Why Scouts is partnering with Omaze
How being an Omaze charity partner can help Scouts create more places for young people
We’re so pleased that this October and November, Scouts is the official charity partner for Omaze, The Million Pound House Draw. While this is something new for Scouts, it’s a huge opportunity, and potentially one of our biggest ever fundraisers.
The extra income will allow us to accelerate our growth plans nationally and welcome more young people into the movement, especially from new communities.
About Omaze and who they’ve supported so far
Since 2020, Omaze has raised over £60 million for UK charities, now guaranteeing a minimum £1 million donation for each official charity partner. Many have received three or four times that amount.
Charities that have already benefited from a partnership with Omaze include Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, the RSPCA, RNLI, British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support and many more.
Most recently, David Beckham was seen supporting the Omaze prize draw in aid of London’s Air Ambulance Charity.
How it works
The idea is simple. Any eligible adult (18+) in the UK who wishes to can enter the prize draw with a chance to win a stunning house plus other incredible prizes including cars and cash. Even if they’re not successful, they’ve contributed towards a cause that’s close to their hearts.
The draw is open to all eligible adults including our Scouts volunteers and their families (but not paid Scouts staff), but it’s completely optional. No member of the movement should feel they have to enter, but they’re very welcome to, of course. The more people who enter the draw, the more income will be raised for Scouts.
You can find out more about the official rules at Official Rules UK – Omaze UK
How we’d use the money raised
As you’ll know, growth is a huge priority for Scouts across the UK, with 107,000 young people on waiting lists.
With the funds raised through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, the Wirral, we’d be able to support the opening of new Dreys, creating more places for Squirrels for four and five year-olds living in disadvantaged communities, helping them make friends, have fun and learn new skills. We’d provide and sustain even more places in Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs, and support volunteers’ learning, helping them to keep Scouts fun, safe and rewarding.
We’d also develop our programme supporting mental health and wellbeing, an issue that’s even more of a priority for young people since the pandemic. Finally, we’d like to use the income to make Scouts more inclusive and relevant to communities we haven’t reached before.
Key to winning the highly competitive bid to become an Omaze partner was our clear aim to extend Scouts to more young people, and this is where the bulk of the income raised will be used.
An excellent partner
We’ve looked very carefully at Omaze to make sure it’s a suitable partner for Scouts and operates in line with our values. The model they use is not a lottery or raffle and is not classed as gambling. Instead, it is a prize draw, and there is an unpaid method of entering by post.
What to expect
The Scouts x Omaze Million Pound House Draw runs from 17 October to 24 November. Over that time, you’ll see messages and promotions, including some from our supporters.
Bear Grylls, Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, has kindly agreed to launch the house draw, and you’ll also see messages from other ambassadors and our Chief Scout later in the campaign.
We hope you’ll agree this is a fantastic opportunity for Scouts. The high-profile campaign will raise awareness of Scouts, showing the public the great work our volunteers do across the UK, while raising funds to welcome in more young people.
Why we’re supporting this partnership
Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Volunteer
Our partnership with Omaze will accelerate this work and help more young people to join the adventure. Thank you to Omaze and to everyone who takes part for supporting Scouts. It really does make all the difference.
Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout
We have over 107,000 on our waiting lists. Our partnership with Omaze can help us open new Groups and reach out to those families who haven’t tried Scouts before. Help us inspire a new generation with skills for life.
Bear Grylls, Chief Ambassador of World Scouting
The Omaze partnership will open doors of opportunity to many more young people. Because every young person deserves every chance, and together we can inspire a generation to dream big.