Meet the Team

Meet your County Youth Team! Here, you can find information about our County Youth Leads and your local District Youth Leads!

County

Josh Netherton – County Youth Lead

Hi there, my name is Josh! I am the County Youth Lead for Gloucestershire. Having lived abroad, I have been lucky enough to experience Scouting in different countries and have been involved since I was a Cub Scout. Working my way through each age group, my passion for the movement has only ever grown, and along with this role, I am also an ASL for my local Scout group. What drives me the most is how passionate the people involved in Scouting are, especially remembering that we are all volunteers!

Outside of Scouting, I enjoy mountain biking, paddleboarding, and computers. I am a Cyber Security Degree Apprentice and love to get hands-on when I am learning.

Scouting is known as a movement because it was created with the knowledge that it would have to change with the times and that it has. People assume that our job as Youth Leads is to relate to the young people. Still, I feel that our job is to connect to the adults more, who give up their free time to help make this movement possible and ensure that the fantastic programs they design fit with the ever-growing minds of our young people.

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Brooke Martin – Deputy County Youth Lead

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Hannah Paveley – Deputy County Youth Lead

Hi, I’m Hannah! I am one of the Deputy County Youth Leads along with Brooke. I joined Scouting as a Beaver and have worked my way up through all the sections, as well as giving back as both a Young Leader and Section Assistant with 1st Innsworth Beavers. I also am a Beaver and Scout leader in Birmingham.

Outside of Scouting, I am at university studying Maths and Computer Science in Birmingham and enjoy hiking, pub quizzing and crafting.

I believe that young people are forefront of the future of the Scouting movement and youth shaped Scouting plays a huge role in this. From a Squirrel helping to run their own game to an Explorer helping to run a night away it’s important that we encourage responsibility and involvement at all ages.

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Districts

Archey Barrell – Forest of Dean

Hello! I’m Archey, and I’m one of the District Youth Leads from the Forest of Dean. I have been through all of the sections, starting with Beavers all the way to Explorers and Young Leaders.

Aside from Scouts, I’m currently in university studying computer science within the beautiful city of Bath. My other hobbies are photography and offroad motorsport, but generally I just enjoy spending time outdoors.

Without a doubt, young people are the future of the Scouting movement. This is why I love seeing young people being able to shape their Scouting, whether it’s Beavers getting involved with planning their weekly programme, or Explorers having the chance to share their voice at AGMs.

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Archey

Lily Hough – Forest of Dean

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Lily

Hettie Smith – Forest of Dean

Hi, I’m Hettie!

I’m Deputy District Youth Commissioner for the Forest of Dean.
 
I joined scouting as a Beaver, and have moved through all sections, obtaining every chief Scouts award from bronze through to diamond, and am currently completing my Kings Scout award.
 
I was a participant at the 24th World Scout Jamboree to America and Canada, which changed my world! I was also selected, as one of 100 Scout Network members, to represent the Forest of Dean, and Gloucestershire, to carry out my final duty to HM the Queen at her Lying in State and Funeral. For which I was then invited to Windsor as a thanks for my service.
 
As well as being DDYC FoD, I’m Section Leader of a Cub group in Bath, where I’m at university, studying Modern Languages (French and Spanish). Being able to be in both of these roles makes my week, every week. Being able to see what the young people of today can do, with the skills we’re giving them, is so rewarding.
 
Scouting has absolutely changed my world and has provided me with experiences that I will never forget; this is what drives the passion I have for Youth Shaped Scouting.
 
I believe young people are the centre of everything we do as a movement. I’m passionate about sharing their views, making sure they are heard, and having the best experiences along the way. It’s our job to shape lives and give young people the skills to be able to change the world!

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Connie Plant – Gloucester

Hi, I’m Connie! I have recently been appointed as District Youth Lead for Gloucester. I joined scouting as a cub and moved through the sections as a participant at 11th Gloucester. I began helping as a young leader at Hucclecote cubs in 2011 before becoming a section assistant.

When I went to university, I continued my Scouting, helping with a cub pack in Bristol for three years. Now I am back home and looking forward to working as part of the district team to grow and develop scouting in Gloucester.

I am looking forward to meeting you and your young people at section meetings and district events. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email with what your sections are up to.

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Natalie Hayward – Gloucester

 

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Sam Gilchrist – Tewkesbury

Hi, I am Sam! I have been the Youth Lead in my district since 2019. I have been Scouting since I was a Beaver and have been through all the sections as well as being a Young Leader with Haberpaka ESU. I have also been a Scout leader since 2018.

Outside of Scouting I work as an Electronics Engineer for an Aerospace company, whilst working towards my degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering.

I believe that Youth Shaped Scouting should be at the centre of all that we plan and do. First and foremost we are all in Scouting for the young people so their ideas are what we need to keep them interested in Scouting to allow us to broaden their horizons.

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Alistair Smith – Cotswold Vale

Hi there, I’m Alistair. I’m 19 years old and I’ve been part of Cotswold Vale Scouting since I was 5. 

I’m very grateful for the unique experiences Scouting has brought me, and I am passionate about making sure the next generations get to enjoy and learn from them too.

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Rhys Herschell-Burns – Stroud & Tetbury

Hi, I’m Rhys. I am Stroud and Tetbury’s District Youth Lead. I joined scouting as a beaver and have worked my way through the sections to my other roles as an Explorer Scout Leader and Assistant Scout Leader within the group I started in.

Outside of scouting I have gained my Bioveterinary Science degree from Hartpury University. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, shooting, water sports and just being outside.  

I believe youth-shaped scouting is the most important part of scouting. Ensuring that young people play an active role in determining the future of scouting is at the forefront of what we do. Making sure they have the ability to decide what they do is important. I hope to enable the young people to experience the joy and opportunities that I have been so fortunate to have through scouting by supporting both the young people and the adult volunteers that make it all possible


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Dave Cronk – Cheltenham

Hi, I’m Dave Cronk the district youth lead for Cheltenham. I have officially been in scouting since I was 6, I went through all the sections from beavers to explorers and I am now 18 and a network member. Over the years I have seen how scouting has influenced and developed many young people like myself. So now, I am helping to provide a youth-led programme for young people so that the next generation has the same opportunities that I had.
 

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Vacancies:

These are the Districts which currently do not have a District Youth Lead. Please contact the DC for more information.

Cotswold