Planning individual support
Learn about our support plans for disabled young people and volunteers.
At Scouts, we want to include everyone. This means making changes to help disabled young people and volunteers join in. We’re required by law to make reasonable adjustments for young people.
When a young person or volunteer joins your Section, ask them, or their parents or carers, if they have any disabilities or support needs. If they do, follow the steps below to create an individual support plan. You can create a support plan whenever you find out about a disability.
Lots of disabilities are hidden, so ask everyone.
Individual Support Plans
Record support needs for:
Young people (Microsoft Word) (PDF)
Adult Volunteers (Microsoft Word) (PDF)
Network members (Microsoft Word) (PDF)
Check out our completed example of a plan for young people.
How to create an individual support plan for a young person
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Talk to the young person, if appropriate, and their parents, carers or someone who knows them well, like a Support Worker.
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This can be led by a Section Team Leader, Group Lead Volunteer, or another designated volunteer.
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Talk about their needs and how to support them. For example, you might talk about avoiding allergens or providing extra help for Nights Away.
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Focus on their strengths, what they can do and the support they already have. Discuss how you can help them overcome challenges so they can enjoy Scouts.
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Look at our guidance on building partnerships with parents and carers to help with the conversation.
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Write down what you talked about using the Individual Support Plan.
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Include support needs, agreed adjustments and how these will help them join in.
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Ask the young person, if appropriate, and their parents or carers if they’re happy with the plan.
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If the plan involves intimate and personal care, get approval from the County Lead Volunteer, or their designated representative.
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Share the plan with the young person, if appropriate, and their parents or carers.
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Give the plan to relevant volunteers, following GDPR guidelines.
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Keep the conversation open, the plan can be updated anytime.
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Check the plan after four to six weeks and make changes if needed.
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Update the plan at least every six months or whenever there’s a change to the young person’s support needs.
When the young person moves to a new Section, Leaders from both Sections should meet with them, if appropriate, and their parents or carers to review and update the plan.
How to create an individual support plan for a volunteer
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The Volunteer’s Line Manager should meet with the volunteer to discuss their support needs.
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Talk about how their needs may impact their role and what support can help.
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Focus on their strengths, what they can do and the support they already have. Discuss how you can help them overcome challenges so they can enjoy volunteering.
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Write down what you talked about using the Individual Support Plan.
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Include support needs, agreed adjustments and how these will help them join in.
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Ask the volunteer if they’re happy with the plan.
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If the plan involves intimate and personal care, get approval from the County Lead Volunteer, or their designated representative.
Share the plan with the volunteer and anyone else who needs to know, following GDPR guidelines.
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Keep the conversation open, the plan can be updated anytime.
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Check the plan after four to six weeks and make changes if needed.
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Update the plan at least every six months or whenever there’s a change to the volunteer’s role or support needs.
If the volunteer moves to a new role or Section, their Volunteer Line Manager should meet with them to review and update the plan.
Individual support plan feedback
We're always looking to do better at Scouts. Let us know what you think about our individual support plans and guidance by filling out our online form.
Tell us what you think
Learn about making changes to include people.
Read our tips on how to connect with parents and carers.
Discover how to write risk assessments.