Scouts appoints first Black chief scout to spearhead volunteer recruitment drives

Scouts has appointed polar explorer Dwayne Fields as its next chief scout to spearhead the charity’s volunteering recruitment campaigning.

He is the first Black person to be appointed to the role since Scout movement founder Robert Baden Powell was named as its first chief scout in 1907.

Since the appointment of Baden Powell, there have been ten other chief scouts, most recently Bear Grylls, who held the role from 2009 until this year.

Dwayne Fields is the first Black Briton to reach the North Pole and has been an ambassador for the Scouts since 2017.

He has been chosen as chief scout “for his values, commitment to help young people learn skills for life, and outstanding leadership”.

The charity said one of his priorities will be to attract new volunteers “especially in communities new to Scouts”, adding “he’ll be visiting these areas, encouraging and inspiring teams to grow the movement”.

Fields was born in Jamaica, moved to London at the age of six, and as a child was a Cub Scout.

“Scouts helped shaped who I am today and I hope my story will encourage others to join and achieve their dreams,” said Fields, who was formally handed the role at the North East London scout partk where he spent time as a child.

“My volunteer leaders believed in me as a young person and taught me to believe in myself. They showed me I could do anything I put my mind to and others would help me along the way.

“Now I want a new generation to learn the skills for life, friendship and belonging I felt when I needed them most. I want to show that the outdoors is a place for all us to be at our best and truly open to all.

“I am calling for more volunteers to step up and make a difference to young people’s lives across the country’”

Scouts UK Chief Volunteer Carl Hankinson said that as an ambassador Fields “has visited hundreds of Scout groups, events and camps across the UK and internationally”.

“He champions the sense of belonging Scouts gives young people. He is able to reach across generations, to further expand reach across all communities”