County Team

Scouting across Berkshire is supported by an extended network of volunteer managers. Information about their responsibilities is included below.

If you would like to find out about volunteering with a Scout Group or Unit, please visit this page:
Register interest in volunteering

If you would like to find out about your child joining a Scout Group or Unit, please visit this page:
Join our youth programme

If you are unsure who to contact in the first instance, feel free to contact the County Administrator who will be able to direct your enquiry:
County Administrator – Karen Thurlow

If your enquiry relates to the website, sub-hosted websites, emails, or other IT questions please raise a ticket with the IT Team Help Desk

County Leadership Team

The County Leadership Team leads and inspires volunteers to give young people great experiences and skills for life. They make sure their County teams are organised, have enough volunteers, and can deliver a great programme.

Nigel Bevan, County Lead Volunteer. Nigel is the lead volunteer for Scouting in Berkshire. He sets the strategic vision and direction for our work by leading the County Team and the District Lead Volunteers.
County Lead Volunteer – Nigel Bevan

Simon Pickett, Programme Team Leader. Simon leads the support teams for our youth programme. Simon and his team provide support to help volunteers in Sections to deliver high quality programmes to young people.
Contact Simon Pickett

Megan Currie, Volunteering Development Team Leader. Megan is leading our County Volunteering Development Team. She liaises with District Volunteering Development Team Leaders to support their work for the joining journey, learning, recognition, and other areas of support.
Contact Megan Currie

Pete Jeffreys, Support Team Leader. Pete leads our work on growth and development, marketing and communications. He line manages our Volunteering Development Officer, and is also our County Transformation Lead.
Contact Pete Jeffreys

County Youth Leads. Youth Commissioners are a key advocate for the involvement of young people’s voices to shape Scouting across Berkshire. They work closely with the County Team to ensure our activities are youth shaped, and work with District Lead Volunteers to appoint and support District Youth Leads. Contact Conor Chippendale, Raul Hira & Xavier Davis

Mick Stocks. Mick provides wide-ranging advice and support to the County Team on a range of projects. He also line manages our County Administrator.
Contact Mick Stocks

Ian Aitken, Chair of Trustees. Ian leads the County Trustee Board in managing the finance, reputation and risk of the organisation.
Contact Ian Aitken

Inclusion Sub-Team. Wren leads support for inclusion initiatives, and providing support and sign-posting to Groups and Districts to be as inclusive as possible. Contact Wren Wood.

County Office Staff

Karen Thurlow, County Administrator (CA). Karen is responsible for coordinating a wide range of activities including First Response training and Activity Permits. Karen leads on the production of our regular email newsletters to adult members and is Manager of the County Office.
Contact Karen Thurlow

Becky Eytle, Volunteering Development Officer (VDO). Becky leads a number of projects aimed at improving the experience of our adult volunteers. She is currently focused on the Induction Process, and VDL Induction. Becky also works proactively to advertise volunteer vacancies and handle enquiries from prospective volunteers.
Contact Becky Eytle

Carly Brims and Kelly Fricker, Local Development Officers (LDOs): Carly and Kelly work with Districts and Groups to grow the number of young people in Scouting. This is through helping to recruit into existing Sections, as well as opening new provision.
Contact Carly Brims and Kelly Fricker

County Programme Team

The County Programme Team oversees and supports the delivery of quality programmes for young people. This includes promoting and supporting Top Awards, and supporting Section programmes when activities or events are best done at County scale.

Simon Pickett, Programme Team Leader Contact Simon Pickett.

Project Africa sub-team. We organise international community projects, initially with Uganda and more recently with Malawi. Contact Mick Stocks
Top Awards sub-team. We support Districts and Groups in helping many more young people to achieve their Top Awards. Contact Andrew Sutherland
Events sub-team. We organise large-scale events to support high quality programmes for Sections. Contact Kirsty Aldridge
Alps 25 sub-team. We are organising an adventuruous activities trip for Explorers and Scout Network in the summer of 2024. Contact Phill Wood
Activities sub-team. We support volunteers to include adventurous activities as a part of their programme, by operating the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme. Contact Bob Meldrum
Visits Abroad Recommender. Ian leads our support for international projects such as World Scout Jamborees, Malawi 2024, and WINGS. He is also active in supporting Sections and Group to go abroad as part of their programme. He line manages our Local Development Officers. Contact Ian May

County Volunteering Development Team

The County Volunteering Development Team makes sure all volunteers in their County have a fantastic volunteering experience. They make it easy for people to join and learn new skills.

Megan Currie, Volunteering Development Team Leader. Contact Megan Currie

Awards sub-team. We lead the county’s work in recognising volunteers through the formal Scouts awards for good service. The team support Districts to do the same. Contact Mick Stocks
Learning sub-team. We lead the legacy adult training team who manage, support and deliver training courses to adults across Berkshire. Contact Frank Cselik
Legacy Adult Training sub-team. We lead the legacy adult training team who manage, support and deliver training courses to adults across Berkshire.
Contact Frank Cselik
First Response sub-team. We provide First Response training to volunteers across Berkshire. The team of First Reponse Trainers sets a schedule of courses, and is responsive to Groups and Districts who need additional courses scheduled to meet demand. Contact Karen Thurlow

County Support Team

The County Support Team gives tools and resources to help Scouts run smoothly in their County.

Pete Jeffreys, Support Team Leader. Contact Pete Jeffreys

Safety sub-team. The Safety team has a wide-range of advisory members with professional experience in many areas. It also provides a free PAT testing service to Groups and Districts. Contact Moya Taylor
IT support. We provide free website hosting to Groups and Districts, as well as support in setting up and managing Microsoft365 or Google Workspace arrangements. Contact the IT team
Local Media Relations Lead. Chris leads our external and internal communications work, including liaising with local media outlets. Contact Chris Hughes

County Trustee Board

The Trustee Board is a team of volunteers who work together, as charity trustees, to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally. At the heart of their role is a focus on strategy, performance and assurance. Effective Trustee Board governance helps our volunteers deliver fantastic programmes that give young people skills for life.

Ian Aitken, Chair of Trustees. Ian leads the County Trustee Board in managing the finance, reputation and risk of the organisation. Contact Ian Aitken
Karan Mehra, County Treasurer. Karan manages and monitors all aspects of county finances. Karan is supported by a Finance & Risk sub-committee.
Ex-officio members
County Lead Volunteer – Nigel Bevan
County Youth Lead – Conor Chippendale
Elected members
Robin Kent, Ian May & Andy Williamson
Nominated members:
Megan Currie, Stuart Ford & Simon Pickett
Co-opted members
Moya Taylor (Team Leader, Safety Sub-Team)