Volunteering Development Teams
Understand how Volunteering Development Teams work at District and County to support volunteers
Quick links
Please note in Counties without Districts, the County Volunteering Development Team fulfils the responsibilities of both the District and County Volunteering Development Teams.
District Volunteering Development Team Description
Purpose
The District Volunteering Development Team makes sure all volunteers in their District have a positive and enjoyable volunteering experience. They make it easy for people to join and learn new skills.
- Volunteering Development Team Leaders
- Volunteering Development Team Members
Other volunteers are automatically members of this team because of their roles in Scouts:
-
Team Leaders of any District Volunteering Development Team sub-teams. For example, Awards and Recognition Team.
These members are automatically added into these teams as ex-officio roles, which will be shown by a '-' in their role status. Ex-officio members do not inherit any of the permissions of the team. To inherit permissions to complete or support with the tasks outlined, they will need to be added as a full member of the team by adding a new role for them.
Support all District teams to be aware of, and reflect on, Our Volunteering Culture.
Attract and welcome new volunteers to District and Group teams:
- Use Scouts branded resources to attract new volunteers and show the diversity of Scout volunteers and young members.
- Reply quickly and positively to possible new volunteers.
- Make sure volunteers are welcomed easily and smoothly, including supporting volunteers to share any reasonable adjustments or any other needs they may have, such as faith-based needs.
- Hold inductions with Group Lead Volunteers and other Group and District Leadership Team Members.
Make sure volunteers are well supported:
- Support all District teams (including Group Lead Volunteers) to follow our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, safer volunteer recruitment, joining, reviews, and processes for leaving Scouts.
- Help and encourage Team Leaders (including Group Lead Volunteers) to have regular reviews with volunteers in their teams.
Help volunteers with learning:
- Help volunteers and Young Leaders find and engage in opportunities for learning and development.
- Coordinate Scouts learning that needs to be delivered by an accredited Trainer - including organising and supporting the Trainers.
- Use learning delivery materials developed by Scouts (such as training sessions, workshops, activities and so on), and make changes (when necessary) so the environment and activities are accessible for everyone.
- Help volunteers connect across the District and beyond to learn, share best practices and overcome shared challenges.
- Set up learning opportunities with external organisations (if relevant and helpful).
- Support and recognise volunteers for their prior learning and experiences, and credit this in their records.
- Learn from people in other Volunteering Development Teams.
Recognise volunteers:
- Recognise and appreciate volunteers for their brilliant work, formally and informally.
There are a number of accreditations which can be given to share specific responsibilities.
We expect that members of this team will take part in regulated activity.
All Volunteering Development Team Members must complete:
- The learning everyone needs
In addition, Volunteering Development Team Leaders must complete:
- Leading Scout Volunteers
You can find out more about our learning content on the learning page.
County Volunteering Development Team Description
Purpose
The County Volunteering Development Team makes sure all volunteers in their County have a fantastic volunteering experience. They make it easy for people to join and learn new skills.
- Volunteering Development Team Leaders
- Volunteering Development Team Members
Other volunteers are automatically members of this team because of their roles in Scouts:
-
Team Leaders of any County Volunteering Development Team sub-teams. For example, Awards and Recognition Team
Support all County Teams to be aware of, and reflect on, Our Volunteering Culture.
Attract and welcome new volunteers to County teams:
- Use Scouts branded resources to attract new volunteers and show the diversity of Scout volunteers and young members.
- Reply quickly and positively to possible new volunteers.
- Make sure new volunteers are welcomed easily and smoothly, including supporting volunteers to share any reasonable adjustments or any other needs they may have, such as faith-based needs.
- Introduce new volunteers to District Lead Volunteers and members of County Teams.
Make sure volunteers are well-supported:
- Support all County Teams (including District Lead Volunteers) to follow our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, safer volunteer recruitment, joining, reviews, and processes for leaving Scouts.
- Help and encourage County Team Leaders to regularly check in with their Team Members to make sure they’re enjoying volunteering.
Help volunteers with learning:
- Make sure volunteers across the County can access relevant Managers and Supporters training.
- Help volunteers find and engage in opportunities for learning and development.
- Coordinate Scouts learning that needs to be delivered by an accredited Trainer – including organising and supporting the Trainers.
- Use learning delivery materials developed by Scouts (such as training sessions, workshops, activities, and so on), and make changes (when necessary) so activities are accessible for everyone.
- Help volunteers connect across the County and beyond to learn, share best practices and overcome shared challenges.
- Set up learning opportunities with external organisations (if relevant and helpful).
- Support and recognise volunteers for their prior learning and experiences, and credit this in their records.
- Learn from people in other Volunteering Development Teams.
Recognise volunteers:
- Recognise and appreciate volunteers for their brilliant work, formally and informally.
There are a number of accreditations which can be given to share specific responsibilities.
We expect that members of this team will take part in regulated activity.
Accreditations
Accreditations are a way of sharing tasks and responsibilities where a volunteer needs to be given certain permissions to take these on.
Volunteering Development Teams have several accreditations linked to them. You can find out more about these accreditations on the Volunteering Development Team Accreditations page.
Read the accreditations digital tool guide to learn about checking, giving and removing accreditations in 'My Membership'.
Leadership Team Accreditations can usually be given by Volunteering Development Team Leaders / Lead Volunteers:
District / County Volunteering Development Team Leaders / Lead Volunteers can give:
- Awards Parcel Recipient
- Disclosure Support Volunteer
- First Response Trainer
- Learning Assessor
- Trainer
- Welcome Conversation Volunteer
Read the Volunteering Development Team Accreditation descriptions.
Permissions in our digital system
All volunteers have access to our digital system and are expected to sign in to manage their own membership and complete learning. Some volunteers will have further permissions to the system features depending on which team(s) they’re in, and what their role is in that team.
Use the Digital System Permissions resources to see what permissions you have based on your role(s), team(s) and accreditations.
Helpful resources
We've compiled some of the most useful resources for Team Members and Team Leaders to look through, to help them understand their responsibilities. These links don't cover everything though, and Team Leaders should make sure that all the tasks on the Team Description are being carried out.
Information for volunteers who lead teams
There are some responsibilities that sit with Team Leaders, such as welcoming volunteers to the team, and making sure that everyone knows what tasks they're working on, and has the support they need.
Read our guidance for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders