A new way to volunteer for Scouting

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A new way to volunteer for Scouting

05/09/2009

This weekend has seen the launch of Scout Active Support, a new way of allowing adult volunteers to support and get involved with local Scouting.

Scout Active Support was launched on Saturday morning at this year’s Gilwell Reunion, an activity camp where adult volunteers share knowledge, enjoy outdoor activities and take part in workshops packed full of ideas to help them in providing great Scouting to young people.

Scout Active Support is the new name for Scout Fellowship, a Scout Section for adults aged 18 upwards who wish to use skills they have and develop new skills to support local Scouting.

Over thirty years Scout Fellowship has played an important role in helping provide the excitement and fun of Scouting to young people across the UK.

Why the change?

The change to Scout Active Support comes after a three year consultation and review with adults involved in Fellowship and Scouting.

From the review it became clear that though many aspects of Fellowship were working, some were not and a rethink based on the ideas from volunteers’ feedback was necessary to help ensure the Section’s continued success for the future.

Therefore Scout Fellowship has become Scout Active Support, a name that more clearly reflects what those involved do for Scouting.

Glenn Walker, UK Adviser Scout Active Support, said: 'The new name, Scout Active Support, we hope, is much more reflective of what these valuable groups of adults actually do - provide great support to local Scouting. As a concept, active support is not something new, and it is essential we keep the elements that are working well from Fellowship.'

Find out more about Scout Active Support

You can find out more about the changes by visiting the Scout Active Support web page.

Providing adventure to the UK’s young people

Scouting is more popular than ever, with adult volunteering increasing at the fastest rate for 23 years and just as many girls as boys now joining. 100,000 Scout volunteers give up their time to provide adventurous activities to 400,000 6-25 year olds. Despite this, demand still outstrips supply and waiting lists remain at an all-time high due to the need for more adult volunteers.

By volunteering for Scouting you not only benefit from supporting young people, you also gain from developing yourself.

There are lots of flexible volunteering opportunities.

Comments

By Val Fitzpatrick
on 05/09/2009 17:58
SAS - I appreciate that things have to change especially when things are not working and I like the idea of active support but i will admit the phrase SAS came to mind straight away

By Steve
on 05/09/2009 23:23
What a fantastic flexiable new way to get even more adults involved in Scouting. An excellent oppertunity to build on The Big Adventure.

By Tony Keay
on 06/09/2009 19:48
What a great idea, to build on the success of the Scout Fellowship. It should help promote membership of Scout Active Support Units, so that everyone can enjoy their Scouting and give their time in the most appropriate way for them.

By Geoff Turner
on 07/09/2009 12:38
Never was that keen on the name - "Fellowship" but "Active Support" is a job description (as it should be) not a name. Not that keen on being a "Manager" either. Is this mandatory because I would much prefer to call my Group's active supporters a Patrol and their Leader a Patrol Leader. And do its members become Scouts, full or associate, as in the Fellowship or will they be kept on the edge?

By Laura McManus - Programme and Development Adviser
on 07/09/2009 16:15
Members and Coordinators of Scout Active Support can become Full or Associate Members of The Scout Association. It is only the Scout Active Support Manager that must become a Full Member and work towards a managers woodbadge.

By Graham Lucas
on 08/09/2009 19:45
My immediate reaction is that this is change for the sake of it (again) which will result in unwanted and unnecessary expense in changing badges, flags, activity clothing etc. Not to mention the time and maoney expended on the review and resulting resources. I really can't see that anything other than unrest and a number of resignations will result from this.

By Ian White
on 10/09/2009 11:56
I must agree with Graham Lucas in that this appears to be change for changes sake. The Thesaurus shows Fellowship as being used for: affability, association, brotherhood, sociability and familiarity amongst others. That is a massive part of what Fellowship membership affords to many former Scouts and their families. A social network in addition to offering assistance to Scouting. I fear this Review has been a missed opportunity and will lead to many members leaving.

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