I am a Group Lead Volunteer for a large Scout group in Aylesbury. My role is a varied one—it involves supporting leaders to carry out their roles safely and in line with Scouts’ Policy, Organisation and Rules, ensuring we follow charity governance, and managing our group’s building as part of my responsibilities as a trustee. Alongside this, I also lead a very active fundraising team that organises and runs projects throughout the year. No two weeks are ever the same, and that’s part of what makes the role so rewarding.
I first became involved in 2006, when my eldest son’s Cub pack was struggling for help. I wanted to feel useful and step in to support the leaders who were already doing so much. A couple of years later, I was asked to help at my other son’s Beaver group. Just a few weeks after I joined, the leader left, and I found myself stepping into the Leader role—something I then continued for the next thirteen years.
Scouting has given me incredible opportunities along the way. In 2019, I was lucky enough to be part of the International Service Team at the World Scout Jamboree in America. Even now, I sometimes have to pinch myself that I was there, part of something so global, so inspiring. In 2022, I was also due to be part of the International Service Team at the World Scout Moot in Ireland, but sadly that event was cancelled. That same year, I focused my energy on setting up the first Squirrel Drey in my district, which I’ve led on and off since then. In 2023, I became Deputy Group Scout Leader, supporting sections and especially new leaders, mentoring them as they settled into their roles. Then, in 2024, I took on my current role as Group Lead Volunteer, supporting the whole group to develop and grow. I also joined the County Volunteer Development Team that year, helping with recruitment and supporting leaders across the wider Scouting network.
My motivation to continue volunteering comes from the satisfaction of seeing both young people and adults develop. There’s something so powerful about feeling you’ve made a difference, whether it’s encouraging a child to try an activity for the first time, or watching a new leader grow in confidence as they run their first event. Over time, my reasons for volunteering have broadened. While it started with a focus on supporting young people, I now get huge satisfaction from mentoring and supporting other adults too. That has become a big part of my role, and one I enjoy immensely.
Personally, I feel a strong sense of purpose in knowing that what I do matters—not just for me, but for the community around us. Scouting gives young people skills and experiences that ripple outward. They, in turn, make a difference in their communities, and that makes me feel proud.
Through Scouting, I’ve built lasting connections with my community. I’ve developed strong relationships with groups like The Aylesbury Wombles and Aylesbury Town Council, leading joint projects and finding ways to support each other. It’s created a network of people who know they can reach out to me and that I’ll be open to working together. Volunteering has made me a part of something bigger than myself—it has placed me at the heart of a community of shared purpose.
Some of my strongest personal connections have come through Scouting too. During the build-up to the World Scout Jamboree, I met friends who became a huge source of support, not just before and during the event but long after it ended. These are friendships that have endured because we shared something so unique and challenging together.
Volunteering has also become an important part of my identity within my family. They see it as a core part of who I am, and they feel proud that, despite personal challenges, Scouting has given me the chance to continue making a positive contribution to society.
Of course, there have been challenges along the way. One of the hardest lessons has been realising that not everyone you encounter will be as straightforward or as honest as you’d hope. That can be difficult, but I’ve learned to remind myself that those people are a minority. The vast majority of people I’ve met through Scouting have been absolutely fantastic—generous, kind, and supportive. It’s the good people that make the role worthwhile.
The most rewarding part of volunteering for me has been seeing people grow—whether it’s a child becoming more confident as they master a new skill or a leader running their first investiture and taking pride in what they’ve achieved. Being part of those journeys, and knowing you’ve played a role in supporting someone to develop, is a privilege.
Volunteering has also changed me as a person. It has given me confidence, purpose, structure, and opportunities I would never have had otherwise. I’ve developed my leadership and mentoring skills in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and I now see myself as someone who can help others to unlock their own potential.
Looking to the future, I want to continue in my Group Lead Volunteer role, extending my skills to support our team as they learn and grow. I would also love to take part in more international activities, which have been some of the most memorable highlights of my journey so far. More than anything, I hope to stay in Scouting for many years to come, adapting as the movement evolves and finding new ways to contribute.
My advice to anyone considering becoming a volunteer is simple: do it. You have nothing to lose. People often don’t realise just how much they will get out of volunteering themselves until they start. Time and again, I’ve spoken to new volunteers who began by helping their child’s section and who were amazed at how much they enjoyed it, how much they learned, and how much they gained. That’s the beauty of Scouting—you go in thinking you’re giving your time, and you come out realising you’ve been given something priceless in return.
