The Trustee Board for Hampshire County Scouts in 2023, mandated that all International Expeditions from Hampshire, must have leaders trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

After running this policy for the last two years, there has been many reports from leaders of how important that this course has been. Leaders have felt competent to handle emerging situations, whilst overseas, and then be able to bring in additional support as needed. This all has a positive effect and sensitive handling of mental health issues to our young people.

The Youth MHFA training is expensive, and each place on a course costs the County around £150. Whilst this was being provided free, in the recent review it was concluded that the cost to County (which is ultimately paid by all young people in the County), is too high. As a result, a fee for expeditions departing on or after 1st September is being introduced. This is still subsidised, as it is not the full amount.

The 2 day MHFA course is not designed to make you experts, but to enable you to have an understanding, to spot signs, and to be able to respond in the first instance, and to then draw in help and support from elsewhere.

The course is a very intensive course, and deals with all aspects of mental health, including difficult subjects such as suicide and death. Therefore, the course can only be undertaken by those 18 or over.

To book on to a course, please complete the MHFA Booking Form located at - https://hampshirescouts.typeform.com/to/L3VADSDS

You must be a leader on an International Expedition within Hampshire County Scouts to be accepted.

A copy of the Mental Health Policy can be downloaded below.

If you have any questions on the Youth Mental Health First Aid training or booking a place, please E-mail [email protected]

Project 27 is the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Scouts alternative expedition to the World Scout Jamboree, and is regarded as a sister expedition to the WSJ.

Places for young people are initially given to all those that applied for the World Scout Jamboree but we could not into our allocation. 110 young people have so far accepted places on Project 27, and we are in the final process of selecting the 37 leaders that we need to help run and support the expedition.

Project 27 Direct Entry
We have a limited number of spaces left to fill on Project 27 (as of 4th December 25).
This means that we can accept some direct entries to the Expedition. This needs to be now, as once the places are filled, we can only put you onto a waiting list.

To apply, please complete an application at https://hampshirescouts.typeform.com/to/kw27YD7M

Please note : Direct Entrants cannot transfer to the WSJ.

Young people who wish to apply must have been born between between 31st July 2009 and 30th July 2013 to attend.

Project 27 Q&A
To go alongside all applications and place offers, please read the following Q&A document. We have moved on in a few areas since this was written, such as we now know that there will be 3 coaches, and 6 teams, giving us 126 spaces for young people.

Project 27 Grants - Only currently open to new direct applicants.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Scouts have a Project 27 grant scheme, to assist and help enable participants where financial assistance is required. However, the funds are limited, and we unfortunately can not assist everybody. To apply (which must be done at the same time as your main application), please visit
https://hampshirescouts.typeform.com/to/a7ixfyx4

What is Project 27?
Project 27 will be a 3 week expedition to the USA, leaving the UK around 24th / 25th July 2027, and returning around 14th / 15th August 27.

During the 3 weeks, we will travel 1,100 miles by coach from Atlanta to Boston, staying at 4 Scout campsites, and visiting various places along the way - such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, Washington DC and Boston.
At each of the 4 Campsites, we will meet other Scouts (mainly US Scouts, but there will be other Scouts on the campsites as well). The campsites all will have a wide range of activities to do, including Water activities, Climbing activities, Shooting activities etc. We still have loads to arrange, so there will be plenty of exciting items to add to the expedition.

Initial Map of Project 27