Mollie Reid Announced as Scouts Scotland's Youth Commissioner

Clyde Scouts is delighted to hear that Mollie Reid has been appointed as Scouts Scotland's Youth Commissioner.

Mollie, 21, started volunteering three years ago after being involved with Scouting as a young person. She is also currently the Explorer Scout Leader at the 5th Clyde Explorers in Glasgow, a member of the South East District (covering Glasgow's East end, Rutherglen and Cambuslang) leadership team and sits on the Clyde Scouts regional executive team. 

The Youth Commissioner role, which can only be occupied by someone aged between 16-25, is the first of a number of changes to ensure Scouts in Scotland is shaped by young people. You can read more about the plan here.

Picture: Mollie Reid (left) with Scouts Scotland Chief Commissioner Andrew Sharkey (right)

In her role, Mollie will represent young people’s views from across Scotland and participate in deliberations at a national level to make sure young people’s voices are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. She will have a team of young people and adults around her with an interest in making Scouts more youth shaped and will be able to set her own agenda for what she thinks the priorities for our movement should be.

Welcoming Mollie into the role, Andrew Sharkey, the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Scotland said: "I am thrilled to welcome Mollie Reid as our new Youth Commissioner for Scouts Scotland. With her passion for empowering young people and wide Scouting experience, I am confident that Mollie will lead with enthusiasm and inspire positive change across the Movement. I look forward to working with Mollie and seeing the impact she will make in this important role."

On her background in Scouting, Mollie said: "I joined Scouts as an Explorer at the 105th Glasgow Scout Troop when I was at high school to gain more skills, meet new people and be part of something bigger. When I turned 18 it only felt natural to become a leader and pass on the skills I was taught as a young person. From the week after my 18th birthday, I volunteered as an Assistant Scout Leader at my local group. Fast forward 3 years, I now run my own Explorer unit and am excited to take on the challenge of becoming Scotland's Youth Commissioner."

Mollie, a student at the University of Glasgow studying geography and environmental geosciences, also advocated the benefits of volunteering with Scouts: "Volunteering not only allows me to help the next generation of Scouts become great role models, but it has also provided me with amazing opportunities including representing Scouts at COP26 and venturing to Germany for my Explorer Belt (One of the top awards for young people in Scouting)."

"Being a volunteer in scouting is so much more than weekly sessions and monthly camps. It gives you a platform to better the lives of every young person you meet and ensure their voices are always heard. It equips you with skills for life and opens many doors to self-development. I could not recommend it enough."

Just moved to university? Don’t know how to put up a tent? Don’t know how to tie knots? Never worked with children before? Not a problem! Volunteering with Scouts is for everyone and there are many roles to suit the experience you are looking for. If you would like to find out more about volunteering with us get in touch. If you would rather reach out directly, you can email us at info@clydescouts.org.uk. We promise, there are no obligations for reaching out!