I give my time freely as a Scout Leader because I enjoy it, benefit from it, and am able to give back to the community through it. No-one who volunteers is doing it entirely selflessly; all volunteers gain from their volunteering in at least one way.

I benefit from Scouting through the experiences I get from it. I benefit from it through the skills I gain and develop. And I gain from volunteering through the fun I have.

At times, it can be hard work and require dedication; at others, it really doesn’t. It can take just “two hours a week” or very much longer… but never have I regretted the time I have spent volunteering, either as a Scout Leader or previously when I was a St. John Ambulance first aider.

I am lucky as my employer allows me half a day per month, paid, time off for volunteering – and I can request a donation each year (last year, we got £600 to buy a new garage tent). But why? Partly because it fit in with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy of the firm but also because they benefit when I benefit.

Volunteering is important to me, to my employers, and to society. Volunteering is something that everyone should be encouraged to do, whether it is as a Leader or other volunteer within Scouting or any other worthy charity.