Essex Scouts – Development plan 2022 – 2025

This is the County Development Plan, discussed and agreed by Team Essex in November 2022. The detailed plan with responsibilities and dates is available here.

Our vision by 2025 is to have prepared more young people with skills for life, supporting by amazing leaders delivering an inspirational programme. We’ll be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.

Programme of Work 1: People

More, well trained, better supported and motivated adult volunteers and young people, from diverse backgrounds

Objectives:

• To grow the number of young people (aged 6 to 18) in Essex Scouts by 11% to 14,583 (Baseline: 13,138)
• To grow the number of volunteers in Essex Scouts by 7% to 5,007 (Baseline: 4,679)
• To grow the number of Young Leaders in Essex Scouts by 10% to 549 (Baseline: 499)
• Develop and implement Future Leaders Programme
• 80% of applicants successfully complete Future Leaders Programme
• Training to Learning
• A warmer welcome
• Volunteer culture / Reimaging the way we volunteer

Programme of Work 2: Programme

A fun, enjoyable, high quality programme consistently delivered and supported by simple (digital) tools

Objectives:

• 6,569 young people in Essex Scouts will be shaping their experience
• 50% of young people achieving the Youth Shaped award
• 50% of young people will be achieving the top awards (Baseline: 17%)

Programme of Work 3: Perception

Scouts is clearly understood, more visible, trusted, respected and widely seen as playing a key role in today’s society

Objectives:

• 6,569 young people will be making a positive impact in their community each year
• Run one youth forum per year, per section at County level
• Develop and achieve approval for a Communications Strategy for Essex

Programme of Work 4: Early Years

Provide more young people with skills for life through a new section for four and five year olds

Objectives:

• Creation and recruitment of a Squirrels Advisor and team
• Opening one extra Squirrel Drey per District, per year in Essex
• Districts to recruit ADC Squirrels Support

Programme of Work 5: Digital

Embedding our digital principles and transforming the Scouts experience with better digital tools

Objectives:

• Digital transformation (Compass replacement and Digital Skills Training)
• Audit of existing digital systems/processes within County & Districts
• Create and implement project plan to align existing digital systems/processes to new Compass replacement
• Develop and achieve approval for Technology Refresh proposal

Programme of Work 6: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Changing the way we think and do things so that we can become a movement that gives everyone what they need to thrive

Objectives:

• To open 6 new sections in the top wards of deprivation in Essex
  (Index of Multiple Deprivation – IMD – 1 to 4 / 27% of sections in Essex currently 1-4 IMD)
• Adults volunteers in Essex to reflect the proportionate demographics of the local population
  (Census 2021 data released late Autumn 2022 – Baseline YP BAME: 4.5% / Adults BAME: 1.1%)
• Develop and implement a grant scheme to assist with the Cost of Living crisis
• Race Equity Project (via Transformation)