London Mayor Boris Johnson has called on 3,000 more adults to volunteer with youth groups so more young people can enjoy the opportunities offered by youth groups such as the Scouts and Guides.

Mr Johnson dropped in at the Docklands Scout Project in Canary Wharf which is the UK’s only permanently moored campsite in the UK to highlight the opportunities to help out with London’s Uniformed Youth Organisations (You London) so that the 7,000 young people who are on waiting lists for youth groups including the Scouts and Volunteer Police Cadets.

He visited the Lord Amory to find out about the positive effects youth organisations has on both the adults and children involved and met leaders and young people at the base off Manchester Road, on the Isle of Dogs.

The Lord Amory 150 foot former North Sea pilot vessel the Lord Amory is used as a base for Scouts trying out watersports including sailing, kayaking and rowing.

The Mayor wants more young people from all backgrounds to have access to the activities and highly structured learning that uniformed groups offer. Research shows that youngsters who are part of uniformed groups are less likely be bullied or to get bored and are more likely to want to make a difference in the world, compared to those who are not involved in any activity.

Mr Johnson said: “Uniformed groups are a fantastic way for youngsters to have fun, make friends and learn new skills. It’s also a great opportunity for volunteers to get involved with their local community and really make a difference to the lives of young people. The wonderful people who give up their time to become leaders are the lifeblood of these groups and we desperately need more volunteers to enable thousands more youngsters to fulfil their dreams of becoming a Scout, Guide, Cadet or Brownie.

“I would urge any Londoner who has a hankering to do something different and want to challenge themselves in a new way to sign up and become a YOU London leader.”