Why skills and values are a winning combination

It’s a Tuesday night in the Houses of Parliament. A shrill bell rings, summoning MPs to a vote, while statues of the great politicians look on, thankful perhaps they no longer need to rush down the corridors of power into the chamber.

I’m in the Churchill Room, in the Palace of Westminster, surrounded by Scouts helping MPs learn some new skills. That’s right. Young people showing MPs, not the other way around.

We’re here to launch a new report from Demos, showing how skills learned through extra-curricular activities make all the difference when it comes to employability.

Encouragingly, over half (53%) of those who were Scouts felt prepared for the world of work, compared with 37% of those who didn’t take part in any extra-curricular activities.

At one activity base, we’re scratching our heads, pricing up a bag of rice, a tin of beans and other groceries – just one of the things we do to help young people budget, gain financial confidence and earn their HSBC Money Skills badge. (By the way, that bag of groceries feels much more expensive now, a timely reminder of the cost of living crisis). 

Taking skills into the workplace

This report comes at a time when employers are telling us that there’s a ‘double skills gap’: they’re not finding enough candidates with the right technical skills, or enough transferable skills. In particular, 61% of employers said they’re struggling to find young people with emotional resilience while 45% of said they struggle to hire young people with teamwork skills.

This tells us two things: first that what we do in Scouts is more important than ever, giving young people the skills they need to get on in life and work. Secondly, it tells us that we need to work harder and go further to give more opportunities for more young people.

Looking around this room, I’m not seeing any shortage of teamwork, leadership or resilience. These Scouts are working so well together, taking the lead, and most impressively, they’re brilliant at articulating how the skills they gained through Scouts have given them a head start in the workplace.

Already I’ve met a Scout who’s on the production team on BBC’s Springwatch, and another who’s part of the team at VisitScotland. They’ve landed dream roles, and they’re thriving in them. They’ve used the skills Scouts has given them to succeed.

This something we need to get better at – helping our young people translate what they do in Scouts into skills at interview (explaining for example, how leading an expedition across Dartmoor in a storm is the perfect training for leading a project when things aren’t going to plan. How did they respond? How did they keep team’s spirits up and use the strengths of each individual member?)

These young people – many of whom are volunteers too, show just what happens when we get things right. They’re positive, confident young adults – full of a sense that anything’s possible when we put our minds to it; when we’re willing to learn and then share what we’ve learned from others.

The way they’re working together is comparable to the very best teams I’ve seen in the corporate world. It’s an inspiring sight – and another great example of how we’re not just youth-shaped but youth-powered.

Why values are such an important part of the mix

But there’s something more going on here. What I’m seeing is real sense of care and cooperation. Our young people are looking out for each other, literally standing shoulder to shoulder as they welcome MPs, and speak with real passion about the advantages Scouts have given them.

There’s so much teamwork and respect between the volunteer and staff team – this is one of those great moments when we’re truly one team.

I also get a great sense of their integrity. Ayesha, our UK Youth Commissioner, is a shining example of this – her brilliant speech showing how the encouragement of Scouts has helped her become who she is today, one of our most determined and inspiring leaders.

She’s speaking from the heart – about her lived experience of Scouts week in, week out. It’s all too clear how that’s shaped the person she’s become – generous, outward looking and relentlessly optimistic about the future. 

Above all, I see a real belief in the power of Scouts to change lives for the better. As another bell rings, echoing through these ancient stone walls, summoning MPs to yet another vote, they’re leaving with a deep impression of the difference Scouts makes.

Let’s remember, it’s not just the skills that matter, but the combination of skills and values that makes what we do in Scouts so special. Let’s never forget the power of that combination – or the difference we make as volunteers – as we continue to support our young people on their journeys of achievement and discovery.