Friend makes Scouting history

Quaker becomes first female chair of The Scout Association

Ann Limb. | Photo: Courtesy of The Scout Association.

Ann Limb, of Milton Keynes Meeting, has been elected chair of The Scout Association UK.

She is the first woman to hold the post and is responsible, with the trustees and chief executive, for the strategic oversight of the organisation, with legal and financial accountability for its policies and activities. Ann is also responsible for the stewardship, scrutiny and safeguarding of the association’s membership, which is made up of some 547,897 adults and young people throughout the UK.

Ann told the Friend: ‘At the heart of the Scout movement is a belief in “being prepared for everyday fun and adventure” and, as a Quaker, “living adventurously” characterises my own attitude to life – so there’s a natural synergy of core purpose between Scouts and me.’

‘The Scout values of respect, integrity, cooperation, care and exploring beliefs, attitudes and faiths align easily with my own Quaker values and our Quaker testimonies. Both Scouts and Quakers also share a focus on practical social action and concern for others and the environment.’

She added: ‘I’ve been involved in Quaker social action both locally and nationally for over twenty years now and so, for me, this wonderful opportunity to lead the Scout Association is simply another a way of putting my Quaker beliefs into action – and offering my life skills and experience as an adult volunteer to a movement that, as a Brownie and Guide, profoundly changed my own life!’

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