Inclusive Growth Planning
Why your Growth Plan is so important...
We know that Scouts can have potentially life changing effects on young people and on their future outcomes. Scouts provides skills for life, fun, friendships and opportunities to become active citizens in their communities.
But we also know at there are so many young people across the country who can’t access Scouts and that we need to do more to grow in the lower IMDs and in ethnic minority communities.
This planning template helps us to effectively identify how we can achieve Inclusive Growth in each of our counties / areas / region, and will be used dynamically to help you all to track progress throughout the year.
Growth will not happen without effective planning. But we also have a range of support from the Growth & Communities team and from UKHQ to help make this process as easy as possible.
Support available to help you with Inclusive Growth
How the Growth & Communities team can help you achieve growth in your area
Direct support (England):
- For all new Sections in IMD 1-5 (or Sections in higher IMDs with 50% or more membership from IMD 1-5) or those in Black, Asian or minority ethnic communities
- For re-energising Sections with 5 or fewer young people at Census 2024 in IMD 1-5 (or Sections in higher IMDs with 50% or more membership from IMD 1-5) or those in Black, Asian or minority ethnic communities
£3,500 Grant and Direct support (England):
Uniformed Youth Fund Waiting Lists
We're working with the Growth Plans to identify eligible sections that have a waiting list, require support from a Local Growth Officer and fall within the following IMD areas:
- Scout Troops in IMD 1 to 5 areas
- Scout Troops in IMD 6 and 7 areas where over 50% of its young people are from IMD 1 to 5 areas
- Scout Troops in Youth Investment Fund areas
- Explorer Units in lower IMD areas
Other types of support (UK):
• Peer2Peer support for all volunteers wishing to open new Sections, re-energise Sections or recruit more adults
• Online Volunteer Recruitment workshops
Support to achieve this from Early Years for new Squirrel Dreys (UK):
• There is a £500 start-up grant available for all new Dreys in IMD 1-5 (England, Northern Ireland and Scotland) and IMD 1-4 (Wales). ·
• For areas new to and still exploring opening a Squirrel Drey, the Thinking about Squirrels webinar provides more support and information on the next steps. ·
• All new Dreys must submit an Expression of interest form, to be approved by their District Lead Volunteer before they can open.
• Once received, new Dreys will then receive direct contact from the Early Years team on the next steps and support available to them.
Our commitment to Inclusive Growth
In line with the Scouts' 2025 Inclusive Growth Strategy, we are committed to support the opening of more sections in deprived areas and increasing the number of adult volunteers from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Our Direct Support offer is therefore prioritised for sections supporting young people within IMD 1-3 locations, or those which predominantly support Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities.
The key targets for Inclusive Growth
Inclusive growth and our Skills for Life strategy
By Census 2026 we'll have:
- 547,000 young people in Scouts, made up of 487,000 young people aged 6-18, plus 60,000 Squirrels
- 88,000 frontline adult volunteers (Section Leaders and Assistant Section Leaders)
- 19,500 Young Leaders
- 500 more sections created in areas of deprivation since 2018
- 5% of our adult volunteers from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds
Contact Scouts Scotland
Get in touch with Scouts ScotlandContact Scouts Cymru
Get in touch with Scouts CymruContact Scouts Northern Ireland
Get in touch with Scouts Northern IrelandContact British Scouting Overseas
Get in touch with British Scouting Overseas