2017 – David Marks (UK)

1980’s

1983 – Joined the Scout Movement

1984 – Organised 401st Manchester Scout Troop to attend 1st JSAC National Jewish Scout Camp

1986 – Became a warranted leader

1986 & 1988 – Attended JSAC National Camp

1989 – Gained Wood Badge

1989 – Became Scout Unit Leader

1990’s

–    Scout Unit Leader

–    Awarded position of JSAC Northern Liaison for all Jewish groups outside of

     London

–    Member of JSAC National Camp organising committee

–    Camp Chief for 401st Manchester & 5th Cheetham Guide Group

–    Organiser of North Manchester District Scout Swimming Competition.

2000 – 2010

  • Group Scout Leader of the 401st Manchester Scout & 5th Cheetham Guide Group
  • Member of JSAC National Camp organising committee
  • Camp Chief for 401st Manchester & 5th Cheetham Guide Group
  • Organised and led Service Crew and Programming for JSAC National Camps
  • Member of organising team for the Jewish Tent in the Faith & Belief Zone at 21s World Scout Jamboree, Hylands Park UK (2007) in conjunction with the International Forum of Jewish Scouts
  • Member of organising team for IFJS Unit at Irish Jamboree (2008)

2011 – Present

  • Group Scout Leader and then Assistant Group Scout Leader of the 401st Manchester Scout & 5th Cheetham Guide Group
  • Member of the organising team for the Jewish Tent in the Faith & Belief Zone at 22nd World Scout Jamboree, Kristianstadt, Sweden (2011)
  • Awarded role as JSAC Camp Chief
  • Member of the organising team for the Jewish Tent in the Faith & Belief Zone at 23rd World Scout Jamboree, Fukuoka, Japan (2015)
  • Trainer and advisor for new leaders & groups within Manchester, UK

Promoting Jewish Scouting
Since becoming involved with his local Jewish Scout Unit in the 1980’s, David has given generations of young Jewish scouts the chance to experience Scouting at a local, regional, national and international level. The 401st Manchester Scout Troop became one of the biggest Jewish units in the UK and this was due to the unique mix of both traditional and modern Scouting that was on offer. This was intertwined with a love for his religion, making sure that all levels were comfortable in joining in with the activities on offer, organising Scout led services at Synagogue, and ensuring that the group chaplain was an integral member of the team.

To fully integrate the Jewish Scouts into local and regional camps and activities, David worked closely with other local leaders to educate them on the Sabbath observance needs and dietary requirements so as to allow his scouts full access to the activities on offer. 

National Jewish Scouting is also an important part of David’s work and this is seen by his commitment to help organise and run National Jewish Scout Camps and Activity Days for all Jewish Cubs, Scouts and Explorers across the UK within the National Jewish Scout Fellowship. This led to him becoming the Northern Liaison for the Fellowship and Camp Chief.

The World Scout Jamboree 2007 in the UK saw David play a fundamental role in organising and leading the Jewish Tent within the Faith and Beliefs Zone. This became the template on what he and those on successive organising teams have used on the Irish International Jamboree in 2008 and the World Jamborees in Sweden in 2011 and Japan in 2015. As a founding member of the International Forum of Jewish Scouts, the UK has played a major role in its activities and this is in no small part down to the hard work and effort put in by David and the scouts he has personally inspired over the decades to take up leadership positions.