Kelvin Holford, the Kent Scouts County Commissioner has announced that Medway and Strood District Scouts will be merging back together in July this year. The aim of the merger is to combine and strengthen the District teams, primarily to assist with managing the Districts' assets and particularly Buckmore Park Scout Centre.

Adult Leaders in the Group may be interested in nominating members of the new District Team, and young people may wish to take part in the competition to design a badge and choose a name for the new Scout District. Forms for all of these have been distributed to Section Leaders and the closing date for these to arrive at Kent Scouts is 28th March 2008.

As there is a 21st Strood in addition to our own Group, there may have to be some negotiation as to the naming strategy of Groups in the new District. We are unlikely to change our name immediately however due to the cost implications of replacing our Group Neckerchieves, which feature our name and logo embroidered on the point, Group nametapes and Group badges. The Leaders will discuss these issues at their next meeting.

Medway District used to include all of the Scout Groups in Strood a long time ago, but the two Districts were split to ease management of the Groups on either side of the River Medway. Currently there are about eight Scout Groups in Strood and sixteen Scout Groups in Medway. The merger will make the new District one of the largest in Kent.