Awards

At the Scouts, all of our volunteers help to shape young people’s lives for the better. Just as our young people appreciate, and look up to their leaders and role models, we want our volunteers to know just how amazing they are too.

Long Service Awards

Length of Service awards are just one way the Chief Scout shows gratitude for this service at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 year intervals (based on the start dates listed on Compass). Service need not be continuous.

Good Service Awards

At the Scouts we want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to the Scouts – it’s an important way to make sure people stay with us and to recognise their achievements and Good Service awards are one way of doing this.

Wood Beads

In 1919, Baden-Powell introduced a standardised system for leader training at Gilwell Park, near London. Those who completed the course were awarded a ‘Wood Badge’. This wasn’t a cloth badge, but a pair of wooden beads. One came from the ceremonial necklace of the Zulu chief, Dinizulu, and recipients carved their own second bead.

In 1987, four Wood Badge beads were given to Dinizulu’s grandson as a symbolic act of returning the beads to their rightful heir. Today, leaders throughout the world continue the tradition of the Wood Badge and receive replica wooden beads. Leaders are also enrolled as members of the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group, and can wear the distinctive Gilwell scarf and woggle.