Chief scout Dwayne Fields says group saved him after shooting

Homelessness is something Dwayne knows all about. His mother told him, aged 20, to find his own place to live.

On one occasion, he slept overnight on a parked train in a depot when a driver found him in the early hours of the morning.

After the initial shock and making sure Dwayne was alright, the pair began to chat.

At one point the driver showed him a ring and told him: “For it to be beautiful it had to be burned and battered and bent into shape – maybe that’s what you’re going through.”

It turned out to be the last night Dwayne slept rough. He is now married and has four children. “Kindness is something that’s free,” he told us.

He says that attitude underpins the atmosphere at scouting groups.

He also rejected the idea that Scouts has “gone woke”. Some have criticised the organisation for offering an activity that can be used by groups to teach children about preferred pronouns. Scouts say their groups are welcome to all youngsters.

“Scouting reflects society,” said Dwayne. “If there’s a young person who says, ‘I don’t know if I am comfortable calling myself a boy or a girl’ – what does it matter?

“We’re there for the same reasons: to have fun, make friends, learn, develop skills and develop confidence.”

He added: “My oldest friend in the world is someone I met at Scouts when I was seven years old. He’s still one of my best friends to this day. That’s what I know about scouting.”