Introducing our four new Deputy UK Youth Commissioners

Empowering young people to take the lead and shape their own programmes is an important part of youth shaped Scouts.

Our aim's to support more young people to work together with volunteers to shape, influence, and lead their own adventures in Scouts.

The role of the new Deputy UK Commissioners will be to work with lead volunteers, UKHQ staff members and Youth Commissioners to make sure young people are at the forefront of our decision making.

Following a successful national search, joining Ayesha on the UK Youth Commissioner team will be:

• Ollie Faragher – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (People)
• Jake Vickery – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Programme)
• Robert Mason – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Youth Commissioner Engagement)
• Izzie Inga – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Perception)

Ahead of their announcement, we caught up with each of them to ask about their Scouts experience so far, and what they’re most looking forward to in their new roles.

Ollie Faragher - Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (People)

Ollie’s role will be to look and find new ways to embed youth shaped Scouts in local and national governance structures and support the projects relating to the volunteer experience.

What's your background in Scouts?

My scouting journey began aged 16 when I joined the Lancing College Minerva Explorer Unit (a school Explorer Unit) in 2020 as one of the first members. Over the last three years I helped develop the unit into a group of over 50 young people, taking on a senior leadership role in the unit and now helping as an adult leader.

Why did you apply for the UKYC team?

It’s really important to me that young people of every age are the leaders of shaping their experience in scouts, and so I want to ensure opportunities and events support young people to champion the direction of scouting.

What are you most excited about for your particular role?

As DUKYC for People, it’s probably unsurprising I’m most excited about… the people! I can’t wait to get out and about and meet as many of the amazing members of the scouting movement as possible and hear everything they have to say about their experience.

What do you do outside Scouts?

In my day job, I work in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as a Support Worker for an inpatient unit. I also volunteer in the youth, safeguarding and freedom to speak up teams within St John Ambulance, as a leader for the DofE, and as a panel member for CORC. In any leftover time, I enjoy scuba diving and climbing for an escape.

Jake Vickery – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Programme)

Jake will help more young people achieve their YouShape Award, improve peer leadership and shine a spotlight on brilliant programme examples happening locally.

What is your background in Scouts?

I started as a Young Leader at my local Beaver colony (8th Widnes) before becoming a member of Aquila Active Support Unit. When I turned 18 I became District Youth Commissioner of Mersey Weaver and a Section Assistant at 8th Widnes. I’m currently the Nominated Youth Representative for Cheshire.

I’ve got real passion for empowering young people to shape their Scouting experience and modernising the image of scouting. I also have a deep commitment to promoting mental health and wellbeing, and have created the 365 Steps of Wellbeing Challenge in Mersey Weaver, an initiative aimed at enabling and encouraging young people in our Scouting community to be happier, more active and more aware of the importance of mental health and wellbeing.

Why did you apply for the UKYC team?

I feel it’s important to give something back and want to help support and enable more young people from across the UK to gain transferable skills. I’m committed to making youth shaped scouting more accessible, allowing more young people to shape and tailor their scouting journeys.

With my experience as a District Youth Commissioner and founder of the 365 steps of wellbeing challenge, I feel I have the experience and passion to facilitate this. 18-24 years of age can be a very busy and sometimes stressful period, I recognise this and I’m committed to providing support and encouragement to volunteers in youth shaped programmes.

What are you most excited about for your particular role?

I’m really looking forward to getting to work on providing programme support for all members, to embed youth shaped scouting into culture by expanding and building on work created by our predecessors. I’m also looking forward to driving youth shape scouting fundamentals and ideas through programme transformations such as 14-24 redesign in the form of Young Leaders, Youth Commissioners and young people.

What do you do outside Scouts?

I’m currently studying for a MChem in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Leicester University and have been an active member of my faculty’s support network. In my spare time I enjoy baking, art, travelling, attending festivals and meeting up with friends and family.

Robert Mason – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Youth Commissioner Engagement)

Robert will focus on the growing number of Youth Commissioners locally, improving the support they get. He’ll look at how we can improve Youth Commissioner Recruitment, training and inductions.

What is your background in Scouts?

I have been in Scouts for 14 years since joining as a Beaver back in 2009. As I progressed through the Sections I found tonnes of opportunity within the movement that allowed me to explore a variety of different passions. I first started taking on roles in the Scout section where I helped out in the younger sections as a Young Leader and found a real passion for helping others. I continued as a Young Leader throughout my time in Explorers and I really enjoyed it.

