Simplifying how we volunteer together

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who shape how we volunteer. Thousands of people shared what’s great about volunteering with Scouts (and what’s not). Based on what we heard, we’re making changes. We need to adapt to stay relevant, attract new volunteers, and make sure volunteering is enjoyable for everyone.

We want flexible volunteering to be a reality. We also want volunteering to be a smooth journey when people join us (or when we sadly say farewell).

To do this, we’re using team descriptions. Unlike role descriptions, where one volunteer takes on specific responsibilities (this can be a barrier for some volunteers joining or staying in Scouts), this approach means we can share the load among the team. We’re also changing from a complex system of over 400 volunteer roles to around 15 to 20 roles. This’ll make it much easier to understand.

We’re making it clear that volunteers can get involved with just the tasks that work for their skills, interests and free time. Teams can decide how to split the tasks up, according to who’s in the team and what the local needs are.

Our new approach makes it easier for our current teams, as volunteers can give their time in a more sustainable way. It helps volunteers build knowledge, experience, and confidence. And it makes it easier for them to change their involvement when their circumstances change. As such, they stay volunteering for longer. And in the future, more volunteers will want to join Scouts and give their time as part of a flexible team.