The impact of Scouts on young people

Our Scouts Experience Survey is an annual online survey we’ve used each year since 2018. Previously, we compared Scouts with non-Scouts across our Theory of Change outcomes. In 2020/21, we decided not to use a non-Scout comparison group because the experience of all young people through the previous year was so wide-ranging, within and outside Scouts.

To compare effectively, we also need to deliver Scouts consistently. The pandemic moved Scouts activities to a mix of online and in-person (when restrictions allowed), or in some cases, Scouts couldn’t be delivered at all. This meant Scouts experiences varied a lot through 2020/21, so we’ve compared the 2021 survey to our 2019 results.

Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we found positive similarities between 2021 and 2019, suggesting Scouts would still score higher than non-Scouts across four of six outcomes:

Adventure – Scouts are just as likely as in 2019 to be more physically active to value the outdoors and have the courage to try new things.

Skills for Life – Scouts were just as likely to enhance their problem-solving skills, be independent, and communicate effectively.

Leadership – Scouts were just as likely to increase their teamwork skills, be responsible, and be trustworthy. By taking initiative, and acting as role models to help others make a positive difference, Scouts were just as likely to show leadership.

Connectedness – Scouts in 2021 were just as likely to have meaningful friendships and relationships, care about other people, and have respect and trust for others, including those from backgrounds different to their own.

Previous survey results have shown that young people in Scouts have a stronger sense of wellbeing than non-Scouts. They’re also good citizens, scoring higher than non-Scouts for playing an active part in their communities.

These are two areas where we saw a key difference in 2021 compared to 2019:

Wellbeing – a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, some Scouts reported feeling less happy, resilient and confident than they felt in 2019. The pandemic’s taken its toll on the mental wellbeing of many of our young people, as illustrated by our survey findings:

• 11% decrease in happiness
• 7% decrease on feeling worthwhile
• 8% decrease on life satisfaction
• 8% decrease in perseverance and grit
• 4% decrease in confidence and self-esteem

Citizenship – With limited social contact and opportunities for community engagement due to the pandemic, there were fewer opportunities for Scouts to be involved in the local, national, and international community. This is reflected in the 2021 results, which show that while in 2019 Scouts scored better than non- Scouts on citizenship, some Scouts now feel less connected to their communities:

• 10% decrease in responsibility to people in their local community
• 8% decrease in responsibility to people in their national community
• 8% decrease in responsibility to people in their international community
• 41% decrease in playing an active role in their community (volunteering)

Understanding the pandemic’s negative effects on young people is fundamental to supporting our young people as they start, or restart, their Scouts journey.

Now we’re back together in person, we’re working to resolve many of these challenges. The social connection, community engagement, and sense of progression through Scouts, is needed more than ever.

We can, once again, give our young people the chance to make new friends, connect with their local area, and ignite their journey of learning skills for life.

After a challenging couple of years, we’re here to support young people to get back on their feet, make new memories, and rediscover their sense of adventure.