A FATHER and son team whose dedication and hard work has transformed the fortunes of a struggling York Scout group are the latest nominees in The Press’s 2013 Community Pride Awards.

Ian Bruin, 27, and his father Graham, 50, took on Osbaldwick and Murton Scout Group years ago when membership had dwindled to almost nothing.

Graham’s wife, Sandra, 47, who nominated the pair in the Volunteer Of The Year category, said: “When they first started there hadn’t been a Scout group there for a while and they started with only two children, but they kept going and going.

“They took leaflets round trying to get kids involved. They both have full-time jobs and this is all voluntary but they now have about 20 kids on their books.

“Ian is a former Scout himself, and he was asked to take it on and then persuaded his dad to help out and they gave it a go. They just want to give the kids some life skills.

"They give so much of their time to the Scout group, not only on the night but also many more hours of their time planning activities, arranging visits, camping and they also do car boot sales, paper rounds and help out at various events, for example the Jane Tomlinson run.”

Graham admitted running the group was hard work and said he remembered one particular fortnight where he had only one night off from the endless rounds of meetings.

But he said the hard work was worth it when he saw the difference it could make to a young person’s life.

“Sometimes the kids can be wild and you think ‘what am I doing?’ but then you get a new starter and you see them becoming a different person and their parents say ‘what’s happened? How did you manage that?”

“We had one lad who was so shy. We have a bit where we talk about ourselves and he said ‘I’m boring and I’ve got no friends’, but he never left.

“Now he’s made friends and he’s confident and happy – that’s where you get the satisfaction from.”

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area. The finalists will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony in October.

You are free to nominate people for any category but the judges may move nominations to different categories if it is thought they better reflect the work they have done.

To make a nomination, complete the online form before Friday, July 19.