SPC is delighted to announce that B&NES Council has awarded Saltford resident Graham Bush the ‘Willson Volunteer of the Year’ B&NES Council Community Award! B&NES Council’s Community Awards celebrate the valuable contributions made by individuals and organisations across Bath and North East Somerset.
SPC understands that the ‘Willson Volunteer of the Year Award’ receives many worthy nominations every year, so is especially delighted that Graham Bush has been recognised in this way by the panel of judges.
Graham, who first became an adult Scout Leader on his 18th birthday (at his party at Saltford Scout Hut!), has received this recognition for his contribution to both Saltford and the wider B&NES area through volunteering with Wansdyke Scout District.
Saltford Parish Council resolved to nominate Graham in recognition of his three decades dedicated to enabling young people through his work with Saltford Scouts and Wansdyke Scout District, coupled with his recent vision to create a new Explorer Scout Unit linked with Fosse Way School in Radstock for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
Through his initiative at Fosse Way school in 2024, Graham has identified a different type of provision for young people with special needs to participate in Scouting that was not previously available within B&NES. SPC views that Graham has cast a shining light on the diversity of Scouting in B&NES and opened up fantastic opportunities to young people who would otherwise miss out on the skills for life at the heart of the Scout movement.
Photo of Graham Bush at Saltford Scout Hut, December 2024
On winning the award, Graham was asked for a few words from Saltford PC. Graham shared as follows:
“Scouting has played such a large part in my life, moulding me in my younger days then as a leader developing and enabling me to provide some great activities and opportunities for the young people of Saltford and in more recent years working to support and help other adults as the next generation of leaders come through.
I feel touched that the Parish Council and BANES have recognised me in this way. I have only ever seen Scouting as a hobby and have always enjoyed passing on what I have learnt on my Scouting journey and watching the young people develop, knowing that I have played a part in helping this happen.
Although Scouting has changed over the years I still believe it offers so many opportunities for the young people both with the activities on offer and the “skills for life” that they learn along the way. I hope that my recognition for this award will inspire other adults to get involved so we can offer Scouting to all the young people that would like to take part. The adults can have as much fun as the young people (sometimes more!!), develop new skills, try different activities and meet lots of new people making friends for life!!”
Graham will be presented with his award at a special reception held for Community Award winners at the Guildhall in Bath, by the Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council. Saltford Parish Council’s Chair, Cllr Jon Godfrey, also intends to be present (date TBC), and SPC will be sure to share photos!
B&NES Council has nine categories for its Community Awards. Winners of six of the B&NES Council Community Awards are chosen by a judging panel, as was the case with the ‘Willson Volunteer of the Year’ Award, and three awards are chosen by the public.
These are as follows:
• Charity of the Year
• Volunteer Team of the Year
• Young Volunteer Team of the Year.
The ‘public vote’ categories are still open for voting. Residents can vote on the B&NES Council website at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/vote-community-awards until March 24. More information about B&NES Council’s Community Awards can be found on the B&NES Council website at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/community-awards-2024
If you have been inspired by Graham (you don’t have to sign up for three decades!) and are interested in volunteering with Saltford Scouts, they would be pleased to hear from you. You do not have to be related to any Beaver, Cub or Scout to volunteer with Saltford Scouts, though family members (grandparents etc) are very welcome as volunteers!
Contact Tina Cutis at tina.curtis@wansdykescouts.org.uk to find more out about what’s involved.
The Wansdyke District Scouts page also has information on their website about volunteering, please visit https://wansdykescouts.org.uk/join-scouts/volunteer/
Saltford Parish Council was pleased to resolve to nominate Saltford resident Graham Bush for the ‘Willson Volunteer of the Year’ award at a closed session at its December meeting, ahead of the nomination deadline. Please view our article ‘SPC nominates Graham Bush for B&NES Council Community Award 2024’ for more information including SPC’s full nomination wording.