We heard from you: Top tips on how to welcome volunteers to new sections
Whether it’s opening a new Squirrel Drey or needing some extra support for a growing Cub section, volunteers are the important key to success. We spoke to some Scout volunteers to see what they did to welcome new adults into their team.
Please note, some responses have been edited for length or clarity.
Being social media savvy
‘I used social media to get four new volunteers, as well as young leaders. I posted in all the local Facebook groups and on my own page. I made it shareable on my own page too, just in case any of my friends were interested or could share it.’
‘I always try to say that the group is growing and needs some helpers. I think it sound more positive than saying we’re in need or have a lack of volunteers. I also mention all the exciting things we’ve done recently to get people intrigued.’
‘In our social media shout-outs, we invite people to come for a taster to make sure it’s right for them. We always say one or two extra people to help on one or two weeks in a term really makes a difference!’
‘I put a post on Facebook asking if anyone wanted any volunteers and someone asked me if I would consider Scouts. I then asked my friend to help and she said yes too. We then got our adult children involved. None of us had been involved with Scouts before, but I was a Brownie leader and am still a Rainbow leader.’
Parent and carer helpers
‘We tell our parents and carers that we have to have a parent or carer each week to run. We give everyone a week per term to help on. If they can't make that week, they make arrangements with other parents and carers to swap. Sometimes we've had grandparents, aunts or uncles help instead too.’
‘We mainly had parent volunteers stepping up. Myself and one other person were the only parent volunteers when we started, but it’s grown.’
‘I was keen to have a parent and carer rota. The rota meant people could see what we did and get involved, so we’ve excitedly had another parent join us as a volunteer. We also had volunteer’s partners take on official roles too. The team has blossomed and have picked everything up so quickly over the 18 months since launch!’
Encouraging young leaders
‘Look at your Scouts and Explorers who could step up as young leaders, then eventually leaders. They’re an essential part of our sections!’
Looking within the group
‘We had support from two existing Beaver volunteers. One of them had a child who was Squirrels age, so he now splits his time between the two sections. The other Beaver volunteer helped with getting them set up, offered advice, helped them with training and gave them planning ideas.’
‘We had some mini training days, with our volunteer’s children helping us to run some sample sessions I’d planned. We even had people who opened our Beaver colony return to help. And now we’re two and half years into Squirrels, we haven't looked back!’
Starting with Squirrels
‘Of all the sections, Squirrels seems like the easiest to welcome adults in to volunteer. It’s great, because it helps to create a pool of experienced volunteers who may move up into older sections over the coming years.
‘We had a Squirrel themed Open Day for our waiting list and anyone in our local area. We managed to welcome a team of four adults there, then launched a few months after that.’
‘When we opened Squirrels, we used a combination of emailing people on our waiting list with 4-6 year olds and a local social media campaign. We recruited seven new adults. Some were parents and carers of older Scouts and some were totally new. Since then, one of our Squirrels leaders has moved up to Beavers with her son, but we've welcomed one more new volunteer.’
‘Two years ago I advertised that we were hoping to start Squirrels. Since then, two adult helpers have moved up and are now helping at Beavers, though one has been welcomed back with a younger sibling. We also have three more parents helping. I'm now a Squirrel leader for our second Drey, with three new parents helping.’
‘We always encourage parents and carers to help us on trips and visits, as it helps us to cover ratios. This involvement also shows them how fun it is and how they can actually do the role. We’ve found the quickest way to getting new volunteers is to make the parents and carers feel included, involved and capable.’
