The Scout Association

By Dan Wood
on 22/01/2012 15:18

Your observations on the Awards stats are unsurprising, Wayne.
Here are some practical suggestions:
- decouple "good service" from "long service" in the guidance given e.g. remove for 'seldom less than x years';
- introduce instead some more descriptive criteria that distinguish the "quality" of contribution and link this to some of our strategic goals e.g. "empowering yp/partnership with yp", "embracing and contributing to social change" etc
- devolve more power to local commissioners who "know" the candidates for awards: trust them and their judgement more! Reduce reliance on a centralised system for citation and instead introduce some sampling etc for moderation
- reduce the form filling and make submissions electronic; at the moment forms do a mini marathon around all of write on them and sign them; its inefficient and the busiest volunteers are those who need to do much of this as it stands.
- Promote through our comms channels (web, mag, e-mail list) etc some examples/case studies of individuals from currently underrepresented segments receiving awards to show that this is encouraged
- enable the new database system to provide better "management information" that would support a more systematic local review of who might be eligible for awards/consideration for awards at local level
- have a youth-friendly comms/system that encourages them to nominate their leaders; actively engage them in this process at every level
- make it clear that access to the national honours system is not necessarily dependent on a particular 'level' of Scouting Award; note the different national honours system criteria that exist for different 'levels' of honour; write to CCs and or those they've designated locally to take a lead on awards, to ask them to proactively consider nominating for these
- try to realign the culture of our awards system to reflect the strategy on developing our organisations culture overall: e.g. more age balance; greater demographic diversity; valuing different forms of volunteering i.e. more flexible. Charge somebody/a team with being accountable for making an impact on these poor stats and set some reasonable targets to redress the balance - perhaps associated with Awards Board (as with DGB who judge grants and help promote them).
- recognise the current results stem from cultural and institutionally embedded discrimination; and if it matters and we're serious about it will need proactive/pragmatic action. I accept these are strong words ("discrimination") but I think we should call a spade a spade; unless you properly acknowledge a problem it won't really be resolved.
- survey/consult some/a sample young people and adults in our membership and ask them what they know about and think of our awards system and how it works and what could be improved
- set this as part of a wider framework about "valuing volunteers"; set some standards against which we can judge ourselves; create some baseline measures and re-check progress each year; be transparent and publish the stats annually on the make-up of awards recipients (e.g. role in Scouting, ages, gender etc).

By Conrad
on 24/01/2012 16:55

Like Dan, I too am not surprised at your findings.

There has definitely got to be a review of how we recognise the service of volunteers.

I feel that the Chief Scouts Commendation is, at times, under used and some awards are, sometimes, only nominated when a prospective recipients holds certain appointments.

I have wondered whether some people are not nominated because the nominating Commissioner is judging by their own perceived recognition; controversial I know.

Standards of interpretation vary a lot and defining a citation can, for some, be difficult. Perhaps the pro-forma that you described may be the way forward.

Volunteers need to be recognised, an appropriate scheme needs to be in place that thanks individuals for the service that they have given Scouting and recognises the value of their contribution.

However, what we do not want is a wishy-washy scheme when awards are handed out with out any merit. And we do not want to adopt a scheme where individuals are able to collect badges that eventually cover the right hand side of a uniform.

External recognition or our volunteers' service is also required. I am not saying that individuals that receive National Honours do not deserve them; I do feel that, in comparison, volunteers within Scouting often outmatch in long term commitment and overall service to the nation. A method of nominating suitable persons could be adopted.

Change of Subject

Why has the blog disappeared from the website's front page?

By Julia
on 25/01/2012 16:18

Like the previous 2 comments I am not surprised by your comments, Wayne. For me it is recognition enough to receive the award - I don't need to wear a badge on my uniform for it to mean something to me. I do realise there are leaders out there who DO want to wear their badges and I'm quite happy for that to happen.

However the awards system gets undervalued when some receive awards and others do not - even though they have achieved more - in some cases much more.......

