Sixty years of local pride as Durham Scouts honour volunteer

Durham Scouts came together on Saturday, February 7, 2026, to celebrate the exceptional achievements of young people and volunteers from across the county at the Durham Scouts Awards Night 2026 – with one volunteer’s remarkable 60 years of service among those being honoured.

Among those recognised was Sheila Gibbon, who received a Long Service Award for an incredible 60 years of volunteering in Scouting, marking six decades of dedication to supporting young people, developing leaders and upholding the values of scouts.

Time to celebrate - a huge year for Durham Scouts celebrating three anniversaries

placeholder image — Time to celebrate - a huge year for Durham Scouts celebrating three anniversaries

From 1966 Sheila has held an extraordinary 34 roles, from supporting Cub Packs to contributing to British Scouting Overseas.

Reflecting on her time in Scouting, Sheila said: “The help and support I received right from the beginning kept me motivated.

Sheila Gibbon receiving her Long Service Award for an incredible 60 years of volunteering

"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 stands out above all – meeting her husband through Scouting, with whom she is still happily married.

The prestigious annual Awards Night, held at Glow Venue, Newton Aycliffe, brought together recipients of Scouting’s highest awards, along with their families, leaders and guests, to celebrate dedication, achievement and positive impact across County Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

The event also marked the start of a special year for the movement, as 2026 celebrates three significant Scouting anniversaries:

5 years of Squirrels
40 years of Beavers
110 years of Cubs

Greg Piskosz, Lead Volunteer for Durham Scouts, said: “Our Awards Night is a highlight of the Scouting year. 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.

"The purpose of Scouting is 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.”

Durham Scouts supports thousands of young people to develop skills for life through adventure, teamwork and community involvement.

Volunteers like Sheila play a vital role in ensuring young people continue to benefit from fun, friendship, personal development and outdoor adventure.

For more information about joining Scouts in your area or volunteering, visit About Us – Durham Scouts.

Durham Scouts is made up of 14 districts, which consist of more than 100 Scout Groups that run Squirrel, Beaver, Cub, Scout, Explorers and Network on a weekly or flexible basis.

The districts are: