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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Make a kindness community display

First suggested by The British Red Cross
Create a community display to shout about the power of kindness.
Plan a session with this activity

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You’ll need

  • Things to create your display or run your event

Before you begin

  • Remind yourself of everything people have done to champion kindness. If you have quotes and facts, or photos and videos of them taking action, bring them to show everyone. You could ask people to bring their own photos and resources too.
  • Find out if there are any spaces in your community you could use for your display, such as a library or shopping centre.
  • You could also think about events where you could promote your project, for example, a community or Scouts event. You could even decide to organise your own event.

Plan the campaign

  1. Everyone should split into small groups.
  2. Each group should think about how they’d like to celebrate their project an encourage others to take action.

    For example, could they make a display somewhere? Are there community events they could take part in? What about Scout camps or gatherings?
  3. Each group should work together to decide what they’ll do. They should try to choose something they think will make a big difference.
  4. Each group should work together to plan their event. Someone should do a risk assessment.

We’ve included some suggestions of what to consider below. Make sure everyone has a role.

Run the event or display

  1. The person in charge of the event should make sure everyone understands their roles and is ready to go.
  2. Everyone should work together to welcome guests and do everything they planned.

Don’t forget to take plenty of photos (with consent).

  1. At the end of the event, someone should thank all of the guests for coming.

Evaluate the event 

Everyone should gather together and think about what went well and what could’ve been improved.

What will you do?

  • You could focus on celebrating your project’s success, raising awareness of the issue, or encouraging others to do their bit.

Who is it for?

  • You could include people who helped with the project and the people who the project helped.
  • Do you want to invite local decision makers?
  • Will anyone be able to see your display or event, or do you need to invite everyone?

Where is it happening?

  • How will you ask for permission?
  • Is there a second option for if your first choice says no?
  • Is it a venue with a set capacity?
  • Have you asked about accessibility?

When is it happening?

  • Are you holding an event at a specific time, or a display that’ll be up for longer?
  • Do you want to tie it into a date or occasion (for example, World First Aid Day)?

How will you promote it?

  • For example, what about asking parents and carers to spread the word?
  • You could also use newsletters, social media, or even local media.
Logo containing the words Scouts for SDGs. The O in Scouts is made up of 17 coloured segments, representing the 17 goals.

This activity helps contribute towards some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about the SDGs, and how Scouts across the world are getting involved.

Reflection

This activity was all about being a citizen and helping your community. How easy was it to plan the event or display? What skills did people use on the day?

In this activity, people helped others understand their project and the difference it made. Can anyone sum up the key message of their project? What action would they like people who came to their event to take? Was it easy to communicate these things?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Outdoor activities

You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.

Road safety

Manage groups carefully when near or on roads. Consider adult supervision and additional equipment (such as lights and high visibility clothing) in your risk assessment.

It’s up to the young people how much of a challenge they set themselves. Some young people may want to try making a first draft of a risk assessment or contact venues, while others will need a little more help.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Community Impact Stage 1
Community Impact Stage 2
Community Impact Stage 3
Community Impact Stage 4