Scout numbers up!

Scouting in Knutsford has helped the County crash through the 11,000-member barrier.With the national 2011 Census figures just released, Knutsford district’s membership total was up 4.7% at 458.

“It’s encouraging to see our numbers rising again, and that we have also managed to attract a growing number of adult helpers,” said District Commissioner Martin Relton.

His comments were echoed by County Commissioner Graham Phillips.

“Our growth has also been helped by the number of extra adults joining to provide support for the activities we run for young people. With more adults we can reduce our waiting lists even further and open up opportunities for even more youngsters to join us,” he said.

In Cheshire as a whole there are 307 more young people and adults now members of Scouting in the county.

That represents an increase of 2.7% with youth participation up by 3.3% to 9,059, and adult numbers up 0.3% at 1,747. With 391 people engaged in support activities it brings the total figure to 11,197.

Ten of the 11 districts in the county increased their membership numbers showing that the increase is not down to isolated pockets of growth.

In the last five years, numbers in Cheshire have also been boosted by a huge influx of female youth members, with their membership figures increasing by a massive 131% over that period to stand at 1,363.

“Girls are increasingly being attracted by the adventurous nature of our programme in Scouting and we are delighted at the trend which has seen more and more of them looking to join our Units, Troops, Packs and Colonies,” said County Commissioner Graham Phillips.

These figures are replicated nationally as, for the first time, more girls than boys joined Scouting last year, helping push total membership beyond half a million.

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