What a year it has been not just for the Scouts up and down the UK, but Hampshire Scouts!
The year 2020 will be one to remember for the good and the not so good, but our young people and adult volunteers have done brilliantly at adapting along the way.
Face-to-face Scout activities within Hampshire have been suspended for more of the year than when we were allowed to be together in person.
But, that hasn't stopped our young people from learning vital skills for life.
Martin Mackey, lead volunteer for Hampshire Scouts, paid tribute to the efforts of staff and volunteers within the county.
He said: "A big thank you to every adult volunteer and paid member of staff in Hampshire Scouts for all that you have done in 2020 for Scouting and particularly for our young people.
"A year that I know none of us expected and one which we won’t miss once we come out on the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I’m truly grateful for everything that you’ve all done to ensure that Scouting has continued in one form or another be that online or, where we’ve been able to, face-to-face. A truly herculean effort and well done."
From The Great Indoors, to Scouts Online, none of what has been achieved in 2020 would have been possible without the amazing dedication of adult volunteers.
Martin continued: "Whilst I know that we will face challenges in 2021, I’m sure that, together, we will get through this difficult time and return to something resembling normality over the next few months."
Watch our short highlights video of some of the main events which took place this year at our Facebook page here.
For more information about volunteering with the Scouts - and how you can be a role model to young people in your community - click here.
Words by Sam Poole, video by Michael Doncom.
