By Paul Innes, Chair: National Adult Support

Across South Africa, thousands of volunteers quietly give their time to Scouting every single week. From planning meetings after work, to spending weekends camping, mentoring and supporting young people. Our volunteers manage finances, maintain facilities, coordinate logistics, and create opportunities that help children and youth grow into capable, confident citizens.

Every act of service within Scouting matters because every contribution helps create better opportunities for young people. Much of this work happens behind the scenes. Often unnoticed and not nearly recognised enough.  Yet without volunteers, Scouting would simply not exist.

As we celebrate SCOUTS South Africa’s National Volunteer Recognition Week, I want to pause and take the time to acknowledge that all forms of volunteering matters, and so do the people who make it possible.

Within Scouting , volunteerism takes on many forms, ranging from the uniformed Scouter leading activities on a Friday evening, to the parent who helps transport Scouts to camp, the Group Committee member balancing budgets, the skills-based volunteer assisting with communications or governance, the mentor guiding a new leader, and the partner and supporter who gives whenever they can.

This National Volunteer Recognition Week, our message is simple. To every adult volunteer who gives their time to Scouting — whether visibly or quietly behind the scenes — thank you.

Thank you for raising your hand and stepping up. Thank you for the evenings, weekends and countless unseen moments. Thank you for believing in our Scouting children and youth. Thank you for creating safe spaces to fail, to learn, and to express themselves. Thank you for the experiences that shape futures.

This message feels especially significant as the world celebrates the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), proclaimed by the UN General Assembly. For us in Scouting, this recognition feels personal because the IVY2026 is a global recognition of something that in Scouting we have always known to be true: volunteers change lives. Scouting volunteers change lives, because they choose to show up. Because they believe in something bigger than themselves. Because they care about young people and the future of our communities.

What you do is seen and valued, what you do is important as the impact you are making is real.

Say thank you to your volunteers too!

I would like to call on our Scouting children and youth to take the time this week to say thank you to your Scout leaders, to your parents and to the committee members in you Group. Send them a personal message or share it with us and we may include it on our national social media channels and say thank you on your behalf.