When my appointment was announced, there were a variety of reactions.  Some said, “congratulations”, others exclaimed, “mug of the year”!  I think neither reaction quite reflects the reality.  Some questioned whether I had the required experience given my age – which is either patronising or flattering depending on your view!  Others wondered what I practically know about being a Scout volunteer and working with young people.  A few people spoke of the ‘rumours’ about how the ‘new kid on the block’ would operate, what his motivations and intentions were.  Rather a lot more took the opportunity to invite me to their activities and events, to present awards and to speak with them.  The mixture of adulation, cynicism and scepticism was a truly strange combination.

What kind of County Commissioner will you be?

So, I’ve been County Commissioner for a couple of weeks now.  What’s it like and what’s involved?  And, what kind of County Commissioner will I be? Well, we all have different roles in Scouting, hopefully suited to our talents and interests.  And, I’d like to think that we all do it for the right reasons.  My reason is simple – I credit my ‘education’ (in the broadest sense) and everything that flows from it to Scouting.  I would like many more young people to have an outstanding experience of Scouting, just like my own. I know that to do this, Scouting needs to continue to change and develop.  I’m excited about what we might together achieve for Scouting in Avon. 

I don’t do cynicism, negativity, or rumours. I don’t think it’s very “Scouting”.  The time for lofty, stuffy, unapproachable managers and leaders has gone.  If you want to know what I think, contact me! Then, make up your own mind.  I believe we need to be open and accessible and ‘in touch’.  We need a more balanced age profile.  We should appoint based on interests, attitude, capability and track record relevant to the role, not preconceptions based on age or based simply on vast ‘careers’ in Scouting. I’m more interested in today and in the future than the past. We may not always agree, but you can count on me to make decisions with integrity, with the interests of young people foremost and to listen to you and take account of a variety of different views and opinions.  I won’t personally always get everything right, but I will always do my best.    I am reminded in leadership of a poem introduced to me as a young Scout – I’m sure you know it.  It is always worth re-reading: Kipling’s “If”.  As leaders we need high ideals to try to live up to.         

What can you bring to the role?

I bring some Scouting knowledge and experience and some skills from my wider life.  I was a Scout Leader in Oxfordshire and then in Bristol of several years.  Throughout the ‘naughties’ I had the privilege of serving on Scouting’s national Board.  I hope I can bring something from all of this and from leading other national voluntary organisations to Scouting in Avon.  Leading others to achieve great things together excites me, particularly when I care so deeply about our mission.  I am an optimist and believe organisations need big shared ambitions and values to guide and motivate people.  Scouting is good; I think it can be great.  I’m a team player as well as a leader and believe in leading by example.  I hope you’ll judge for yourselves as you get to know me.

What kind of organisation do you think we should be?  What should our leaders be like?  What do you think our big ambitions for Scouting should be over the next five to ten years?  What are the challenges we face?  How can we build on our current successes?  More on these for me in future blog posts.  Share what you think.