It is a problem that some see them as a right, when others see them as recognition of good work being achieved - and of course what's good work to you is not necessarily good work to me........

Perhaps we could have a system where "someone" (and I suggest this carefully...) in each County takes on the role of supporting Districts and Groups recognise when there is an opportunity to give an award and then supports the writing of the citation? Just a thought.....

By Paul
on 25/01/2012 23:28

Again, I agree with Dan, we need to make the appliactions more user friendly to those in Districts who could make applications. Perhaps anyone can start an application just like National Awards. Yes, we have to maintain standards but we must also trust DC's recomendations. For National Awards we need to know what folks do outside Scouting and that, although now on the new form, is often overlooked. Perhaps there could be some reference to awards at the time of reviews.

By Chris
on 26/01/2012 15:59

I agree with Wayne that there are virtually no national awards for adults in Scouting. My personal experience was that I tried to get an OBE for a certain Scouter and because I live on an offshore island I had to go through different channels than just writing to Downing Street. I was basically told that it would take at least 3 years to get an answer and then it was not guaranteed!! I gave up.

With regard to the awarding of Good Service Awards I am the local coordinator for this. Yes we may only have 800 members in all, I believe about the size of a District, but once a year I write to every GSL and Group Chairperson asking for recommendations. I then meet with my Commissioner and we go through all the adults on our membership list to see who has been left out. Works here so why not elsewhere?

By Chris Scott
on 26/01/2012 20:28

I agree with all the above comments, especially from Wayne and Julia. I would like to see an electronics version of the GS Award form which would make it much easier and quicker to complete.
The person who suggested that someone or some people within a County, District or Group could help with the writing of citations for all deserving members of the Movement would help immensely.
Having been a DC twice now, I have always felt that it has never been easy writing a citation in respect of a long serving Scouter, it doesn't matter how well you know that person, it is still difficult sometimes to find the right words, perhaps a Q & A form might be the answer if it was suitably worded.
As far as National honours are concerned, this is a different matter entirely because a person who is suggesting that someone in Scouting receives a National honour has to know a lot of what that person does outside Scouting as well in order to make the citation itself quite substantial.
I know this for a fact because I know someone personally who received a National honour last year (and it was not easy, because there is no guarantee that it will be approved by the Cabinet Office, or whoever is responsible).
Finally I would like to say good luck to the Awards Board in their deliberations, within the coming weeks.

By Paul Little
on 27/01/2012 01:00

Wayne, with regard to your comment about a lack of awards to under 30 year olds; I completely agree with Conrad that the Chief Scout Commendation is under used, so making the Award of Merit the first award often given out. As the Award of Merit requires a minimum of 12 years of outstanding service (10 if exceptional) this means that someone would have to of given every year of their service to an outstanding or exceptional level since they were 18 to even be given the award on or just before their 30th birthday.

Unfortunately, I think it highly likely that there is often a thought process out there that that if an individual in a district or county has not yet been given a certain level of award then no-one else should gain one, or it would devalue the service that the individual had given. This means that if a group has a lack of drive to put people forward for an award then others may suffer.

The awards are seen as a ladder system - even though Gilwell will say different, it is often the understanding of others. Therefore, if someone has been overlooked for an award for a number of years they often are seen as having to start from the "bottom" rather than "jump" in at a higher levels. This is not helped by the fact that there only appear to be 3 main awards (excluding the CS Commendation), with bars being in between. So if someone is deemed to have completed service in excess of an Award of Merit but not quite at the Silver Acorn level then they are unable to be given the Bar to the Award of Merit straight away (as confirmed by the awards team) - they would then be given an award at a lower level than they deserve. Could we not do away with the bars and put new awards in between the Award of Merit, the Silver Acorn and the Silver Wolf with the potential for a direct entry to the system at these new levels?

