And among them at last week’s ceremony were three Scouts from Alton – Christopher Hughes, 18, Luke Gavin, 19, and Lizzie Harvey, 24.
The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest goal in Scouting and is gained for outstanding personal achievement. The young people, aged between 16 and 25, must contour a range of challenges, from making an impact in their community to completing an adventurous expedition and from undertaking a five-day residential project in an unfamiliar environment to learning a new skill or developing an existing talent.
Lizzie was one of more than 650 new Queen’s Scouts receiving her award.
She said: “Gaining my Queen’s Scout Award has been not only a great personal achievement but also a personal adventure. It was a challenge to fit my professional life around my award, but Scouting was flexible in allowing me to get the balance right. I had the opportunity to make new friends when I trekked Dartmoor for my expedition, the chance to travel abroad and make a difference teaching youth empowerment in North Africa, and had so much fun volunteering with my local Scouts that I have continued to do so.”
And she added: “Steve Backshall high-fived me!”
Others spoke about working toward the award as “a fun and life-changing experience”.
Fellow Hampshire Scout Laura Betterbridge, 18, from Fleet, whose biggest highlight was waterfall jumping in Mexico, said: “Learning to keep focused and organised showed me that goals are achievable.”
In encouraging others to “give Scouting a go”, Alix Nicholas, 17, from Fareham, said: “Travelling to Uganda allowed me to experience a new culture while helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. The challenge has inspired me to volunteer aboard again.”
Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “All these young people have lived the adventure of a lifetime to achieve their Queen’s Scout Awards, and I admire that spirit so much. They are huge inspirations to over half a million Scouts in the UK and I am so pleased that Scouting has honoured them. They are truly amazing.”
The annual Windsor Castle event has been held regularly since 1934 on the Sunday closest to St George’s Day (April 23), St George is the patron saint of Scouting, because of his faith and courage in the presence of a difficulty, including that of a dragon.
Since the Queen’s Scout Award was instigated, more than 100,000 of these honours have been presented to young men and women for outstanding personal achievements and service to their communities. They have learned new skills and taken part in many of the 200 different activities on offer by Scouting across the UK.
The Queen’s Scout Award is the top award in The Scout Association’s programme. Following an extensive programme refresh, Scouting has announced the largest ever revamp of its activity programme with the launch of 165 new and updated badges, making up a total of 250 age-appropriate badges for its youth membership (six to 18-year-olds). These new badges introduce community impact for the first time, while the others are based around three core themes of outdoor and adventure, world, and skills.
A new disability awareness badge has been introduced, and outdoor skills remain a key part of Scouting with new navigator and camp craft badges. The badges complement The Scout Association’s Strategic Plan for 2018 which maintains a focus on growth, inclusivity, youth shaped and community impact. The changes are felt to reflect the changing demands and interests of today’s young people who have particularly asked for leadership and teamwork to be recognised.
Scouting is a key part of today’s modern community, continually growing to offer fun, challenge and adventure to boys and girls aged six to 25, as well as adults. To find out more, visit scouts.org.uk or call 0845 300 1818.
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