A CHARD man is set to represent the UK as more than 3,000 scouts and guides descend on the Netherlands later this year.

Elliott Beresford will be one of a 300-strong team of 16 to 22-year-olds sent over from the UK to take part in Roverway 2018 – a massive European scouting event.

Participants from 20 different countries will be setting off for a two day pre-event in Amsterdam, before Roverway kicks off on July 21.

The UK contingent will be divided into patrols of six to eight, before setting off on a trek with patrols from other nations. For Elliott, Roverway is an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity.

He said: “I am really looking forward visiting a new country challenging myself on a new adventure. I am hoping to build on my communication skills by meeting new people and making new international friends. I am also looking forward to trying new food and sharing fun experiences with scouts from around the world.”

Different treks will challenge scouts and guides in different ways, with some requiring swimming skills, sleeping on a boat, or hiking with a backpack.

Roverway 2018 will officially start at The Hague for a beachside opening ceremony, after which the patrols will go their separate ways.

Some paths will see entrants cross borders into Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg.

During this journey participants will be asked to complete three scouting challenges.

First, they need to camp in an unique location, such as on a roof, a raft, a beach, in a 17th Century setting, in a city or in a stronghold.

Next, they will have to undertake community work in support of the people in the towns and villages through which they are travelling. And finally, uniquely to the county they are visiting, scouts and guides have to ride a classic Dutch tandem bike as part of their journey.

All 3,000 participants will then come back together at Scoutinglandgoed Zeewolde, built on reclaimed polder land to the east of Amsterdam.

Here, they will try a range of water activities and attend training and development sessions to help improve their skills.

Roverway 2018 is running until August 2.

Bear Grylls, chief scout, said: “I’d just like to say a massive good luck to our brilliant UK Contingent. They are heading off on the trip of a lifetime. The diversity of people they will meet will remind us all about what the world has to offer.”