Column: Dan Aldridge on Scouting and lessons in resilience

Seeing so many young people celebrating their achievements, supported by incredible leaders and volunteers who give up their valuable time to help them grow, was a real reminder of how important community organisations across our community are and why we all should support them.

The Scouts’ motto is simple: Be Prepared.

It is a lesson that I remember from being a cub scout, and it stays with you long after you leave the Scouts.

Looking at the world around us today, I think it is a lesson we should all take seriously.

We are living through uncertain times.

Conflicts overseas have very real impacts here at home, including pushing up prices on essentials, extreme weather making it harder to plan, and once-trusted alliances becoming less reliable, testing our national resilience on many fronts.

Things we've taken for granted – food on supermarket shelves, clean water on tap, and the services we rely on – can suddenly feel less certain.

You may have seen recently in the news that the government is encouraging people to think about being prepared for emergencies, including keeping some basic supplies at home.

This is not about panic-buying or filling cupboards with things we do not need.

It is about taking sensible steps so that, if something unexpected happens, we can look after ourselves and our families for a short time while help reaches those who need it.

Resilience starts with us at home, and a little preparation can make a big difference.

Knowing where our working torches and batteries are, keeping essential medications to hand, and having some tinned food that does not need cooking are all practical steps.

But there is another important part of being prepared that we should not overlook: looking out for one another.

That is one of the things I am reminded of every time I meet with the Scouting or Guide groups, or the Cadets and uniformed services.

They are all about more than badges, ceremony, camping and learning new skills.

It teaches young people duty, teamwork, responsibility and service.

It encourages them to think beyond themselves and to understand that being part of a community means helping others when they need it.

Something we can all learn from, with those values matter just as much in adulthood.

Being prepared cannot simply mean telling every household to fend for itself.

It must also mean making sure our communities are ready to support the people who might otherwise be left behind.

That is why I want us to think about the organisations already doing so much to help people in Weston, Worle and our villages.

Our food banks, charities, community groups and volunteers are often the first people to step in when someone is struggling.

I am working with local food banks and community organisations to ensure they have access to the essentials people might need in an emergency, including bottled water where appropriate, and whether they have plans for supporting vulnerable residents if supplies or services are disrupted.

If you are able to help, consider asking your local food bank what it actually needs.

A donation of the right items, made at the right time, is so important.

Or indeed, a donation of your time, if you're able, is so valuable.

The people I speak to across our community who are struggling come from so many backgrounds, with different challenges, and the absence of judgement and the principle that no one should go hungry are truly things we should fight to keep, among the noise of blame that sometimes overtakes when people forget their humanity.

We should also remember that preparing for an emergency does not mean expecting the worst.

It means giving ourselves a little more confidence that we can manage if something goes wrong.

It is the same principle the Scouts teach when they learn to navigate, first aid or camp safely: preparation helps you respond calmly rather than be caught off guard.

As a Member of Parliament, I want to see government taking resilience seriously, protecting essential services and making sure our country is ready for the challenges, now and in the future.

But resilience is not built by government alone.

It is built in our own streets, our neighbourhoods and the relationships we have with the people around us.

I left the Scouts’ awards evening feeling optimistic.

I saw young people learning skills that will serve them and those around them throughout their lives.

We saw recognition of some phenomenally committed adults giving decades of their time to help the next generation thrive.

The Scouts’ motto is ‘Be Prepared’, a brilliant principle for young people, but it is also a reminder to all of us: plan sensibly, look after your family, check in on your neighbours and support the community organisations that help keep us strong.