Montgomeryshire is Scouting for girls

Powys is leading the way in the numbers of volunteers joining scouts over the last year, with Montgomeryshire second in the national table for new recruits and third for the number of female volunteers signing up.

Local scouting received a massive boost recently when the National Lottery awarded £500,000 to Welshpool to launch the transformation of their crumbling hut into a community facility.

And, nationwide, the Duchess of Cambridge’s decision to endorse the movement by signing up as a volunteer in North Wales has sparked the biggest increase in volunteers for nearly 30 years.

Since the Duchess joined, Powys has led the way with a rise of 18% in Brecknock, 17% in Radnor and 7% in Montgomeryshire. In overall volunteer recruitment numbers Radnor leads the way in Wales with Montgomeryshire in second.

And the good news continues. At the weekend’s celebration at Windsor Castle, Jake Davies from Llanrhaeadr (pictured) was one of 14 scouts to receive the Queen’s Scout Award, the highest honour a Scout can achieve.

The Queen’s Scout Award recognises personal achievement, endeavour and service to others, and is the ultimate goal of Scouts in the UK. Chief Scout and international adventurer Bear Grylls also attended the event at Windsor Castle.

The locations for biggest growth in female volunteers in 2012-3

1.     Brecknock, Wales: 18%

2.     Radnor, Wales: 17%

3.     Montgomeryshire, Wales: 7%

4.     Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan: 6%

The fastest growing locations for overall membership in Wales in 2012-2013

1.     Radnor

2.     Montgomeryshire

3.     Cardiff and the Vale or Glamorgan