Wearing historic uniforms and marching through the Liberation Day cavalcade gave Guernsey’s young Scouts a moment they won’t forget – but, as the organisation looks ahead, its focus is firmly on one thing: finding more volunteers.

Jane King, the Volunteer Development Team Lead for the Bailiwick of Guernsey Scouts Association, shared her reflections on the past 12 months with Express, and what’s on the agenda for 2026…

Highlights

Ms King said that when it came to 2025, the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Liberation day was the main highlight, and was prominent on their calendar. 

“Taking part in the 80th Anniversary Liberation Day Cavalcade in May has definitely been the major highlight of the Scouting calendar for Guernsey.  When we came up with the idea of putting in a float entry to showcase the last 80 years of Scouting in the Bailiwick, we were unsure of what response we would get from our volunteers and our young people.

The messages of Liberation Day wasn’t lost on local scouts, with it’s historical impact clear for all involved. 

“We were absolutely thrilled that so many of our young people wanted to take part and their pride in showing off Scout uniforms that we managed to source dating back over these decades was incredible.  It was lovely to see their enthusiasm for the whole event as they carried their group flags along the whole route of the cavalcade following behind our float.”

“As leaders we know this will be a memory that will last a very long time for them and it is one which they can be proud of.  As leaders it is also amazing to know that our young people can still see the importance of marking such a special and significant occasion that happened many years ago.”

Challenges

However the challenges facing the charity are ones that are all too familiar, finding people who have enough time to dedicate to volunteering. 

However Ms King says they have a plan in place: 

“Our greatest challenge is one that is widespread throughout all volunteer organisations and that is to retain and recruit new volunteers. 

“People’s free time has become more and more precious to them with more demands on everything, so the Scout Association is focussing more on the volunteer team-based approach to running a section, giving more flexibility and understanding to what time people can give.

“We are already running this approach across the Bailiwick and are encouraging our volunteers to get together as teams so that they can work things out around whatever time they can give.”

The 2026 Wishlist

On their wishlist is seeing scouting grow, and continuing to provide their programme to young people across the Bailiwick. 

Jane King said: “Our Wish List for 2026 is to continue to grow scouting in the Bailiwick so that it continues to be available for all young people to enjoy an exciting, safe and outgoing programme. 

“To do this, of course, we need more Volunteers!”