Volunteering with Scouts
Volunteering with Scouts (for those doing DofE with another Licenced Organisation)
Non-members over the age of 13.5 can volunteer within Scouts for the amount of time required to complete the volunteering section of their award.
As part of this, they take on the role of an Explorer Scout young leader, a young leader or an adult leader, working directly with a section over a set period of time. They won't need to be register to be an Explorer but Leaders of the Group they'll be attending will need to notify their District.
Remember: Non-member volunteers could end up becoming member volunteers if they enjoy their experience, so don’t be afraid to ask if they’d like to be a part of Scouts in the future. Some sections may even decide to fund the membership on behalf of the volunteer to encourage them to be a part of the wider Scout programme.
They could even help to spread the word about Scouts to others doing DofE.
More info can be found in Chapter 4 of POR, Rule 4.37 The appointment of Explorer Scout Young Leaders
During this time, they're able to:
- Volunteer in another role within the same section, completing any training requirements first
- Take part in the full programme within the section, as if they were members (including camps)
- Be insured for public liability
- Wear group-branded clothing, if they'd like to (though they don't have to wear uniform)
They're not able to:
- Be insured for personal accidents
- Take part in wider Scout programme activities beyond the section
- Act as part of a service crew at a campsite
- Take part if they're under 13.5
- Take part if they're over 18, without completing a disclosure
Before they start, make sure they're:
- Made aware of the young leader or adult leader resources available to them
- Made aware they must complete Young Leaders Module A within 3 months of starting
- Given a copy of the Orange Card
- Matched with an assessor, who knows they need to complete a report when the young person's volunteering comes to and end