Lead our Team: Area Lead Volunteer

April 8, 2024

Overview of the role


Welcome to Team BSO (British Scouting Overseas), where we're embarking on an exhilarating journey to empower the next generation through our Skills for Life strategy. Our mission is to shape brighter futures and equip young individuals in Scouting with invaluable life skills.


At the heart of the BSO lies the pivotal role of the Area Lead Volunteer (previously called Area Commissioner). As the guiding force, you'll spearhead the BSO Leadership Team, inspiring and mobilising volunteers to provide exceptional experiences and life-enriching skills to our youth. Your mandate includes ensuring a well-organised and adequately staffed Area team capable of delivering outstanding programmes.


Your pivotal responsibility involves implementing the Area’s 2018-25 Strategy. You will be rallying Area, District and Group Lead Volunteers and their teams to align with its objectives. This entails motivating and supporting volunteers to achieve the Growth, Youth Shaped, Community Impact, and Inclusivity targets outlined in our strategy.


As the leader of the BSO Team, you will bolster Scouting throughout the Area by nurturing volunteer development, enriching section programmes, and providing operational support. Additionally, you'll maintain a vibrant volunteer cohort in the Explorer and Network sections, establishing a well-regarded 14-24 provision within our multiple international communities.


Leading a team of dedicated volunteers passionate about delivering exceptional Scouting experiences to every young person is at the core of this role.

Read the Information Pack (pdf)

Application process



You can apply for the role yourself using the application form, or nominate someone else using the nomination form.


Nominated people are under no commitment to apply unless they wish to. 


A search group has been put together to oversee this process and will review all applications and nominations in order to make decisions as to who to invite to attend the selection stage of this process.


At the end of the application form, we also ask applicants to please fill out our Diversity Monitoring Form. You will be automatically directed to this.


Apply for this Role Nominate Someone for this Role

 

Key dates


Closing date: 09:00 on Wednesday 1st May 2024

Interview date: W/C 3rd June 2024 



For more information


For more information, or for an informal chat about this vacancy, please contact: 

Callum Kaye, UK Chief Volunteer for International
Email: 
Callum.Kaye@scouts.org.uk



Jon Gill, Outgoing District Commissioner Rest of the World District and search team lead.

Email: Jon.Gill@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk


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By Theo Lasar • October 22, 2026
Thanks for your interest in becoming the next British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Deputy Youth Lead. This role is focused on empowering young people across our global movement, with a particular focus on driving achievement of Top Awards, empowering youth voices, and translating feedback into structured, practical support across our districts: Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World and Lone Scouts. If you are 18–25 yrs old, bring a genuine commitment to Scouting and possess the curiosity to explore how young people want their ideas represented and implemented, this position offers a direct opportunity to support youth leadership internationally. What is the BSO Deputy Youth Lead? The BSO Deputy Youth Lead works closely with and supports the BSO Youth Lead to ensure young members across all overseas districts are meaningfully involved in decision-making and supported through their Top Award and shaping their scouting experience. In this role, you will maintain consistent contact with volunteer teams across districts, lead data informed research into award completion & membership, facilitate youth forums, and collaborate with District Youth Leads to understand local operational contexts. Through problem solving and building strong relationships, you will help identify structural and practical barriers to Top Awards and work with the according teams to address them. You will help to expand programme adaptability & growth while implementing the "place to belong" & “skills for life” strategies. Your work will help ensure that youth perspectives actively inform organisational decisions, support executive governance, and ensure Section achievements are consistently recognised across BSO and wider Scouting platforms.
By Lynne Armitage • October 19, 2026
Find out what's happening across BSO with our latest Far & Wide Magazine, with information on events and important updates.
By Jenny Nixon • September 17, 2026
Do you love camps, adventures and making things happen? Do you enjoy organising activities and events, or have a skill you’d like to share with others? If you answered yes to any of these, we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking for adults to join the Northern Europe Events Team and help us build a permanent support team for adventurous activities and events across the District. Whether you’re an experienced organiser, have a particular skill to share, or simply enjoy getting stuck in and helping others have great experiences, there could be a role for you. The team will support events such as: 🏕️ District camp 🌍 Jamborees ⛺ Moots đź§­ Other adventurous activities and events You don’t need to currently hold a leader role to get involved. We’re especially keen to hear from adults who would enjoy contributing in a support role, bringing their skills, experience and enthusiasm to help our Young People get the most out of their adventures. Interested in finding out more? Contact Jenny Nixon, Northern Europe Programme Team Leader. jenny.nixon@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk (Know someone who would be perfect for this role? Share this with them!)
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