After a busy day working on special projects for the police, Steph Ball’s Wednesday evenings are only just getting started.

Having spent 22 years as a front-line police officer before moving into her current role, Steph races home each week, swaps one uniform for another and heads straight to 3rd Prestatyn Beaver Scouts, to create exciting adventures and inspiring young people.

It’s a routine that perfectly illustrates an important message: even people with demanding careers can make time to volunteer – and often find that they get just as much back as they give.

When we visited Steph, the young people were enthusiastically building their own water filters before taking part in a game exploring global access to clean water. There was plenty of laughter, lots of splashing and a fair few soggy sleeves, but the Beavers were also asking thoughtful questions about water conservation and how they could make a difference.

Steph first became involved with Scouts five years ago when her son, Theo, joined Beavers at the age of six. Although Theo has since progressed into the Scout section, Steph chose to remain with the younger age group.

“I prefer volunteering with the younger ones,” she says. “Seeing them discover new things and grow in confidence is incredibly rewarding.”

For Steph, volunteering has brought unexpected personal benefits too: “I find that Scouts allows me to make so many friends – people don’t appreciate how lonely being a solo parent can be.”

“Without Scouts my son Theo, who is autistic and has ADHD, wouldn’t leave the house. It’s great to have something I can share with him, but which still gives him his own space.”

Stories like Steph’s challenge the idea that volunteering is only for people with lots of spare time. Despite balancing a busy policing career and family life, she continues to dedicate her Wednesday evenings to giving young people opportunities to learn, explore and have fun.

And as the delighted Beavers discovered while getting soaked in the name of science and sustainability, those opportunities can create lasting memories as well as valuable life lessons.

If Steph can find time for Scouting, maybe you can too…

This is the first in a series celebrating the diverse day jobs of Scout volunteers and the unique experiences they bring to Scouting. If you’d like to share your own story and show how volunteering fits around your career, we’d love to hear from you – email us at media@clwydscouts.org.uk