Working with local businesses
Strong links with local businesses can be incredibly beneficial for Scout groups
Quick links
Having contacts in local business opens your doors to many different opportunities. These can vary from town to city and villages. The key is knowing your community and how and what you can do. It’s not just about asking for money. We have created a guide to help you on your way; whether that’s to gain new volunteers or help support a session, to sponsorship and fundraising.
If we get this right, businesses will come to us to ask where they can help before we ask them!
Key things ways you can work with businesses
This is an area that can help support your group in gaining potential future volunteers, or much needed support for your group, from painting the walls to gardening. Lots of businesses allow their staff free volunteering time, but may be unaware of the opportunities locally. It doesn’t have to be a full-on scouting role and simply a way of getting some much-needed support. This support could actually be in a variety of forms and could even be done from their place of work, i.e. small printer or design company to produce professional resources or a fund-raising cake sale. Being aware of all these options is a great place to start. Remember that if you don’t ask you will never know. It's always worth an email to ask the question. If you need help with email wording see the useful tools section for some examples you can edit.
Local businesses can really help us with finding volunteers. Anywhere with a large footfall could be a great place to locate a vacancy board; try the supermarket, leisure centers or football club. Finding individuals with key skills is a great way to recruit professionals, for example finding a new treasurer by asking at a local accountancy firm.
Local businesses can really help with fundraising. Local supermarkets may have a token scheme for shoppers to choose where the money goes, so make sure it is well advertised amongst your group. Try to find a member of the group who works for a bank or building society which offers ‘matched-funding’ and tie it in to one of your bigger fundraisers.
Donations could be in other forms, not just money; look for donations for specifics, such as catering items for a large event or camp, or see if community champions at supermarkets can provide free food or vouchers.
Local businesses can support with the running of your programme by running fun sessions for your group/sections. For example, Pets At Home run sessions at their stores and help the young people earn the animal career badge, or you could see if a local restaurant could run a cooking session in their kitchen. You can also link up with other organisations in the local community to get invites or free tickets to events taking place in the local area. Why not contact your local football team and see if they will offer some free tickets to a football match or a free tour of the stadium? Some businesses have training rooms that they are happy to offer out to local organisations which you could use for meetings or training.
How to find businesses
These are just a few ways in which you can find businesses in your area, the list is not exhaustive however these are the key one's for you to start:
- Something as simple as a Google Maps search can show you a good overview of your local area
- Ask anyone local to the area - local knowledge goes a long way!
- Why not hold a meeting with the adults in your group to see if they can name a local business or two, or suggest any of their friends who work in local business who could help - you never know who might work where! Or if you can't do a meeting, why not send out a quick survey instead? Or if you can't do a meeting, why not send out a quick survey instead?
Things to consider
During this exercise it's vital you think about certain things you need to have in place before making contact.
- Have a goal in mind before you start approaching local businesses - what is the reason for approaching and what is your desired outcome?
- Remember that it is a two-way street; businesses are more likely to help you if they know you are there and what you do - be visible in the community and be seen to be making a difference. If no one sees your impact, the less likely they are going to be to put their name towards supporting you.
- Remember; keep your messages on brand, and think about how we talk to others.
Have you thought about empty shop windows?
There are often several shops lying empty on the high street. Have you thought about asking whether you can turn these shop windows into a great advert for Scouts? It’s probably easier than you think. Download our guide for some ideas and inspiration.
Don’t forget to measure your success, recording how many enquiries you receive before, during and after you put on your display.
Example email templates
Email Template for Volunteer Support
To: [Company/individuals name]
Dear [Company/individuals name],
As an organisation we prepare young people by giving them skills for life, through the delivery of an inspiring programme.
This is an enquiry about whether as a business you would be willing to support [Group / District name] Scouts. We need support in helping us with (inset what you need) which will be a directly enable us to continue to offer scouting for young people.
What’s in it for you?
