Starting a new section
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Stage 1 - Assess the need
Thinking about creating new opportunities for more young people to experience Scouts? Before you can dive in and make a difference, think about what your community needs.
Ask yourself:
- How many young people live in your area?
- How many are already part of Scouts? How many aren’t?
- Look at a map. Where are local Scout groups currently meeting? How many are there?
- Where do local young people live? What are their transport options like?
- Where do they go to school or college? Is there a Scout group within these areas?
- Have any new housing estates or schools sprung up in recent years?
What next?
Talk to your team, your District Commissioner (DC) and – if you have one in your Region – the Assistant Regional Commissioner for Growth (ARC Growth). Make sure everyone involved agrees there’s a need.
Building a team and allocating tasks is important:
- You could create a proposal to share with your team.
- Work together to create a plan for what you want to achieve, including key dates, potential costs and how many people you’ll need to support you.
- You can request advice and support from the Growth & Communities Team, who can help you deliver your local growth project. Click here to fill in the project request form and we’ll be in touch.
Once you’ve completed this stage move on to Stage 2: Making Scouts visible
Useful, customisable documents to help you
Scouts without a venue
Top tips for running a section or group without a Scout hut or permanent indoor venue.
Read about running Scouts without a venue