{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Interview by Rosalyn Croek","standfirst":"In this series, we speak to some of our volunteers and ask them \u2018Why is volunteering #GoodForYou?\u2019 Here\u0027s what Simone Roberts had to say.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"quoteText":"Whatever you have to offer, you\u0027ll be welcomed with open arms to the world\u0027s biggest family!","attribution":"","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/17751/simonecopy.jpg","width":2316,"height":2339,"altText":"Simone Roberts smiles at the camera in Scouts baseball cap and fleur-de-lis necklace with outdoor cooking scene behind","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EWhat\u0027s your role in Scouts?\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt Scouts, I have the opportunity to take on lots of different roles.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt the moment, I\u0027m a Group Scout Leader, which means I support the leaders in a group to offer Scouts to young people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027m also a Young Leader Manager, so I support learning and development for our volunteers aged 14-18.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBest of all, I\u0027m a County Trainer, so I get to develop our newest volunteers and refresh the first aid training for everyone.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy group is 3\u003Csup\u003Erd\u003C/sup\u003E Hatfield Air Scouts, Mid Herts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E3\u003Csup\u003Erd\u003C/sup\u003E Hatfield is the John Cunningham group. He was a test pilot who worked as an engineering candidate for the De Havilland company.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey made aircraft right here in Hatfield, including the famous mosquito which we wear on our uniform. We no longer have an airport, but we keep the spirit alive in the Air Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen and why did you start volunteering for Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI was in Scouts and the Air Cadets as a young person.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI was 18 when I first started volunteering for Scouts, and I wanted to give back after all the experiences I had as a young person.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u0027s the best thing about volunteering at Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe very best part of Scouts is the other members!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe meet a wide range of people, from young people to adults, and learn from them and their experiences.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETeaching and sharing learning is a passion of mine, and at Scouts, I can do this in different ways by supporting young people and training adults.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVolunteering is flexible \u2013 some roles are regular, but for others I can help out when I\u0027m needed, so I give my time whenever I can.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts gives me lots of opportunities in one uniform!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat skills have you learned or passed on to others?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThanks to Scouts, I\u0027ve learned a wide range of skills and I\u0027m always surprised by all the things I know or can do.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI can do adventurous activities, but I can also run a successful Scout camp by managing budgets, writing programmes, and planning catering.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI love teaching and learning back-to-basics skills, like fire lighting. As a bonus, they always include marshmallows and the odd campfire song!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow has Scouts helped you in your personal life?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EBeing a Scout leader gives me confidence, excellent communication skills, and versatility.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027ve learned to be a leader and not just a manager, which has opened doors for me in my professional career.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027ve suffered with challenges to my own mental health, especially during the pandemic, but we kept Scouting throughout, meeting online, and continuing to innovate the program.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHaving this routine supported me as much as it supported the young people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe say Scouts is #GoodForYou, and I really believe it has played a key role in my own recovery.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are some of your highlights?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI have so many highlights from my Scouting experience, like the opportunities I\u0027ve had to travel, but it\u0027s the small things that stick in my mind the most.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen a young person who faces barriers reaches the top of the climbing wall, or finds their voice after struggling to communicate, or the adult leader with little confidence runs their first successful Scout evening \u2013 they\u0027re the things that really matter, and make a difference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s your favourite activity in Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Air Scouts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) activities are a big part of our programme.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe also look for opportunities to fly and take part in air activities, which have been the highlight of my Scouts experience so far.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESeeing young people take control of an aircraft or gliders, and hearing them speak over the radio, is amazing.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs leaders, we often get a chance to sneak a ride, and I never turn down a flight!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat other goals would you like to achieve at Scouts in the future?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EScouts continues to evolve, and I\u0027m excited to be a part of it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe movement wants to hear from its members, and I\u0027ve luckily been able to share my views about the future of Scouts.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027d also like to share more of my knowledge about how to support young people and adults with additional learning needs and disabilities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIs there anything that could\u0027ve improved your volunteering experience?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMore volunteers! We always need fresh ideas to keep Scouts moving forward, and these come with the newest members of the movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat would you say to people who are sceptical about volunteering at Scouts/about Scouts in general?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts is for everyone, and you can give as much or as little as you want.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s not just about those who run the evenings, we need treasurers, trainers, fundraisers, and occasional helpers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhatever you have to offer, you\u0027ll be welcomed with open arms to the world\u0027s biggest family!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Share your #GoodForYou story","buttonLink":{"name":"https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d319a9b9674548ec94f7e783bdfd3cef","id":null,"url":"https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d319a9b9674548ec94f7e783bdfd3cef","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Find an opportunity that\u0027s #GoodForYou today","buttonLink":{"name":null,"id":null,"url":null,"newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"15 June 2022","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Ask Beryl: Read another interview in this series","url":"/news/2022/april/ask-beryl-why-is-volunteering-with-scouts-goodforyou/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Current volunteer vacancies","url":"/volunteer/uk-scouts-volunteering/uk-scouts-vacancies/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Find an opportunity locally that\u0027s #GoodForYou","url":null,"newWindow":false}],"id":48712,"nodeName":"Ask Simone: Why is volunteering with Scouts #GoodForYou?","title":"Ask Simone: Why is volunteering with Scouts #GoodForYou?","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/17750/simonecopy.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd1e3170b0","caption":"Simone Roberts","type":"jpg","size":2498383,"width":2316,"height":2513,"altText":"Simone Roberts smiles at the camera in Scouts baseball cap and fleur-de-lis necklace with outdoor cooking scene behind"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Ask Simone: Why is volunteering with Scouts #GoodForYou?","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Simone Roberts explains why volunteering with Scouts is #GoodForYou.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODcxMiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2022/june/ask-simone-why-is-volunteering-with-scouts-goodforyou/"}