About Phoenix Independent Scouts Association

It's been a little while since our last update, so firstly, apologies for the lack of communication over the past few months. Between work, family life and Scout HQ rebuild projects, things have been incredibly busy. Thankfully, things are beginning to settle down, so we thought we'd share some of the latest news from across the Association.

Welcoming a New Group

We're pleased to share that we've received a membership application from 1st Dullingham and Stetchworth Scout Group.

The Group has recently become independent and has chosen to join Phoenix. It's always encouraging to see more independent Scout Groups finding a home within our Association, and we look forward to welcoming them once the membership process has been completed.

Saying Goodbye to a Founding Group

Sadly, we also have some difficult news to share.

One of our founding Groups, Telford Independent Scout Group, closed its doors last month. Gill and her team made the difficult decision after much consideration, and we'd like to thank them for everything they've done for Phoenix over the years. They were there right at the beginning and have played an important part in helping the Association grow.

Although the Group has now closed, Gill has asked to stay in touch and be kept up to date with everything that's happening across Phoenix and the wider independent Scouting movement. We're delighted she'll still be part of the Phoenix family and look forward to keeping in contact.

Skip Johnson Memorial Hike

With everything that happened following the fire at the 1st Mortimer HQ shortly after this year's event, we've not really had the chance to talk about the Skip Johnson Memorial Hike.

Once again, the event was a huge success and saw our highest number of competitors to date. We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part, volunteered or helped behind the scenes. Events like this simply couldn't happen without your support.

Of course, we're not planning to rest on our laurels. Planning is already underway for next year's hike, and we're hoping to make it even bigger and better.

So, another date for your diary... 17th–18th April 2027. We hope to see as many of you there as possible!

WFIS Rover Moot

In August, several of our members will be travelling to Denmark for the WFIS Rover Moot.

This is a fantastic international event, bringing together Rover Scouts from across the World Federation of Independent Scouts. We hope everyone attending has an amazing experience, makes lots of new friends and returns with plenty of stories to tell.

WFIS Europe Workshop 2026

Preparations are continuing for this year's WFIS Europe Workshop, which takes place in Laubach, Germany, from 2nd–4th October 2026.

The Workshop is open to all Phoenix members, not just those already involved internationally. It's a great opportunity to meet Scout leaders from across Europe, exchange ideas and experiences, and show others what a fantastic Association Phoenix has become.

We'll be taking a Phoenix contingent and would love to have as many members there as possible.

The closing date for registrations is 31st July, so if you'd like to come along, please get in touch as soon as possible and we'll send you all the details.

Eurocamp 2027

Many of you will already have seen the information we've shared about Eurocamp 2027, and we're really pleased that a number of Groups have already expressed an interest in attending.

Once the summer holidays are over, we'll start putting together more detailed plans and sharing further information. If you're interested in coming along, keep an eye on the website and our social media channels over the coming months as there will be plenty more to announce.

Looking Ahead – WFIS Europe Workshop 2027

Planning has also started for the WFIS Europe Workshop 2027, which Phoenix is proud to be hosting.

This is a huge opportunity for us to showcase Phoenix and independent Scouting to leaders from across Europe. It's also going to be a big undertaking, and we'll need plenty of volunteers to help make it a success. Whether it's helping with planning beforehand or supporting during the weekend itself, there will be lots of ways for members to get involved.

For now, please make a note of the dates, 24th to 26th September 2027 and keep an eye out for future updates as plans develop.

Let Us Know What's Happening

If your Group has any camps, fundraising events, open days or other activities planned for the rest of the year, we'd love to hear about them.

We're always happy to promote what's happening around the Association through our website and social media. It's a great way to share ideas, celebrate what Groups are doing and show the variety of Scouting taking place across Phoenix.

Thank You

Finally, thank you to everyone who gives their time to Phoenix, whether you're running a Section every week, organising events behind the scenes or supporting the Association in other ways. Your enthusiasm and commitment are what keep Phoenix moving forward.

We hope you're all having a fantastic summer and look forward to sharing more news with you over the coming months.