AWARDS FOR GOOD SERVICE

Now is the time to consider those who you feel deserve to be recognised for their good service to scouting. Although the process is fairly straight forward, in some cases it can take a long time to get all the information needed. We need to get applications for each year’s St George’s Day awards to HQ by the end of the previous September, which means that DCs need to have these applications by the end of August, which due to the summer holidays could mean mid-July! Applications for most awards have to be made through your DCs, who will be able to provide you with the forms. These forms are then sent to HQ after being countersigned by the County Commissioner. If the form is not countersigned by the CC it will be returned, causing a further delay in the progress of the award.
Problems in applications do occur if the person’s record has not been recorded on the database at HQ. This is often the case for members of our executive or support teams, but this is easily rectified.
What do you need to do? You need to obtain the full adult service history with appointments (if relevant) and dates. You need to write a citation of what they have done and what affect it has had (directly or indirectly) on the young people and where possible the number of young people that has been affected. If they have had a previous award only mention what they have done since the previous award. Although you cannot specify what award is given, help can be given to the wording of the citation to ensure that the appropriate award is more likely to be given. It may be better to send the citation to your DC on a separate piece of paper rather than on the award form itself, so that minor changes can be made.
REMEMBER though. If the award is for a leader, they must have a current CRB and completed training for their current role.
Please feel free to contact your DC, CC or Chris Sherlock DCC for help and advice on awards.