FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Sarah Facter: 240-662-2926 May 18, 2009 [email protected] Survival expert Bear Grylls was appointed Chief Scout of the UK, the Scout Association announced today. The host of Discovery Channel's hit show MAN VS. WILD is the youngest person ever to become Chief Scout. In this role, Grylls will serve as the volunteer leader of the largest co-educational youth movement in the UK. He will focus his efforts on promoting the policies and benefits of Scouting throughout the UK, and encouraging new adults to join the movement. Grylls, who will hold the Chief Scout position for five years, takes Will Ferrell along with him on a special episode of MAN VS. WILD on Tuesday, June 2 at 10PM ET/PT. Grylls is currently in production for season four of MAN VS. WILD, which premieres in August. See the full Scout Association release below. For Bear Grylls' bio or for more information on MAN VS. WILD, visit press.discovery.com. Bear Grylls appointed new Chief Scout in the UK • Mission to massively increase the number of adult Leaders in the Movement and to continue to grow the Movement in size • Committed to reinforcing Scouting’s role as the place to offer adventure based activities to young people • Youngest Chief Scout ever 18th May 2009: The Scout Association is delighted to today announce Bear Grylls is the tenth and youngest Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Scouting has adventure at its core and Bear is one of the UK’s great outdoor adventurers; he is also a strong supporter of young people as seen via his work with international children’s charity, Global Angels. As Chief Scout, a position he will hold for five years, Bear will be the volunteer Leader of the largest co-educational youth Movement in the country: Scouting has around half a million Members including some 90,000 adult Leaders1. During his term, Bear aims to inspire more and more adults to volunteer for Scouting and is committed to reinforcing Scouting’s role as the place to offer adventure based activities to young people. Bear’s commitment to massively increasing the number of adult Leaders in the Scout Movement comes at a time when waiting lists to join Scout Groups across the UK remain at an all-time high: currently more than 33,000 young people aged between six and 25 are waiting to join Scouting in the UK. However, for every new adult that volunteers five more young people will have the chance to participate in Scouting. So we only need 6,600 adults, which equates to just 0.01% of the UK’s adult population2, signing up to completely wipe out our current waiting list. Bear was appointed yesterday by The Council of the Scout Movement at a special meeting in London. In the role of Chief Scout, Bear is tasked with promoting the policies and benefits of Scouting, and encouraging new adults to join the Movement. Previously, as one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, Bear is now the youngest person ever to become Chief Scout. He will be invested at a handover ceremony with outgoing Chief Scout Peter Duncan later in the year. Newly appointed Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “I feel hugely honoured to be asked to take up this role as Chief Scout - it really is a dream come true. I have always loved helping young people live their dreams and to taste real adventure… as well as getting caked in mud! I also hope I can use this post to encourage masses of adults in the UK to volunteer as leaders. The young people in this country need them like never before, and we have more people wanting to join than there are places available. But by volunteering, adults can actively make a difference to young people’s lives in their community, and there is no better way to be part of an adventure and have loads of fun, than with the Scouts.” “The Scout Movement is a world-wide force for good and at heart it says that young people have the right to an adventure. And I for one am so proud to be part of that.” Safa Cheema, (14) an Explorer Scout from Bristol said: “All of the Scouts are really excited about Bear becoming Chief Scout. He’s really inspirational and I think he’s going to be a great Chief. I am looking forward to doing loads of adventurous activities in the future - it’s going to be amazing with lots of fun.” Outgoing Chief Scout Peter Duncan said: “I have gained enormously from my experience as volunteer Chief Scout over the past five years. I have particularly connected to the grass roots and have enjoyed seeing the adventurous and environmental awareness aspects of scouting increase during my time as leader. I have learnt so much being part of a large organisation, honing the skills of presentation, thinking on my feet and discovering how to communicate an inspirational message for young people. As a working actor I think Bear Grylls is the most brilliant piece of recasting I have ever been be involved in. I wish him great success.” In addition to Bear Grylls being appointed as the new Chief Scout, Wayne Bulpitt has been appointed as the first ever UK Chief Commissioner. This role will strengthen the day-to-day volunteer leadership functions within the Movement. Wayne will focus on managing and leading all volunteers within the Movement and will also be responsible for building relationships with political parties, Association ambassadors, and other charities and organisations. New UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt said: “I am delighted to have been invited to take on the new role and to lead our Movement at such an exciting time. The successes of the last few years mean that we are well placed to capitalise on our external high standing and profile and to fulfill our vision of providing inspiration, personal development and exciting opportunities to increasing numbers of young people. I know that we can only do this through increased support to those volunteers running our sections and units without whom there would be no Scouting. We now have a great opportunity to attract more adults to take on leadership roles in the Movement.” ENDS New Chief Scout Bear Grylls, UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt, and Explorer Scouts Sally Milner (14) and Charlie Roper (16) are available for interviews on Sunday 17thand Monday 18th May For media enquiries and interview requests please contact: Verity Williams on 020 7842 0134 / 07877 767 710 / [email protected] Katie Thompson on 020 7842 0131 / 07866 590 747 / [email protected] Notes to editors [1] Source: The Scout Association Census 2009 [2] Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/uk.html CV - Bear Grylls DOB: 7 June 1974 - making him our youngest Chief Scout Scouting: Cub and Scout Occupations: Explorer, television presenter, author Television includes: Born Survivor with Bear Grylls, Escape to the Legion, Mission Everest, and Man vs Wild with Bear Grylls (Discovery Channel, worldwide) Books include: Facing Up, The Kid Who Climbed Everest, Facing the Frozen Ocean, Born Survivor, Bear Grylls’ Great Outdoor Adventures, Mission Survival: Gold of the Gods, Mission Survival: Way of the Wolf, Mission Survival: Sands of the Scorpion. Volunteering: Princes Trust, Duke of Edinburgh, RNLI and Help 4 Heroes; appointed Chief Scout 17 May 2009 Notable achievements: Served for three years as a soldier with 21 SAS Regiment. Became one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Everest in 1998. Scaled Mt Ama Dablam in the Himalaya, a peak once described by Sir Edmund Hillary as ‘unclimbable’. Crossed the Atlantic Arctic Ocean in an open rigid inflatable boat, a feat for which he was awarded the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy. Has led numerous expeditions worldwide, including soaring above the height of Everest in a powered paraglider, raising over $2.5million for children’s charities. Married to Shara, with three young boys. CV - Wayne Bulpitt Joined: 1st Warsash Sea Scouts as a Cub Roles held in Scouting: Assistant Scout Leader, Managing trustee of Scouting in Guernsey, Trustee of the Association (since 2001) Chairman of the Trustees during Scoutings centenarty year in 2007, Chief Commissioner of England (South). Work: Founder of the Active Group (Management Services) Home: Based in Guernsey, Channel Islands and married to Julie; two children Alastair (19) and Francesca (17) Most memorable Scouting moments: As a Patrol Leader I led an overnight rowing expedition up the River Hamble. It became apparent in the evening that I had not taken enough food for us! Not a mistake I have repeated ever since. I am also very proud to have been the first Venture Scout in my Group to achieve the Queen Scout Award. And of course I’ll also never forget the main arena of Hylands Park at the start of the 21st World Scout Jamboree. List of Past Chief Scouts 1. Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, died January 8th, 1941 2. Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers, Chief Scout of the British Empire from March 1941 until May 1944 3. Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan, Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire from April 1945 until September 1959 4. Sir Charles Maclean, later Lord Maclean, Chief Scout of the Commonwealth from September 1959. He resigned as Chief Scout of the UK in September 1971, but continued as Chief Scout of the Commonwealth until August, 1975 5.