Policy, Organisation and Rules

11.1.1.1 Nominations for Scout Good Service Awards as well as Meritorious Conduct, Gallantry, Cornwell Scout Badge and Chief Scout’s Personal Award can be initiated by any adult. Nominations must be approved and supported by the relevant Commissioner, before being submitted to UK Headquarters.

11.1.1.2 Nomination forms can be found on the Awards and Recognition page. 

11.1.1.3 Completed Good Service nomination forms for Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service, Award for Merit, Bar to the Award for Merit and Silver Acorn should be submitted to the relevant Commissioner for approval and then the UK Headquarters Awards Team should be notified by the relevant Commissioner of the award decisions using the Good Service Award Completion Form.

11.1.1.4 Completed Good Service nominations forms for Bar to the Silver Acorn and Silver Wolf as well as completed Meritorious Conduct, Gallantry, Cornwell Scout Badge and Chief Scout’s Personal Award nomination forms should be submitted to awards@scouts.org.uk for approval by the National Awards Advisory Group.

11.1.1.5 Before completing a nomination form, individuals are advised to consult the relevant guidance notes.

11.2.1 The Cornwell Scout Badge

11.2.1.1 The Cornwell Scout Badge is awarded in respect of great heroism or pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage and endurance.

11.2.1.2 The Cornwell Scout Badge is restricted to members who have not yet reached their 25th birthday.

11.2.1.3 Both the bronze badge and the cloth emblem of the same design may be worn.

11.2.2 Gallantry Awards

11.2.2.1 Awards for gallantry are for acts which would normally include an element of personal risk.

11.2.2.2 Awards for gallantry are made by the Chief Scout, who is advised by the National Awards Advisory Group, to Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Scout Network members, and adult members (as determined by the Chapter 16 Roles Table) and to Helpers.

11.2.2.3 The Gilt Cross, with a blue and red vertically patterned ribbon and emblems or brooches corresponding to them, is awarded for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at moderate risk.

11.2.2.4 The Silver Cross, with a blue ribbon and emblems or brooches corresponding to them, is awarded for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at considerable risk.

11.2.2.5 The Bronze Cross, with a red ribbon and emblems or brooches corresponding to them, is the highest award of The Scout Association for gallantry, is awarded for acts of bravery in the face of danger where life has been at extraordinary risk.

11.2.2.6 A Bar may be awarded to the holder of any gallantry award for further acts of gallantry in circumstances of similar risk.

11.2.3 Meritorious Conduct Awards

11.2.3.1 Awards for meritorious conduct are made by the Chief Scout, who is advised by the National Awards Advisory Group, to Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Scout Network members, and adult members (as determined by the Chapter 16 Roles Table) and to Helpers.

11.2.3.2 Meritorious Conduct Awards are made for conduct involving a high degree of courage, endurance, initiative or dedication to the Scouts, often through difficulties, without necessarily involving any element of risk.

11.2.3.3 A Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct, on a green ribbon with a blue vertical stripe and emblems or brooches corresponding to them, is awarded for meritorious conduct of a high standard.

11.2.3.4 The Medal of Meritorious Conduct, on a green ribbon with a red vertical stripe and emblems or brooches corresponding to them, is awarded for meritorious conduct of an exceptionally high standard.

11.2.3.5 A Bar may be awarded to the holder of any meritorious conduct award for further acts of comparable outstanding conduct.

11.2.4 Good Service Awards

11.2.4.1 Awards for good service are made by the Chief Scout, who is advised by the National Awards Advisory Group, to adult members as determined by the Chapter 16 Roles Table in POR and, exceptionally, to others who have given valuable service to The Scouts over a considerable period.

11.2.4.2 A Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service, with a white and yellow knot cloth emblem and a brooch of similar design, is awarded for good service while holding adult roles for a period of not less than five years.

11.2.4.3 The Award for Merit, formerly the Medal of Merit, worn with a green neck ribbon and emblems or brooches with a green knot, would normally be awarded for outstanding service. It implies keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period, of at least 12 years duration (exceptionally 10) while holding adult roles.

