Chris Wanley appointed BSO Support Team Lead

October 18, 2024

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Wanley as the new Area Support Team Lead for British Scouting Overseas (BSO).   We welcome Chris to BSO in this new role.  Chris has a strong background in International Scouting having served for 16 years on the Kandersteg committee, whilst also being a apart of the UKHQ International Team, during David Bull’s tenure as International Commissioner, and more locally as Assistant County Commissioner (International) for West Mercia.   Chris was also one of the early lead volunteers for the ScoutBase website created for UK Scouting in the 90s.  Most recently Chris is currently volunteering as Group Treasurer of his local Scout Group.


Professionally, Chris is a Chief Information officer for a large organisation leading and managing remote teams. 


Chris started his Scouting Adventures as a Cub and then Scout, before moving as a helper and then leader.  The Moot in Sweden gave his first proper international Scouting experience, before falling in love with Kandersteg where he was on its Committee for 16 years,.


Please join me in welcoming Chris both to BSO and to his new role in leading our Support Team.


Graham Eden

Area Lead Volunteer

Share:

By Chris Preston May 20, 2025
BSO Southern Europe wishes to appoint an additional trustee. Our trustee board provides collective leadership and oversight of the charity, and supports our volunteers who deliver our programme to young people around the world. The Trustee Board’s role is to support our volunteer line managers, through the District Lead Volunteer and District Chair, so that they can be as successful as possible in their role of supporting leadership teams to deliver our programme. You may be of any nationality and live in any part of the world – the only condition is that you are willing and able to carry out the duties of a trustee and to bring a constructive and independent-minded approach to the role. We are keen to include younger adults in the team. Applications from within Southern Europe are encouraged About BSO BSO is a part of the UK Scout Association with headquarters in Gilwell Park, London. BSO members have access to the same resources, support and programme as UK based Scout groups. BSO exists to support British families living overseas in the provision of a UK Scouting programme to expatriate British children and to several British Overseas Territories. We aim to ensure that all our members have the opportunity to feel and experience high quality UK Scouting whilst providing support and advice to adult members no matter where they are in the world. BSO undertakes Scouting activities in a safe and secure environment with flexibility to adapt to both local customs and guidelines set out within The Scout Association's policies and rules. BSO operates 57 Scout Groups, 22 Explorer Units and 3 Scout Networks, with an impressive 2,997 young people supported by 936 adult volunteer leaders across 30 countries around the world. Whilst most adult volunteer members are delivering programme activities with our young people, many volunteers are also based in the UK offering support, training, mentoring, governance and resources in a variety of different roles from trustee to marketing and event support to skills assessors. BSO is fully inclusive and open to all who share our fundamental values. BSO exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
May 11, 2025
We are sure that a large number of adults will want to take part in this event as a Unit Leader and so a role description and person specification has been produced to highlight what the role entails and the skills and experiences we are looking for. Please study these documents carefully and do send an application in.
April 28, 2025
The 26th World Scout Jamboree will take place in Gdansk, Poland in the summer of 2027. The UK Scout Association has a long history of sending large number of Units (36 young people, aged between 14 and 18, and four leaders divided into four patrols) as part of a UK Contingent to attend World Scout Jamborees. The units represent each of the UK’s counties and countries/regions, with unit numbers be allocated based on the numbers of young people in each area.
Show More