Growing the Section training

The Section Leader training modules are part of the Wood Badge training for Section Leaders and Assistant Section Leaders. This is optional for Section Assistants.

You can complete them in any order, within the first three years of volunteering.

Growing the section (module 13) is one of the Section Leaders training modules.

Validation is showing what you know and that you can use it in practice.

Talk to a Training Adviser to decide if you’ll need to do the learning for this module, and what you’ll do to validate it.

To validate this module, you’ll need to explain the role that you play in the recruitment and retention of young people and adults, and explain why growing Scouting is important. You should give examples of new members (adults or young people) who have joined Scouting as a direct result of action you have undertaken, and the steps that you took to enable this to happen.

And complete two of the following:

• Work with others to produce and implement a development plan for your section or group.
• Run or take part in a recruitment event to help grow your section and group.
• Give examples of how you are being flexible and meeting the needs, wants and time commitments of adults when recruiting them.
• Demonstrate how you've effectively used the transfer methods between sections, your role in Moving On, Membership Awards and age-range flexibility, giving examples of young people who you've recently helped to move between sections, reviewing anything you think could be done better in future.
• Any other ideas subject to agreement with a Training Adviser.

Some examples of how you can demonstrate these actions to a Training Adviser are:

• Have a discussion with a Training Adviser.
• Invite a Training Adviser to attend and observe a meeting with potential new recruits.
• Get a written or verbal statement from an observer.
• Produce a moving on plan for the young people you support.

See the Adult Personal File (pages 68 and 69) for more examples of how you can demonstrate what you’ve learnt.

You can start other Section Leader training modules before validating this one.

This module is for Section Leaders, Assistant Section Leaders and Section Assistants who are completing a Wood Badge, and it should be completed within the first three years of volunteering.

If you are not sure if you need to do this module, check POR Chapter 16: Roles Table.

You can also ask your volunteer line manager or a Training Adviser, or contact the Support Centre.

Training courses are organised locally. Most Districts, Counties and Areas offer course dates on their own websites.

A Training Adviser will be able to answer any questions you have. Don’t worry if you haven’t been assigned one yet, you can speak to your volunteer line manager, local Training Manager or County Training Manager.

If you're not sure who to speak to locally, you can contact the Support Centre.