11.2.4.4 The Bar to the Award for Merit, formerly the Bar to the Medal for Merit, worn with a green neck ribbon with a vertical yellow stripe, and emblems or brooches with a green knot and yellow fleur-de-lys, may be awarded after at least five years of further outstanding service after receiving the Award for Merit’.

11.2.4.5 The Silver Acorn, worn on an orange neck ribbon around the neck, and emblems or brooches with an orange knot is awarded after at least 20 years’ service while holding adult roles, which should be specially distinguished and appreciably better than outstanding’.

11.2.4.6 A Bar to the Silver Acorn, denoted by the substitution of an orange neck ribbon with a vertical green stripe, and emblems or brooches with an orange knot and green fleur-de-lys, may be awarded after at least five years of similarly distinguished service after receiving the Silver Acorn.

11.2.4.7 The Silver Wolf, worn on a green and yellow neck ribbon, and emblems or brooches with a yellow and green knot, is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout, awarded for adult service of the most exceptional nature while holding adult roles.

11.2.5 The Chief Scout’s Personal Award

11.2.5.1 The Chief Scout's Personal Award, with a green arrowhead badge superimposed on a gold circular background on a dark green cloth emblem or brooch, is awarded by the Chief Scout, in consultation with the National Awards Advisory Group to recognise achievement not covered by the criteria for any other awards. It may be accompanied, where appropriate, with a suitable commemorative item.

11.2.6 The Commissioner’s Commendation Award

11.2.6.1 The Commissioner’s Commendation Award is indicated on a cloth emblem or brooch with a purple knot.

11.2.6.2 The award may only be issued to youth members, adult members or non-members.

11.2.6.3 The award must only be issued by the UK Chief Commissioner, Chief Commissioners, UK Commissioners, International Commissioners, Regional Commissioners (England and Wales), County/Area/Island/Region (Scotland) Commissioners, District Commissioners and Youth Commissioners at their discretion.

11.2.6.4 There are no set criteria for this award.

11.2.6.5 The award is restricted and must be purchased from the Scout Store. It is only available for purchase by the UK Chief Commissioner, Chief Commissioners, UK Commissioners, International Commissioners, Regional Commissioners (England and Wales), County/Area/Island/Region (Scotland) Commissioners, District Commissioners, Youth Commissioners or Badge Secretaries.

11.2.6.6 The award may be issued locally at any time and does not affect any applications for Good Service or other National awards.

11.2.6.7 The award may be recorded on the recipient’s adult record on the membership system.

11.2.7 Length of Service Awards

11.2.7.1 Service in The Scout Association is recognised by the Chief Scout’s Length of Service Award at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 year intervals. A certificate and either a cloth emblem or brooch with a white knot and corresponding green number is available to all members of The Scout Association as determined by the Chapter 16 Roles Table in POR.

11.2.7.2 Qualifying service for the above awards need not be continuous.

11.2.7.3 Any service given while holding an adult appointment whilst a member of The Scout Association counts towards service. This does not cover service whilst in a youth role such as Scout Network. However, if a qualifying adult appointment was held concurrently, that service would count.

11.2.7.4 Overseas service with another Scout Association does not count towards service. However, active service whilst part of British Scouting Overseas or the Branches is recognised.

11.3.1.1 When not wearing uniform, the insignia of a Scout award is represented by a brooch with the same design as the cloth emblem.

11.3.1.2 The award of a Bar to a Good Service Award is indicated on the emblem or brooch by the arrowhead brooch superimposed over the centre of the knot design.

The arrowhead is green for the Bar to the Silver Acorn and gold for the Bar to the Award for Merit.

11.4.1.1 The Thanks Badge is the means of expressing the appreciation of The Scout Association to those who are not members but who have been of service to the Scouts.

11.4.1.2 There are no restrictions on who may award the Thanks Badge, and who it may be awarded to.

11.4.1.3 The metal badge is for wear with ordinary clothes and does not confer membership of The Scout Association on the recipient.

11.5.1.1 The method of wear of the awards described in this chapter is shown in chapter 10.