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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

Discover what this means

Skills for Life: Our plan to prepare better futures 2018-2025

Skills for Life: Our plan to prepare better futures 2018-2025

Our vision

By 2025, we’ll have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme.

We’ll be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.

Our mission

Scouting actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

Our values

We act with care, respect, integrity, cooperation, exploring our own and others’ beliefs.

Our goals

By delivering this plan, we’ll achieve the following goals against our four objectives:

Growth

  • 547,000 young people aged 4–18
  • 88,000 front line volunteers
  • 19,500 Young Leaders

Inclusivity

  • 500 more sections open in areas of deprivation
  • The number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic adult volunteers will reflect wider society with a minimum target of 5%

Youth Shaped

  • 66% of young people aged 6–18 shape their experience at Scouts each year
  • 57% of young people use their skills to run Scouting activities for other young people
  • 40% of young people aged 4–14 achieve top awards;
  • 10% of those 14+ achieve top awards

Community Impact

  • At least 42% of young people making a positive impact in their community each year
  • 40% of young people 4–14 will achieve top Awards
  • 10% of young people 14+ will achieve top Awards

Our three pillars of work

To support the movement to achieve these objectives, we will focus on three pillars of work:

Programme

A fun, enjoyable, high quality programme consistently delivered and supported by simple (digital) tools.

People

More, well trained, better supported and motivated adult volunteers, and more young people from diverse backgrounds.

Perception

Scouts is understood, more visible, trusted, respected and widely seen as playing a key role in society today.

Sarah, Louis' Mum, Beaver Scout

'Louis became a Beaver as soon as he was old enough and he's thrived from the start. It's a place where he feels comfortable and has the same opportunities as his peers. He gains important time away from us where he can be independent, and still feel safe and secure. We've been amazed by his confidence and the way he joins in with everything.'

Read about Louis' experience at Windsor 2022 >