Another blocker to awards being given is the requirement to have completely all training at the current appointment. Whilst I agree that by the time someone is put forward for an award they should have completed their initial appointment wood badge, if they have been given a subsequent appointment why should they have completed the wood badge for this current appointment? Is their service deemed more exceptional if they have completed the training for their current role? Surely it is the quality of the service that you are rewarding and not the ability to finish the training modules? The frustration is further compounded when someone is being rewarded for their work in a particular role, has just taken on a fresh role (for example someone who has done 30 years of exceptional service as a ACSL and has recently been appointed a AGSL as well) and has yet to complete the training modules for the new role. If their work as a ACSL (for example) is being rewarded then why should they be penalised or their award delayed until they have finished the training for the new role they have kindly agreed to take on - does not seem to go along the ethos of flexible volunteering.

I strongly agree with Dan that if we are serious about youth participation then we should offer young people the opportunity to recommend their leaders through a easy to use and youth friendly system. Allowing them to recognise what they see as important attributes in their leaders. After all we are primarily rewarding our leaders for teh work they do with the young people - so let them recognise those leaders who make the largest impact to their lives.

It also seems to me that we have realigned the direction we wish scouting to take without addressing the criteria and scope of the awards we use to recognise the leaders who are taking us there. Under the current system it easily allows us to recognise those leaders who have put many years into the organisation and who have undoubtedly given service worthy of recognition and reward. However, it does not allow us to recognise those individual leaders who make large impacts over maybe shorter time periods, those who facilitate significant and ground breaking change either locally or on a wider scale or who give service of a most exceptional nature above and beyond the level of the lower awards but for a shorter time period (maybe due to a change in life circumstances) - surely we should be rewarding the value of the service and the impact it has made on young people or the organisation rather than placing such an emphasis on the time period. Flexible volunteering may have to lead to a more flexible award system.

I do agree that we do not want to devalue the awards that we give our volunteers - but I do think that we need to make the system more accessible to saying thank you to more of our volunteers who deserve it.

By Steve Altria GSL 1st Wellington Somerset
on 27/01/2012 11:58

The Scheme process does needs improving.

In the Birthday honours list last year we had two awards in our County.The County President and a DC.Surely someone from the thousands of Scouters in Groups was worthy of an award?

Involve GSL more. Why does a CC have to sign it off? The awards board can ensure the required standard is achieved.

Have more clarity (examples) over what consitutes good service and include the associations targets. If you attract x no of more YP, recruit Y nos of leaders (as evidenced at census over Z years) , find the funding for a new hq , run two sections of an extended Q period. Run R numbers of international expeditions as a scouter. What award should you get? Would you even get considered for an award at present?

Surely as part of the appointment review process the question of whether an award should be proposed should always be disucssed?

We had a request turned down locally last year for a CS good service award after 25 years scouting as the individual still had a single module to complete on their wood badge. As a TA and GSL I agree we need to take training seriously but he already completed two wood badges already and was close to completing his third! (which he has since done but still has no award).

Cross County movers need help too. The new County seems to start you a new Leader for good service awards purposes so outstanding service in your last county goes unrewarded unless they gave you an award.
Perhaps when a leader moves between Counties a short summary of their achievements could be acquired and retained by HQ?

Improve please!

By Christopher Dean
on 27/01/2012 15:15

At the risk of being very unpopular my opinion is that we should have nothing to do with a national honours system which has been tainted by honours for making party political donations, for rewarding celebrity status, or merely doing ones job. Furthermore, the age of deference is dying if not already dead, and in any case Scouting is probably not cool enough in the eyes of the honours committees.
I value my Silver Wolf much more than an OBE or MBE, not that there is the slightest chance of such coming my way, and in the event that it did I hope I would have the courage to politely refuse.
Colleagues,let's not waste too much time on this rather trivial matter. We should be totally focused on developing young people and making them worthy citizens of the future.That is both an honour and a privilege.

Christopher Dean
Deputy CC (Programme)
Greater London SW

By Richard
on 27/01/2012 22:34

When I nominated an excellent beaver & cub leader who has been an exec member for over 15 years and made a massive difference to hundreds of kids, I was asked......but what has she done in the district.

