Lack of volunteer leaders places historic scout group at risk of closure

The well-attended group for boys and girls aged 10 to 14 in the Adel, Leeds, is temporarily not meeting, because there is no-one to take the weekly sessions at Adel Methodist Church hall. The north Leeds church also runs successful beavers and cubs groups, which have waiting lists for newcomers.

Group scout leader Kim Brompton has been involved with scouting and the group since 1955 and now two of his own grandsons attend.

He said: “We have a desperate shortage of enthusiastic people to lead the group.

“We are now asking freshers attending the city’s universities, as it is great experience of working with young people for a variety of professional jobs.

“If we do not find any suitable leaders, then sadly the pack will
be forced to close, leaving 24 young people without their scout group.

“We have not re-started in September as planned and the group is currently on hold to see what the future holds. It is a real shame, as the group has been running since 1955.”

He said in the past he had recruited members of his own family to fulfil roles in an emergency, but he said it was becoming increasingly difficult to attract the right kind of helpers.

The scout group goes caving, mountaineering and camping trips as well as working for
badges.

Mr Brompton, who joined at the age of eight, was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Scout Award as a teenager.

He said the right volunteer would be vetted and would be expected to give up 90 minutes for a weekly session in school term-time plus occasional activity events such as trips out.

For more details, contact Mr Brompton on 0775 9037603.