{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Busola Sodeinde, Vice Chair of Scouts","standfirst":"Ahead of Trustees\u2019 Week 2025 (3 to 7 November), we caught up with the newly appointed Vice Chair of Scouts, Busola Sodeinde. A national Trustee for Scouts since 2020, Busola has a passion for increasing Scouts\u2019 diversity, as well as encouraging more people from all communities to step up to leadership positions.  ","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/lwkkrtq2/busola-new-image.jpeg","width":800,"height":451,"altText":"The image shows Busola Sodeinde, Vice Chair of Scouts, wearing a navy Scouts polo shirt and a red, white and navy necker. She\u0027s stood in front of bushes and is smiling at the camera.","caption":"Busola Sodeinde, Vice Chair of Scouts","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow did it feel to be appointed Vice Chair of Scouts?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe number of positive comments and messages I received was incredible.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne person mentioned that when they saw \u003Ca href=\u0022/news/2025/september/scouts-announce-uk-board-of-trustees-leadership/\u0022 title=\u0022Scouts announce UK Board of Trustees Leadership\u0022\u003Ethe announcement about the Vice Chair appointment\u003C/a\u003E, they expected to see someone else. I think they were surprised (in the best possible way) to see a Black woman in this role.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s a reminder of how powerful representation can be. And it felt especially significant that this happened in the same period as the announcement of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury \u2013 a moment of real progress and change.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow important is it that we have that sort of visibility in our senior leadership?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen you speak externally, with our sponsors, supporters and donors, they do look for diversity in the Leadership Team. Particularly for the Black and brown community, \u003Ca href=\u0022/news/2024/september/dwayne-fields-becomes-new-uk-chief-scout/\u0022 title=\u0022Dwayne Fields becomes new UK Chief Scout\u0022\u003EDwayne Fields becoming Chief Scout\u003C/a\u003E was the first milestone. It was a big and bold appointment, and it does say a lot when you have a good representation of people stepping up to senior leadership. This, in turn, is likely to inspire young people who\u0027ll appreciate visibly diverse leaders.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhy is Scouts still so important today?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe greatest strength of Scouts is how we reflect the strength of our communities. Today we see a lot of polarisation in society. The only way you can model radical generosity is to start that at a very young age in our communities. Scouts is about bringing diverse adults and children together, so they can enjoy each other\u2019s company and do something positive collectively for the community. That\u2019s the power of Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are few places where you feel that same sense of love and unity. You feel it in football stadiums and at music concerts. In those places, you cut across class and religion; there\u2019s just a unified joy. I was at a Coldplay concert recently, and it was amazing how Chris Martin made you feel personally included in that massive stadium. I don\u2019t remember so much about the songs, but I remember how I felt.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts also gives young people a sense of discipline, duty and responsibility by showing up and wearing your Scout clothing and neckerchief with pride. Once you\u2019ve developed those skills and qualities over time, you can use them anywhere. Teamwork and a sense of belonging is also so important at a time when we know people are feeling a sense of isolation, and we should continue to promote this in our young people.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow did being involved in a youth movement help you when you were young?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Nigeria, I was part of the Brownies and went along every week. I don\u2019t recall all the details of the programme, but I do remember the sense of belonging it gave me; the joy of playing, laughing, and learning alongside the other girls. It was one of my first experiences of being part of a supportive community.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat\u2019s the secret behind a good board?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s collective critical thinking and solving the same problem from a different perspective and lens. What you get is a solution that reflects everyone\u2019s diversity \u2013 a group of \u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-people/board-of-trustees/\u0022 title=\u0022Board of Trustees\u0022\u003ETrustees\u003C/a\u003E who see the world differently. That way, everyone will see snippets of themselves in the solution, which reflects wider society. This is very different from \u2018group think,\u2019 where everyone\u2019s thinking the same way and means we\u0027re stronger and able to make better informed decisions.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/t2udzqch/agm-2025.jpg","width":5952,"height":4480,"altText":"The image shows people in Scout uniform sat on chairs and facing a screen at the Annual General Meeting 2025.","caption":"UK Scouts National Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhy should we celebrate our Trustees?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe should be celebrating our Trustees because they give something that\u2019s both rare and invaluable: their time, their expertise, and their heart, all without financial reward. Trustees quietly hold the weight of responsibility for their organisations, helping to steer strategy, uphold values, and ensure impact, often behind the scenes and outside of their day jobs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhat makes trusteeship so special is that it\u2019s driven by purpose rather than profit. Trustees bring passion, insight, and care to causes they believe in, and that deserves recognition. The sense of fulfilment they get, knowing they\u2019ve helped make the world a little better is powerful, but it shouldn\u2019t be their only reward.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs we celebrate Trustees, it\u0027s important to remember that not everyone can give their time so freely. True celebration means making trusteeship more inclusive \u2013 removing barriers, creating pipelines for new voices, and recognising the many ways people can contribute.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen we recognise and celebrate our Trustees, we\u2019re really celebrating the spirit of service and the belief that positive change happens when people give of themselves for the greater good.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow can we make it easier to be a Trustee?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBoth locally, and nationally, we should demystify what it means to be a Trustee by sharing our stories and making the role more inclusive and accessible. By showing that Trustees come from diverse backgrounds and look like the communities they serve, we help people think, \u2018I can do that too.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s equally important to be clear about the roles and responsibilities of Trustees and to make sure that anyone new to a board receives effective support and learning and development opportunities tailored \u0026nbsp;to the role.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe should also recognise and address practical barriers, like time, financial constraints, and accessibility, to make sure everyone has a fair chance to step forward.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow do you juggle your time as a Trustee?