Volunteering with us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and attributes which are transferable to the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, teamwork ability. In addition to this is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends and get involved in the community; all of which is great for personal development and will enhance the CV. At the same time this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives, as well as promoting your business, and giving you a chance to get involved in supporting young people in your local community.
If you have any questions please get in contact:
Insert here: Contact Info [name and role] at [email address] or [telephone number].
Thank you for your time so far, and if you have any questions please do get in touch! We would be more than happy to send a representative to talk to interested employees about volunteering for the Scout Association, and if this is something that would be useful, please contact us on [telephone number] or [email address]. For more information, please visit www.scouts.org.uk or [local website].
[Name],
[Role]
On behalf of the [Group / District Name] GSL / District Search Group
Email Template for Recruitment
To: [Company/individuals name]
Dear [Company/individuals name],
The search is on for a new volunteer team member to support [Group / District name] Scouts, and we need you to think about anyone you know who would enjoy being a go-getter or a doer!
So, what is the role?
[Insert the tasks you need to fill]. The tasks would be great for any individual, but will also work well as a role share within a larger team.
In a nutshell, the core skills required are:
- Inspire and enthuse people
- Apply strategic thinking to a challenge
- Team work
- Be resourceful and energetic
- Believe passionately about developing young people
What’s in it for you?
Volunteering with us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and attributes which are transferable to the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, teamwork ability. In addition to this is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends and get involved in the community; all of which is great for personal development and will enhance the CV. At the same time, this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives.
There are a number of different ways to enquire about getting involved:
Insert here: Contact Info [name and role] at [email address] or [telephone number].
Thank you for your time so far, and if you have any questions please do get in touch! We would be more than happy to send a representative to talk to interested employees about volunteering for the Scout Association, and if this is something that would be useful, please contact us on [telephone number] or [email address]. For more information, please visit www.scouts.org.uk or [local website].
[Name],
[Role]
On behalf of the [Group / District Name] GSL / District Search Group
Email Template for Session Support
To: [Company/individuals name]
Dear [Company/individuals name],
As an organisation we prepare young people by giving them skills for life, through the delivery of an inspiring programme.
This is an enquiry about whether as a business you would be willing to support [Group / District name] Scouts, what we need is support in running a specific Section Meeting for young people covering (Insert what here)
What’s in it for you?
Volunteering with us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and attributes which are transferable to the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, teamwork ability. In addition to this is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends and get involved in the community; all of which is great for personal development and will enhance the CV. At the same time this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives. As well some positive PR for your business and a chance to get involved in supporting young people in your local community.
If you have any questions please get in contact:
Insert here: Contact Info [name and role] at [email address] or [telephone number].
Thank you for your time so far, and if you have any questions please do get in touch! We would be more than happy to send a representative to talk to interested employees about volunteering for the Scout Association, and if this is something that would be useful, please contact us on [telephone number] or [email address]. For more information, please visit www.scouts.org.uk or [local website].
[Name],
[Role]
On behalf of the [Group / District Name] GSL / District Search Group
Email Template for Fundraising
To: [Company/individuals name]
Dear [Company/individuals name],
As an organisation we prepare young people by giving them skills for life, through the delivery of an inspiring programme.
This is an enquiry about whether as a business you would be willing to support [Group / District name] Scouts. We need support in helping us with (insert what you need - funding or equipment or event) which will be a direct advantage in allowing us to offer additional scouting experiences for young people.
What’s in it for you?
Volunteering and supporting us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and attributes which are transferable to the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, and teamwork ability. In addition to this is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends and get involved in the community. At the same time this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives, and promote your business, and give you a chance to get involved in supporting young people in your local community.
If you have any questions please get in contact:
Insert here: Contact Info [name and role] at [email address] or [telephone number].
Thank you for your time so far, and if you have any questions please do get in touch! We would be more than happy to send a representative to talk to interested employees about volunteering for the Scout Association, and if this is something that would be useful, please contact us on [telephone number] or [email address]. For more information, please visit www.scouts.org.uk or [local website].
[Name],
[Role]
On behalf of the [Group / District Name] GSL / District Search Group