Guidelines for Scout Awards

The Nomination Form

Since January 2025 it is now possible for any volunteer to nominate another volunteer direct from their own My Membership page.   Go to ‘Awards’, ‘Nominate someone’, then click on ‘Nominate’ against the award you consider relevant after reading the page ‘Browse The Scout Association Awards’.

Once you have identified the volunteer you are nominating, the form will automatically complete their personal information.  You will then need to complete the rest of the form.

HOWEVER IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PAGE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED:

Unfortunately, this member doesn’t currently meet the criteria for this award. Please speak to a Lead Volunteer for further information.’

If no message, continue.

Please read these guidelines to assist you.   Starred boxes need to be filled in.  You can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

Please do NOT notify the volunteer that you are nominating them, in case the award is not granted or there is a query.

MAIN ROLE IN SCOUTS*

Below the box it states ‘Outline what this role involves and the time commitment the nominee puts in’.

It is not always possible to determine the time commitment, but by stating e.g. weekly, monthly, twice a year etc, this gives a good indication of the volunteer’s time commitment.

• For a Section Team Leader, it is acceptable to put e.g. Cub Scout Leader, Explorer Scout Leader but others should be shown as members of the section leadership team, either need to be expanded to show what the role involves.  Examples are:  leads a team in the planning and running of the weekly meeting; plans, or assists with the plans and organisation of the annual summer camp, or PL training camp; plans, or assist with the plans and organisation of outings, visits, expeditions; liaises with parents; maintains OSM records; maintains sections finances and liaises with Group Treasurer; makes refreshments; prepares items of equipment; responsible for Chief Scouts Award activities or programme; etc, etc
• For a Trustee, examples could be: maintains the finance of the Group; liaises with section leadership; meets deadlines for submission of reports for District, Charity Commission etc; responsible for hall and/or equipment maintenance; advises on legal matters; attends other meetings as required; investigates investments, etc, etc
• For Group Lead Volunteers, examples could be:  effectively leads a large group leadership team; assists section with a specific skill; manages leaders development and learning; liaises regularly with the District Lead Volunteer; holds regular Group Leadership Team meetings;  liaises with Section Leadership on a regular basis, etc, etc.

These are only examples, you know the individual volunteer best and what their overall commitment and specific contributions to Scouting are.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

SERVICE IN ADDITION TO THEIR MAIN ROLE IN SCOUTS*

Below the box it states ‘Outline what’s involved in any other roles in Scouts and the time commitment the nominee puts in’.

It is not always possible to determine the time commitment, but by stating e.g. weekly, monthly, twice a year etc, this gives a good indication of the volunteer’s time commitment.

As well as a leader, the volunteer may also be a Trustee, a member of a District, or County Team or sub-team (e.g. Programme, Support, Volunteer & Development, etc), or have an Accreditation (e.g. Welcoming, Learning Assessor, etc), or be a member of ScoutMed for example,  so an outline of their commitment to this additional role is also required, but please remember the possible time commitment.

These are only examples, you know the individual volunteer best and what their overall commitment and specific contributions to Scouting are.  But, remember, if they already hold a Good Service Award, you only need to highlight what has been achieved since that award was gained – at least five years previously.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS*

Below the box it states ‘Outline specific achievements and impact of the nominee since their last Good Service Award (if they have one)​. Examples could include how they’ve: helped grow membership, raised funds, managed large projects or rebuilt their headquarters, etc. Please quote specific figures where possible’.

Although it states ‘since their last Good Service Award’, it does also mean if this is their first Good Service Award, so please do not leave it blank!  Putting ‘N/A’ will suffice.

Key achievements could include:

• someone running a good, lively programme will almost certainly show an increase in membership or sustained full membership of their section;
• a volunteer who is also a learning assessor may have seen new leaders go on to gain the Wood Badge and provide good Scouting to their section;
• a Trustee may have been involved in fund raising and will almost certainly have seen a tangible result of this in the provision of new equipment, new mini-bus, headquarters extension etc.
• a volunteer may have successfully recruited new volunteers for their Group, or section, and who are now actively involved in the running of it.
• a significant number of top awards in a section have been gained over a short period of time.

