As 2023 draws to a close, ScoutsCymru Chief Commissioner Rhian Moore gives her heartfelt thanks to volunteers in Wales. Close to 6,000 of you deliver life-changing opportunities to more than 13,700 young people in Wales every week – and we’re grateful to every single one of you.
As Chief Commissioner, Rhian herself is a volunteer, and ScoutsCymru would also like to thank Rhian for all her efforts in representing Scouts in Wales and helping us to grow.
You can watch Rhian’s message in this video, or read it below.
What a year we’ve had.
We’ve had our ups and downs and you’ve navigated your way through with kindness, belief, care, cooperation and integrity. Thank you for being brilliant.
Well done to the camp planners, the treasurers and administrators, the activity leaders, the cooks and tea makers, the creative ideas, the paperwork completers, the trainers, the people managers and plan makers. Everyone has done a top job to lead our young people and each other through another year.
Our path for 2023 took us through a 10% growth of members in Wales; many more Squirrel Dreys opening; supporting the King’s Coronation and the Big Help Out; All Wales Cub Fun Day; World Scout Jamboree with a difference; Pride events in Cardiff and local communities; regional camps in west Wales; new partnerships with Public Health Wales; preparations for Roverway in Norway; Remembrance events in towns and villages; learning about and celebrating Diwali, Eid, Ramadan, Passover, Easter and Hanukkah.
We hiked, camped, canoed, kayaked and sailed with activities on the water, in the mountains, on land and in the air.
There was litter picking, community supporting, beach cleaning, bush scouting and first aid training.
We also took time to recognise our superstar volunteers in our Celebration of Scouting Awards. You held AGMs all over Wales, presenting service and achievement awards; and we even attempted to break the world record for the largest human image of a Fleur De Lis.
Some of my highlights this year include presenting the Silver Wolf to Gill Clay, Baden Powell’s granddaughter; joining a Squirrel Drey in Bassaleg, Newport, and representing Scouts from Wales at the King’s Coronation.
As the year comes to an end, please take some time to reflect on what you’ve done and how you have supported each other, as well as continued to provide opportunities for young people to develop amazing skills for life.
As volunteers, we have the super-power of helping other people and making a positive difference to those around us. Everything in life has its ups and downs, and during the moments when you wonder why (and we all have them), lease never forget the impact you make in your group, area and community.
With a never-give-up spirit we are an unstoppable force for good to support young people – our future leaders – with skills for life to be the best they can be.
You are all amazing. You are doing great things – thank you for all that you do.
For those celebrating, a very merry Christmas.
And to everyone, here’s to another year of fun, adventure, leading well and welcoming even more people to our wonderful world of Scouting.
