Keith Church

We would like to nominate Keith for his work in leading his local Cub Scout pack, comprising a group of up to 25 boys, aged 8 to 10. In September 2009 he stepped up from offering occasional help and took on the leadership as the group was threatened with closure. He remained Cub leader up until July 2011, despite the fact that none of his own children was a Cub during the latter part of this period; his middle child moved up to Scouts last Christmas.

Perhaps the most impressive part about Keith's work with the Cubs is that he has taken on the vast bulk of the responsibility for planning and running activities and dealing with admin on his own shoulders. Typically most Cub and Scout groups have several leaders sharing this burden. While Keith has had practical help from other leaders, over the last two years he has had the pressure of organising meetings and coming up with a balanced plan of activities to keep all the Cubs entertained. At the same time this programme was aimed at developing practical and social skills, and also knowledge and awareness of wider issues, through getting involved with the community through events such as Remembrance Sunday and via raising awareness of the work of a disaster relief charity.

Having left Cubs at the end of the summer term Keith is now joining the leadership team of the Scout troop, where two of his sons are members.