WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE

Communications
Communications was a diverse area of the Jamboree project with interdependencies across all other
project areas and other HQ departments, most notably the HQ media team. For the first time a
specialist team was recruited to support communications and it was the passion and dedication of
this team working in real partnership with HQ staff that made this area a success. The life of the
communications strand for the Jamboree can be divided into the following areas, each considered in
detail below:
a. Communications Team
b. Communications Planning
c. Brand and Visual Identity
d. Contingent Communications
e. Digital & Social Media
f. Join in Jamboree (Japan in a Box)
g. Media including Unit Communications Champions, Young Spokespeople, Young
Correspondents
Constructing a communications strategy and plan for an event as large and complex as the jamboree
was a considerable challenge due to the range of audiences, the variety of their interests and the
numerous channels that could be used to engage them. There is also a tension between the need to
innovate in the use of new channels and the overhead required to manage these. This would have
not been successful without support from staff and volunteer mentors who were communications
experts.
The communications plan for the jamboree was complex and fast paced. An online google document
was used to manage this which very successful and should be repeated although the overhead
associated with managing the communications plan and collecting all the inputs needed should not
be underestimated.
The official channels of communication between the CMT and the contingent were carefully
managed to ensure information was distributed as effectively as possible and enquiries were
answered efficiently. These communication methods are summarised in Table 1 below.
A conscious decision was taken not to use social media to distribute ‘official’ information wherever
possible. This was sometimes challenging to maintain, particularly on site where the pace of events
moved very quickly.
Method Used For Unit IST/ Other
Leaders JPT
E‐mail
UK Contingent (uk.contingent.scouts.org.uk) Distributing Newsletters and Yes Yes Yes
Official communications.
IST Communications
Answering IST/ JPT Queries No Yes No
(ist.communications@scouts.org.uk)
Handbooks
Unit Leader Handbook
Providing information at start of Yes No No
event planning
Participant Handbook & Countdown On Event Diary/ Reflection Yes No Yes
Calendar
IST Handbook & Countdown Calendar On Event Diary/ Reflection No Yes No
Newsletters
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