Good socialist as he was, Baden Powell noticed 100 years ago much the same as we see on our streets today, roaming bands of disaffected unemployed youths looking for something better to do that stand on street corners drinking gin, shooting up, and smoking something cheap.

He dreamed up the Scout movement, showed them ways of entertaining themselves and being of service to their community, their country.

Showed them how to take pride in their own appearance and to be part of something good. The kids joined up in droves and the rest is history.

Now when we need that dream enacted again we see local councils talking of them darkly as "uniformed youth groups" that should be abolished.

In many urban places Scouts are barred from using council property, halls and lands, when they should be supported and encouraged.

Modern socialism sees taxpayer funding as the way to deal with all problems, Baden Powell saw pride and self-esteem as the keys, with funding coming from donors and from small subscriptions for membership of a youth support organisation that was separate from race, creed and politics.

Baden Powell took Scouts to Germany in 1939 to let the two groups know how the others think, what makes them tick, in his own attempt to avert another war.

It didn't work, but we must applaud his ways and means and the fact that he tried.

Scouts need support from the community, and councils need to be told to stop persecuting voluntary solutions they do not control.

SUE DOUGHTY, Twyford, Berks.