Place to belong
Our Strategy to 2035
A strategy for a brighter future
Our Strategy to 2035 will help us keep the focus on what we do best – giving young people a place to belong and giving them the skills to thrive.
This is a strategy shaped by 28,000 people in Scouts and beyond, including more than 3,000 young Scouts who made their voices heard.
Young people have told us they want our support to empower them to navigate an unpredictable future. We need to prepare young people for a world with less stable geopolitics and rapid changes fuelled by tech like AI. More than ever, young people need the courage to learn and adapt when they need to.
The sense of belonging Scouts gives has never been more important. We’re proud to welcome all young people regardless of gender, race, background or religion. We stand for unity, togetherness and believe our differences make us stronger.
Above all, we need to keep young people at the heart of everything we do. We need to listen and respond to their needs.
Empowering young people
Scouts supports nearly half a million people each week. It’s a place to be yourself and be part of something. Our new strategy is about helping even more people find a place to belong.
Since 2018, the start of the last strategy, we’ve supported well over a million young people. We’ve also learnt a great deal. Change needs time, patience and support, balanced with the need to keep delivering an excellent Programme week to week. We need to keep safety as our highest priority and leave space for the unexpected.
Vitally, we need to double down on the support we give to our volunteers who make Scouts possible.
How Scouts changes lives
Why
Young people join…
From all backgrounds seeking a place to belong, friendship and connection. They’re welcomed into:
- Squirrels
- Beavers
- Cubs
- Scouts
- Explorers
- Network
How
Experience…
Our Programme for 4-24 year olds
- Fun
- Friendship
- Adventure
- Teamwork
- Helping others
- A global community
- Volunteering
- Belonging
Supported by...
Brilliant volunteers
Our Values of Integrity, Respect, Care, Belief and Cooperation
Our impact
Gain...
A place to belong
Skills for life
Become...
Happier, more connected, resilient, employable
Active citizens
Inspiring volunteers
Contribute to...
Closer Communities
A kinder, more cohesive society
Place to belong: Our Strategy to 2035
Our Vision
To empower more young people through adventure, teamwork and shared values, to take the lead on making a positive difference in the world.
Our Purpose
To actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
Our Values
Integrity, Respect, Care, Belief, Cooperation
Our Pillars
Programme
Delivering an adventurous and inclusive Programme.
Volunteering
Supporting our volunteers.
Our Outcomes
By 2035 we will have:
Scouts is welcoming more young people and adults, especially from communities underrepresented in our movement. We offer a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels they belong. Growth is meaningful and sustained, reaching new communities, retaining members and reflecting the diversity of society.
Every young person in Scouts is building the skills, character and confidence they need to thrive. Through adventurous experiences, global awareness and meaningful opportunities to lead, they develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. Young people are not just shaped by Scouts; they are shaping it.
We attract and retain more volunteers by making the experience inclusive and rewarding. They feel equipped and confident to contribute in flexible, fulfilling ways. Volunteering in Scouts strengthens their own personal growth, builds community and supports long-term affinity with the movement.
Scouts plays a visible and positive role in communities across the UK. Locally, Scouts builds bridges between people of different backgrounds, promotes civic engagement and creates spaces where everyone can belong and make a difference. Through local action, Scouts contributes to a more compassionate and cohesive society.
Scouts is built on strong, stable foundations. It is safe for every member, actively inclusive and resilient by design. With careful planning, good governance and sound resource management, we adapt to change and deliver consistently well.
The path ahead: Shaping the next nine years
To turn strategy into delivery, we have three three-year plans. These will take us on a journey through the nine-years of the strategy to achieve our Vision.
The first of our plans will give us three focus areas for our movement over the next three years: Programme, Volunteering and Support.
This strategy provides a direction of travel. But success will not come from words alone. It will come from what we choose to do, together, nationally and locally. Every small leap in the quality of our Programme. Every opportunity we give to young people. Every decision to support volunteers better. That collective effort will achieve our Vision.
Our focus 2026 - 2029
Programme
To safely deliver a fun, relevant and inclusive Programme for all.
Volunteering
To improve volunteering, making sure our people feel valued, supported and motivated.
Support
To be a growing, sustainable and effective movement.
How young people shaped our strategy
The UK Youth Forum 2025 was led by our UK Youth Team to make sure young people’s voices shaped our strategy.
Through local self-led activities and four in-person events held during March and April 2025, young people shared ideas, aspirations, and concerns for the future, building on the ‘Skills for Life’ strategy and advancing our commitment to youth-shaped Scouting.
Resources to help share our new strategy
Use the buttons below to download the slide deck, speaker notes, and session handouts, to help you share our new strategy locally. These resources can be adapted to suit your audience, whether it's a team meeting, or a larger District or County/Area/Region conference.