Access and Inclusion at the Jamboree
The diverse needs of people today have inspired the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Poland to aim to be the most inclusive Jamboree in history! We want every one of our 45,000 participants to be able to live the experience to the fullest. Our plan for Access and Inclusion (A&I) is about creating a truly safe, welcoming, and enriching environment for every single person, regardless of their background, culture, or abilities. Our commitment to inclusion has three main goals:
- To ensure every activity is thoughtfully adapted and flexible so no one misses out on the fun or learning (Programme Inclusion);
- To create a warm environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to make new friends and connections (Social Inclusion);
- To guarantee that essentials—like food, water, medical support, and emergency response—meet the specific needs of our incredibly diverse community (Services & Facilities Inclusion).
Bravely Building an Inclusive Experience
This vision is built on five core principles, which guide all our planning:
- Universal Design means designing the camp to be usable by the widest range of people from the start;
- Accessibility ensures everyone has the support they need to participate fully on an equal footing;
- Inclusion actively builds a culture where everyone feels truly welcome and valued for their unique contributions;
- Equity recognizes different needs and ensures resources are tailored to achieve fair outcomes;
- Reasonable Adjustments (RA) are specific, necessary modifications to enable a person's full participation when general design isn't enough.
We believe everyone should have the chance to participate Bravely—and that means eliminating barriers so they can.
Access and inclusion cover a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to:
- Mobility and physical accessibility; other physical impairments (like hearing and visual issues), along with injuries and illnesses that affect physical functions;
- Neurodiversity/neurodivergence (including learning difficulties and disabilities);
- Dietary requirements (including allergies, intolerances, religious/cultural needs, and health requirements);
- Mental health issues;
- Questions of identity, faith, and culture.
The Jamboree will use universal design principles and provide tailored support when necessary to ensure participants can fully engage.
The A&I Team is Here to Help
Our dedicated A&I Team provides both advisory and support functions across all Jamboree services. A majority of this work takes place pre-Jamboree to proactively address needs and ensure the best possible experience.
During the event, you’ll see the A&I Team working in several key areas: they’ll be supporting the Sensory Friendly “Safe Zones” provided in hubs near Listening Ear (LE) stations. The A&I Lead Team will be working with the Safe from Harm Operations Unit to investigate and resolve issues that arise. They will serve as a common ground to bring together the right Jamboree department and/or Contingent to find a resolution, and the Jamboree will provide accessible channels for reporting and resolving any access and inclusion issues that arise.
It Takes All of Us!
The success of this entire initiative is a shared responsibility, with specific duties for everyone involved. The Heads of Contingent (HoCs) have a vital role to play. It starts with the engagement of Contingent Management Teams to plan support for their contingent members. To guarantee that a participant or adult gets the support or Reasonable Adjustments they need, the HoC must provide the Jamboree Planning Team with all necessary particulars of their member's needs during the registration process. This timely communication is essential for us to plan and guarantee that the right support is ready and waiting!
How can you help as the Head of Contingent?
- While registering your Contingent members, make sure to collect and provide to the Jamboree Planning Team all necessary data related to accessibility and inclusion needs. In the absence of this information, or its late arrival, we cannot guarantee to provide support or reasonable adjustments.
- Plan to support these individuals at the Jamboree to give them the best possible experience. This may include allowing additional carer/helper support, special equipment, and your knowledge of the individuals’ support needs and how to meet them.
Be mindful that while bringing a carer/helper for a participant, the number of people allowed in the patrol (10 people in total) do not change. - Note that ensuring that your Contingent member with additional accessibility or inclusion needs attends the Jamboree with necessary equipment or additional carer lies within your responsibility. Make sure with participant or adult, that they inform you what kind of equipment they need.
- Assign within your CMT members one person who will be a contact point for Access and Inclusion related communication with Subcamp Management and/or A&I Lead Team
Adult Unit/Patrol Leaders and International Service Team (IST) members will also have specific duties to support this effort. Adult Patrol Leaders should be aware of the diverse needs of the participants under their care and actively communicate and collaborate with their Contingent Management Team
