Congratulations to volunteers Pam Edmonds and Dan Reynolds who were both recognised for their services to Scouting at their local High Sheriffs community awards earlier this month.
Pam, a volunteer with close to 50 years of service in Scouting, was recognised by the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Meurig Raymond, for giving young people skills for life and supporting adult volunteers to deliver a rewarding Scouting experience that enables them to pass these life skills on to the young people.
Dan was given an award by the High Sheriff of Clywd, Kate Hill-Trevor, in recognition of his 17 years of volunteering to support young people at 1st Mynydd Isa Scout Group, where he’s a Group Scout Leader, as well as being the Deputy District Commissioner for Flintshire.
Both received their awards at ceremonies to celebrate local volunteers and the positive impact they have on their communities.
Pam first started volunteering at a Cub pack in North London in 1974 and has volunteered in Wales since moving here in 2010. She has held various roles over the years, including being a Group Scout Leader and Area Commissioner, and is currently the King’s Scout Award coordinator for Ceredigion.
She said it was “a complete surprise” to learn of her nomination. Although the award was in recognition of her support of young people and adult volunteers, she says she has benefited greatly from the experience.
She said: “You get a lot back from supporting children and young people through Scouting, when you see how happy they are at camp or in a meeting. But I have also had great satisfaction from bringing adult volunteers in.”
Indeed, one of her many highlights includes helping to save a group when it lost several leaders suddenly and implementing a new system for teams of parents to share the commitment. Other memorable moments include attending the 2007 World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford to mark 100 years since Scouts was founded by Robert Baden-Powell, flying a glider plane, and forming long-lasting international friendships.
Dan has been volunteering at Mynydd Isa since starting as a section assistant around 17 years ago. Like Pam, he says he benefits greatly from volunteering.
He said: “Volunteering is deeply rewarding, to see young people and adults enjoying Scouting, it’s a vehicle to see people gaining skills and moving on – because that’s what we are, a movement.
“I get loads out of it. I always say to people don’t just do it for the young people, do it for yourself, because that is what will sustain you.”
With regards to the award, he said: “None of us do it for the accolades but it is nice to be recognised. Part of me thinks ‘why am I being recognised when hundreds of people are doing this every week?’, so I’m accepting this on behalf of everyone.”
The Dyfed ceremony also saw Charlie Milson and Bethan Jenkins receive Young Persons Charitable Trust Awards to support them with international Scouting expeditions.
Bethan, a leader at 1st Llandysul Beavers and Cubs, received support for her forthcoming trip to Norway for the 2024 Roverway – a European event for Scouts and Guides aged 16 to 22, which takes place every three to six years.
Charlie Millson, a member of the Scarlets Dragon Explorers from Llanelli who has been involved in Scouting since he joined Beavers in 2013, was supported by the Young Persons Charitable Trust last year to help him attend the South Korea World Scout Jamboree (an event which made the headlines due to extreme heat, an impending typhoon, and 4,000 UK Scouts being evacuated from the camp early), and received a certificate from the High Sheriff at this year’s ceremony.
High Sheriff of Dyfed, Meurig Raymond, added: “It was my honour and privilege as The High Sheriff of Dyfed to award the four Scouts Cymru awardees on their great achievements. I warmly congratulate the worthy recipients of these awards, they are so very well deserved. I wish them all well for the future.”
Rhian Moore, ScoutsCymru Chief Volunteer, said: “We are very grateful to the High Sheriff of Dyfed for supporting young people in Scouting to take part in life-changing international experiences. I know you will be amazed by their adventures when they share the impact the experience had on their lives.
“We are also thrilled to see Pam Edmonds and Dan Reynolds receive their awards from their respective High Sheriffs in recognition of their volunteering. Every week, more than 4,000 volunteers give their time and expertise to deliver Scouting activities for children and young people in Wales, helping them grow as individuals and develop skills for life.
“Volunteers do so much for their communities and it is wonderful to see them being recognised outside of their own organisations for the wonderful work they do in making life better for the people they support and the communities in which they live.”