Firstly, thank you for your interest in these important opportunities with Scouts.
We know how busy people like you are, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to consider these roles.
Scouts inspires nearly half a million young people aged 4–25 to step up, speak up and gain the skills they need to thrive. Up and down the country, Scouts are helping out, mucking in, bringing communities together and making society stronger. Our role is to help young people belong, get into nature, and feel good about themselves, giving them the courage to ask the big questions and to think for themselves.
This year, we are recruiting two key leadership roles:
- Chair of Scouts, to lead our Board of Trustees
- Chair of our Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Treasurer), to provide strategic financial leadership and stewardship
Each plays a crucial part in supporting our movement as we build on more than 100 years of impact.
As Chair of Scouts, you’ll work side by side with our Chief Executive, Aidan Jones OBE, our UK Chief Volunteer, Carl Hankinson DL, and our UK Youth Lead, Ayesha Karim, to take us forward. You will meet periodically with Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout, on ceremonial occasions and other externally visible events.
As Chair of our Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, you will help guide our financial strategy, support our transition toward long‑term sustainability, and provide advice and assurance to the Board and executive team. You will also act as our National Treasurer.
We have recently concluded our 2018–2025 Skills for Life Strategy, which has transformed our movement in many ways. We launched Squirrel Scouts for 4–6 year olds, which continues to grow rapidly. We’ve made it easier and more rewarding to volunteer through changes in culture and systems. We’re more confident than ever in the impact of the skills for life we offer young people — and in the value we bring to communities — but we know there is more to do.
It’s an exciting moment for Scouts. This year, we have launched a clear new strategy focused on reaching more young people and empowering them to lead change in their communities. Created with input from 28,000 adults and young people, it outlines what we aim to achieve over the next nine years in contributing to a more cohesive, connected society.
In both of these roles, you’ll bring strong leadership to our Board of Trustees, ensuring our movement is well supported, well governed, and positioned for the future. You’ll be an experienced leader, an excellent communicator, able to build trusted relationships and to support, listen to and thank our volunteers — and to understand what motivates them.
These roles are both rewarding and challenging. You’ll help us make decisions that improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. You’ll develop your skills as part of a talented team while helping to build a stronger society for the long term. Your insight and experience are exactly what we need.
Thank you once again for considering these opportunities. If this sounds like you, we would be delighted to receive your application. You really will make all the difference.
Craig Dewar‑Willox
Search Group Chair – Chair of the Board of Trustees
Busola Sodeinde
Search Group Chair – Chair F.A.R Committee / Treasurer