Scout Michael, 18, is 'brilliant' at adult role
A North Herts teenager who runs a Scout unit, where he is in charge of adults as well as children, is
in a Hertfordshire-wide competition that hails the achievements of young people.
Eighteen-year-old Michael LeSage, of Constantine Close, Baldock, joined the scouts aged eight. He
began helping adults run a ‘Beaver Colony’, the entry level to scouting, when he was 14. Aged 16 he
took command of the 24 five to seven-year-olds and of the adults who help him run the unit.
Now Michael has been nominated by his group scout leader for the Mitsubishi Electric Young People
of the Year awards or the ‘YOPEYs’. Nick Peace, group leader of Stotfold scouts. said: “This is a
massive undertaking for anyone, but the commitment and quality Michael offers the Beaver Scouts
is outstanding.”
The YOPEYs are ‘Revealing, Recognising & Rewarding’ young unsung heroes across Hertfordshire and
there is £2,000 in prize money for young winners to share with the community.
There is a top prize of £800 to be won by a young person or group of young people who help others.
The young person or group keeps £400 and gives £400 to a good cause of their choice. There will be
a 2nd place winner of £400, 3rd place and junior winners of £200 each, all similarly shared.
Typical entries include fundraisers, young carers, club leaders, volunteers on projects at home or
abroad and young leaders who pass on academic or sporting skills. YOPEY is always revealing new
positive role models and the qualification for entry is easy – simply, the young person has to ‘give to
others’.
The Herts YOPEY is open to young people aged from 10 to 25, who should live, work or study in the
capital. But they do not have to meet all three conditions. They could go to school, college or
university in Herts but live elsewhere and vice versa.
Michael has been leading the Cheyenne Beaver colony in 1st Stotfold Scouts, just over the
Hertfordshire border in Bedfordshire. He does the organising and the planning and leads the group
in everything they do.
Michael said: “I have a great assistant who really does help me deal with issues that arise. As she has
two children in the scout group, she can tell me what to do as a parent.
“She also helps with the money in the group as we run activities she co-ordinates who has paid and
what is owed. This is massive help as I really couldn’t run the group without her.”
His assistant, 45-year-old Julie Boughton, said: He is brilliant, really inspiring. Working with an 18year-old is different but he is definitely up for a challenge. He has been great to work with and he
understands the youngsters which is good.”
Julie added: “I see it from a different perspective to him so it works well.”
Initially adults doubted a teenager could run the unit. “It has been difficult proving my worth
because of my age. I have had to work so much harder, just to prove I can do it,” said Michael.
He can still find it more difficult dealing with the adults, parents and fellow leaders than the children.
“Managing kids can be difficult but as long as you have a plan and are organised, it's not too bad. It's
harder with the adults because they have doubted me and I have to prove I am worthy of the
position I am in.”
To meet scouting child-safety rules, Michael has to be accompanied by adults but he is still in charge.
“Due to my age, I haven’t got anywhere near the level of experience as the leaders supporting me
do. I do struggle to understand why and how I need to deal with some of the issue that arise,” said
Michael.
“Also understanding the rules and regulations is a difficult task for me, I overcame this obstacle by
talking to most other leaders in my group and asking for support and guidance.”
Nick met Michael when he was 12 and part of the scouts. He said: “Michael is an exceptional young
person; he has taken on additional responsibility within the Scout group and has shown maturity and
commitment way beyond his years.”
Michael helped the Beaver Scouts, the entry level to Scouts, as part of his Explorer Scout award
programme. Then at the age of 16 he agreed to take on the running of the ’colony’ of 24 Beavers,
aged six and eight.
As well as running the unit, Michael also helps at camps, where again he can lead adults as well as
youngsters in activities.
Michael is also a qualified archery instructor and has helped Stotford Scouts buy new archery
equipment. He is running a six-week archery course as part of his Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, one
of the highest awards in scouting.
Michael is studying a diploma in IT at North Herts College in Hitchin and plans to do a degree in the
same subject at university.