I took on the role of District Youth Commissioner (DYCs) for Rossendale in 2019 at the age of 17 and established one of the first District Youth Teams in the UK and I am very proud of the work we achieved during my time in the role. In 2022, I decided to take on the role as County Youth Commissioner for East Lancashire which opened my eyes to a whole different level to scouting, being able to support the DYCS and give guidance and experience on overcoming challenges is one if the highlights of my role. Being part of various sub-committees and execs within the county has provided me with key skills and experience that helps in all aspects of my life.

Why did you apply for the UKYC team?

Being part of the team not only allows me to further develop my skills but also gives me a platform to follow my passion and help inspire our young people. Having the opportunity to represent our young people on a national scale is incredible, from being a Youth Commissioner collecting the views of young people locally to acting on the views of our young people nationally is one of the main reasons I applied for the role. This progression throughout the Youth Commissioner roles has been incredible and the UK Youth Commissioner team was the next step in achieving my dream.

What are you most excited about for your particular role?

I am really excited that I get the opportunity to speak to some of our fantastic Youth Commissioners from all over the UK. As Deputy UK Youth Commissioner for Youth Commissioner Engagement I will be looking at how we support our Youth Commissioners through being the key contact for them in their role. Having this opportunity to share ideas across the UK and act on the views and thoughts of our young people is a very exciting part of the role.

What do you do outside Scouts?

Outside of Scouts, I am a 3rd year Philosophy, Politics and Economics student at Lancaster University and am looking to complete a Masters in Politics and Philosophy next year. Alongside my studies I am captain for one of the Universities pool teams and a member of the Society Executive Committee, pool has taken me across the UK to compete and is a brilliant hobby to have.

Izzie Inga – Deputy UK Youth Commissioner (Perception)

In her role, Izzie will put young people at the heart of our internal and external communications. She’ll support young people to engage in media and public affairs opportunities, our social media channels and other projects to help improve our perception.

What is your background in Scouts?

I started my journey as a Beaver at 1st Chesham Bois scout group at the age of 6, before moving up through all the Sections and becoming a Young Leader for my old Beaver Colony at the age of 14. I was selected the 24th World Scout Jamboree in 2019 as a participant in Unit 50 Bucks, where I was the Unit’s Head of Welfare. Just after turning 19, I was appointed County Youth Commissioner in Buckinghamshire, and have been in the role for two years.

I’m also a part of the 18-25 National Role Pool. Since living in Leeds for the past year and a half, I have been involved in a number of activities and events with Central Yorkshire Scouts, and I’m looking forward to getting involved with Scouting in Bristol when I move there next year. I was also selected to volunteer for Operation Feather, working the night shifts for the Lying-in-State last September.

Why did you apply for the UKYC team?

After such a positive and life changing experience throughout my own journey, I feel it’s only right to give back to adult volunteers, and support the development of Scouting over coming years so every young person has the opportunity to have as many, if not more amazing experiences as she has with Scouts.

I’m committed to making Youth Shaped Scouting the normal, as well as improving on the already extremely positive perception of Scouts outside of the movement. With my experience as County Youth Commissioner, and my involvement with Leeds Student Radio, and other media channels, I have the facilities to not only support young people with responsibilities in Scouts, but to support the development of youth shaped Scouting nationwide from a number of perspectives.

What are you most excited about for your particular role?

I’m really excited to work with the Perception team supporting the national and international Scouting events taking place this year. I’m also looking forward to the Youth Advocacy work with the Policy team, and the development and youth insight I can give to the Young Spokesperson training. I’m also really excited to embark on a Youth Commissioner directed social media and communication strategy across a number of platforms to support youth shaped Scouting nationally, as well as other Youth Commissioners on a local level. 

What do you do outside Scouts?

Outside of Scouting, I studied Fine Art at the University of Leeds, but have changed direction and now I’m about to start a Paramedic Science degree at the University of West England in Bristol. I’m a very creative person, who plays the flute and enjoys tattooing and travelling.

I’ve been an active member of Leeds Student Radio, a multi-award winning station, where I’m Head of Design. I have my own specialist music show, feature on a number of other talk shows, and have a podcast with my best friends called ‘Miffed Off’. 

What next?

Over the next few years, young people and volunteers across the country will hear from the UK Youth Commissioner team on a number of different issues and projects as we truly support young people to take the lead and shape their own Scouts experiences.