Avon County's 12,000 scouts  and 1,800 adult volunteers are today welcoming the Duchess of Cambridge to the adventure of Scouting, as Her Royal Highness announces that she is to become a volunteer in the movement.

The Duchess will primarily help out at scout groups close to her home in North Wales, as well as others elsewhere from time to time as opportunities arise. She will be focusing mainly on cub scout packs and beaver scout colonies, with boys and girls aged from six to ten.

As a volunteer the Duchess will help run various activities, similar to the 100,000 other adult volunteers that are part of the organisation in the UK. In Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset - also known as Scouting's 'Avon County' - over 1,800 adults currently volunteer their time to put something back into their communities. The 'county' welcomes volunteers of all ages and provides full support and training to enable them to help young people aged 6-25 learn by doing. You don’t need to be an outdoors expert to join Scouting; as Scouts do so much more than just camping and climbing. From arts and crafts, to drama, street sports and international expeditions, there’s a new adventure every week. Young people have a natural instinct to do the right thing, and the Scout Association encourages that by providing guidance and positive role models, both very important with the development of a young person.

As one of the country’s most high profile figures, it is hoped the Duchess’ involvement will encourage other young adults to get involved in Scouting.

Scouting is more popular than ever in 'Avon County' on almost every day of the year groups meet and activities take place but there are still over 1,000 young people on waiting lists in Avon and more volunteers would enable the association to welcome these new members too. County Commissioner Dan Wood - a similar age to the Duchess and dubbed Bristol's most active volunteer by the scouts he supports - is calling for more volunteers to give Scouting a go: 'Next week it could be your turn to go to your first Scout meeting and experiencing the great Scouting adventure for yourself. It’s not signing your free time away – it’s about experiencing everything life has to offer and helping young people see a more positive future.'

There is something for everyone as a scout volunteer, and adults get much out of their involvement whether that is transferable skills for the workplace, confidence, or simply the satisfaction of knowing they are helping their community.

Dan is keen to point out that today's announcement also underlines the organisation’s inclusivity. Girls have been allowed to join up since 1976 but recent years have seen an enormous surge, with an 88% rise since 2005 and more girls joining than boys in 2010.

Bear Grylls, UK chief scout, who led a party of 200 scouts to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 said:

‘The Duchess has an incredibly busy life, which makes it all the more inspiring that she has chosen to volunteer alongside us. Over the last few years it has been our mission to make it easier for adults who volunteer with us to give as much or as little as they are able – it is how we change our society: many people doing a little bit.’

He added: ‘I just know that the Duchess will love the buzz that scouts always bring to their communities and their adventures. There are few greater joys than being part of empowering young lives through the simple principles of Scouting: fun, friendship, belief and adventure.’

Jools Granville, a busy full-time worker, part-time student and scout volunteer says : ‘It’s great that the Duchess can find time in her busy schedule to help Scouting develop the lives of young people in her local community.

Demands and pressures of modern life often mean it’s harder for people to find time to volunteer, so for some time now the scouts have offered volunteer roles in such a way that adults can get involved flexibly similar to the way that the Duchess is supporting Scouting. The role I’ve just agreed for myself in Avon is shared between a team to make it work.'

‘Flexibility in volunteering is the way forward.’

To join the Duchess of Cambridge and volunteer in your area all you need to do is click on to www.scouts.org.uk/join or dial 0845 300 1818.

• National story & Video