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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

Renew your Promise online

Come together, remember what it means to be a Scout, and renew your Promise with Scouts all over the world.
Plan a session with this activity

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You’ll need

  • Device with access to the internet

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here. Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers

Get everyone ready

  • Remember, different countries will have different Scout Promises. Share a reminder of the different versions of the UK Scout Promise and remind everyone that they can choose which version they use. 
  • Let everyone know that they can bring a copy of their chosen Promise as a reminder, if they need it. They could print it out, write it down, or have it on their screen.
  • Let people know whether they should log in wearing their full uniform, or whether they should just pop their scarf on. It’s up to you whether you want to keep it formal or whether you’d rather make it informal and relaxed.
  • Decide whether you’ll do some activities to reflect on the Promise as part of your event. Beavers could try Promise hands, while Cubs could give A fable for your promise a go. 

Plan how you’ll include everyone

  • Why not invite someone from each section to lead each Promise renewal? It could be an adult volunteer (for example, the Section Leader or an Assistant Commissioner), a Young Leader, or a young person.
  • People will probably say different versions of the Promise. How will you show that every version of the Promise is equally valued? How will you take time to learn about each country joining?
  • If you’re displaying text on-screen, think about how you can show inclusive prompts that work for everyone, rather than just displaying one version. 

Planning the meeting

  1. Arrange to make contact with Scouts from another country. There are lots of ways to get in touch with Scouts in other countries. 
  2. Explain that Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTA JOTI) is an event specially designed to connect Scouts all over the world – it usually happens in October each year.
  3. You could take some time to learn about the country or countries you'll be meeting with and what Scout Promises are like around the world.
  4. Everyone should chat about how they’ll introduce themselves and get to know a bit about the other group too.
  5. This is a great time to remind people about staying safe online and not sharing personal information. If they’re uncomfortable or unsure about anything, they should chat to a trusted adult.
  6. Everyone should decide which ones they may be interested in working towards with the Scouts from another country.
  7. You could run this activity with a Scout group in another part of the UK or in another country at anytime of the year too, such as St George's Day.

Talking about the Promise

  1. Welcome everyone and ask them to mute themselves.
  2. Ask people from each group to introduce each other.
  3. Some people from each section or country could take it in turns to share some news. What have they been up to? Has anything exciting happened recently?
  4. You could talk about how the Promise is different in each country and also what makes it the same. All Scout Promises should share the same Scout values and qualities, such as doing our best.
  5. Everyone should think about their Promise and one way that they’ve lived by it recently. They could take it in turns to share their ideas. They might want to think about how they’ve helped others, for example, helping out at home or helping their community through Scouts. 
  6. Remind everyone that they’ll be making their Promise together and that everyone should use the version they’re most comfortable with. Check that anyone who needs them has the words ready to go.

​Renew your Promise

  1. Everyone should make the Scout sign – the person leading the event should show them how: they should take their right hand, and use their thumb to hold down their little finger. At the same time, they should stretch out their other fingers so they point straight upwards. They should turn their hand so their palm is facing the screen.
  2. Put any words on the screen. Think about using the inclusive prompts below to help everyone make their Promise at the same time.
  3. Everyone should renew their Promise using the version that’s right for them. Younger age groups (or new members) might need some extra reminders or a bit of extra time. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect – it really is the taking part that counts. If anyone is signing their Promise, they can make the Scout sign at the beginning and end of their Promise.
  4. Remember, some versions of the Promise take slightly longer to say than others – make sure there’s enough time for everyone to finish.
  5. Repeat making the Promise for each of the sections. Scouts, Explorers, and adult members have the same options for the Promise, so they could say theirs together.
  6. The person leading the event should finish by challenging everyone to think about one way they can continue to live by their Promise over the next year.
  7. Everyone should make a note of what they’ll do to help them remember – they could write it down or draw, whatever works best for them.  

Reflection

Next time everyone comes together in their groups, they could reflect on what it felt like to come together with other sections or groups to renew their Promise together.

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.

Online safety

Supervise young people when they’re online and give them advice about staying safe. Take a look at our online safety or bullying guidance. The NSPCC offers more advice and guidance, too. If you want to know more about specific social networks and games, Childnet has information and safety tips for apps. You can also report anything that’s worried you online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. As always, if you’ve got concerns about a young person’s welfare, including their online experiences, follow the Yellow Card to make a report.

Make sure you think about everyone’s needs when you plan your event. Everyone should be able to join in and renew their Promise together.

Does anyone use sign language or Makaton to make their Promise, for example? How can you make sure they are included?

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Beavers My World Challenge Award
Cubs Our World Challenge Award

Involving young people in leading the Promise renewal could be a great opportunity for them to develop their communication skills and confidence – it’ll probably also help you to make the event engaging.