We want all our volunteers to have the best time when supporting their team. Below is the story of one of our amazing volunteers:
“You Get Out What You Put In”: A Life of Giving Back Through Scouting
When Stephen Daniels joined Cubs back in 1966, he had no idea just how deeply Scouting would shape his life. Now, nearly 60 years later, he’s still actively volunteering in Oxfordshire—holding roles from Scout Leader to trustee, and everything in between.
Stephen recalls the advice his father gave him early on: “You’ll get out of it, what you put into it.” That simple truth has been his guiding light through decades of service.
Stephen’s journey began in Greater London, where he found his place in Cubs and later as a Venture Scout. “I was never a great cook or anything,” he laughs, “so I needed to make sure that I have an assistant patrol leader who could cook and light a fire. And I would worry about the tent, the pioneering, the activities, and therefore becoming the Scout Leader subsequently seemed a natural progression.”
As he grew older, Stephen stepped up to support the Venture Scout unit as an adult, embracing the role wholeheartedly. “I was becoming an adult. So I carried on just helping with the Scouts and then ended up as the Scout Leader.”
Scouting wasn’t just a pastime for Stephen; it became intertwined with his family life. When he met his wife at Youlbury — a famous Scout campsite in Oxfordshire — their shared passion for volunteering only grew stronger. “She’s an Akela in the old speak,” Stephen says warmly. “And has been for 50 years now.” Together, they have continued to nurture their local group, side by side.
One of Stephen’s proudest contributions has been organising the group’s annual Firework Night, an event that draws hundreds from across Kennington and the wider community. “That involves three months of preparation and a strenuous week and then a really strenuous day,” he explains. “But seeing something like 500 people having a good evening… it sustains and builds community.”
For Stephen, the rewards of volunteering are as real now as when he was a young adult in uniform. “I get as much out of helping out, even in a non-uniformed way, as I did when I was a young adult, uniformed member,” he reflects. “Scouting has always been — even the days of it being male — a force for good. It does provide young people with skills for life.”
His motivation runs deeper than just service. “If you like, I’m investing in my own future through these young people. They… will help keep me in my old age. So why wouldn’t I want to help?”
Stephen encourages anyone thinking of volunteering to simply come along and offer a hand. “Everybody’s got skills and experience, and it’s not all the same skills and experience. Just come and give a hand with stuff. Some of them didn’t require real knowledge — it’s just pairs of hands, sometimes to help. But you come away having learned all sorts of things.”
Even now, while his role has expanded to include trustee and chair responsibilities, Stephen never loses sight of the people at the heart of Scouting. “You don’t come to us to beg. You come to us to tell us what you need and help us work out how we can get that money for you.”
Even now, while his role has expanded to include trustee and chair responsibilities, Stephen remains deeply focused on the people at the heart of Scouting. “You come to us to share your needs and to work together on how we can make a difference.”
Although he no longer wears the Scout uniform, Stephen is a fixture at camps and events, proudly sporting the Kennington t-shirt and ready to roll up his sleeves. His dedication was recently recognised with the Silver Acorn award, given for specially distinguished service — a moment he describes simply as “very nice” and unexpected.
Looking ahead, Stephen hopes more people will answer the call to volunteer. “What we’d want now is young people to always give things a try. And so when we’re talking about volunteering, interestingly to me, that’s just as true of adults.”
When asked to sum up his decades of service in three words, Stephen’s reply is heartfelt and simple: “Pleasurable, fulfilling, worthwhile.”
His story is a powerful reminder that volunteering isn’t just about giving—it’s about building a community, growing together, and gaining as much as you give.