By Edward Gough
on 28/01/2012 08:32

Lots of good comments here and all with a common thread.
When I was a DC I reviewed all my leaders who were eligible and wrote approprite citations, passed them to my AC and heard nothing.
After months of proding I found that he did not put them forward as he did not know / agree with my citations.
My GSL's we giving me a hard time due to a lack of recognition, Leaders were being recognised locally through non-Scouting awards yet were not even getting the basic awards they were due through the Association.
So I agree with the comments to let DCs have more input and access to act independantly. Also like the idea of a electronic application for low level awards.
Also how may Leaders are aware that we award execptional service from all members - not just a 'Well Done' certificate.

By Tim Shaw
on 28/01/2012 09:46

Wayne,

The barriers to awards are immense. Only the most determined will overcome them. Here are some examples:
1) Completion of training is a real trap. Many of our best volunteers will do multiple roles to help the movement. Unless they have fully validated training for each role, no award. The lesson is - do not volunteer for multiple roles or change role, as it will reduce your chance of an award.
2) Define 'good service' and 'exceptional service'. I have not met anyone who knows the difference. Is it exceptional to have done a variety of roles well or a single role well.
3) If you are in the movement many years, the DC and GSL may be unaware of what you did in the past. Our memories tend to be short term.
4) No local advice. In my County we have a local award adviser who really helps by checking facts and giving immediate feedback.
5) Agree the forms are antiquated.
6) Only one level of approval. Either have local boards with CC approval only or send direct to national board with nomination by anyone.
7) Length of service should be deleted from all good conduct awards.

While it is distracting from delivering

By MARIE
on 28/01/2012 14:57

TODAY I HAVE REACHED 2O YEARS AS A LEADER & IN JUNE AM CELEBRATING BY TAKING 25 YOUNG PEOPLE TO CAMP ON BROWNSEA, I HAVE RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR 5, 10,15 YEARS SERVICE & A CHIEF SCOUTS COMMENDATION FOR GOOD SERVICE, IT IS AN ANOMALLY THAT SOME DC,S DO NOT PUT PEOPLE FORWARD FOR AWARDS BUT I BELIEVE SOME HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS ENTAILED OR WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE. I AM CONVINCED WE NEED TO BE MAKING PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF ALL PROCESSES & ALSO MAKE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
I NOMINATED MY DAUGHTER A FEW YEARS AGO FOR A MERETORIOUS CONDUCT MEDAL AFTER SHE DONATED A KIDNEY TO HER BROTHER, WHICH SHE RECEIVED BUT THE LENGTHS OF INFORMATION REQUIRED WAS VERY OFF PUTTING AND A TRAUMA IN ITSELF.
I AM ALL FOR MAKING THE PROCESS SIMPLER. THE SOONER THE BETTER

By Chris Maw
on 30/01/2012 09:00

Reading through your points Wayne and the comments - I agree with them all the awards system requres a review to understand why those that really deserve the awards are the ones that are continously overlooked and these are the people who don't look for the awards and quietly submit their time using their energies to contribute. It seems that in some cases these people hold multiple positions within their district and run sections, long serving and just dissapear into the ether. I know that we are a large movement but these individuals really do need an offical thank you sometimes.

By Andy bowman
on 30/01/2012 22:20

If you need a wood badge how do you reward a chairman or administrator who may have given years of service to the movement. They are also members of the movement. The more barriers you put in place the less nominations you will get.

By Margaret Ellison
on 01/02/2012 10:28

Wayne puts forward some very good points, but overall, there is a lack of understanding of the difference between Long Service and Awards for service above and beyond a normal weekly committment.
I found it useful to contact the Awards Office for their advice, particularly when confronted with a list of mundane tasks which some leaders thought would suffice. Quantity doesn't always represent quality!
Andy Bowman's comment struck a particular note, as we stayed in BP International in Hong Kong, 2 years ago, and visiting their offices (And superb training facilities) we were surprised to see a completely different set of awards for administrators - in fact their "Dragon Awards" were much more attractive than the "Lion Awards," for leaders! It would be good to see administrators being valued as much as leaders - their background work is crucial to the Movement.

