UK Scouting has appointed David Hamilton as its new director of communications. Hamilton joins the organisation from Action for Children, where he has led the public relations and engagement team for nearly five years. He will form part of UK Scouting’s senior leadership team when he takes up his new post in mid May 2015.

Hamilton will oversee all of the Movement’s UK communications activities, including media relations, brand development, internal and volunteer communications. Alongside a 26-strong communications team, he will focus on executing the Scouts’ new strategic plan for 2014-18 and on showcasing the Movement’s mission to transform young lives through Scouting.

As head of public relations at Action for Children, Hamilton coordinated the charity's communications and engagement with key audiences across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and oversaw all internal communications activity, engaging thousands of members of staff and volunteers in their 650 services across the UK.

The appointment follows nine years of consecutive membership growth within the UK Scout Association. It aims to attract even more young people from across all sections of the UK population while ensuring that scouting has a positive impact on those young people and the communities in which they live, study and work.

Hamilton says, “I'm really excited to be joining the Scout Association, which equips so many young people with the skills they need to succeed in life. There's never been a more important time to get more children and adult volunteers involved in a Movement that promises huge amounts of fun and adventure, as well as character-building opportunities. I believe my experiences at Action for Children and within local government will help the Scout Association to achieve its 2018 vision to make a real social impact on the communities and young people that it serves, and I look forward to working with the talented team there as we drive further growth within the Movement.”

Matt Hyde, CEO of the Scout Association, says, “I am delighted to welcome David to the team today. He brings with him unique qualities and experience from Action on Children which will be a significant boost to our communications activities. I am certain he will play a huge part in enabling more young people to experience the life changing adventure that Scouting offers, and showcasing the crucial role that Scouting plays in society to a wide range of new audiences. I look forward to working with him at the start of this new and exciting chapter.”