Bear Grylls Hails Scout Numbers Biggest Rise In UK As Fantastic

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A Complete Guide to Scouting - A Message from Bear Grylls

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sourced by Paul Conneally

UK Scout Numbers Biggest Rise In 38 Years

Figures released by The Scout Association show the biggest rise in scout numbers for 38 years with numbers rising by more than 16,000 since the start of 2009. Total membership in the UK is now around 500,000. Adventurer Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout, said:

"Scouting is empowering, wild and fun, and offers so many adventure-based activities for young people and adults alike."

Another shift is the age of new members with teenagers showing more interest in scouting than in recent years now totaling 65,000 members.

The scout movement has changed significantly over the past few years particularly with the allowing of girls into the movement which was previously called the 'Boy Scouts'.

More Adult Volunteers For Scouts Needed

The biggest problem is not in recruiting young people but adult volunteers. Without adult volunteers the scouting movement can't operate. Last year 2,871 new adult volunteers signed up but more are still needed to meet the demand of the 33,500 young people on the scout waiting list.

Lord Baden Powell founded the scouting movement and his book "Scouting For Boys" remains a best seller. UK chart topping band Scouting For Girls take their name from the book and perhaps reflect the new direction of scouting as not scouting for boys or girls but scouting for everyone.