By JOHN WIGNALL
on 02/02/2012 10:46

Just a thought but would it not be easier to leave the granting of Long Service Awards to the District Comminissoner and take of some of the strain that is placed on the National Awards Board.

By Ashley
on 02/02/2012 18:22

Any system is only as good as the people who implement it.
There will alawys be people within, District, County, whatever, who do not agree with our system for rewarding service (however you define it) and will not, or at least have to be actively encouraged) to make an application for an award or to endorse it.

One thing however is clear to me. We MUST have a national system of recognising and rewarding excellence. How you do that is a answer that only better persons than I can answer.

There is one current failure with the system in that the making of an award is not publicised adequately. I hesitate to hark back to the "old days", but award recipients were named in each / most issues of Scouting magazine (at least the the St George's Day awards still have their own annual publication). You may say that the awardees are listed under "recent recipients" on scouts.org.uk. So they are - unfortunately, the latest entries are for February 2011, a year out of date.
Perhaps this could be rectified

By Peter
on 03/02/2012 13:45

It surprises me how little knowledge there is about this area. The confusion between Long Service and Good Service bears this out.

When I was a DC we were encouraged by County to submit names and recommendations. I in turn encouraged GSLs. It was, at that time, part of the job description. I had relatively few names put forward also a mixed group looked through my district directory ever year and suggested names. I wrote most citations if they were needed but asked others to add to them. Also the comments about Wood Badges I put forward recipients in the first years of new roles with incomplete training and never had a problem if pre-emptively explaining why that bit was incomplete. We made awards to leaders, managers and exec members.

What was nice as a DC was that the Commendation effectively became the DC gift, there is no citation and in most cases it was countersigned and because they do not go to the Awards Board it came through quickly.
The annual cycle is too long applications I wrote last March the outcome is still unknown to me which is IMHO wrong.

The system is not perfect but it is a lot easier to use than the perception - unless there is a blockage somewhere such as someone holding up approvals or saying awards have to be gained in turn. I never experienced the former and I have had applications referred back as initially too low and suggesting tweaking for a higher award.

I always found the awards team at HQ helpful and supportive and my first citations were proof read by a former awards board member which was really helpful and an offer made to all DCs at my first regional development day.

By Graham Jones
on 03/02/2012 14:11

Very interesting topic. One of my main gripes would be consistancy. You have some districts / counties handing out awards like sweets and others not handing any out. How do you address this ? Is it because some districts understand the system , value their volunteers and do lots of nominating. Would be interested in stats County by County, District by District on nomination numbers. Also I feel that awards in my experience tend to be biased towards District / County level and not Grass root Scouters . I personally aware of several scouters 20 -30 years into volunteering often running several sections without recognition. But heh we do it for the Young People not badges !

By Mike Rowland
on 05/02/2012 12:17

I have served Scouting for 38 years including a period as a DC (during which my service was recognised)and currently District Chairman. I have long since felt that awards were a bit of a lottery and have advocated to respective CC's that a critera description with tick boxes would be a better way of nominating individuals. The current system seems to rely too much on the eloquency of the nominating and teir will to sit and write an essay. Also there seems to be an attitude in judging criteria that relates to whether the nominating Commissioner has got an award! Perhaps there should be a panel (Appointments Advisory Committee) or similar.

By Boballan
on 05/02/2012 22:39

As I see it. The first barrier is the DC. He needs to be pro-active in this area. There are too many people in the chain who will simply sit on the application if they do not personally know the candidate. Having an award is seen like a badge of office in some areas and possession makes you a member of a small club - small being the operative word.
When an award is made it should be massivley publicised and not given like mine was by an embarrassed DC coming to my home and giving me an envelope with a Medal of Merit in it.
Unlike others, whilst we are in Scouting for the youngsters, the occasional recognition of our efforts is appreciated. Anyone who says otherwise is guilty of false modesty and deos no service those who thought he was worthy of such an award.

