Explorers Democracy Activity Badge
Explorers Democracy Activity Badge
Exploring how democracy, rights and participation shape our communities, helps you understand how decisions are made, and how you can take part. Through learning, real experiences and taking action, you’ll look at issues that matter to you, explore how systems work, and help create positive change in your community. This badge is about understanding democracy, using your voice, and getting involved in decision-making.
Complete three activities. You could:
Discover - Explore the history of democracy in your country
This could include how it works, people’s rights, who could vote, how people have influenced decisions, and how your local area has a say in wider decisions.
Experience - Attend, take part in, or meet representatives from a local youth voice or democratic forum.
This could include a Youth Parliament, Youth Council, local authority youth forum, or similar group. Find out who is involved, how young people’s views are represented, how decisions are made, and the impact on the local community.
Mobilise - Gather evidence from other young people about a local issue and how it could be addressed, then share your findings with a local decision-maker or youth voice structure.
This could be a councillor, council officer, Member of Youth Parliament, youth council, community organisation, or similar.
Solve - Develop a way to improve how young people’s voices are heard on issues that affect them
This could be through a project, event, consultation, or another way of gathering and sharing information
Create - Design a simple way to help others understand democracy.
This could include how people can take part and why participation matters. This could be shared as a video, podcast, artwork, event, or online resource.
Tips
Exploring democracy is not about promoting political parties, but about understanding how decisions are made and how they affect everyday life. Think about how local and national decisions influence things like school, transport, services, opportunities, and even your interests such as sport, gaming, or hobbies. Help other young people see that democracy is part of everyday life, and that their voice can help shape the world around them as they begin to understand how it works.
Offer flexibility and encourage Explorers to tailor their badge to their interests and skill set.
Everyone has different skills and experiences, so try to consider their starting point when choosing what they will achieve.
As a rough guide, an Activity Badge should be achievable within 3 weeks of activities.- When taking part in any activities, remember to let someone know:
- Where you’re going.
- Who you’re with.
- What time you plan to be finished.
- A plan for communicating your progress.
- Ask for help if you're visiting new places or trying new activities.
- Buddy up – take part in activities with another Explorer or friend, so you can experience and try new things together.
- Complete your own risk assessment based on your plans and ask an adult volunteer to check it for you.
- When taking part in any activities, remember to let someone know:
- All activities for this badge must be safely managed and locally approved.
- Volunteers must make sure they have completed a thorough risk assessment and taken appropriate steps to reduce risks.
- Use the safety checklist to help plan and risk assess the activity.
You can flex this badge by focusing on the Votes for 16 campaign – exploring how voting works, why some people believe 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote, and how young people can influence decisions.
This is a great way to shape your activities around a real issue affecting young people today, while still meeting the badge requirements through research, discussion, and taking action.
Find ideas, activities and guidance in the Votes for 16 resources.
Badges will be available to purchase from Scout Store later in September, please check back for updates.
June 2026.
Requirements can be adapted to suit each young persons abilities. See our guidance on flexibility.