Our new digital system and ways of volunteering are live
Our new digital system and ways of volunteering are live
Our new digital system is now live. Read more
Learning you need to do: Growing Roots
Discover the learning you need to do within your first six months as a volunteer
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Growing Roots is the learning you need to do within your first six months as a new volunteer, with Safety & Safeguarding completed within the first 30 days. It covers the basics of Scouts, safety, data protection and creating an inclusive environment.
Growing Roots for everyone
This is the learning that all new volunteers need to complete within their first six months.
The only people who don't need to complete this learning are Presidents, Vice Presidents, Non Member - Needs Disclosure, Retired Members and Designated Carers.
For new volunteers, this learning needs to be completed within the first 30 days of joining.
For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've already completed our Safety modules within the last three years.
What you'll learn
This learning is about how we keep our young people and each other safe. It includes:
- What our safety policy is and why it’s important
- What your responsibilities are in terms of Safety
- How to assess and manage risks
- How to respond to and report incidents
For new volunteers, this learning needs to be completed within the first 30 days of joining.
For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've already completed our Safeguarding modules within the last three years.
What you'll learn
This learning is about how we safeguard our young people and each other. It includes:
- What safeguarding is and why it’s important
- How to recognise Safeguarding concerns
- How to respond to and report Safeguarding concerns
- How to Safeguard Adults at Risk
For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've completed Module 7 - Scouting for All.
We still recommend everybody completes this learning so that we can help ensure everyone feels welcome at Scouts.
What you'll learn
This learning is about how we make Scouts a welcoming space for everybody. It includes:
- How to challenge assumptions
- Practical ways to be more inclusive in everything we do
- How to respond when people need reasonable adjustments
- How to challenge discrimination
For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've already completed the GDPR module.
What you'll learn
This learning is about how we take care of people's personal data. It includes:
- What data protection and personal data is.
- How to gather personal data in Scouts.
- How to use, share and store personal data in Scouts.
- How to delete or archive personal data securely.
- How to respond in case of a data breach or subject access request.
For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've already completed Essential Information (Module 1).
What you'll learn
This is an introduction to what Scouts is and how we help young people develop skills for life. It includes:
- Our purpose, Promise and values as Scouts.
- The support that’s available to you.
- How our different teams work together.
- How Scouts create impact.
Growing Roots for some people
This is the learning some people need to do.
This learning needs to be completed by all new Section Team members. For existing volunteers, this learning is automatically signed off if you've already completed and validated the following current Modules:
- Module 3 - Tools for the Role (Section Leaders)
- Module 12A - Delivering a Quality Programme
- Module 12B - Programme Planning
- Module 17 - Running Safe Activities
What you'll learn
This helps our Section Teams to understand how to plan and deliver a safe, balanced and high quality programme for young people in Scouts. It includes:
- The Scout Method and how we create impact.
- How to involve young people and be youth led.
- How to promote positive behaviour when working with young people.
- How to plan and run safe and exciting programmes, so young people can achieve their top awards.
- How to work with parents and carers of our young people.
This learning will need to be completed by all new Team Leaders and Lead Volunteers, except for Team Leaders of Section Teams and Sub-teams.
For existing volunteers, this learning will be automatically signed off if you've already achieved your Manager & Supporter Wood Badge.
What you'll learn
- How to adapt your leadership style
- How the Scouts approach to Teams works
- How to welcome new volunteers
- How to run good reviews with volunteers, and how to recognise them for their work
- How to have constructive conversations
- How to carry out your responsibilities for permit approvals, activity approvals, and suspensions
- How to lead on inclusive growth
This learning will need to be completed by all new Trustees.
For existing volunteers, this learning will be automatically signed off if you've already completed our current Trustee Introduction module.
What you'll learn
- What a Trustee is and what responsibilities you have
- Where to find resources and support for approaching your responsibilities
- How to manage premises
- How to manage risks as a Trustee
First Response
Although not technically a part of Growing Roots learning, First Response must be completed by some people within 12 months of starting a role. Some volunteers will have different timescales if they're in other roles before they move over to the new digital system in their County.
This learning needs to be completed by all Section Team volunteers, Group Lead Volunteers, and 14-24 Team Leaders.
It must be renewed every three years.
What you'll learn
This is First Aid training at Scouts. It includes:
- Managing a first aid incident
- Offering emergency life support such as CPR
- Helping in situations where a person is unconscious
- Dealing with common Scouting injuries including bleeding, sprains and head injuries
- A basic understanding of some of the major illnesses: asthma, stoke, diabetes, and so on
The First Response content and delivery methods will not change with the introduction of Growing Roots. You can find out more about First Response on the First Aid Training pages.
Re-joining Scouts after a break
If you’re joining or re-joining Scouts after a break of 180 days or more, you’ll need to re-do your Growing Roots learning, even if you’ve completed this learning in a previous role.
Scouts.org.uk shows you what learning you’ll need to complete, but if this doesn't look right, contact the Support Centre.
Branching Out
Find out about the learning opportunities available for when you’d like to build your skills.
Find out about Branching Out