Two Explorer Scouts from Wales were among the first to congratulate adventurer Dwayne Fields on his appointment as the new UK Chief Scout at a special ceremony earlier today.
Dwayne, who was the first Black Briton to reach the North Pole, has been chosen to be the 11th Chief Scout and to lead half a million young people and adult volunteers for his values, commitment to help young people learn skills for life, and outstanding leadership.
Explorer Scouts Iwan Clark, aged 17 from Merthyr Tydfil, and Lily-Rose Haddrell, aged 16 from Bangor in Gwynedd, travelled to Scout Park in North East London, near to where Dwayne attended Cubs as a child, to see him make his promise and being invested into his new role. They also heard more about his aspirations to inspire young people from every community in the UK to join Scouts and to recruit enough volunteers to make that happen.
They were joined by Elizabeth O’Malley, who is the Area Lead Volunteer for Gwent, Iestyn Nevatte, Assistant leader of Viking Explorers in Pembroke Dock, and Rhian Moore, ScoutsCymru’s Chief Volunteer, who were among Scouts from across the UK to witness this landmark event for the Scouting movement.
Dwayne succeeds Bear Grylls OBE, who steps down as Chief Scout with our huge thanks and respect after serving three five-year terms.
A key part of Dwayne’s mission will be to attract new volunteers, especially in communities new to Scouts, so we can welcome more young people. He will be visiting these areas, encouraging and inspiring teams to grow the movement.
Scouts gave Dwayne a great start in life. Born in Jamaica, Dwayne came to the UK at the age of six. Growing up in inner city London, without access to nature, Scouts offered Dwayne new horizons.
Dwayne said: “Scouts helped shape who I am today, and I hope my story will encourage others to join and achieve their dreams. 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.”
He added: “I want to show that the outdoors is a place for 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.”
Rhian Moore, ScoutsCymru’s Chief Volunteer, said: “I’m very excited Dwayne is our next Chief Scout. He embodies Scouting and has a very special Scout story to share. I’ve met him a few times and he’s an inspiration. He’ll have a go at anything and helps others to be the best they can be. His sense of adventure is infectious, and he makes wonderful things happen, making it easier for those who may not have the confidence to have amazing adventures.”
When Dwayne joined the movement as a Cub Scout, membership of his local ‘pack’ gave him friendships, skills, belief in himself and hope for his future. Through his determination and support from his Scout leaders, he set himself on a path to becoming the first Black Briton to reach the North Pole in 2013. He has gone on to a successful career in adventure and TV, presenting successful shows on Channel 5, Disney+ and National Geographic. He is passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to explore nature, support their communities and be the best they can be.
Iwan Clark, who attends Glan yr Afon Explorer Scouts in Merthyr and has been involved in Scouting for nine years, said: “It’s been a great opportunity. I think he’s going to be a really inspirational figurehead of the movement. I was really inspired by his speech by the campfire when he was invested as Chief Scout.”
Lily-Rose Haddrell, a member of DeMôn Explorers in Menai Bridge and a Young Leader at 1st Llanfairpwll Scout Group where she started as a Beaver aged six, said: “I really enjoyed this evening. It was an amazing opportunity to watch Dwayne be invested and to become the Chief Scout. It was really special to see this – he’s going to be an amazing new leader, very inspirational. I think Dwayne is inspiring because he is very connected with young people and shows that he loves Scouting and is dedicated to improving the movement.”
Elizabeth O’Malley, Lead Volunteer for Gwent, said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to see the 11th Chief Scout being revealed. He genuinely will have an amazing impact on the future of Scouting. When he first arrived in the UK, Scouting was the first place that he felt at home and where he belonged. His Akela gave him the drive to succeed. Scouting gave him confidence and allowed him to grow. When he speaks you can tell how this has given him such inspiration to succeed and that he wants to pass this on to the future generations.”
Iestyn Nevatte, Assistant Explorer Leader at Viking Explorers in Pembroke Dock, said: “Listening to Dwayne speak and being a part of the experience has been a great honour. I truly believe Dwayne will inspire the movement and bring positive change. Dwayne’s background – moving over from Jamaica and finding a home in Scouting – is truly inspiring. This is something that resonates with me personally, as I find Scouting to be a second family.”
Read more about Dwayne Fields, the new Chief Scout, here.
