Today being the day our children are wearing their uniforms to school for Founder’s Day, I was struck by how difficult it can be sometimes to be different, to be a leader. My son was excited and was quickly ready to go but my daughter, being older and having done this before, face  d a dilemma.

She knew that she would be one of only a few that would be in a Scout uniform today. She has experienced some nasty comments in the past and was not sure what to do. I reminded her that Scouts is her “happy place” (as she puts it) and that being a leader isn’t always easy. I then stopped talking and went and put on my own uniform. Because leading isn’t about what we say, it’s about what we do.

As I walked into school with both my children, all of us in uniform, I was immensely proud of my daughter. For some of us, it wasn’t a challenge to stand out today but for her, today was a difficult decision but she did it anyway because she understood the importance of doing it.

It is not about what others think about us, it is about our own attitude. It is about wearing our uniform as though it is the coolest outfit, standing tall and proud. When Lady Gaga got up on stage in a meat dress, one could have expected the audience to point and laugh. But they didn’t. Maybe there were some disparaging remarks made but her attitude is so assured that instead of being a laughing stock, it raised debate and was named the top fashion statement of 2010.

Every time we go out in public in uniform, people I would never have met come up to me. I have met ex-Scouts from all walks of life – from petrol pump attendants to pensioners – who go out of their way to ask me about Scouts. Also people who have never even heard about Scouts before want to know more when they see us.

When people ask though why you are in uniform, what do you answer? Is it that it is Founder’s Day, Baden-Powell’s birthday? Or is it something else?

I would say that I wear the uniform because I believe…

I believe in honour, duty and loyalty. I believe in helping others and being positive. I am a Scout.