Dwayne Fields: chief scout replacing Bear Grylls helped after stabbing

The new chief scout of the UK has praised the organization for giving him a sense of belonging after he experienced a stabbing and a shooting attempt in his youth.

Adventurer and TV host Dwayne Fields, 41, revealed on the BBC's Today Programme that being part of the Scouts kept him from going down the wrong path in life.

Mr. Fields, the initial black Briton to reach the North Pole, expressed his desire to demonstrate during his time in office that Scouts is a welcoming community for everyone, regardless of background.

He also mentioned that he was concerned that many old-fashioned outdoor abilities are in danger of disappearing and he expressed his desire to see an increase in membership to the organization.

Mr. Fields shared with the BBC that he grew up in a rough area of London, where violence and theft were everyday occurrences.

"I was attacked on the street, I was a target of violence, I had never intended to harm anyone with a knife, I had never carried any weapons with harmful intentions, and I was stabbed simply because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he explained.

Mr Fields was born in Jamaica and moved to the UK when he was six years old. He spent his childhood in east and north London.

Reports say that he was attacked with a knife two times when he was 19 years old, following a fight outside a club.

When he was 21 years old, he experienced a life-threatening situation where someone aimed a gun at him, but luckily he survived because the gun malfunctioned.

Mr Fields went to his first Scouts gathering in Palmers Green, a part of north London, when he was seven years old. He expressed, "I never felt like I fit in anywhere until the instant I stepped into that small building."

In 2010, he embarked on a journey to the North Pole and has since appeared on shows for Channel 5, Disney+ and National Geographic.

"I am truly honored to have been chosen as chief scout, it means a lot to me," he expressed.

Many groups and communities may still believe that scouting is not meant for them. I hope that they see me and realize that we have similarities - we grew up in the same place, we look alike. If scouting is suitable for him, then it's suitable for me too.

In a 2012 article for the BBC, Mr Fields expressed his desire to motivate urban teenagers to explore rural areas in order to broaden their horizons and tap into their capabilities.

"He expressed that being in the rural areas exposes you to a new lifestyle," he stated.

Living in the wilderness offers a respite from the chaos and expectations of society. In order to thrive in this environment, collaboration and cooperation with others are essential.

These types of abilities - along with others - could greatly influence teenagers' perspective on life.

Mr. Fields will take over from Bear Grylls, who has been in the position since 2009.

Established in 1907 by Lord Baden-Powell, the Scout organization currently boasts a membership exceeding 500,000 individuals, including both young members and adult volunteers.

The main scout is chosen to serve a five-year period but has the option to continue for an extended time. Mr. Fields is the 11th individual to be appointed as chief scout.

He mentioned that he also planned to dedicate his time in the position to concentrate on "expansion and recruiting additional volunteers".

He said that by encouraging more young people to spend time outside and be active in nature, they will come to value and protect it for the future.

Carl Hankinson, head volunteer of the Scouts in the UK, expressed his enthusiasm in having Dwayne Fields take on the role of chief scout.

"He advocates for the feeling of being a part of something that Scouts provides to young individuals. He has the ability to connect with people of all ages and continue to extend his influence to all communities."