Starting a new section
Quick links
Stage 2 - Make Scouts visible
When you’re opening new sections or groups, it’s really important to get the word out in the local community. If Scouts isn’t currently present in your area, you need to help people understand what Scouts can offer them and how they can engage with it.
Think about the community you want to work with:
- What might they want from Scouts?
- What sort of activities might they be interested in?
- What sort of skills would they most like to learn?
- Which existing volunteers might be best placed to contact them?
- Do you already have contacts in the local community? Could they help bring people onboard?
- Talk positively about what we do and make connections.
How to spread the word
Get in touch with local schools
The best place to spread the word is through schools – a trusted place in the community.
Schools may be able to help you by:
- Handing out flyers and leaflets
- Letting you lead a school assembly
- Allowing you to host your new section on the school premises.
You might have to contact the school more than once to get them to agree to help you:
- Send an email
- Follow it up with a phone call or two
- Pop in and explain what Scouts has to offer them
Check out our School engagement guides and resources
Speak to the right people
- Go along to community and faith groups with your fliers and posters in-hand.
- Chat to other youth groups and sports clubs – they’re often really supportive.
- Speak to local businesses and see what support they can offer – they might put posters up in the window, donate equipment or even point you in the direction of potential volunteers.
- Speak to community leaders and local Councillors about working together.
- Get involved in community events which are taking place around the time you want to launch your new group/section, raising awareness of your open event as well as of your group generally.
- Send a letter and flyer to everyone on your waiting list and current members of the group.
- Let neighbouring Scout Groups know – they might have waiting lists or helpful connections in the area.
Get on social media
- Create a Facebook page and Twitter account for your new group
- Search for local Facebook groups – and post your message on these groups once you’ve joined them
- Advertise on doit.org
- Contact the local paper
- Get in touch with us via social media
Connect with Scouts on social media
See our blog about recruiting adults using social media and the brand centre.
Make sure you find the perfect spot for your banner outside your venue – check out the brand centre for loads of ideas.
The next step in the process is Stage 3: Recruiting young people.