be involved in the process of selecting youth participants for the Jamboree Unit (if applicable) 

• To be the main contact for UK Headquarters to pass on information about the UK Contingent’s preparations 

• To attend Contingent events, training days / weekends, etc and to work closely with UKHQ volunteers to ensure all relevant Unit preparations and administration meet UKHQ deadlines 

• To communicate all relevant information about the Jamboree to relevant parties (e.g. other Unit Leaders, young people and their parents, UKHQ contacts, West Sussex County team, etc) 

• To ensure a programme of activity, training and team building (including weekend camps and other Unit events) is developed for the Unit and leadership team to build a functioning and cohesive team in time for the Jamboree 

• To encourage the raising of funds by the young people in the Unit 

• To ensure the production of “merchandise” for the Unit (if desired); i.e. t-shirts, badges, etc; in partnership with other Unit Leaders 

• To ensure that a member of the team works with the Contingent Management Team Member (Communications) and the County Media Team to identify local Unit stories and make full use of the publicity generated from the Jamboree 

• To ensure that a member of the team liaise with the West Sussex County media Team to create appropriate communication tools (e.g. email lists, forums, blogs, websites, etc) 

• Contribute to the review and feedback process as required 

 Any other duties as may be reasonably requested by the County Lead Volunteer (or nominee) and the Contingent Leadership Team.

Deputy Unit Leader – West Sussex Unit to World Scout Jamboree 

Responsible to: Unit Leader 

Responsible for:
– Unit Leadership Team Members (x2)
– Youth participants 

Main Contacts:
– West Sussex County Lead Volunteer and International Team Lead 

Internal:
– Unit Leadership teams of other Jamboree Units
– County Leadership Team Members
– County Advisers and County Scouting Volunteers  
– District Lead Volunteers (or nominees)
– Headquarters: UK Contingents Office, UK Contingent Leader, UK Contingent Management &Support Team 

External:
– The young people
– Parents and supporters of young people in Unit
– Sponsors and supporters of the Jamboree Unit
– Media contacts (in partnership with County Media Development Manager) 

Role summary: To assist the Unit Leader in leading and managing the West Sussex Jamboree Unit attending the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland in 2027. 

Main Activities: 

• To attend the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland and support the Unit Leader in being responsible for the safety and operation of the Unit 

• To understand the Unit Leader Role Description and work closely with the Unit Leader to be able to deputise for the Unit Leader at any time, whether due to the planned or unplanned unavailability of the Unit Leader 

• To undertake areas of work also described in the Unit Leadership Team Member’s Role Description, to ensure an even spread of workload and best utilisation of skills across the leadership team  

• Any other duties as may be reasonably requested by the Unit Leader 

Unit Leadership Team Member – West Sussex Unit to World Scout Jamboree 

Responsible to: Unit Leader 

Responsible for:
– Youth participants
– Others agreed with Unit Leader as appropriate 

Main Contacts – Unit Leader / Deputy Unit Leader / International Team Lead 

Internal:
– Unit Leadership teams of other Jamboree Units
– District Lead Volunteers (or nominees)
– County Advisers and County Scouting Volunteers 

External:
– The young people
– Parents and supporters of young people in Unit
– Sponsors and supporters of the Jamboree Unit
– Media contacts (in partnership with County Media Development Manager) 

Role summary: To assist the Unit and Deputy Unit Leader in leading and managing a Jamboree Unit attending the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland in 2027. 

Main Activities: 

• To attend the World Scout Jamboree in Gdansk, Poland and support the Unit and Deputy Unit Leader in being responsible for the safety and operation of the Unit. 

• To be a part of the Unit leadership team 

• To contribute (if necessary) to the financial management of the Unit 

• To contribute to the training and development of the leadership team  

• Contribute to the review and feedback process as required 

• To be involved in the process of selecting youth participants for the Jamboree Unit 

• To attend Contingent events, training days/ weekends, etc and to work closely with UKHQ volunteers in order to ensure all relevant Unit preparations and administration meet UKHQ deadlines 

• To assist in the communication of all relevant information about the Jamboree to relevant parties (e.g., young people and their parents) 

• To support in the production of a programme of activity, training and team building (including weekend camps and other Unit events) is developed for the Unit in order to build a functioning and cohesive team in time for the Jamboree 

• To encourage the raising of funds by the young people in the Unit 

• To assist with the production of “merchandise” for the Unit (if desired); i.e. t-shirts, badges, etc; in partnership with other Units 

 You also may be required to assist in the following tasks as agreed with the Unit Leader: 

• work with the County Media Team to identify local Unit stories and make full use of the publicity generated from the Jamboree 

• liaise with the County Media Team to create appropriate communication tools (e.g. email lists, forums, blogs, websites, etc) 

• Any other duties as may be reasonably requested by the Unit Leader 

Specialist Activities: 

One Unit Leadership Team Member will be requested to take on the following responsibilities within the Unit: 

• Communications Lead –who will share the magic of the Jamboree with Scouts in West Sussex as well as with local radio, newspapers and television.  

• Acting as the focal point for Unit communications they will work with their County Media Development Manager to deliver fantastic stories and photos from their Unit as well as managing the Units online presence (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Website). This role will be supported by the UK CMT/CST and national media team. 

 Other particular roles that a Unit Leadership Team Member may be asked to take on may include: 

• Administration Lead – will take on the role of efficient handling of all the personal data for their Unit, ensuring the timely updating of the relevant systems operated by the Contingent Management Team.  

• Youth Engagement Lead – this would be a role helping to make sure young people in the Unit have a say in the decision making and ensuring that the Unit is run by the young people in partnership with adults. This could include badge design, unit clothing, training content etc. 

We hope that you will consider applying for a position in the leadership teams for the West Sussex Unit that will be attending the 26th World Scout Jamboree to be held in Gdansk, Poland in 2027. 

There are four (4) Leader positions available (1 Unit Leader, 1 Deputy Unit Leader and 2 Unit Leadership Team Members) that will be split though the Unit West Sussex has been granted.  

We are sure that many adults will want to take part in this event as a Unit Leader and so a role description and person specification has been produced to highlight what the role entails and the skills and experiences we are looking for. Please study these documents carefully and do send an application in. The selection panel are keen that every adult in West Sussex Scouts that wants to apply should do so, and consider the Jamboree experience a development opportunity for adults as much as for young people. 

When you apply, please make sure you read and complete the application form carefully. We anticipate many applications, and the team will use what you write in your application form as the basis on which to make a decision about inviting you to the selection event.  

Please remember, the only way to have an opportunity to be selected is to attend the West Sussex selection event on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th July 2025.  

This event will be an opportunity for you to tell and show us more about you, why you would like to take on a leadership role at the Jamboree, find out more about how your skills and experiences (in and out of Scouting) would support you to be a great member of the leadership team. As well as a chance for you to meet others, find out more about what being Jamboree leaders means, and if it is right for you at this point.  

At this event, expect the unexpected and be prepared to roll your sleeve up and get stuck in.  

We do hope that you will apply, and remember, study the person specification and job description carefully and consider what skills and experiences you have that would contribute to ensuring the young people in the West Sussex Unit to the World Scout Jamboree have a truly great international experience. 

We look forward to receiving your application soon. Good luck!