A YOUNG scout has made a “truly remarkable” achievement in collecting activity badges.

Thomas Morse, a member of the 1st Lytchett Minster Beaver Scouts, has successfully gathered all 23 activity badges on offer at the group.

The eight-year-old from Poole has been working towards the achievement since joining the club in February 2021.

Deborah Head, beaver scout leader, said: “This is a very unusual occurrence, showing true scout spirit of determination, resilience, and focus.

“This is the first time this has happened during my 14 years as a leader.”

Activity badges at scout groups allow members to learn new things and demonstrate their skills. Among the badges Thomas achieved are ‘Animal Friend’, ‘Disability Awareness’, ‘Global Issues’ and ‘Money Skills’.

In addition to these, he managed to earn 17 staged activity badges, ranging from ‘Air Activities’, ‘Hikes’, ‘Time on the Water’, and ‘Nights Away’.

Thomas carried out the activities for the badges across his own time, and at the scout group’s weekly meetings.

Bournemouth Echo: Thomas with Deputy District Commissioner, Richard Smith (left), and Group Scout Leader, Mark Hillman (right).Thomas with Deputy District Commissioner, Richard Smith (left), and Group Scout Leader, Mark Hillman (right). (Image: Deborah Head)

Deborah said: “He joined in February 2021 - when we were still in lockdown - so we were doing things over Zoom.

“He did lots of badges on Zoom and at home during that period, and then when we could start meeting face to face in May 2021, we went back to working towards badges every week.

“But we couldn’t possibly do them all, so he did lots at home as well.”

Thomas’ work has been recognised by the Deputy District Commissioner, Richard Smith, who agreed he hadn’t seen such an achievement during his many years in the role.

Deborah added that everyone at 1st Lytchett Minster Beaver Scouts was “really proud” of Thomas.

She told the Daily Echo: “It’s his hard work, and that’s something he can be proud of.

“I know we encourage, and we help, but he’s done all of this, and of course his parents- they’re just all really dedicated to the scout movement.”

Now, Thomas is preparing to transition to the Cub Scouts group- the second section of the scout group following on from beavers.

Deborah said: “I said to him, ‘I’d like to hear he has gone on and got all the 38 cub activity badges.’

“I think he’s a child that can actually go ahead and do it. He will face that challenge and come up with the goods.”