Section Teams
Discover how your Section Team may operate, and check that everything's getting done
Team Description (Squirrel, Beaver, Cub and Scout Section Teams)
Purpose
The Section Team plans, delivers, and runs quality programmes safely. They make sure all young people can take part in the programme and gain skills for life. They also help young people work towards their Top Awards.
With a brilliant programme, each young person can make a positive impact in society as they step up, speak up, and find their place in the world.
- Section Team Leaders
- Section Team Members
- Young Leaders
Young Leaders are Explorers who volunteer in a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout Section Team. They play an active role in the Section, bringing fresh ideas and acting as positive role models for young people.
Create a safe environment:
- Create a safe environment for young people by sharing the Yellow Card with parents and carers, the Orange Card with Young Leaders, and display posters in your meeting place.
- Check the programme can run safely.
- Make sure adult:child ratios are always maintained and there’s a leader in charge for each session.
- Brief helpers on the practical aspects of safety and safeguarding. This includes giving them a copy of the Yellow Card and confirming they’ve read and understood it. Make sure helpers know who to speak to if they have any concerns.
- Create and review risk assessments.
- Check there are first aid kits or supplies for all activities.
- Review safety incidents and report them in the right way.
- Report any safeguarding concerns directly to the UKHQ Safeguarding Team.
Plan and deliver a great programme:
- Work with young people to plan and deliver a great programme, including nights away and adventurous activities, to help them achieve their Top Awards.
- Find ways to continue to improve the programme.
- Make good use of stakeholders in their community, including other Scout volunteers.
Make sure there’s a great culture for everyone:
- Help young people and volunteers feel welcome and included, and make changes (when necessary) so the environment and activities are accessible for everyone.
- Create leadership opportunities for Young Leaders.
- Mentor volunteers in the team and help them develop, including Young Leaders.
- Check volunteers behave positively and in line with Our Volunteering Culture.
Make sure admin is done correctly:
- Get contact and medical details, and demographic data for new members joining the Section.
- Keep all records up to date, including badges, attendance register, contact details and the programme (as needed).
Communicate with others:
- Regularly chat with young people and parents/carers about the programme.
- Keep social media channels up to date with the Section’s activities (in line with the privacy policy).
- Help young people move between Sections.
Look after finances:
- Give the Group Trustee Board the information they need to set the budget.
- Help with collecting membership fees and other payments, when required.
Team Description (Explorer, Young Leader and Scout Network Section Teams)
Purpose
The Section Team plans, delivers, and runs quality programmes safely. They make sure all young people can take part in the programme, gain skills for life, and work towards their Top Awards.
With a brilliant programme, each young person can make a positive impact in society as they step up, speak up, and find their place in the world.
- Section Team Leaders
- Section Team Members
Create a safe environment:
- Create a safe environment for children and young people by sharing the Yellow Card with parents and carers, the Orange Card with Young Leaders, and display posters in your meeting place.
- Check the programme can run safely.
- Make sure the team maintains adult:child ratios and there’s a leader in charge for each meeting.
- Create and review risk assessments.
- Check there are first aid kits or supplies for all activities.
- Review safety incidents and report them in the right way.
- Report any safeguarding concerns directly to the UKHQ Safeguarding Team.
- Brief helpers on the practical aspects of safety and safeguarding. This includes giving them a copy of the Yellow Card and confirming they’ve read and understood it. Make sure helpers know who to speak to if they have any concerns.
Plan and deliver a great programme:
- Work with young people to plan and deliver a great programme, including nights away and adventurous activities, to help them achieve their Top Awards.
- Find ways to continue to improve the programme.
- Make good use of stakeholders in their community, including other local Scout Groups.
Make sure there’s a great culture for everyone:
- Help young people and volunteers feel welcome and included, and make changes (when necessary) so the environment and activities are accessible for everyone.
- Check everyone behaves positively and in line with Our Volunteering Culture.
- Help volunteers develop, including Young Leaders.
Make sure admin is done correctly:
- Get contact and medical details, and demographic data for new members joining the Section.
- Keep all records up to date, including badges, attendance register, contact details and the programme (as needed).
Communicate with others:
- Regularly chat with young people and parents/carers about the programme.
- Keep social media channels up to date with the Section’s activities (in line with the privacy policy).
- Help young people move between Sections.
Look after finances:
- Give the Trustee Board the information they need to set the budget.
- Help with collecting membership fees and other payments when required.
Please note:
- In Counties without Districts, County Section Teams should also use the District Section Team Description.
- The Scout Network Section Team may be informally known as 'Network'.
- Young Leaders are Explorers who volunteer in a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout Section Team. They play an active role in the Section, bringing fresh ideas and acting as positive role models for young people.
Accreditations
Accreditations are a way of sharing tasks and responsibilities where a volunteer needs to be given certain permissions to take these on.
Section Teams can't give accreditations, though members of the team can have accreditations, either to support another team, or allow them to be able to do certain things. Some volunteers, with the appropriate training, may need the Nominated Person accreditation, to provide support to young people with certain care needs. You can find out more about this accreditation with the Leadership Team 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.
What you need to do to be ready for change
There are simple actions that all volunteers can take to make sure that they, and their team, are ready for change. From making sure that data is up-to-date, to understanding the changes, and how processes may change locally.
Find out what you need to do to prepare for changeInformation 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