He wants to stay with the scouts, even after he has finished university and got a job.
“They have helped me through too much, I have been through a lot with them, they are part of my
family, and it wouldn't feel right to leave them.
“I don't do it for the recognition, but to be nominated by Nick is overwhelming. It's nice to know
someone is grateful and appreciates the hard work and time I have devoted to the scout group.”
“Leading the scouts has shown me that no matter how old you are, or how many people doubt you,
you can overcome anything and be successful.”
Nick added: “Michael is a delight to have around; he is very positive and will always help out. He is
an accomplished young man and a role model for all our young people in Stotfold and his
contribution to their development cannot be underestimated.”
YOPEY has been praised by national leaders. Prime Minister David Cameron said YOPEY entries show
determination and “resolve to make a difference”.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “YOPEY is leading the way in recognising the contribution
young people make.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the young winners “will build a better, more engaged and more civic
society".
YOPEY was founded by former national newspaper journalist Tony Gearing, who said: "There are
many young people in Hertfordshire doing wonderful things for others. It's just that they live in the
shadow of a well-publicised anti-social minority.
“We need to give young people the respect they deserve and set up the best as positive role models
for others to copy rather than focusing on the small number who appear in the press for negative
reasons.”
About this entry, Tony said: “Michael is showing the scouts that he teaches what it takes to be a
good role model. He gives up a lot of his time to lead the group and shows maturity beyond his
years.”
As well as Mitsubishi Electric and Smith-Milne & Co, a Rickmansworth accountancy firm, this year’s
YOPEY is also sponsored by two housing associations, B3Living of Broxbourne and North
Hertfordshire Homes, Orange Amplification of Borehamwood, McNicholas of Elstree, Renault of
Rickmansworth, Vinci of Watford and Runwood Homes for the elderly. The awards ceremony will be
at a prestigious Hertfordshire venue in the autumn.
Schools, youth organisations, churches and charities across Herts are urged to nominate their young
people. If their nominee wins, they can receive half the prize money. Family and friends can also
nominate but they cannot win prize money. Young people can even nominate themselves.
# Do you know somebody who deserves the title Young Person of the Year? To nominate logon to
yopey.org or write, enclosing a stamped-addressed-envelope, to YOPEY, Woodfarm Cottage, Bury
Road, Stradishall, Newmarket CB8 8YN for a paper entry form.
Without people like Emily Bannin, groups like 5th Potters Bar Scouts simply could not continue
providing the vital activities and diversions for young people in Hertfordshire.
Now aged 18, Emily, of Borough Way in the town, has worked with the Beavers for more than two
years, inspiring them with her enthusiasm and is in a Hertfordshire-wide competition that hails the
achievements of young people.
Despite a heavy load of school work she puts ‘105%’ into meetings. Now she has been nominated for
the Mitsubishi Electric Young People of the Year or ‘YOPEYs’.
The YOPEYs will ‘Reveal, Recognise & Reward’ young unsung heroes across Hertfordshire and there
is £2,000 in prize money for young winners to share with the community.
There is a top prize of £800 to be won by a young person or group of young people who help others.
The young person or group keeps £400 and gives £400 to a good cause of their choice. There will be
a 2nd place winner of £400, 3rd place and junior winners of £200 each, all similarly shared.
Typical entries include fundraisers, young carers, club leaders, volunteers on projects at home or
abroad and young leaders who pass on academic or sporting skills. YOPEY is always revealing new
positive role models and the qualification for entry is easy – simply, the young person has to ‘give to
others’.
The Herts YOPEY is open to young people aged from 10 to 25, who should live, work or study in the
capital. But they do not have to meet all three conditions. They could go to school, college or
university in Herts but live elsewhere and vice versa.
Emily, who attends Dame Alice Owen School, was put forward by the Leader of 5th Potters Bar
Scouts Francesca Gullick, who is also a District Commissioner.
“Emily has completed her training to be a young leader and is a fully dedicated member of the
leadership team. She is excellent at supporting the children and helping them develop while keeping
them safe and encouraging them when they feel they are struggling,” she said.
