SCOUTING celebrates 100 years this year and to mark the anniversary, Medway Scouts have come up with a huge project to make a success.

The 24th Medway Borstal Scout Group and the 25th Medway Scout Group will be heading out to the town of White River in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, to spend 18 days working at the school.

But before they go in July, they each need to raise £1,000 to pay for their travel and expenses.

Their early fund-raising efforts have so far netted them a healthy chunk of it, but they still need a few more money as well as practical help.

The trip is the idea of Trevor Banks, group Scout Leader of 24th Medway Borstal Scout Group.

His group has had links with Scouting in Mpumalanga since 1995, when he became friends with a Scouter from White River he met at the World Jamboree at Dronten, in Holland.

He said: "I was very keen for my Scouts to see World Scouting first-hand and to see what a powerful force for good Scouting can be.

"Places to attend a World Jamboree are limited because of the type of event it is and I would not be able to take them all to the World jamboree, which is being held in Essex at the same time as our trip.

"So we are doing something just as special – we are going to where Lord Baden-Powell first had his ideas that led to his creating the wonderful game of Scouting.

"To join them on the expedition, Trevor invited 25th Medway Scout Group, based in Concorde Avenue, Chatham."

He said: "I have worked with their Group Scout Leader, Clive Harris, on Scouting projects before and I know that when he commits to something, he is in for the long haul."

And so the groups have been busy fund-raising by packing bags in supermarkets and have also had a visit by Area Scout chairman of Mpumalanga, Dudley James.

He told them about what they can do to make a difference and helped give them an idea of what they will be doing when they arrive.

They also saw a wishlist from the children, but have decided to concentrate on taking books and helping dig a bore hole to provide more water.

The school doesn’t have a library, so the Scouts will open a new one with the books they take on the trip.