Cambridge District Scouts Archive
‘It is a good turn even if it is only putting a coin into a poor-box,..’ Scouting for Boys
This review looks at those Charities beyond the individual, Section or Group that have been the recipients of Cambridge District Scouts collective giving. It is a growing list of recipient that illuminates the priorities of the moment. It is not intended to be a complete list.
Internal Charities
Fund-raising for the costs of scouting locally and national or Scout charities for specific events or institutions
1928 + District Association Display to cover the expenses of Grafton St HQ raised £21.19.10.
1940 Rosemary (Scout Convalescent) Home ‘The St Georges Day Collection would go to the home (£3/3/4)’. This accompanied an evacuee Scout in 12th with mastoids and pneumonia who required the care of the Convalescent Home. Other donations are recorded to the Home; this is the only record of a Cambridge Scout being sent. The costs of his stay were guaranteed by District (the Home closed later that year). District Minutes
1940 National Roland House (Scout Centre East London)
National Rosemary Convalescent Home
National Refugee Scout Fund
1942 National BP Memorial Fund
1946 Wych Warren Convalescent Home (replaced Rosemary Convalescent Home)
National Scout related charities were more usual before the full blooming of the welfare state in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
1974 County Abington (camp site) appeal had already brought in £3000 District Minutes
Alongside these we can put recipients who are connected in spirit.
1934 10/- to a Poor Guide Company in Deptford from a Cubs Own District Minutes
Support for individual Troop members. Much support will have not been clearly accounted. In 1956 the 12th Cambridge listed ‘GSM Discretionary A/C Scout Assistance £1/10/6’
External Charities
These may be Group, District or Nationally encouraged events or Charities outside Scouting
1933 Scouts Own collection £2.2.3 to the Police Poor and Needy fund District Minutes
WW2 £5 to Lord Mayor Air Raid Disaster Fund District Minutes
1947 Mayors Fen Distress Fund (aka Mayors Flood Distress Fund) GG&AA
1948 Children’s Homes in Cambridge District – books and toys GG&AA
1953 Trefoil Guild
1956 National Hungarian Refugee Support
1972 £5 to Salvation Army
1974 Operation Lifeboat
1980 Nationally organized ‘Cub Country’ raising money for Nepal East Cambridge raised £1923 of a £159,000 national total
1981 Guide Dogs £400 District coordinated
Cub collection £144 to our three charities District coordinated
Requests for Charitable support
1974 District Scouts asked to support in raising funds for new sports hall. Pointed out that already involved in trying to raise money for Operation life boat District Minutes
The following Accounts from 1919 show a mix of recipients
- Scouts The individual Troops collecting paper
- Scouts District Finances
- Scout Charities Scouts’ SOS Fund
- National and International Charities
- Syria and Palestine Relief Fund
- Armenian Refugees
- Lord Roberts Work Shops
- Save the Children
JWR Archivist May 2019
Cambridge District Scout Archive 