Scout leader receives Inspiring People Award (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Leader of the 12th Harpenden Scout group, Liz Jack, receives Inspiring People Award

9:10am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News By Zoe Forsey, Senior Reporter

A scout leader from Redbourn has been named the winner of January’s Inspiring People Award.

Liz Jack, of Redding Wood, has lead the 12th Harpenden Scout group for more than 15 years as well as taking on a number of different roles in the community.

The 61-year-old became involved in the group when her son, who is now 24, became a scout.

She said: "I like watching the young people develop. It is like having 50 children.

"To watch a young person arrive with no cooking or leadership skills and to see them turn into someone who can do all of those things, I find very inspiring.

"It is about watching them come in to their own.

"You have such a mix of people but when they achieve something you get a buzz."

During her years with the group, Mrs Jack has looked after more than 250 youngsters.

As well as leading her troop, Mrs Jack runs the district shop where scouts from across the area buy their uniforms.

She is also the area’s nights away advisor which gives her the responsibility of checking details of camps and trips for all groups in district, and she helps organise the Harpenden Gang Show.

Mrs Jack has been named the winner of this month’s Inspiring People Award.

The award is run by the Review in conjunction with local solicitors Debenhams Ottaway, in search of unsung heroes across the district.

On hearing that she had been named the winner Mrs Jack said: "It is absolutely fabulous."

Ginny Cooper, who nominated Mrs Jack for the award, said: "Liz works tirelessly for the benefit of her scouts. She is always fund raising so they are able to attend fantastic expeditions away.

"Liz has the gift of disciplining in just the right tone and she always encourages and gives praise.

"She has the intuition to know those who need it most and it is these skills that help the young people that she leads to develop into committed, unselfish, disciplined and well-rounded beings.

"Liz has certainly inspired so many young people in Harpenden."

Louise Attrup, from Debenhams Ottaway, presented Liz with the award on Monday.

She said: "Liz has helped to mould very many rounded and confident young people over the years.

"I was struck by her pride and enthusiasm for the Scout troop and its achievements, which has such a positive effect on the scouts themselves, their families and the wider community."