Work with elected decision makers

Raise a member's enquiry

A member’s enquiry is an enquiry a councillor can make to officers to get information on your behalf or to make a request of the council. The council is duty bound to answer in a set period of time, usually ten working days.

Raise a motion 

A council motion is a proposal made during a council meeting. It’s a formal way of suggesting an action or decision the council should take. A motion can be proposed by any member of the council and must be seconded by another member before it can be discussed. Once a motion has been proposed and seconded, it’s open for debate and discussion, which means it can raise the profile of an issue locally. The motion is voted on by the councillors, and if passed, it becomes a resolution and a commitment from the authority.

Raise a question to the council

A councillor can raise a formal question to the council, this results in a formally minuted written answer.

Use your opinion to make decisions

Scout Groups can contribute to consultations. Councillors value charities for a wide range of things, one of the most important is the evidence and insights charities can provide, which helps councillors make better decisions and run more powerful campaigns. Look for consultations with a clear link to Scouts, such as protecting open space or increasing funding for youth groups. You’ll be able to find these on your council’s website. Taking part also shows that Scouts is an important voice in the community.

Write and speak about Scouts

Councillors may have a strong social media presence and voice in your community, they might even have a column in the local paper. You might consider asking them to use these channels in order to raise the profile of your Scout Group.

Celebration

Motion in the name of Cllr [Name],

Across [Borough/Area], amazing volunteers are running uniformed youth groups that teach young people valuable life skills and offer exciting adventures.

Last month, the [Name] Scout Group opened a new [Facility/Unit]. This Scout Group serves children aged [Age Range], especially focusing on [Specific Wards/Areas] to ensure every child has the same opportunities. Non-formal education greatly benefits young people’s lives and supports their academic achievements. This council thanks all our volunteers and pledges to support uniformed youth organisations throughout the borough, ensuring they reach the young people who need it most.

Adult Volunteer Recruitment

Motion in the name of Cllr [Name],

I propose that this council launch a campaign to recruit more volunteers for our local groups. I recently visited the [Name] Scout Group, which provides adventurous activities and essential life skills to [Number] young people each week. I enjoyed participating and seeing the positive impact firsthand. However, there are [Number] more young people on the waiting list. To address this, the Scouts need to recruit [Number] additional adult volunteers.

By supporting this campaign, we can help more young people in [Borough/Area] gain important life skills.

Venue Hire

Motion in the name of Cllr [Name],

Our borough benefits from volunteers who offer great opportunities for young people to learn and have adventures through Scout Groups. Currently, there are [Number] young people on waiting lists. In addition to finding more volunteers, another challenge is the lack of affordable meeting spaces.

This council commits to offering meeting venues at discounted rates for voluntary groups across the borough.

Questions

Question on support for youth organisations

What is the council doing to support youth organisations in [Borough/Area]? Every week, [Number] of our young people gain valuable life skills through Scouts. We should do everything we can to assist these organisations in providing the best opportunities for our youth.

Question on volunteer recruitment:

Will the council launch a volunteer recruitment campaign to support local voluntary groups? I recently visited the [Name] Scout Group, which offers adventurous activities and life skills to [Number] young people each week. Despite this, there are [Number] more young people waiting to join. To address this, the Scouts need to recruit [Number] additional adult volunteers.

Question about waiting lists

In our borough, volunteers provide wonderful opportunities for young people through Scout Groups. With [Number] young people currently on waiting lists, and given that finding volunteers is only part of the solution, will the council provide meeting spaces at discounted rates for these voluntary groups?

1. Find Your MP: Use this tool to enter your postcode and find your MP's email address.

2. Send an email invitation: Use our email template and fill in the details for your scout group and area.

3. Wait for a response: It usually takes 2-4 weeks to hear back. While waiting, find a group that meets on Fridays and think about some possible dates for the visit. 

4. Confirm attendance: Once you get a reply, send the dates to the MP and confirm which one works.

5. Plan your session: Run the usual session to show what your group does. Also, plan for 15 minutes of Q&A so young people can learn and ask MP questions about their role.

6. Let the public affairs team know: Email public.affairs@scouts.org.uk to let them know about the visit and get support. This is particularly important if you are getting in touch with a senior MP such as the Prime Minister, a Secretary of State or a minister.

7. Host the visit: Make sure everything is ready for the MP. Remember to get photo consent from volunteers and young people and keep in mind what you want to achieve.

8. Share the visit: Post about the visit on social media or contact the local newspaper to share what happened.

Dear [Politician's Name] [Suffix, e.g MP]

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is [Your Name], and I live in [Constituency]. I am a [Volunteer Title] with [Group Name] Scouts. I’m excited to share our Scouts’ manifesto, "Building Brighter Tomorrows".

Scouts play a vital role in [Constituency/council], helping young people as young as 4 to gain essential life skills. Unfortunately, across the UK, nearly 100,000 young people are on waiting lists. In our area, there are [Number of Young People on Waiting List] waiting due to a shortage of volunteers.

Our manifesto, developed with Scouts and volunteers nationwide, outlines a vision for a better future for young people, volunteers, and our community.

We would like to invite you to visit our group to discuss these proposals and explore how we can work together to improve opportunities for everyone involved. If you’re interested, please let us know, and we will provide you with available dates for our sessions.

I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

You can use Our Scouts' manifesto to guide conversations with MPs. We made the manifesto with help from young people and volunteers.