AWARDS
As a County we want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to Scouting – it’s an important way to make sure people stay with us and to recognise their achievements.
Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of members and recognised volunteers in your team. You can use an award to recognise:
- gallantry and meritorious conduct
- outstanding and excellent service
- long service
But formal awards are just one way to say thanks! For more ideas on other ways to say thank you, please click here.
The Awards
In Scouting we have various Awards to recognise achievement. On this page you will find a quick summary of each award but you can also download the following documents (external links):
GOOD SERVICE AWARDS
These awards are typically for members and associate members who have completed relevant training for their roles, within required time frames and who have consistently given service over and above that which is expected within their role.
The Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service
Is given in respect of not less than 5 years good service, which stands out. It should be regarded as the Chief Scout’s recognition of the very real contribution made to the Association by the individual concerned.
The Award for Merit
Is given for outstanding service. It implies keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period, of at least 12 years duration (exceptionally 10).
The Bar to the Award for Merit
May be awarded after at least five years of further outstanding service after receiving the Award for Merit.
The Silver Acorn
Is awarded after at least 20 years’ service, which should be specially distinguished and appreciably better than outstanding.
The Bar to the Silver Acorn
May be awarded only after a Silver Acorn and for at least a further five years of similarly distinguished service.
The Silver Wolf
Is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature. It is not normally awarded until at least a Silver Acorn has been previously gained and a further prolonged period of exceptional service has been achieved. In practice, it is seldom awarded for less than 30 years’ service although, because it is the Chief Scout’s unrestricted gift, no length of service is prescribed.
GALLANTRY AWARDS
Gallantry awards are considered where an individual has put their own life at risk, whilst undertaking a meritorious act.
These awards are for individual youth and adult members, skills instructors, occasional helpers, administrators and associate members who have conducted themselves with great merit, in the face of personal danger.
Where more than one person is involved in a situation, individual nominations should be made, indicating the specific involvement of individuals, which will each be considered on their own merit.
The Gilt Cross
Can be made to any Member, Associate Member, Occasional Helper, Skills Instructor, Administrator, Adviser or Honorary Scouter, for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at extraordinary risk.
The medal is a red ribbon and emblems or brooches correspond to this.
The Silver Cross
Can be made to any Member, Associate Member, Occasional Helper, Skills Instructor, Administrator, Adviser or Honorary Scouter, for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at considerable risk.
The medal is a blue ribbon and emblems or brooches correspond to this
The Bronze Cross
Can be made to any Member, Associate Member, Occasional Helper, Skills Instructor, Administrator, Adviser or Honorary Scouter, for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at extraordinary risk.
The medal is a red ribbon and emblems or brooches correspond to this.
MERITORIOUS CONDUCT AWARDS
Meritorious Conduct awards are for individual youth and adult members, skills instructors, occasional helpers, administrators and associate members who have conducted themselves in Scouting with great merit, either under personal duress over a period of time or undertaken actions that are particularly worthy of note.
Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct
Can be made to any Member, Associate Member, Occasional Helper, Skills Instructor, Administrator, Adviser or Honorary Scouter either for acts of bravery in which there has been no risk of life, or for courage and devotion to duty under suffering. It is awarded for meritorious conduct of a high standard.
The medal is a green ribbon with a blue vertical stripe and emblems or brooches correspond to this.
The Medal of Meritorious Conduct
Can be awarded to any Member, Associate Member, Occasional Helper, Skills Instructor, Administrator, Adviser or Honorary Scouter either for acts of bravery in which there has been no risk of life, or for courage and devotion to duty under suffering. It is awarded for meritorious conduct of an exceptionally high standard.
The medal is a green ribbon with a red vertical stripe and emblems or brooches correspond to this.
COMMISSIONER’S COMMENDATION
The Commissioner’s Commendation is a local award that can be used by any commissioners to recognise adult and youth members and non-members for their contribution to the Scouts. This award carries no set criteria and is illustrated by a purple knot. This award is worn in the same location on the uniform as other adult awards.
The Commissioners Commendation is a local award to recognise both adults and young people including non-members. The method of presentation is determined locally, although as a commissioner’s award, it is anticipated that the relevant commissioner or a deputy make the presentation of the cloth emblem or brooch. The commissioner decides the reason for the award.
AWARD NOMINATIONS
Award nominations are made to the County Awards Panel. Once a nomination is received it will be reviewed by the panel and the County Commissioner before a recommendation for an award is made.
The awards panel meet four times a year. The deadlines for nominations for each panel meeting can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
(When making a nomination for Good Service Awards please ensure that all mandatory training for all roles the nominee holds have been completed and any ongoing learning has been recorded and is up to date. This is one of the minimum requirements of Good Service Awards and is often the reason why they are turned down.)
Nominations can be made via this form – AWARDS NOMINATION FORM