Two brothers from Stowmarket have launched an appeal to raise funds for a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the World Scout Jamboree in America next year.

Fred and Stan Allsop, aged 14 and 12, were selected from 10,000 scouts in the UK to attend the 24th Jamboree in West Virginia – but they have been tasked with raising £3,850 each before they can get on the plane.

In order to bag their places on the trip, the boys first had to submit a 200-word essay explaining why they should be chosen, before attending a special selection day.

After receiving their acceptance letters, Fred and Stan started to brainstorm fundraising ideas – including cake sales, car washing, paper rounds and bag packing.

However they knew that they needed to start something big in order to save almost £8,000 between them.

That’s why the brothers have set up a crowdfunding page, which they hope will help spread the word about their adventure.

Both Fred and Stan said they were incredibly excited about the trip, despite the fact they will be split into two different units – and may even have to take different flights.

Fred is with the Stowmarket Explorer Scouts, Primates Unit, while Stan is with the 1st/3rd Stowmarket Scouts.

Fred said: “It’s kind of reassuring that we are going to be in different groups – if I was with Stan, I might just be with Stan [and not meet anybody new].”

He added that he thought the Jamboree would be more like a school trip than a family holiday – with more opportunities to be independent. However the trip will be exciting in more ways than one.

“They have one of the longest zip wires in the world!” Fred added.

The boys’ mum, Judith Allsop, said she was over the moon at the news, and thanked friends and family for supporting them in their fundraising.

As well as their commitment to the scouts, the boys are talented ballroom dancers – qualifying for this year’s Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) finals in Blackpool.

Mrs Allsop was also keen to thank their dance school, the Ipswich School of Dancing, for being so supportive of their scouting endeavours.

She added that Fred and Stan’s school, Stowupland High, had been “just brilliant”.

The World Scout Jamboree takes place once every four years, and will be hosted at The Summit Betchel Reserve in 2019.

The trip will be split into three parts – two weeks at the scout camp, a short stay with another scout group or family in Canada or North America, and a fun trip to Washington or New York.

Barbara Cutting, Stowmarket District Commissioner for Suffolk Scouts, designated some funding to help the boys reach their target.

She said: “Stan and Fred are two of the five young people from the Stowmarket District going to the World Scout Jamboree in 2019. To gain their places, they had to take part in a Selection Process consisting a day of various Team Building Excercises and then a formal interview. There were 83 applicants and only 54 were sucessful, including Stan and Fred.

“This is a fabulous opportunity for young people in scouting to meet scouts from other countries, to experience something completely different but also to develop everyone who attends. Some of the money raised by UK scouts goes towards a solidarity fund which helps scouts from developing nations to attend.”

To donate to Fred and Stan’s appeal, go to: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/world-scout-jamboree-2019-3