Welcome to Ripon and District Scouts

Here we are, in the last month of the year, and it has been another successful year for Ripon & District Scouts thanks to all the effort people have put in. 

The "District Lead Volunteer" John Lockwood, and the whole District Team, would like to "Thank" everyone for their excellent support throughout the year and wish you ALL (and your Families) a Very Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

As most of you will already know, "Scouting is a Global Youth Movement that builds friendships, experiences, and skills for life, shaping young people's futures as active citizens. More than 500 million young people and adults have joined and experienced the power of Scouting's non-formal education since it was founded in 1907.

Since then, the Scout Movement has continued to grow and is now active in 176 National Scout Organizations. Today, over 57 million young people, supported by millions of dedicated volunteers, take part in Scouting activities and events worldwide".

We’re thrilled to announce adventurer and TV presenter Dwayne Fields as our new Chief Scout.

Dwayne’s been chosen to be our 11th Chief Scout and lead our half a million young people and adult volunteers for his values, commitment to help young people, and outstanding leadership qualities. He succeeds Bear Grylls OBE, who steps down as Chief Scout with our huge thanks and respect after serving three consecutive five-year terms. 

Dwayne already has the admiration and respect of thousands of adults and young people in Scouts while serving as an ambassador for Scouts since 2017. During this time, he’s visited hundreds of Scout groups, events and camps across the UK and internationally. He also supported our contingent at the World Scout Jamboree in Korea. 

He’s shown incredible commitment and kindness to Scouts in communities across the UK. As an adventurer, he’s been able to inspire across generations and support our growth in local communities.

His Majesty King Charles III became Scouts' Patron in June 2024.

The King continues a long tradition of the Monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Before His Majesty King Charles III, the post was previously held by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the duration of her 70-year reign.

A champion for young people.

Patronages typically reflect the interests of the member of the Royal Family involved.

Over many years, HM King Charles III has consistently championed young people across a range of charities, including Scouts and The Prince’s Trust.

Scouting has changed some of its role titles to make them more inclusive, understandable, and easier to use. The Goal is to make volunteering more enjoyable. We now have a "Leadership Team" that Leads, Inspires, and Motivates. The County Commissioner is now the Lead Volunteer North Yorkshire. The District Commissioner is the Lead Volunteer Ripon and District. The Group Scout Leader is now the "Team Leader - Group Name" and the Section Leader is now "Team Leader - Section Name"

By changing our roles titles, we can make key leadership roles consistent and reflect the purpose and responsibilities of the role more accurately. 

The Boy Scouts, as it was called in the beginning, was started by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1908 after a successful 'test camp' on Brownsea Island in 1907.

Some 5 years later, Scouting tentatively started in the wider North-Western District of Yorkshire West Riding in 1912. Captain Boyd Carpenter, was the, then, District Commissioner and covered the huge Parliamentary area of Skipton, Keighley, Otley and Ripon. Later it became District No 4 Yorkshire West Riding. 

In 1919 it was decided that a Ripon Local Association should be officially formed in 'Yorkshire North Riding' and was called 'District No 5 - Ripon, Masham and District'. Captain Coates J.P, of Holmfield House, Ripon, was the, then, District Commissioner.

The local Associated was formed on 21st August 1919 by an Inaugural Meeting at which the Bye-Laws were adopted and submitted to Scout Headquarters in London. These facts have been checked out by Peter Ford, a Heritage Research Officer with the Scout Association in our UK Scout HQ at Gilwell Park.

In March 1937, there being insufficient accommodation for all the Groups in the District, the “Temperance Society” kindly lent their Hall on Duck Hill, Ripon for this purpose. After fundraising and Public Subscriptions the Hall was purchased by the District from the Temperance Society. The cost was £400 and a further £310 was spent on alterations and the “Scout Hall” was officially opened in March 1939, by Lord Bolton, President of the North Riding. Unfortunately the War broke out soon afterwards and the Premises were taken over by the Army and later by Fire Watchers. After the War, every Group in the District paid £1 per annum for use of the Troop Rooms!

In 1979 it was decided to sell these premises because it was becoming an “open drain” to Scouting money in the District and most Groups could use Church Halls and Schools as an alternative. After discussions with the Charity Commissioners, the Hall was eventually sold in late 1980 to Mr Leon Smallwood, Photographer,.  Mr Smallwood later changed the use of the Hall and split the building into “small shops” which survive to present day in Duck Hill, Ripon.

In 2014, the adjoining District (Vale of Mowbray District) found itself without a District Commissioner and District Team, so, following Executive Committee and District meetings, it was unanimously decided that the Vale of Mowbray District be permanently disbanded and all 4 of its Scout Groups be transferred and amalgamated with us, Ripon & District, as being the immediately adjoining District.

This brought the number of Groups in the new bigger Ripon & District from FIVE to NINE very active Scout Groups (since this article was written the 1st Bishop Monkton Group has temporarily closed due to lack of adult leaders thus bringing the total number of Groups in the District from NINE down to EIGHT.)