UK Chief Volunteer
Carl Hankinson
As UK Chief Volunteer, Carl heads up the UK Leadership Team – a group of volunteers who provide leadership and management across UK Scouts, along with specialised support in areas like programme, adult support and safety.
Carl Hankinson has volunteered with Scouts for over 30 years and has held a variety of local roles, including County Commissioner and County Chair. He’s had various programme roles across Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, which have given him an exceptional understanding of the hard work and dedication it takes to run Scouts locally.
Carl has also held a number of UK volunteer roles including being part of a Programme Support Team, as UK Contingent Leader to the 12th World Scout Moot, and chairing the Operations Committee as a member of the Board of Trustees. Most recently, before his role as UK Chief Volunteer, he was the lead volunteer for the early work to transform our volunteer experience.
As UK Chief Volunteer, Carl heads up the UK Leadership Team – a group of volunteers who provide leadership and support across Scouts in the UK.
Carl started as UK Chief Volunteer in 2021, and over the past five years has led our organisation through a period of significant change, including our post-Covid recover, our response to the Prevention of Future Deaths notice, and the launch of our new strategic plan. In early-2026, the UK Board of Trustees renewed Carl's appointment for a further five-year term, where Carl will continue to lead with energy and positivity, and his clear focus to better support our adult volunteers so we can reach even more young people.
In his professional life, Carl works in commercial banking with NatWest.
