This week (1st June-7th June 2026) is Volunteers Week, a UK-wide campaign to recognise the amazing contributions of volunteers.

To celebrate, all this week we’ll be sharing stories of volunteers in our communities. Today it’s the 1st King’s Norton Sea Scout Group.

Founded in 1921, 1st King’s Norton Sea Scout Group has been part of Bournville’s Community for over 100 years, providing water-based activities, adventures and volunteering opportunities for local children, young people and adults.

The group makes provision for children aged six to 14 through Beavers (aged 6-8), Cubs (aged 8-10.5) and Scouts (aged 10.5-14), with further provision for those aged 14 to 18 through the Laser Explorer Sea Scout Unit.

The adult volunteers who run the sections are the group’s greatest strength. Each of the section team leaders grew up locally and attended the group themselves; all have over twenty years’ experience volunteering with the group, and have all been part of the 1st King’s Norton scouting family since they were children themselves, while many of their fellow volunteers have also got longstanding connections with the group, too.

Many of the volunteers have children who are part of the group, and several families have seen several generations attend and enjoy what the group has to offer.

As well as volunteers from Bournville, the group benefits from the support of people from neighbouring areas who grew up attending the group, as well as people new to both the local area and scouting in general.

All volunteers have other significant commitments, such as to work and to family, and give their time generously and enthusiastically to make exciting and engaging provision for the children and young people they volunteer with.

Based at their premises on Heath Rd, the group have been working hard to renovate their building with the help of grant funding. The building itself is a timber structure that is over 60 years old, and the volunteers and trustees have managed to raise over £30,000 in grant funding to make the building safe and watertight for the future.

The group also uses Bittell Reservoir for their water activities, which include sailing, kayaking and powerboating. Volunteers have opportunities to train as instructors and assessors for these activities. Other outdoor activities and residential trips are all part of the adventure for the children and young people of the group.

With over 60 local young people taking part on a weekly basis, why not visit their website to find out more and to join in the fun: https://1stkingsnorton.org.uk/