By Alan Dawes
on 07/02/2012 11:52

Wayne,
Whilst I share your observations with respect to National Honours; and in my scouting time I have known many deserving colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to my 'band' of brothers. Although I can supply more detailed discussion, I know I need to be brief.
SCOUT BANDING
As a former Bandmaster of the City of York Scout Band, Chairman of Education for BYBA and a current member of 1st Huntington Scout Band, I put forward the following issues.
Having produced a portfolio to form a Band open to all scouting members within our city, I was forced by way of agreement to first take a position of GSL with a group (I did have a previous GSL warrant and was at the time serving as a uniformed Group Instructor with a local group - who also had a scout band). As a passion to form this band I agreed to also take on this extra role. Although extremely difficult at times I did not neglect my GSL duties whilst, assisted by my two sons, in developing and running a band. At the peak of time consumption I was husband, father, employed, GSL, BL, acting CSL, Bandmaster and BYBA CofE - I think I lied when I referred previously to non-neglect! Am I blowing my own trumpet here? maybe but just raise the awareness that I do not consider myself unique to any other Scouting Bandmaster or member.
Yes, band leadership has been quoted in citation but, as I suspect as all other Scout Band Leaders, there is no reference to such a role on my/our records.
As a GSL I can honestly say that the Leadership responsibility of running a 'Band' i.e. recruitment, fundraising, instruction, discipline, register, equipment, AGM, accounts etc. is no different.
Please consider the Bandmaster/Leaders as properly recognised Adult held roles.
QUEEN SCOUT PARADE
Perhaps the proudest and highest esteem for a Scouting Band Member is to perform at the Queen Scout Parade. Annually only one Band (nationally) gets to lead this parade. There is a lot of years of hard work and dedication to become recognised at worthy to perform this parade, yet the reward for doing so is self satisfaction. And yes, for those bandspeople the satisfaction of performing is reward enough. On behalf of those bandspeople couldn't we at least produce a badge that would recognise their perhaps once in a lifetime moment in Scouting.

Yours in Scouting

Alan

By Nick
on 21/02/2012 11:43

Loads of comments below that strike a chord. I agree with Peter re the commendation as a gift of the DC.
One of the barriers would be the idea that these are given out as "sweets" or that DCs "churn out the awards on a conveyor belt".
The CC being asked to approve an award when it is possible that he/she is not that familiar with the nominee in the system can only reduce the number of worthy recipients.
IMHO the CC should only be involved with County Appointment reccomendations and DCs reccomendations taken seriously by HQ.

By robin corti
on 22/02/2012 11:18

Wayne, I am sure that I am not the only one that believes that we do our leaders a diservice by restricting, to those who have our highest award, those who HQ will support in seeking National awards. I have always been very mindful that sports and variety people seem to dominate the annual list and I just feel very sad that we have many thousands of dedicated leaders that week on week, year on year put in thousands of hours of voluntary work for the benifit of young people in their communities who do not get recognised for what they do Nationally.
I have always felt that HQ should do away with the restriction on endorsing adults for national awards. Maybe also we need at District and County levels, small local awards committees that can consider both Scouting and National award applications?
Robin

By Mike
on 02/05/2012 16:01

I'm not surprised that only 2% receive recognition when the process relies on the thoughtfulness and perception of others. One man's idea of excellent is not another's and apathy can rule OK..

After the St. George's day celebrations and announcements of the various awards consider the Leader who, in over twenty years, has had six GSLs and a period without one where he was unofficial Scouter- in- charge... and kept a group going; has had six District Commissioners, did two very demanding and challenging jobs under three of them whilst still running a section and has given nothing but dedicated service to his Group and District. So, who should weigh the totality of his efforts and put pen to paper?