A Bexley woman has made history by being appointed the first ever Scout Association UK youth commissioner.

Hannah Kentish, aged 21, of Near Wickham Lane, has been appointed as the association's first UK youth commissioner and will sit on the national leadership with the UK chief commissioner, the CEO of the Scout Association and chairman as a spokesperson for younger scouts.

Miss Kentish joined The Scout Association’s county team in Greater London South East (GLSE) aged just 16, becoming its youngest ever Explorer Scout chairperson and is currently working towards her Queen’s Scout award - the highest award available in Scouting.

The new UK youth commissioner said: "I think Scouting can be summed up in one word: Opportunity. Scouting provides over 450,000 young people across the UK with the opportunity for everyday adventure, and even if they don’t know it yet, it will change their lives forever.

"It certainly changed mine; giving me confidence I never knew I had. Over the next three years I look forward to working to give even more young Scouts, from a wider range of backgrounds, the opportunity to be heard and, ultimately, to experience Scouting to the fullest.

"It is such an honour to have been appointed as UK youth commissioner and I can’t wait to the rest of the national leadership team."

Chief Scout Bear Grylls added: "I’m so proud to welcome Hannah Kentish on board our senior leadership team.

"She brings amazing enthusiasm, rich experience and positive energy to our work in changing young people’s lives in all communities across the UK.

"We’re 100 per cent committed to making sure everything we do is shaped by young people - and Hannah is there to lead and steer that."