By Kit Danks

A painting by a Portland scout has been chosen as the 24th World Scout Jamboree’s official artwork.

Charlotte Pascoe, aged 14, is a member of the 1st Portland Scouts, and had already been offered a highly coveted place at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree being held in West Virginia in the USA.

She said: “I feel very lucky to have been given the chance to do this; there will be around 40,000 teenagers from over 150 countries. I can’t wait to go, try new things, and make friends from around the world.”

Charlotte lives with a condition called Hypermobility Type Elhers Danlos Syndrome (HEDS), which can cause multiple sprains, partially and fully dislocated joints throughout her body.

After partially dislocating her shoulder and taking some time off school to recover, Charlotte’s mother Katy suggested she did some painting to cheer herself up.

What started as a design for thank you cards for people supporting her fundraising eventually became an image of a globe wrapped in a scout scarf.

Katy was so impressed with her daughter’s work that she decided to send it to the World Scout Jamboree’s Facebook page.

To their surprise, Co-Chair for the 24th World Scout Jamboree, Scott Sorrell, contacted them to ask if it could be used as an official piece of artwork for the global event. The final piece was unveiled this month at the Boy Scouts of America AGM in Dallas, Texas, with Charlotte and her mother in attendance.

Charlotte said: “I found out more about what will be happening at the Jamboree and it’s made me even more excited about going than I was before, if that’s possible!”

“I tried to represent 1st Portland Scouts and the island itself, and the UK Scouts with a smile, and hope that I did them all proud.”

The teenager is continuing her fundraising efforts in the UK, is working towards her young leader’s qualification, and will take part in a three-week residential programme and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath to help her manage her condition better at the event next year.She said: “I can’t image my life without Scouts. Our leaders and my friends there are all amazing. When I’m older I hope to be an adult leader myself, because I know that no matter what my health is like, I’ll always make friends from across the world in the Scouting movement.

To donate towards Charlie’s adventure, cheques can be made payable to ‘Weymouth and Portland District Scouts’ and posted to: Charlotte Pascoe, 27 Moorfield Rd., Portland, Dorset, DT5 1HJ.