How to become a Welcome Conversation Volunteer
Find out what you need to do to become a Welcome Conversation Volunteer
Quick links
Since 1 September 2024, Early Adopter Counties use Welcome Conversations to welcome new volunteers to Scouts. All Other Counties should continue to welcome new volunteers with Appointments Panel meetings until the new digital system is live in their County.
Find out which group my County is inWelcome Conversation Volunteers
With the Welcome Conversation Volunteer accreditation, you'll help give new volunteers a warm welcome and engage them in a meaningful conversation. You’ll answer any questions they have at the start of their journey, and make sure Scouts is right for them.
You’ll be a great fit if you:
- Like to meet new people and share experiences
- Want to give new volunteers a great start to their journey
- Are looking for a different opportunity outside of your team’s tasks
- Are happy to take on extra responsibility
- Have skills in recruitment from either your own background or within Scouts
- You simply want to try something new and gain some new skills
Becoming a Welcome Conversation Volunteer
As long as you’ve got the Welcome Conversation Volunteer accreditation you’re able to be a Welcome Conversation Volunteer, which is just an additional task on top of the role you are currently doing.
You’ll need to be an active, full member of a Group, District or County Team, who's completed the necessary learning, and agreed with the Volunteering Development Team Leader that you’re happy to take on these responsibilities.
If your only role is a Trustee, or you don’t have a criminal record check, you won’t be able to get the accreditation. For example you could be a Section Team Member in a Group, or a Volunteering Development Team Member in a District / County/Area/Region (Scotland).
Some volunteers will be able to do this as default as part of their role. Other volunteers will need to be given permission to do this through an accreditation at the discretion of the Lead Volunteer or Volunteering Development Team Leader.
If you’d like to become a Welcome Conversation Volunteer speak to your Volunteering Development Team Leader or Lead Volunteer about the opportunity. They’ll be able to give the accreditation to you if you meet the criteria and have completed the relevant learning.
Find out more about Volunteering Development Team Accreditations.
Learning
To gain the Welcome Conversation Volunteer accreditation, you’ll need to complete the relevant learning on scouts.org.uk. It will consist of watching three videos plus completing some scenario-based questions, and will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.
All Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders will need to complete this learning before delivering their first Welcome Conversation.
Induction
Discover how we give volunteers a special welcome and make sure they have all the information they need in their new role.
Learn more about inductionsWelcome Conversation eLearning
All volunteers can complete Welcome Conversation Learning. If validated and added to the volunteer’s Personal Learning Plan before Compass Freeze, it will migrate to their learning record on the new digital system. Welcome Conversation Learning is one of the requirements for the Welcome Conversation Accreditation, which is needed to participate in Welcome Conversations as a Welcome Conversation Volunteer.
Volunteers in Early Adopter Counties should also complete this learning before delivering Welcome Conversations using the interim process.
Discover eLearning for Welcome Conversations