These are only examples, you know the individual volunteer best and what their overall key achievements have been.   But, remember, if they already hold a Good Service Award, you only need to highlight what has been achieved since that award was gained – at least five years previously.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

LEVEL OF SERVICE*

Below the box it states ‘Where a previous Good Service Award is held, please outline whether the nominee has continued to provide service at a similar level or whether you believe the quality/complexity of their service has substantially increased and why’.

Although it states ‘Where a previous Good Service Award is held’, it does also mean if this is their first Good Service Award, so please do not leave it blank!   It is best to say something about their level of service.

It could be argued that the service from all volunteers is of a high quality and the fact they are being nominated for an award, or further award, could be a good indication of this.  However this box still needs to be completed.

Examples are:

• As can be seen from their involvement in Scouting, his/her level of service has somewhat increased since their last award.
• His/her practical skills have been identified by others and they have therefore been called upon with this experience to assist them.
• The level of service has increased dramatically since receiving their last award as outlined above.
• He/she is very supportive of the Group, attending Trustee Board meetings and being involved in the organisation of many of the events.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT*

Below the box it states ‘Outline any involvement that the nominee has with other organisations since their last Good Service Award. Highlight if this involvement has directly benefitted Scouts’.

Although it states ‘since their last Good Service Award’, it does also mean if this is their first Good Service Award, so please do not leave it blank!

Examples could be:

• Being a member of a Church Sponsored Group, he naturally works closely with them and encourages the Group to take part in Church related events and activities.
• They are also a member of the St John’s Ambulance which assists in first aid training to the young members.
• She continues to run an annual stall at the Church Christmas Fayre and also supports the Church’s Community Funday by running stalls at that event on behalf of the Group.
• Being the Vicar of the Church which sponsors the Group, he is deeply involved within the community through various streams.
• Plays in the local independent brass band which is useful for teaching music and/or songs for campfires.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

This is up to you!  Add here whatever other information you feel is relevant and useful in assisting with the decision on the award for which the volunteer is being nominated.  But the key to this is has to be relevant.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

CITATION*

This needs completing and there is a link on the form to The Scout Association website giving hints and advice on what is required for a citation.  Please click on the link and read before starting to complete this box.

REMEMBER – you can ‘Save’ the nomination at any stage and return to it later.

Once you are happy that your nomination is complete, and all starred boxes have been filled, click on the ‘Submit’ button.   This will then go to the District Award Nomination Supporter for approval, or otherwise.  Should there be any queries, clarification or further information required, you will be contacted direct and , if necessary, asked to amend and resubmit, so saving the nomination on your own My Membership page is essential.

Once approved the nomination will then go to either the CLV or direct to the Awards office at The Scout Association, dependent on the level of award.   The Awards office review all awards nominated every three months, so it may be some time before you, or the nominee, hear anything.

Here are some additional hints to consider in any of the appropriate boxes:

Highlight

• Skills/expertise/technicalities which have contributed to Scouting
• How programmes have been interesting/exciting/adventurous/creative
• Types of activities arranged – camps, hikes, expeditions, shows, trips
• International activities
• Inclusion of youth members with additional needs
• Financial targets reached for special events or projects e.g. camps/expeditions/transport/equipment/accommodation
• Ability to recruit, retain and develop leaders or Trustee members
• Major contributor to activities/fund raising at section/group/district
• Ability to identify individual or general needs of youth members
• Maintains high standards of scouting in specific or general
• Identifies opportunities for group/section to develop, undertake different activity
• Ability to plan, lead, co-ordinate an activity as Leader or as part of team
• Gives good/excellent/first class service, advice, guidance, support

Achievements

• high number of youth members achieving top awards
• specific progress of individual under identified or difficult circumstances
• increase or growth in Group or section membership over long periods
• section remained open in difficult circumstances
• contributed to others gaining or making significant progress towards Wood Badge
• increased involvement with local communities
• increased level of communications
• increased level of parent involvement
• increase in leadership with Group/Section/District

Include such words as

• enthusiasm; commitment; dedication; loyal; distinguished; challenging; ambitious; invaluable; valuable; tireless; quality;
• outstanding; exceptional; motivational; effective; efficient; excellent; first class; calm; practical; active; regular; consistent
• steady; key member; encouragement; involvement; significant; adaptable; innovative