I started Scouting aged 14 as a Venture Scout, having been a Brownie and a Guide. I was part of 617 Unit in Bromham Bedfordshire, where I completed my Queens Scout Award.
I first became a leader in my early 20’s helping out at Walsworth Baptist Scout Group, Hitchin Herts. with the Beavers.

I joined Bridge of Allan Scout Group in 2012, initially as a Beaver Leader, then Cubs and I’m currently Group Scout Leader.

I love organising events for the young people to help them grow from these experiences. It is so rewarding to see them totally exhausted at the end of an event but beaming from ear to ear (before they promptly fall asleep) I normally organise the Annual Group Camp and Annual Sleepover each year. As well as looking after the Group, I was until recently District Commissioner for Stirling and Trossachs District and having stepped back from that I have now stepped into the role of Performance Chair of Stirling Gang Show. I have also started taking Scouts into the Autism Provision at St Modans as part of the school day!…. So between these roles – they keep me pretty busy!

Scouting is very much part of our family, my daughter is currently an Explorer Scout and a Young Leader with our Squirrels and attended World Scout Jamboree in Korea 2023. She’s already signed up to her first leader role at Blair Atholl Jamborette summer 2024, where I’ll also be helping.

I love what Scouting has to offer both Young People and Adults alike. – Lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, making new friends and my favourite part – making memories!

After being in Scouting as a child, I started as a leader when my eldest child began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub as part of Transatlantic PACK 681 in Basel, Switzerland. I spent many years happily leading Cub Dens in this very international pack. We were lucky to have Kandersteg International Scout Centre as our local scout camp. But my goodness, out of season, camping there was seriously cold in the valley! Sometimes that was intentional however 🙂 After moving back to Scotland in 2020, its a privilege to continue leading cubs for 11th BofA.

Why do you volunteer with Scouts?

Without volunteers, cubs wouldn’t happen. I also want to meet Bear Grylls.

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

Great to work with the leadership team and volunteers, but fab to be part of the development of young people, giving them unique experiences and challenges, and seeing them grow in confidence. And burning things on fires of course.

Something fun or interesting about yourself?

Few things give me more pleasure than introducing young people, or adults, to the night sky through a big telescope or to the joys of a bumpy trail on their first mountain bike ride.

Way back in early 80’s I was a Cub, then Scout, at 7th Stirling. Now as a parent I’ve rediscovered everything I loved about it as a child. It’s amazing to see how much my own children, and their peers, gain from Scouting, seeing confidence grow and their personalities shine.

I enjoy the variety it brings, every week is completely different. My favourite thing though is badges! We all love earning badges, so much fun seeing the smiles on faces and the pride when the Beavers complete challenges and get their awards.

I’ve been with Airthrey Beavers since we started in summer 2021, we’re blessed to have a fantastic team of enthusiastic and supportive Leaders and Young Leaders.

Outside of Scouting my interests are Mountain Biking and Touch Rugby – internationally capped and yes its a real sport!

I’m a mum of 2 girls and a crazy poodle. I have lived in BofA for 17 years and love enjoying the outdoors – walking, cycling and open water swimming when ever possible.

Why do you volunteer with Scouts?

To provide children with lots of opportunities which they might not otherwise have – whether it is learning new skills, making friends or outdoor experiences like camping.

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

Seeing them all having fun and their excitement when it is a new night for them – popular ones are water rockets, grass sledging and hungry hippos.

Something fun or interesting about yourself : I open water swim all year round and can often be found on a cold winter morning cracking the ice up at Cocksburn Reservoir so I can go in for a dip.

I was never in scouting as a youngster but did attend Brownies for a couple of years. I got involved with scouting in 2012 when my youngest son then aged 6 was offered a space at Bridge of Allan Beavers and they were looking for some adult helpers.

I had always been involved in Toddler Group and Primary School committees, so was quite happy to go along to beavers and help out. I discovered quite quickly that I really enjoyed the weekly meeting and the social aspect of scouting.

After a few years I became Section Leader for the Beavers Chalmers Lodge. As my son went on to cubs and scouts I stayed with beavers to let his confidence grow. Then in January 2018 I went along to help Scouts out for a couple of nights which then grew until I became Scout Section Leader in August 2019.

I have met lots of lovely people through scouting and learnt lots of new skills. It is very rewarding being able to pass these skills on to young people. My son, attended explorers and was a young leader with one of the cub sections and then when he turned 18, became a leader with them. His confidence has grown tremendously through scouting, as has mine.

I’m Kirk, I am one of the leaders with 11th Bridge of Allan Cub Scouts. I started volunteering with Scouts as I enjoy working with young people, I like the outdoors and I wanted to be more involved with my local community.


I am a Social Worker and have been working with young people for most of my working life. I am a big believer in outdoor education and having worked in the field, I’ve seen first hand the positive impacts that outdoor pursuits can have on young people’s lives, and scouting provides those same benefits. I believe that all young people should have ample opportunities to develop their confidence, build resilience and learn new skills.

Scouting is a great space for children to learn beyond the classroom and to be involved with their Community.

It’s lots of fun too!

In my spare time you can probably find me up a mountain, out camping with the family or out on my road bike.

My name is Gwen and I am a Scout Team Leader with our Wednesday Scout Group. I have been Scouting since 2012. I started out with Cubs and moved to the Scout section in 2016. I love learning new things in Scouting and bringing that learning to young people. I especially love the outdoor part of our programme – night hikes, campfires, navigation, pioneering and camping. I also love being part of the wider Scouting community and am keen to encourage young people to join in District/ Region and International events.