J’can is new UK Chief Scout

LONDON:

The new chief of the Scouts movement in the United Kingdom is urging the Caribbean diaspora to provide vital volunteer support for the organisation. The call was made by Dwayne Fields, who was appointed to his role last month. The Clarendon-born Jamaican is the first person of colour to lead the half a million young people and adult volunteers within the Scouts movement.

The 41-year-old father of four children, age from three to 16 years, believes it is essential that more persons from the Caribbean voluntarily support the Scouts.

Only 10 people have previously held the role of Chief Scout since Robert Baden-Powell founded the youth organisation in 1907. Fields replaces TV adventurer Bear Grylls, who held the position for 15 years.

Speaking exclusively to The Weekly Gleaner, the leader of the movement said: “People of Caribbean heritage should volunteer to support the Scouts. This will contribute to an exchange of cultures across the board and provide tremendous benefits for African Caribbean youths.

“I have seen and felt the benefits of joining the Scouts. It’s a great way to get kids out of doors and for them to enhance qualities like determination, self-belief.”

The Jamaican stressed: “We don’t want young people to miss out on vital life lessons.”

Over 200 activities are offered by Scouts around the UK, ranging from canoeing and caving to coding and participating in community projects.

Scouting activities are made possible by the efforts of over 163,000 adult volunteers.

HISTORIC NATURE

Fields emigrated to London from Jamaica at six years old. Reminiscing on his arrival to the UK, the adventurer recalled the anxiety and uncertainty he felt, living in an inner city, and largely separated from the outdoor life he enjoyed in the Caribbean.

“When in Jamaica, I spent so much time outdoors making toys, playing outside, and enjoying sports.

“After I joined the Scouts, it was apparent there were attitudes and skills I could readily embrace. I made friends, developed skills and belief in myself.”

Fields has carved out a career as a TV presenter, explorer, and naturalist. He became the second black man to reach the North Pole in 2013, following in the footsteps of Matthew Henson, the African American explorer who went there in 1909.

Despite his career achievements, the explorer said he was overwhelmed with emotion when he received news of his appointment. The Jamaican said: “I froze for a moment and kept thinking and saying it would be great if so-and-so was given the role.

“Eventually, I felt a rush of emotion and a sense of pride when I realised that I would be shouldering 117 years of legacy.”

In the British newspaper The Telegraph, Fields is quoting as saying: “I hope everyone who sees me in this role can identify something of themselves in me and say, ‘Actually if that guy can do it, I can do it too.’”

Despite the historic nature of the achievement, the Scouts chief shared that his family in Jamaica seemed unsurprised that he received his new appointment and tend to expect ‘great things’ from their relative living in London.

Fields career progression hasn’t been easy. He grew up on an estate marred by gang violence in Stoke Newington, northwest London, and narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions, from knife and gun violence.

Carl Hankinson, the UK chief volunteer at the Scouts, commenting on Fields appointment said:

“I’m so excited to welcome Dwayne Fields as Chief Scout. A committed Scout ambassador since 2017, Dwayne has visited hundreds of Scout groups, events, and camps across the UK and internationally.

“He champions the sense of belonging Scouts gives young people. He is able to reach across generations, to further expand and reach across all communities.”

IMPROVE ETHNIC DIVERSITY

Fields’ appointment comes two years after the Scouts launched its vision for race equity to improve the ethnic diversity of the membership, volunteers and leadership.

The report noted that people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds comprise only eight per cent of the Scouts’ membership, a significantly lower proportion than in the UK population of 14 per cent, adding that “for some members, negative experiences have led them to feel Scouts isn’t a place for them”.

A Scouts spokesperson commenting on the organisation’s goals said: “We have close to 150,000 adult volunteers. We are working towards at least five per cent of our volunteers to be from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and are currently standing at 3.8 per cent.

“We are planning pilots to focus on scouting in black communities and build connections with those communities.”

He has lobbied the government to encourage inner-city children to explore the countryside, and has spoken of wanting to break the mould of “middle-age white guys” dominating exploration. As a guest presenter on the BBC’s Countryfile, a programme reporting on rural and environmental issues, he said many people from the black and ethnic minority community “don’t view the UK countryside as somewhere that’s for them”.

A key part of Fields’ mission will be to attract new volunteers, across the UK. He also has plans to visit Jamaica next year.

The naturalist said: “I’m looking forward to visiting family, resting and becoming familiar with what scouting is like on the island, and if there is anything I can do to provide support and guidance.”