The Scout Association have announced that the person taking over from Peter Duncan to become the 10th Chief Scout is adventurer Bear Grylls – the youngest ever Chief Scout.

This is brilliant news. Bear (real name Edward) is a great role model, and represents the true principles of Scouting – focused on the basics of outdoor adventure and having fun. He will be a great ambassador for Scouting, not only as he has spent a good number of years in the movement as a young person – as a Cub, Scout and Venture – and gaining the basics of the skills that he has put to good use since, climbing Everest and in his survival TV shows.

As a Scout Leader myself, I am pleased to note that he has spent his first media appearances publicising the need for new leaders within the movement. We have loads of young people who want to join, but have to go on to waiting lists because of a lack of leaders – we need another 6,000 leaders to have a place for all those potential Scouts!

He’s started well – and hopefully he will get even better!