{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAt Scouts, we have a scheme for \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/learning-development-and-awards/awards-and-recognition/good-service-awards/\u0022 title=\u0022Good Service awards\u0022\u003EGood Service awards\u003C/a\u003E where we can recognise volunteers who do a good job. This is a national scheme which is implemented locally, and it\u2019s so important that local teams setup a way of working to make sure that this happens.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhy do we need a local way of working?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWithout a way of working, volunteers in your patch won\u2019t be recognised for the great things they do. Volunteers need to be recognised by people who know them \u2013 a District team is in the best, most local place to do this.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are wide variations in how generous Districts are in using the Good Service award scheme. Research shows that a volunteer in one District is 14 times more likely to receive a Good Service award than the volunteer in another District only 13 miles away.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome Districts have set up really robust ways of working which prioritise using Good Service awards to recognise volunteers who are doing a good job.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Ch3\u003EHow do we know what works in generous Districts?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve spoken with the 20 most generous Districts to understand what they\u2019ve put in place. We\u2019ve pulled together the common themes to share this advice.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#590fa9","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat should I do?\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E1. Have a deliberate, repeatable way of working\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese tasks need to be shared between a few people \u2013 building a team of people who are keen to recognise good volunteers is key, but it\u2019s also useful to make sure they have different connections and experiences. Get the team together once a term or once a quarter \u2013 it\u2019s important to set a rhythm of expectations around this work.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUse the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/dashboards-and-reports/\u0022 title=\u0022Dashboards and Reports\u0022\u003EGood Service award eligibility dashboard in Data Explorer\u003C/a\u003E to understand which volunteers in your patch could be eligible for an award and use this as your starting point. Share out who will follow up with others who know that volunteer if needed. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E2. Start by thinking everyone does well\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGood Service awards should be used to recognise volunteers who\u2019ve done good things. It\u2019s important that we\u2019re realistic about what we ask of people and recognise them when they do it. We shouldn\u2019t use the system as a barrier that people can only pass after going above and beyond anyone\u2019s expectations.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s start by thinking everyone does well. We can then identify any volunteers who may not yet be ready for recognition and have a chat with others in the District team to make sure we\u2019re providing opportunities and support to all our volunteers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E3. Provide practical help, including writing citations\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding the barriers to people being recognised is important, so you can put in place the right support. One person might need help using Data Explorer, another might need support to submit a nomination through My Membership, and someone else might not be sure how to write a good citation.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s help available to \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/\u0022 title=\u0022Digital tool guides\u0022\u003Euse the digital tools\u003C/a\u003E, and guidance on \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/learning-development-and-awards/awards-and-recognition/citation-masterclass/\u0022 title=\u0022Citation Masterclass\u0022\u003Ehow to write a good citation\u003C/a\u003E. A citation doesn\u2019t need to be a beautiful piece of creative writing \u2013 bullet points are fine! What you write should show what a great volunteer your nominee is \u2013 think about what a difference they make and include information around this. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E4. Use strong relationships to know who\u2019s who\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThink about who in your District team meets different volunteers and will recognise good service. It could be people who run District activities, those who coordinate meetings between different Section teams, or those who visit Section meetings and Group events. Feeding all of this in, with input from Group Lead Volunteers and 14-24 Team Leaders, will mean you get a broad range of experiences. Ultimately, more people will have an opportunity to recognise the great volunteers we have!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E5. Make recognition meaningful: presentation matters, including in front of young people\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome people love a fuss being made of them, and some people couldn\u2019t think of anything worse. By knowing who\u2019s who, you\u2019ll know how to pitch it best. Many volunteers working with young people like to have their award presented in front of their young people \u2013 it\u2019s lovely for them to see that adults can get badges too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome people might like to get their award presented at a formal event like an Annual General Meeting or an awards ceremony. It\u2019s usually worth checking beforehand to make sure the award will be received in the good way that it\u2019s intended \u2013 and if you\u2019re not sure, check with someone who knows them well.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E6. Use informal recognition methods too\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are limits on the timings of Good Service awards, so it\u2019s essential that we have a \u2018culture of thanks\u2019 where we have more regular and informal ways of thanking each other. This can be through a few personal words at the end of an event, a short hand-written card, a heartfelt WhatsApp message, or a small token gift. \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-things-locally/tools-to-support-leadership-teams/celebrating-success/thanking-our-volunteers/\u0022 title=\u0022Thanking our volunteers\u0022\u003EThere are plenty more suggestions here.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Ch3\u003EHow can I get help?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe have \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/learning-development-and-awards/awards-and-recognition/uk-awards-team/\u0022 title=\u0022UK Awards Team\u0022\u003Ea team of volunteers\u003C/a\u003E who can support you with each step of this process. If you need help, or have questions, email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:awards@scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003Eawards@scouts.org.uk\u003C/a\u003E so we can get in touch.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe have \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/\u0022 title=\u0022Digital tool guides\u0022\u003Ehelp guides and videos available on using our digital tools\u003C/a\u003E, including how to use Data Explorer and the how to nominate people for awards, and approve award nominations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"03 September 2026","reviewDate":"01/01/0001","redirectUrl":"","id":91095,"nodeName":"How to make the Good Service award scheme work in your District","title":"How to make the Good Service award scheme work in your District","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How to make the Good Service award scheme work in your District","headerSubTitle":"Top tips and guidance from Districts who are using the scheme well","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"590fa9","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC85MTA5NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/learning-development-and-awards/awards-and-recognition/local-reward-and-recognition-teams/how-to-make-the-good-service-award-scheme-work-in-your-district/"}