For information call us on: 0845 300 1818

Recruitment: a fresh approach

Section Brochure

Overview:

Some parents will not really understand how the Scout Section or Group is run. This sometimes prevents them from wanting to get involved or even knowing what kind of help is needed. The brochure does not have to be very long – in fact, the shorter the better! Your aim should simply be to explain how the District, Group or Section is run, the types of roles that need filling for it to run effectively and (of course) who they should contact if they would like to help out!

Top tips:

Try not to make the brochure too long. Include only relevant information such as what is meant by Beavers, Cubs, Scouts etc. and about how the Section fits into the wider structure of Scouting (i.e. Section – Group – District – County/Area).
Explain some of the things that Scouting does that may seem unusual to adults new to Scouting, including the left handshake and the Grand Howl. Giving people the information to understand some of these practices is a simple way of helping them to feel more involved. It is important to remember that some parents will have no knowledge of Scouting at all, so try not to assume anything and take care to explain Scouting terms clearly.
Explain some of the roles that are taken up by people in Scouting, emphasising that there are roles that don’t involve working with young people as well. Explain briefly the management structure. Do not use terms like ‘ABSL’, ‘GSL’ or ‘DC’ without explaining what the letters stand for and what they mean! This will make people who don’t know about Scouting feel excluded - they shouldn’t be expected to know these things.
Emphasise that many adults involved in providing Scouting to young people juggle this commitment with work and family life. Promote the flexibility of Scouting for those who want to help – occasional help is better than no help at all.
Include contact details so that people who are interested in supporting local Scouting know who to speak to.
If a parent offers to help, why not send them a copy of the night’s programme in advance. That way they know what will happen and can contact you to ask questions if they aren’t sure. Using Programmes Online (see link below) to plan your meetings means that you can email your Programme to Section Assistants, helpers or parents easily. It’s also a great resource containing hundreds of ideas for Section activities and covers all Programme Zones and methods. Anyone who is 18 or over and pays a membership subscription or who has it paid for them can use and contribute to Programmes Online. You just need to login to Programmes Online using your eight-digit membership number (found on your Scouting magazine address label).

Case studies:

Be the first to tell us about your experience of working with SSAGO to recruit students. Contact the Adult Support Team at adult.support@scout.org.uk or on 0845 300 1818.