As we reach the end of 2024, ScoutsCymru Chief Volunteer Rhian Moore offers her thanks to more than 4,700 volunteers in Wales who, every week, provide life-changing opportunities to 14,000 young people aged four to 25. Rhian reflects on the past year and has news on exciting plans for 2025, as ScoutsCymru (formerly the Welsh Scouts Council) celebrates 100 years of Welsh adventure.
You can watch Rhian’s message in this video, or read it below.
We have almost reached the end of another year – and what a year it has been. Thank you for everything you have given to Scouting and for the support you have shown to young people and volunteers around you.
We are united in our passion to support young people with skills for life, help them build stronger and more resilient futures, and build more kindness in our communities and society more widely by living our values.
These are all key as we navigate our way through the work to get better at following procedures and rules for safety and other compliance measures needed to ensure that Scouting is safe for everyone.
We know that this focus is the right thing to do, but I also know it hasn’t always been easy – there’s a lot of it. I am grateful for your leadership through the work. Thank you.
When there are too many emails, another complaint, or someone else has a pop at a decision or something you’ve done with the best of intentions – please remember the fun, the things that make you smile, and the people that warm your heart. They really do outweigh all the negative.
Go and immerse yourself in the Scouting stuff that you love, the stuff that energises you, the stuff that lifts you up.
Remind the handful of naysayers and doom mongers that we are all volunteers doing our best, that kindness costs nothing and we can all make our points without pointing fingers.
We are better than that. Yes, we will get things wrong, we will make mistakes and we will not please everyone all of the time. But if we do it within our values, and we follow the national rules, we can deliver amazing Scouting for everyone.
And when we look up and out into the wider world – the conflict, the rise in hostility and anger, the impact of climate change on communities and people – we can see Scouts playing our part – helping other people, supporting recovery, building hope and adding kindness back into the world.
It’s the same if we look into our communities – we can see division, deprivation and maybe even fewer opportunities.
Then look at the impact that Scouting has – people coming together, support for everyone, opportunities for fun, adventure, learning and support.
We add the element of hope and magic to over 14,500 young people’s lives.
We bring a community of over 4,000 volunteers together to do amazing things in Wales.
This year we have continued to take part in national events like the celebration of service at Windsor, the service of remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the unveiling of our wonderful new Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields.
Closer to home, we had All Wales Scout Camp, we took part in the parade at PrideCymru in Cardiff, SWAT (ScoutsCymru Water Activities Team) had their paddle and water activities all over Wales, and BushScout’s training provided adventure. We also had events such as AberJam in north Wales, and young people got together in Llandysul to share their thoughts on what Scouting means to them.
Young people in rooms and Scout halls all over Wales earned badges, set up adventures and helped other people in their communities – all with your support. They camped, they laughed, they made new friends and grew in confidence with their skills – only made possible by you.
Please never underestimate the positive difference you’re adding to their lives – that is really special and a privilege to do.
And it really does mean that we are a collective positive force for good in our villages and towns all across Wales. Each of us playing our part, using our individual skills and doing what we do best to help other people and to do our duty.
The biggest thank you from me.
Looking forward, 2025 will be a special year.
The ScoutsCymru Council is 100 and we’ve got a few things planned to mark that celebration. There’s not going to be a big launch at the start of the year, it will be gradual throughout the year.
We are going to launch some branding that recognises our birthday, and put on projects through the year that will shout about the great things we do. We will launch those shortly so you can see them.
There will be opportunities for you all to get involved with programme activities and local celebrations. Again, more information coming in the new year.
So, let’s make compliance with safety and training business as usual.
Let’s make sure our programme for young people is inspiring, engaging and buckets of fun.
And let’s make sure we ask for help when we need it and we use the support around us to cement those strong foundations that we need all across Wales.
Let’s put the fun back, let’s make sure our hearts soar with scout happiness, look after ourselves and each other.
Thank you for 2024. I look forward to 2025. And, if you celebrate, have a happy Christmas/ Nadolig llawen i chi i gyd. And everyone, please take time to pause and do things that fill you with joy as we get to the end of what has been a really busy year.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb. Thank you very much to everyone. Bravo.
