As I hope colleagues will be aware I am driven by service leadership, I believe that contributing positively to our community is not only beneficial to others but creates a sense of personal self-worth and well-being that cannot be replicated in financial reward.

The work that we all do day-in-day-out for our pupils and wider communities as educationalists (whatever and including every role in the Trust) is fundamental to the growth, advancement and well-being of society.  For that I am grateful and we, collectively should be proud of our contributions.  

As well as paid employees, the Trust runs on an army of unpaid volunteers, Trustees and Locality Committee members, PTA members, visitors to our schools like Open the Book presenters, parents and family members that help with additional reading sessions, educational visits and supporting innumerable other projects.  We also all know that many, many, of us contribute far more hours, and occasionally blood, sweat and tears than our contracts require us to do, this is even more evident during the end of term.  Volunteering in whatever context is rewarding in its own right and again I am thankful for your support for our children.

The focus of 'Horizons' is our community engagement driver, our Trust, settings, colleagues and families do not operate in isolation.  We are all part of an interconnected network of formal and informal associations - where these are strong, communities and people flourish.  I know of many of you that not only balance work and home but engage in other activities that promote community.  Finding the time to squeeze even more into already hectic schedules.

Whether you engage in a band, faith group, youth organisation, act as a Special Police Officer, retained Fire & Rescue Officer, contribute to the running of a sports club or topical at the moment engage in local politics.  I pay tribute to you, our nation, community and indeed our Trust is built on values of fairness, service to others and compassion.  It is also built on the backs of the volunteers and that should never be underestimated.

Through the Trust community engagement driver, we aim to nurture those values of service, duty, volunteering, compassion, care and political awareness in our pupils and young people.  As Youth Social Action surveys show, engaging young people early with these concepts increases significantly their contributions to society in later life.  Through our curriculum, links with the Scout Association and recent opening of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme centres at Riverwalk and Warren we are investing in our future.

Thank you to the volunteers.

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne

CEO, Volunteers as a Scout Leader, supports Parkrun operations, Anglician church in the UK and Kenya, and is a primary care giver to elderly family members.