Celebrate Scouting at Bonaly Scout Centre 6 & 7 September 2025

Each day is packed with
fun & entertainment including;

🎡 Fairground and Highland Games

🔫 Laser Tag

🏹 Archery

🧗 High ropes

⚜️ Scouting skills

🎈 Inflatables

💪 Army Assault Course

…and much more!

This is for ALL our young people, their families and adult volunteers.

Come on either day (or both!) everyone is welcome.

Tickets available from 21st April – save the date now and stay tuned

More details below and here https://sesscouts.org.uk/gala-2025 which includes FAQs

Ukraine Day

2 Apr 2025

Nacho Luna Borras

Scouting Support Lead

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Scout Group

In February we welcomed a group of young Ukrainians to Bonaly to give them a taste of the kinds of adventurous activities we get up to in Scouting.

South East Scotland and Scouts Scotland are working together with the AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain) in Edinburgh to establish a Scout group which meets the needs of local young Ukrainian people and their families, the majority of whom arrived in Scotland following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The group of Scout and Explorer aged young people were shown around Bonaly by Co-Warden and Activity Manager Sean Crossan, before settling down to a seriously competitive archery session led by SES Support Officer Nacho Luna Borras and Scouts Scotland Local Growth Officer, Calum Harvie. Also attending were SES Scouting Support Officer Amy Irvine, along with Martin Elliot, Mike Treanor and John Cannon.

After the conclusion of the archery session (a great way to learn how to count in Ukrainian, btw!), we warmed up in the Bonaly bothy and talked about Scouting and to discuss with the young people their hopes for the Group. There was great enthusiasm from the young people – a number had been involved in Scouting in Ukraine – and the team from Scouts Scotland and South East Scotland Region was delighted to answer the many thoughtful questions presented.

Work to establish a Scout Group with the Ukrainian community continues to progress.

Adventurer Dwayne Fields becomes new UK Chief Scout

7 Sep 2024

Kieran Collins

Regional Communications Lead

We’re excited to announce that Dwayne Fields, adventurer and TV presenter, is the UK’s new Chief Scout.

Dwayne’s been appointed as our 11^th Chief Scout to lead our half a million young people and adult volunteers for his values, commitment to help young people, and outstanding leadership qualities. During his time as Chief Scout, Dwayne aims to inspire even more young people and adult volunteers to join from all backgrounds.

Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Volunteer states that “Dwayne already has the respect of thousands of young people and volunteers in Scouts. He’s shown real commitment and kindness to Scouts in communities across the UK. As well as being an inspirational adventurer and TV presenter, he’s able to reach across generations and support Scouts serving more local communities.”

Born in Jamaica, Dwayne came to the UK when he was 6 years old. Growing up in North East London in Stoke Newington, with little access to nature, Scouts offered Dwayne access to the outdoors, new friendships, and opened new horizons.

When he joined as a Cub Scout, Scouts gave him skills, belief in himself and place to belong. Through his determination and support from his Scout volunteer leaders and friends, he set himself on a path to become the first Black Briton to reach the North Pole. He’s passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to explore nature, support their communities and be the best they can be.

The new Chief Scout hopes that “My story will encourage others to join our movement. My volunteer leaders believed in me as a young person and taught me to believe in myself. They showed me I could do anything I put my mind to, and others would help me along the way. Now I want a new generation to learn the skills, friendship and belonging I felt when I needed them most. I want to show that the outdoors is a place for all of us to be at our best, that Scouts is truly open to all.”

Fun facts about Dwayne that you may or may not know

He co-founded the #WeTwo Foundation – aimed at helping young people from underprivileged backgrounds to expand their horizons and find their place in the world.
He’s a seasoned TV host who’s appeared on BBC’s Countryfile, the Disney Channel and many others.
His Channel 5 TV series Endurance: Race to the Pole with Ben Fogle was nominated in the 2024 BAFTA awards.

As our representative on the UK Scout Council, Lead Volunteer for South East Scotland, Martin Elliot shared “I was honoured to support the appointment of Dwayne Fields as our new Chief Scout. As a living example of the power of Scouting to give young people Skills For Life I know that he will be a brilliant ambassador for Scouting and support our ongoing mission to give more young people the opportunities that so positively shaped his life.”

On a mission to recruit volunteers. “I’m calling for more volunteers to step up and make a difference to young people’s lives across the country”. Dwayne’s determined to help recruit new volunteers in every community in the UK. If you’re inspired to support young people and join the adventure find out more.

New Amenity Hub opens at Bonaly Activity Centre

12 May 2024

Bonaly officially opened their new Amenity Hub which has toilets, showers, an accessible toilet and shower, drying room and dishwashing facilities, on 17th April 2024.

At an informal ceremony a small plaque was unveiled by Steve Gamble of the Bonaly Leadership Team and around 40 guests then had tea and cake in the Chalet.

At the opening, John Cannon, Regional Chair and Peter Casebow, Chair Bonaly Scout Centre noted that the new facility was only made possible by the hard work of many people and the funding received from the Regional Trustees and sportscotland Lottery funding.

In particular, the hard work and support of Steve Gamble, Simon Innes, Janet Taylor, Barry Johnston, Sue Timmins and the whole Bonaly Active Support Unit (ASU) team were acknowledged.

Mike Treanor, Volunteer Development Lead also noted the feedback from Scouts and leaders who have already used the facility has been fantastic and the new Amenity Hub along with Ken’s Den really does mean Bonaly Scout Centre has a positive future ahead.