Francesca said Emily is a great communicator who can inspire the Beavers, who are the future of
scouting, by talking about the camps and trips she has been on.
“When they hear her they want to do those things too,” she said.
Anyone involved with youth organisations these days knows how important ‘safeguarding children’
policies are to providing a safe environment to enjoy and develop.
“Emily has taken on those responsibilities, which can put some people off when the media makes it
all sound quite scary. She has a mature head on young shoulders,” she said.
“Put simply we could not exist without people like Emily and now she is 18 she has confirmed she is
going to train to become an adult leader. To say I was ecstatic at the news is an understatement,”
Francesca said.
Emily says she is pleased to be nominated for YOPEY but added that she has never sought
recognition.
She was speaking just before going along to the regular Monday evening beavers meeting in the
scout hut at Potters Bar Leisure Centre where four young leaders and three adults supervise around
24 five to six-year-olds.
“They can be a handful and are both tiring and rewarding,” she said.
“Some evenings you come away with a headache but you have also seen how they have got a lot out
of an activity. We do things like games and things and recently we have been making light catchers
and cards for Mother’s Day and there is always badges to get,” she said.
Emily grew up with scouting, switching from rainbows and brownies ‘because they are a bit girly’ she
said.
She worked her way up through scouts and explorers and attended the World Scout Jamboree in
Sweden in 2011.
Being a young leader, and now aiming to become ‘warranted’ and an adult leader, is her way of
giving back to scouting after all she has received and experienced.
“I do like to encourage them and I am always afraid some of them will get discouraged and not get
involved in things. There was a girl who needed my support to do an activity so I showed her how to
do it. She did it and I stepped back and saw she didn’t need me anymore. I do like to see them fly on
their own,” she said.
Emily is a keen dancer, has trained as a dance leader and has run her own classes at school but
studies have meant that is now on the back burner.
She is studying for A-levels towards going to university next year and become a teacher, possibly PE,
and there will come a time when she will have to step back from Potters Bar scouts.
“I have already started looking at scout groups in the towns where I hope to go to university so I
might keep involved. After university I will come back to it and at some point I would like to lead my
own unit – you can never leave scouting,” she said.
YOPEY has been praised by national leaders. Prime Minister David Cameron said YOPEY entries show
determination and “resolve to make a difference”.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “YOPEY is leading the way in recognising the contribution
young people make.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the young winners “will build a better, more engaged and more civic
society".
YOPEY was founded by former national newspaper journalist Tony Gearing, who said: "There are
many young people in Hertfordshire doing wonderful things for others. It's just that they live in the
shadow of a well-publicised anti-social minority.
“We need to give young people the respect they deserve and set up the best as positive role models
for others to copy rather than focusing on the small number who appear in the press for negative
reasons.”
Tony said: “Many times YOPEY hears about the vital role young people play in keeping organisations
going – often benefitting other young people. Emily is one of them, encouraging and inspiring others
and giving back.”
As well as Mitsubishi Electric and Smith-Milne & Co, a Rickmansworth accountancy firm, this year’s
YOPEY is also sponsored by two housing associations, B3Living of Broxbourne and North
Hertfordshire Homes, Orange Amplification of Borehamwood, McNicholas of Elstree, Renault of
Rickmansworth, Vinci of Watford, Johnson Matthey of Royston and Runwood Homes for the elderly.
The awards ceremony will be at a prestigious Hertfordshire venue in the autumn.
Schools, youth organisations, churches and charities across Herts are urged to nominate their young
people. If their nominee wins, they can receive half the prize money. Family and friends can also
nominate but they cannot win prize money. Young people can even nominate themselves.
# Do you know somebody who deserves the title Young Person of the Year? To nominate logon to
yopey.org or write, enclosing a stamped-addressed-envelope, to YOPEY, Woodfarm Cottage, Bury
Road, Stradishall, Newmarket CB8 8YN for a paper entry form.
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