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI was very undisciplined when I first started. I was excited and said yes to everything! But I\u2019ve found that less is more now, and it\u2019s important to be quite intentional as a Trustee. You can\u2019t do everything.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat\u2019s your message to someone thinking about being a Trustee?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re thinking about being a Trustee, it\u2019s got to be about doing something that matters to you. You have to love it. Otherwise, it feels like a day job.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou should be very clear about what you want your mandate to be. Because you won\u2019t be able to deliver everything. You need to connect what\u2019s important to you and find alignment to see if that also connects with the organisation. You need to ask yourself: \u2018Am I adding value?\u2019 and if you\u2019re not, then you\u2019re just a seat at the table.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe ideal situation is when your hunger to solve something is aligned with the organisation\u2019s hunger to do the same thing. That\u2019s where you have real passion, commitment and fulfilment.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat are some of the ways we can embed EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) in Scouts?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/\u0022 title=\u0022Equity, Diversity and Inclusion\u0022\u003EEDI\u003C/a\u003E takes a while. It\u2019s not a quick fix, and it must be part of our values system. Ultimately, it\u2019s about having an open door policy. We need to make sure there\u2019s a \u2018radical welcome\u2019 at every level, where everyone is treated in an equitable way in terms of respect and opportunity.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat radical welcome is what EDI should embrace. I used to serve as part of the welcoming team at my church \u2013 and I learned that the way you make people feel when you first meet them is so important. You then need to elevate that relationship \u2013 going on a journey from a simple \u2018hello\u2019 to a place where you have lots to say to each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd in Scouts, volunteers at the front of our mission take it upon themselves to make sure every person in their care experiences that same attention and warmth.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHow can we catalyse communities who are ambivalent towards Scouts?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou need to ask yourself, \u2018What will it take for someone to truly feel they belong?\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Scouts, when we recognise that we lack lived experience in a particular community we want to reach, such as the Black community, one practical step is to \u2018borrow\u2019 a volunteer from another Section, almost like a secondment, who has that lived experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBuilding authenticity and trust starts by listening to and working alongside the communities we want to engage. By collaborating with people who have lived experience, we can identify gaps and co-create solutions that make a real difference.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"When it comes to EDI, Scouts is very much on a journey. We\u2019ve made real progress, we\u2019ve moved the dial, and we should celebrate that. But there\u2019s still more to do. If we truly want to make change happen, we need to create clear pathways for people to step into leadership roles. Experience in Scouts is incredibly valuable, but so are emotional and cultural intelligence, especially when we\u2019re opening Sections and engaging with new communities. Both types of experience matter, and together they help us build a stronger, and more relevant and inclusive, movement.","attribution":"Busola Sodeinde, Vice Chair of Scouts","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat are your superpowers as a Trustee?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI tend to stay calm under pressure. That\u2019s when I do my best work, and when my creativity really shines. My strengths lie in remaining composed and thinking creatively during critical moments. But at other times, the most powerful skill isn\u2019t speaking or acting, it\u2019s listening.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo much of our work depends on truly understanding what people are saying, not just hearing their words. It\u2019s easy to design a quick fix that solves an immediate problem, but those solutions often have a short shelf life. Some organisations carry years of embedded issues and then hope to resolve them in a fraction of that time. Real change takes patience.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo tackle legacy challenges effectively, we need to create space for long-term solutions that can evolve with new trends. That starts with careful listening and thoughtful application of what we learn. Without that, solutions aren\u2019t sustainable and can even create unintended consequences. So, my superpower is critical thinking to help solve legacy issues.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/351fl3pm/basecamp22.jpg","width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"The image shows a crowd looking at a screen and stage at Basecamp 22. There are presentations on the screens with 4 people sat on the stage giving a talk.","caption":"Basecamp 22 \u2013 Our National Conference in 2022","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat have been your most enjoyable moments as a Scouts Trustee?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBasecamp was a turning point for me. Seeing the movement on such a scale and feeling that shared pride gave me a sense of belonging I\u2019d never known. Before, I said I was a Trustee for Scouts. After, I simply said \u2013 and felt \u2013 that I was a Scout.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat\u0027s your challenge to the movement?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy challenge to the movement is to think strategically about the opportunities we\u2019ve created through these diverse appointments. We\u2019ve taken important steps, but now is the time to leverage this momentum, build on it intentionally, and make sure we translate these milestones into lasting impact.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s make sure we don\u2019t let this moment pass. It\u2019s an opportunity to shape the future of the movement for the better.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"14 October 2025","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Board of Trustees","url":"/about-us/our-people/board-of-trustees/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Scouts announce UK Board of Trustees leadership","url":"/news/2025/september/scouts-announce-uk-board-of-trustees-leadership/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Find out more about Busola Sodeinde","url":"/about-us/our-people/board-of-trustees/busola-sodeinde/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":87476,"nodeName":"Celebrating our Trustees and creating a space to belong","title":"Celebrating our Trustees and creating a space to belong","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/lwkkrtq2/busola-new-image.jpeg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc442451feb270","caption":"Busola New Image","type":"jpeg","size":28135,"width":800,"height":451,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Celebrating our Trustees and creating a space to belong","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Ahead of Trustees\u2019 Week 2025 (3 to 7 November), we caught up with the newly appointed Vice Chair of Scouts, Busola Sodeinde.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84NzQ3NiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/october/celebrating-our-trustees-and-creating-a-space-to-belong/"}