Redesigning our 14-24 year old provision

We know that our provision for 14-24 year olds could be better.

We want young people to get the best possible chance in life. To be prepared for jobs. For further study. For life. 

We have a lot to be proud of. Since the launch of Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, except during the pandemic, our numbers have grown year on year. In 2019, 76% of young people agreed that “section leaders were delivering an amazing experience”.   

But we know we could do better. Too many of our Scouts don’t continue to Explorers, and too many Explorer Scouts don’t make it to Network. So, we’re now starting work on reviewing our offering for 14-24 year olds. 

Our focus 

Over the next five years, we’ll be exploring what Scouting should achieve for future generations of 14-24 year olds. With nothing off the table, we’ll explore the outcomes we hope young people can achieve, the activities that will get them there, and the programme and support that make the delivery of those activities as easy as possible. 

What does that look like? 

• Discovery: Exploring what young people, volunteers and society want scouting to achieve for 14-24 year olds (now until February 2024) 
• Co-Design: Creating ideas that could make those achievements a reality (February to August 2024) 
• Piloting: Testing those ideas out locally, finding out what works and what doesn’t (September 2024 to August 2026) 
• Roll Out: Implementing a new approach to supporting 14-24 years olds build skills for life (September 2026 onwards) 

Volunteer-led

We've got the right team in place to make sure that we have a clear direction and influence on decisions, and re-imagine how we support teenagers and young adults. 

• Our board: they'll make sure we're asking the right questions, to the right people, coming to the right conclusions and ensuring young people and volunteers feel consulted at every step of the journey. Half are under 24, and represent communities we seek to serve. 

• Our youth panel: they're a pool of 14-24 year olds who are going to seek out exciting and impactful ways to support older young people – in Scouting and the wider youth sector, at home and aboard. They’ll spot what could work for the future, and what they would rather see left in the past. 

What’s next?

From now until August 2024, we’ll be working alongside young people and volunteers to re-imagine what our programme for 14-24 year olds should look like.

• We’ll be using the results of our Discovery Phase research to identify what works well and what we want to change
• We’ll be running workshops with young people and volunteers in Scouts to imagine what a new 14-24 provision should look and feel like
• We’ll be speaking to young people from other youth organisations to learn what the new programme should offer to attract more young people to it
• We’ll be testing our ideas with young people and volunteers to get feedback so our refreshed programmes meet the needs of everyone
• Our Re-design Team and Youth Panel will be visiting amazing practice across the UK.

Volunteer actions

If you’re keen for young people and volunteers in your area to help shape the future of Scouting for teenagers and young adults, then here are some ideas:

• Sign up to deliver a workshop to your Scout Troop, Explore Unit or Network. Workshop outputs will be used to help shape the new programmes
• Request that the 14-24 Team or Youth Panel come and deliver an in-person design workshop to your group
• Join our community of interest group to have your say as the project progresses
• If you belong to a youth organisation outside of Scouts, and you and your peers would like to help us shape our re-design then get in touch by emailing us at 14-24@scouts.org.uk