Good Service Awards

We want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to Scouting and recognise their achievements.

Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of members and recognised volunteers in your team. Long service awards are automatically issued; however all other awards require a nomination to be made. You can use an award to recognise:

• gallantry and meritorious conduct
• outstanding and exceptional service
• long service

Click here for full information on the Awards that are available.

Remember that formal awards are just one way to say thanks – there are many ways that we can say thank you.

Making a Nomination

At the Scouts we want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to the Scouts – it’s an important way to make sure people stay with us and to recognise their achievements and Good Service awards are one way of doing this. Anyone can nominate any adult member or associate member for a Good Service Award, as the awards are progressive there are different methods to nominate someone depending on the previous awards they have been presented and the service they have given.

All Good Service award nominees must:

• Hold a volunteer appointment as a member or associate member of the Scouts.
• Have enough service for the award they’re being nominated for.
• Have a valid disclosure (if relevant for their active roles).
• Have not received a Good Service award in the last five years.
• Have completed all mandatory training relevant to all active roles (or is within three years of appointment to the active roles).
• Have the correct previous Good Service award (if relevant for the award they’re being nominated for).

It is advisable to check that they have met the criteria, however if that is not possible please complete the form as much as you are able and contact your District Commissioner or Merseyside’s Awards Advisory Group for support.

Chief Scout’s Commendation and Award for Merit

Complete the application form below with as much information as possible and pass it to the nominee’s District Commissioner or the District Awards Advisory Group (if one is in place).

• Download the appropriate nomination form from this page.

Bar to the Award for Merit and Silver Acorn

Complete the application form below with as much information as possible and pass it to the County Commissioner by email to Merseyside’s Awards Advisory Group.

• Download the appropriate nomination form from this page.

Bar to the Silver Acorn and Silver Wolf

Complete the application form below with as much information as possible and pass it to the County Commissioner by email to Merseyside’s Awards Advisory Group.

• Download the appropriate nomination form from this page.

It is advised that you read the support on how to write a good citation.

Note: award nominations must be submitted electronically.

Timescales for Submission

In Merseyside, we operate two cycles of Good Service Award nomination consideration, each year. The deadline of submission of nominations for the Bar to the Award for Merit, the Silver Acorn, Bar to the Silver Acorn and Silver Wolf, to Merseyside’s Awards Advisory Group are:

• 31st July
• 31st January

We then hold two Adult Awards evening annually, to celebrate those adults who have been awarded Good Service Awards.

Note: we ask the Districts align with the submissions of their nominations to UK HQ (in August and February), so that locally approved awards can be issued and presented at our Adult Awards evenings.

Awards for Meritorious Conduct, for both young people and adults, are considered by the County Commissioner throughout the year – there is no specific deadline for nominations – but they should be submitted to Merseyside’s Awards Advisory Group.

Award Approvals