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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

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Practical Skills training

Module 18 – part of Section Leader training

Who this is for

Section volunteers completing a Wood Badge.

Learning options

Course or Small group.                                         

How long it takes

2-3 hours.                                                        

How to complete it

Demonstration to a Training Adviser.

What you’ll learn

You’ll learn practical skills for your role, and how to share them with young people.

Additional information

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.

Practical Skills (module 18) 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 complete two of the following:

  • Learn or develop a practical skill which can be used in Scouting.
  • Instruct a young person in carrying out two practical skills, ensuring that the skill is appropriate for the section the young person belongs to, and that the young person is aware of, and follows, safety and risk assessment procedures.
  • Demonstrate two practical skills, at least one of these skills is one that you have learnt or developed in your role in Scouting, ensuring that the skill is appropriate for the section the young person belongs to, and that the safety and risk assessment procedures are followed appropriately.
  • Any other ideas subject to agreement with a Training Adviser.

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

  • Invite a Training Adviser to attend and observe a meeting you demonstrate a practical skill.
  • Get a written or verbal statement from an observer.
  • Show a qualification in a practical skill.
  • Show photos or videos of you learning a skill or instructing young people in a practical skill.
  • Show programme plans or instructions for carrying out a practical skill activity or risk assessments for an activity.
  • Have a discussion with a Training Adviser.

See the Adult Personal File (pages 51 and 52) 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.