A SURGE in scout numbers in Cumbria is helping to cement the organisation’s position as the largest youth move-ment in the country.

The county has the highest growth rate in the North West in the past year with figures showing 254 new Scouts signed up - a 6.9 per cent rise.

In the North West, there are now 57,000 members, 3,975 of them in Cumbria.

Scouting in the South West Lakes region has soared 15 per cent, is up 10.17 per cent in Kentdale and has jumped 2.23 per cent in Eden.

And female membership continues growing with numbers up 12.2 per cent, a leap of 422 per cent since 2001.

Graham White, who leads scouting in Cum-bria, said: “The continued growth of scouting in Cumbria and the UK is a testament to our adult volunteers who are prov-iding fun, adventure and challenge to our young people.”

Leaders described the county’s scout expansion – the seventh consecutive year of growth – as ‘imp-ressive’ and said this had helped secure scouting’s place as the largest co-educational youth move-ment in the country.

Total UK membership now stands at 525,327, the highest this century.

A large part of the growth is down to the number of 14-to-18-year-olds, known as Explorer Scouts, who have signed up, a 13.3 per cent jump.

Many of these have also become Young Leaders and work with younger members of the move-ment, such as beavers and cubs.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “More and more young people are realising that Scouting offers them so much – whether it’s the opportunity to go on a big international adventure or the chance to learn and hone vital life skills.

“I am also excited to see so many young people in Cumbria have committed their time to give back as Young Leaders.”

To find out more about getting involved in sco-uting, visit the website www.scouts.org/volunteer or contact the County Scout Office on 0845-094-6059.