{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"Bear Grylls pays tribute to our remarkable volunteers and agrees to extend as Chief Scout, renewing his commitment to volunteer and inspire our movement.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/6799/bear-portrait.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EInspired by their dedication, resilience and willingness to think differently, he\u2019s also chosen this week to announce he\u2019s renewing his own commitment to Scouts. He\u2019ll now stay on as Chief Scout until at least 2023.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDelivering skills for life \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u2018I really am just so amazed by every one of our volunteers,\u2019 he said. \u2018They\u2019ve continued to provide Scouts online, helping nearly half a million young people to step up, speak up and play their part in this crisis. This Volunteers\u2019 Week I want to thank every adult in Scouts for their commitment, their courage and most of all their kindness.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn Scouts, we\u2019ve not been able to meet face to face to keep people safe. But that\u2019s not stopped our volunteers. Over 80% have carried on delivering sessions online, helping our young people get through this crisis. They\u2019ve helped young people continue to gain skills for life, provide a sense of normality and a chance to connect with their friends.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ENot only that, Scouts hiked 440,000 miles and raised \u00A3348,000 for BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief \u2013 helping those who need it most in the crisis. Scouts also rose to the challenge, offering free activities for families at home with their online hub, #TheGreatIndoors.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScout spirit \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u2018What you have shown is called Scout spirit,\u2019 says Bear. \u2018And it\u2019s in moments of turmoil that it often shines the brightest. It\u0027s been incredible to see our volunteers\u2019 response and their ability to adapt, and to keep innovating \u2013 you are all such our shining lights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFor me personally I could not be more proud to carry on as Chief Scout for at least the next three years, and my hope is that together we can steer and carry Scouting through this tough time and out the other side as a force for good across the whole nation.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EContinuity and leadership \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStaying on as Chief Scout provides the continuity and leadership the movement needs at this challenging time. \u2018Becoming Chief Scout was the proudest moments of my life. I\u2019m humbled to serve this great movement and we must never forget that it relies on the generosity of volunteers to keep going, despite the setbacks \u003Cspan\u003E \u003C/span\u003Ecaused by the current situation. It\u2019s what makes Scouts an unstoppable force for good.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBear was appointed UK Chief Scout in 2009, and has seen the movement grow by over 100,000 members since then. He\u2019s visited Scouts in every part of the UK and inspired tens of thousands of young people to gain skills by their earning their Chief Scout\u2019s Awards.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Bear has shown outstanding leadership across the last decade,\u2019 says Matt Hyde, Scouts\u2019 Chief Executive. \u2018His positivity, loyalty and dedication has inspired so many volunteers to join our movement and give young people the opportunities they deserve. These are tough times, and we\u2019re so proud to have Bear on our side.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"02 June 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48519,"nodeName":"Bear Grylls pays tribute to volunteers and renews commitment as Chief Scout","title":"Bear Grylls pays tribute to volunteers and renews commitment as Chief Scout ","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/6799/bear-portrait.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd0e2020e0","caption":"Bear Portrait","type":"jpg","size":747769,"width":2000,"height":1333,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Bear Grylls pays tribute to volunteers and renews commitment as Chief Scout ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODUxOSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/june/bear-grylls-pays-tribute-to-volunteers-and-renews-commitment-as-chief-scout/"}