Durham Scouts Awards Night 2026 Celebrates Youth Achievement and Remarkable Volunteer Service
The local community gathered in force this week for the Durham Scouts Awards Night 2026, a vibrant and heartfelt celebration that shone a spotlight on youth accomplishment and adult dedication across the region. This prestigious annual event, held at the Glow Venue in Newton Aycliffe, brought together recipients of Scouting's highest honours alongside their families, leaders, and distinguished guests to acknowledge dedication, achievement, and positive community impact throughout County Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside.
Honouring Six Decades of Unwavering Commitment
While the evening celebrated the inspiring accomplishments of young people and volunteers from across the county, a particularly poignant moment honoured one volunteer whose extraordinary six decades of service have profoundly shaped generations of local scouts. Among those recognised was Sheila Gibbon, who received a prestigious Long Service Award for an incredible 60 years of continuous volunteering within the Scouting movement.
Sheila's remarkable journey, which began in 1966, has seen her hold an astonishing 34 different roles. Her contributions have ranged from supporting Cub Packs at a grassroots level to making significant contributions to British Scouting Overseas initiatives. Reflecting on her extensive time in Scouting, Sheila shared her motivation and experiences.
"The help and support I received right from the beginning kept me motivated," she said. "I've worked with some amazing people, learned so much from them, and been to places and done things I would never have experienced without Scouts. The values and purpose of Scouting have always stayed the same - and they are just as important today."
Sheila added that her fond memories are "too many to list", but one particularly special moment stands out - meeting her husband through Scouting, with whom she remains happily married.
A Celebration of Scouting's Enduring Legacy
The awards night highlighted how the commitment of individuals, both young and old, continues to keep the scouting tradition thriving and relevant in Durham. From grassroots leadership to regional support roles, the event underscored the vital role volunteers play in ensuring young people benefit from fun, friendship, personal development, and outdoor adventure.
Greg Piskosz, lead volunteer for Durham Scouts, expressed his pride in the community. "Our awards night is a highlight of the Scouting year," he stated. "It's a chance to celebrate not only remarkable achievements, but also the resilience, leadership and community spirit shown by our young people and volunteers. We are incredibly proud of not only those being recognised today, but of all our young people and volunteers across the county."
He further emphasised the core purpose of Scouting: "to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. It is a great pleasure seeing the young people collect their awards tonight and demonstrate just how great their potential truly is."
Marking Significant Scouting Anniversaries
The 2026 event also marked the beginning of a special year for the movement, as it celebrates three significant Scouting anniversaries:
- 5 years of the Squirrels programme
- 40 years of Beavers
- 110 years of Cubs
Durham Scouts continues to support thousands of young people in developing essential skills for life through adventure, teamwork, and active community involvement. Volunteers like Sheila Gibbon remain the backbone of this endeavour, ensuring the movement's values and opportunities are passed on to future generations.
