Behave Like a Duchess and Become a Scout Volunteer

Following the exciting announcement from Clarence House that the will become a volunteer helper within The Scout Association, Gloucestershire scouts are encouraging others to follow her example and get involved.

County commissioner for Gloucestershire scouts, Paul Trott, said: “One of our big missions is to encourage people across this county who have the enthusiasm and ability to put something back into their communities. That’s why it’s such great news that the Duchess of Cambridge has chosen to help out in cub scout packs and beaver scout colonies. She will be an incredible inspiration to young people and adults showing that busy lives are not a barrier to volunteering.”

In Gloucestershire scouts is thriving with more and more young people enjoying adventures each year and thousands of adult volunteers across the county are making it happen. The Duchess will be joining over 106,000 girls, young woman and female volunteers in the UK Scouting. But it’s unlikely she will see the same faces every week. Scouting in the UK has over 100,000 adult volunteers and many of these help out on a flexible basis. This means that they can fit Scouting around work, social and family commitments.

To volunteer for scouts you don’t need to be an outdoors expert; they do so much more than just camping and climbing. From arts and crafts, to drama, street sports and international expeditions, there’s a new adventure every week.

“The half a million young people and adults involved with Scouting across the UK make volunteering easy. You don’t have to make a regular weekly commitment to help make a difference, just a few hours here and then can be invaluable to young people in the county,” Paul continued.

“Scouts are naturally good at helping others as it is part of the scout promise. They embrace and encourage people and I just know that The Duchess is going to instantly feel welcome and will inspire the adults and young people. And with children and adults in Gloucestershire doing so many inspirational things; like raising money for charities, clearing and maintaining community gardens and visiting the elderly, I think we will inspire The Duchess in return.”

“Young people have a natural instinct to do the right thing, and we try to encourage that. But they need guidance and positive role models, which is very important with the development of a young person.

“What can the Duchess expect on her first day as a volunteer? Well I think the first thing she will notice is the enthusiasm; when you walk into a scout meeting place you really can feel the positive energy. She will see young people helping other young people – passing on skills, working together on tasks as varied as map reading, community projects and learning about Fair Trade. She will see parents and other helpers running games and activities.

“The Duchess is willingly helping out where she can, when she can, and we need as many other people as possible to do the same. So, this week, we have a wonderful new face joining the movement – and it's a brilliant boost for Scouting not only near her home but across the whole country. But we still have people on waiting lists in Gloucestershire due to a lack of volunteers. Next week it could be your turn to go to your first Scout meeting and experiencing the great Scouting spirit for yourself. It’s not signing your free time away – it’s about experiencing everything life has to offer and helping young people see a more positive future. When you give, you receive. There’s no one in the world busier than the Duchess and if she can do it, so can we.”

If you’re interested in volunteering all you need to do is click on to www.scouts.org.uk/join or dial 0845 300 1818.

The UK’s Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, who led a party of 200 scouts to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 said: “The Duchess has an incredibly busy life which makes it all the more inspiring that she has chosen to volunteer alongside us. Over the last few years it has been our mission to make it easier for adults who volunteer with us to give as much or as little as they are able – it is how we change our society: many people doing a little bit."

“I just know that the Duchess will love the buzz that young Scouts always bring to their communities and their adventures, and there are few greater joys than being part of empowering young lives through the simple principles of Scouting: fun, friendship, faith and family."