Callum Farquhar, of the 83rd Fife (Cairneyhill) Scout Group, has become the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Callum, who is Fife Council’s locality support team leader for Dunfermline, has spent 25 years building links with Scout groups in Japan. During that time he has led cultural exchange trips and raised £10,000 in Scotland to help support Scout groups in the coastal villages of Iwate Prefecture following the tsunami in Japan in 2011.

“I am absolutely delighted to be receiving this award,” he said. “There are a huge number of people in Scouting who give up a lot of their own time to make these trips a reality for our young people. It’s a huge honour for me and for them to have our work recognised in this way. I have been involved in volunteering for many years. I really enjoy the experiences myself but the best part is seeing how much our young people enjoy it and what a difference it makes to them.” In total, Callum has led eight cultural exchanges with over 500 young people travelling to Japan, spending time with local groups to give them first-hand experience of the traditions, differences and similarities of the two cultures. He was awarded the Silver Cuckoo, the highest award in Japanese Scouting, for his commitment to hosting groups of Japanese Scouts in Scotland for over 20 years.

Douglas Chapman, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said, “I know Callum from his extensive work with local Scout groups and his outstanding contribution to forging international links with Scouts from around the world, particularly his commitment to his work for Scouts in Japan following the tsunami in 2011.

“Through his work, Callum has inspired many young Scots to make friends across the world and think and act globally. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award and I hope that Callum’s recognition also inspires our leaders of the future to support the next generation of young people.” This year, Callum will be helping thousands of young people from the UK as he will be co-ordinating part of the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan. The UK contingent of over 4000 young people and adults will be the largest group of UK citizens to visit the country since the 1940s.

Prime Minister David Cameron said, “Callum has shown incredible dedication to the scouting movement and to promoting strong cultural relations between Scouts in the UK and Japan. The money he raised following the devastating tsunami that hit Japan helped to give back an important piece of childhood to those scouts whose headquarters were rebuilt.

“Adult volunteers like Callum are doing so much to enable over 3000 UK Scouts to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Japan. And I am delighted to recognise Callum’s service by making him a Point of Light.”