Zahir – Scouts Association
I’m Zahir. I am a volunteer with The Scouts Association, and have 6 roles with the movement (on top of my day job).
I absolutely love volunteering. As I was growing up, I was fortunate to attend clubs and events run by volunteers, and I attribute those organisations to what I have become as an adult – so I wanted to give back. Volunteering also has a great impact on mental health – it gives a sense of wellbeing and calm, and it helps other people. If you manage a smile from someone receiving the service, that’s enough for me.
After the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, who was also the Patron of the Scouts – I decided to queue for the lying-in-state.
The picture with my story is with my queue buddies who I saw queuing near the replica of the Golden Hind close to London Bridge. It was the Saturday evening before the funeral and the disabled queue (with a much shorter wait time) was closed. Pictured here are Rosemary and Richard (mother and son) from Derby / Stoke. Rosemary was struggling to push the wheelchair, so I thought I’d do my Scout duty and push for perhaps 30-60 minutes to relieve Rosemary, who had travelled all the way from the North of the country. She said her hands were chapped due to the grip and weight of the wheelchair. I struck up a friendship with them and ended up pushing the wheelchair all the way to Westminster Hall!
Such lovely people, as were all the others we met along that 10 hour journey from Saturday evening to Sunday morning. Such a pleasant, collaborative, calm atmosphere. Something I’ll never forget.
All the volunteer services and Police along the way were amazing. Hats off to the 120 or so 18-25 year old Scouts working 8 hour shifts over a number of days, to manage the crowds from Lambeth Bridge and in Victoria Tower Gardens.
I was glad I was I able to say a thank you to HM The Queen, Patron of the Scouts and to whom we made our Scouts’ Promise. But just also generally, for her dedication and unwavering duty throughout her 7 decades reign – an example for us all to follow.
Discover more
Visit the Scouts Association website
Would you like to become a lifeline in London?
By volunteering, you could make a difference.