Twenty minutes to change the world
For over one hundred years, Scouts have been working in their communities (and beyond) to make the world that little bit better. In 2021, the issues we’re tackling have evolved and changed – but our drive to make a positive difference remains.
A Million Hands is Scouts’ social action programme. It’s led by young people for young people – it focuses on six key themes, which young people decided they wanted to act on. With the support of world-leading charity partners, A Million Hands provides ready-made activities that encourage and support our young people to take action to end homelessness, protect our environment, support refugees and displaced children, promote better mental health for all, understand disability and spread kindness in every community.
A Million Hands launched in the autumn of 2019. When the pandemic hit and lockdowns started, Scouts wanted to support their local communities in a different way. That’s why the Community Impact Group created campaigns including Care for Care Homes and Wellbeing Champions. Together, Scouts across the UK also raised vital funds for BBC Children in Need through Hike to the Moon.
As restrictions ease, it’s time to refocus our efforts on our six core themes. That’s why we’re launching ‘twenty minutes to change the world’: an online video series featuring our fantastic young people, Scout Ambassadors, and charity partners. In each video, a partner introduces their organisation and theme and shows how you can get stuck in and change the world in – you guessed it – 20 minutes.
Big names, big ideas and plenty of fun. You don’t want to miss this!
We’ll be posting the 20 minutes to change the world videos on our social media channels over the next two months. Keep an eye out on the following dates if you want to get involved with a particular theme!
12 May – Kindness in every community with British Red Cross
19 May – Supporting refugees and displaced children with Save the Children UK
26 May – Protecting our environment with WWF
16 June – Ending homelessness with Crisis and Simon Community NI
23 June – Understanding disability with National Autistic Society
30 June – Better mental health for all with Mind, SAMH, and Inspire NI