Good Service awards
These awards are typically used for members who have consistently given service over and above that which is expected within their role.
Award criteria
At Scouts we want to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to the Scouts - it's an important way to make sure people stay with us and to recognise their achievements and Good Service awards are one way of doing this.
All Good Service award nominees must:
- Hold a volunteer appointment as a member of the Scouts.
- Have enough service for the award they’re being nominated for.
- Have a valid disclosure (if relevant for their active roles).
- Have not received a Good Service award in the last five years.
- Not already have the award they’re being nominated for.
- Have completed all mandatory training relevant to all active roles (or is within three years of appointment to the active roles). Please note: If the nominee was previously awarded a Wood Badge for the same role as one of their active roles, Compass must be updated to reflect the training of the active role as being up-to-date.
- Have the correct previous Good Service award (if relevant for the award they’re being nominated for).
Learn more about the specific criteria for each Good Service award below.
If an individual does not meet all the necessary criteria for a Good Service award, it may be more appropriate to consider a Commissioner Commendation, Thanks Badge or nominating them for the Chief Scout’s Personal Award.
Award holders who do not wish for their name to be included on the published Roll of Honour should contact the UK Headquarters Awards Team.
Lower Good Service awards - nomination forms
Nominations for these awards should be made using the following forms:
or
or
Nomination form not appearing correctly? Click ‘VIEW’ then ‘Edit Document’. If you wish to print the form, the first page is a full colour, so you may wish to only print from page two onwards.
The decision on if someone should receive one of these awards can be decided locally but is monitored by the National Awards Advisory Group (NAAG).
In all locations, District Commissioners (and above) can approve:
- The Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service
- The Award for Merit
In England and Wales, County/Area Commissioners (and above) can approve:
- The Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service
- The Award for Merit
- The Bar to the Award for Merit
- The Silver Acorn
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, County/Region Commissioners (and above) can approve:
- The Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service
- The Award for Merit
- The Bar to the Award for Merit
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Country Headquarters approve:
- The Silver Acorn
If awarded, the decision should be submitted to UK Headquarters using the Good Service award completion form.
Awards are then sent out on a quarterly basis but if there are exceptional circumstances, please make a request to the UK Headquarters Awards Team for the award to be expedited quicker.
Awarded in respect of not less than 5 years good service, which stands out. It should be regarded as the Chief Scout's recognition of the very real contribution made to the Scouts by the individual concerned.
When sewing a cloth badge on to a uniform, please note that the top left-hand curve of the design should be yellow.
Awarded for outstanding service. It implies keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period, of at least 12 years duration (exceptionally 10).
Awarded after at least five years of further outstanding service after receiving the Award for Merit.
Awarded after at least 20 years’ service, which should be specially distinguished and appreciably better than outstanding.
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Higher Good Service awards - nomination form
Nominations for these awards should be made using the Bar to the Silver Acorn & Silver Wolf nomination form.
Nomination form not appearing correctly? Click ‘VIEW’ then ‘Edit Document’. If you wish to print the form, the first page is a full colour, so you may wish to only print from page two onwards.
Once the nomination has been supported locally, the form should be emailed to the UK Headquarters Awards Team for processing.
Only the National Awards Advisory Group (NAAG) can approve these awards and their decision is final.
Nominations are considered on a quarterly basis but in exceptional circumstances, a nomination to the Chair of the NAAG can be considered out of the normal sequence with sufficient cause.
Awarded after at least five years of similarly distinguished service after receiving the Silver Acorn.
This award is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout.
It's only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature.
It's not normally awarded until at least a Silver Acorn has been previously gained and a further prolonged period of exceptional service has been achieved. In practice, it's rarely awarded for less than 30 years’ service although, because it is the Chief Scout’s unrestricted gift, no length of service is prescribed.
When sewing a cloth badge on to a uniform, please note that the top left-hand curve of the design should be green.
To watch in full screen, double click the video
To watch in full screen, double click the video
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Supporting and approving Good Service awards
Discover more on the processDeadlines and processing by UK Headquarters
Good Service award deadlines and what happens with decisions/nominations once submitted to UK Headquarters.
See the deadlines and what happens nextBuying additional awards
If you have an award and would like an additional cloth badge, brooch or medal, they can be bought from Scout Stores. You'll need to provide your membership number so we can ensure you are eligible to purchase the item.
Visit Scout StoreDuplicate certificates
Ask for a replacement by filling in the Duplicate certificate request form.
You will need to provide the following details:
- Membership number
- Full name
- Type of award
- Location of award
- Date of award
- Reason for duplicate request
- Delivery name and address