Meet the volunteer – Darren Pringle

Name: Darren Pringle

Roles/Groups: Scout Leader/Beaver Leader for 102nd Craigalmond (Clermiston) Scout Group; Assistant Cub Leader for 88th Craigalmond (Carricknowe) Scout Group; Bonaly ASU, Bonaly Scout Centre, Edinburgh 

District/Region: Craigalmond District, South East Scotland Region 

My early years in Scouting
My journey within Scouting started at an early age when I lived in Penicuik. I always had a love for the outdoors including camping, cooking and fun activities so Cubs seemed the ideal choice when I looked around for local Groups to join. It was great as I got badges for doing what I enjoyed! We moved to Edinburgh where I continued with Cubs and Scouts but then stepped out of Scouting until the end of 2017. This was more to do with other sports activities and interests that I had at that time but over those years, expanded on the core skills given by Scouts! 

During the early years of my life, Scouting played a big part in developing my skills, and confidence. I have lots of great memories of camps. It was for this reason that in 2017, I chose to get back into Scouting as a Leader as I wanted to give other young people the same opportunities that I had to make similar memories, challenge themselves and learn new skills! It has also given me opportunities to expand my own interests and skillset over this time. 

My role in Scouting
Its been a mixed bag of experiences over the last 5 to 6 years of Scouting (due to Covid) and it’s been great over the last year or so, getting back to delivering a ‘face-2-face’ fun-filled programme for the Scouts. Our Group has quadrupled taking in more young people over the last year or so which required some additional Leader support for our youngest section, Beavers. I gladly stepped in to assist and it was fantastic to see the support received from both the other Leaders as well as the parents. I love the enthusiasm and ‘can do’ attitude from them all which to me, is Scouting at its heart! 

I’ve enjoyed getting back into Scouts so much – seeing the rewards gained by the young people – that I also willingly volunteered as an Assistant Cub Leader at another local Group, the 88th Craigalmond (Carricknowe) Scout Group. Again, being around similar like-minded volunteers has allowed me to gain invaluable experience as well as broaden my own skills including my archery adventurous activity permit. 

Recently, I joined the Bonaly ASU unit delivering adventurous activities at the Bonaly Scout Activity Centre. For me, this choice was again to provide the same opportunities to not only our Scout Group and other local Groups in the District, but it was also to provide these to the wider Scouting community. It has helped to greatly expand my own interests including archery, bushcraft, traditional scouting elements, cooking and survival skills (to name a few) with the amazing ASU team based at the Centre. It’s also allowed me to learn some new skills such as nettle cordage, burn scrambling, tomahawk throwing, new teamwork challenge games, etc. 

The best about Scouting
Thinking back, the best thing about Scouting has just been seeing the smiling faces and hearing those words ‘it’s been great, thankyou!’ when the young people finish their activity. You know then that some of those memories gained by yourself have been passed on to others. 

Why should people consider volunteering with Scouts?
Volunteering has helped provide a means to expand my own skillsets further, within each of the differing roles. It has offered a chance to meet similar enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life, some with no or little knowledge of Scouting and others, with vast experience willing to pass this on to others. It’s given me a new outlet (or excuse) for getting away from the usual work pressures, doing things that I enjoy personally with the benefit given to our next generation! 

I can’t wait to see what new challenges or skills can be gained this year within Scouting. Definitely hoping to try more watersports this year with our Group and looking forward to getting outdoors more and learning the ‘High Ropes’ activity at Bonaly in the coming months. I highly recommend being an ASU at a Scout Activity Centres to other Leaders and volunteers. Why not come along and join us?

For those thinking about volunteering in Scouting: ‘Don’t hesitate, you will not be disappointed!’. Even a few hours a week or month can make so much  of a difference to every young person, allowing them to gain new skills and experiences that they might not necessarily gain elsewhere.