New Area Youth Commissioner and Deputy for BSO

August 13, 2022

I am so excited and happy that BSO now has two amazing young adults who are tasked with driving our youth-shaped agenda across the Area. I know that Charlotte and Alex will do an amazing job of supporting our volunteers, helping to shape our programme, influencing decisions that we make at the Area level and working alongside our brilliant team of District Youth Commissioners to coordinate cross-Area youth strategy, enabling our volunteers to embed the ideas and decisions of young people into local scouting.

Charlotte Thompson – Area Youth Commissioner

I started Scouting in 1st Salmiya Kuwait group in the Middle East District as a Cub, then Scout, Explorer and eventually Young Leader. Later moving into the Northern Europe District as DDYC and then DYC (as well as Network member!).

Outside of Scouting, I go to Loughborough University and am studying International Relations (although currently on a placement year working in internal communications and global campaigns).

I’m really excited to be BSO’s first Area Youth Commissioner, working alongside Alex, the DYC’s and Area team to develop Youth Led Scouting across the Area. 😊

Alex Hadley – Deputy Area Youth Commissioner

I started as a Beaver at 6 years old and I’ve been involved with Scouting ever since. I also spent some time in the Air Cadets prior to joining the RAF. Scouting has always felt like home to me so I re-joined the movement as a Scout Leader when I joined the RAF. Since then, I've had some amazing opportunities and experiences such as Poacher Jamboree and The Chase Walk challenge.

I have a passion to drive change and new, fresh ideas straight from the young people. I can't wait to give back to the young people. I'm always up for a challenge and in my spare time when I'm not Scouting, I love swimming and if I can be brave, start rugby!

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Vacancy: BSO Youth Team Members

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.

Far and Wide (October 2026)

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.

Vacancy: Northern Europe Events Team

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 🧭 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!)