Programme Teams
Understand how Programme Teams support our Section Teams to equip young people with skills for life
Please note, in Counties without Districts, the County Programme Team fulfils the responsibilities of both the District and County Programme Teams.
District Programme Team Description
Purpose
The District Programme Team helps every section in the District run a safe, enjoyable and quality programme. To help do this, they bring Section Team volunteers together with activity experts.
- Programme Team Leaders
- Programme Team Members
Other volunteers are automatically members of this team because of their roles in Scouts:
-
Team Leaders of any District Programme Team sub-teams. For example, Climbing Team.
Programme Team Members don't need to support a specific Section. Constructing the team in a more flexible way will utilise people's skills, attract more volunteers, and make sure there are enough people in the team to support young people to gain skills for life.
- Help Sections across the District work together.
Help Section Teams run quality programmes:
- Support all Sections to deliver projects where all young people can have a positive impact in the community.
- Help volunteers with any programme changes, such as new badges and activities, to help young people achieve Top Awards.
- Encourage international trips and activities.
- Support volunteers to include nights away in their Section’s programme.
- Help volunteers gain their Nights Away Permits.
- Organise events for the District when Section Teams decide they’re needed, and make sure they’re accessible to all young people.
Keep an eye out for any learning that’ll help Section Teams deliver a fantastic programme for all. The Volunteering Development Team can then give volunteers opportunities to develop and learn new skills.
Organise programme networking opportunities:
- Encourage Section Teams to share good practice across the District by creating opportunities to network.
Help Section Teams access expert advice and support:
Make sure:
- There are skilled people to support Sections’ programmes (in areas where volunteers may not be experts themselves).
- Sections can access adventurous activities, either through permit holders or external providers.
Approve activities and permits (when shared by the Lead Volunteer):
There are a number of accreditations which can be given to share specific responsibilities.
We expect that members of this team will take part in regulated activity.
All Programme Team Members must complete:
- The learning everyone needs
In addition, Programme Team Leaders must complete:
- Leading Scout Volunteers
You can find out more about our learning content on the learning page.
County Programme Team Description
Purpose
The County Programme Team oversees and supports the delivery of quality programmes for young people. This includes promoting and supporting Top Awards, and supporting Section programmes when activities or events are best done at County scale.
- Programme Team Leaders
- Programme Team Members
Other volunteers are automatically members of this team because of their roles in Scouts:
-
Team Leaders of any County Programme Team sub-teams. For example, Top Awards Team.
Help Sections within the County to improve their programmes:
- Support both District Programme and 14-24 Teams to share and make programme changes, such as new badges and activities.
- Promote, support and celebrate all Sections with Top Awards, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Leaders, and YouShape Awards so both District Programme and 14-24 Teams have the chance to create amazing experiences.
- Support all Sections to deliver projects where all young people can have a positive impact in the community.
- Work with Team Leaders, Team Members, campsites and activity centres to make nights away events happen.
Make sure Sections are set up to deliver quality programmes:
- Check volunteers across the County can easily do their assessments for activity permits.
- Help volunteers access learning to get the skills for an activity permit or to become an assessor.
- Check there are enough assessors to cover activities in the permit scheme for volunteers across the County.
- Check the County Programme Team meets the 'Minimum Standards' and 'Good Practice' areas in the 'Activity Permit Scheme - Self-Moderation.'
Approve County activities and permits (when shared by the Lead Volunteer):
Set up activities and events in the County:
- Organise County events when District Programme and Section Teams decide they’re needed, and make sure they’re accessible to all.
- Set up networking and peer support at County scale so District Programme, 14-24 and Section Teams can share best practice across the County.
- Create the leadership team for County-wide international trips.
There are a number of accreditations which can be given to share specific responsibilities.
We expect that members of this team will take part in regulated activity.
All Programme Team Members must complete:
- The learning everyone needs
In addition, Programme Team Leaders must complete:
- Leading Scout Volunteers
You can find out more about our learning content on the learning page.
Accreditations
Accreditations are a way of sharing tasks and responsibilities where a volunteer needs to be given certain permissions to take these on.
Programme Teams have several accreditations linked to them. You can find out more about these accreditations on the Programme Team Accreditations page.
Programme Team Accreditations can usually be given by Programme Team Leaders / Lead Volunteers:
District Programme Team Leaders / Lead Volunteers can give:
- Nights Away Assessor
County Programme Team Leaders / Lead Volunteers can also give:
- Adventurous Activity Assessor
- King's Scout Award Parcel Recipient
- Manager of the Activity Permit Scheme
- Unit Leader
- Visits Abroad Recommender
Read the Programme Team Accreditation descriptions.
Permissions in our new digital system
All volunteers will have access to our new digital system and will be expected to sign in to manage their own membership and complete learning. Some volunteers will have further permissions to the system features depending on which team(s) they’re in, and what their role is in that team.
All members will be able to nominate for awards, apply for grants, apply for permits and Nights Away Notifications, use Data explorer, and search for members who are visible for them.
Members of the Programme Team will also be able to create custom Data explorer dashboards, and download these. The Programme Team Leader will be able to manage members of the team, add and end roles and accreditations, support with criminal record checks, hold Welcome Conversations and reviews, create sub-teams, manage volunteer enquiries, and view suspended members’ records.
Helpful resources
We've compiled some of the most useful resources for Team Members and Team Leaders to look through, to help them understand their responsibilities. These links don't cover everything though, and Team Leaders should make sure that all the tasks on the Team Description are being carried out.
What you need to do to be ready for change
There are simple actions that all volunteers can take to make sure that they, and their team, are ready for change. From making sure that data is up-to-date, to understanding the changes, and how processes may change locally.
Find out what you need to do to prepare for changeInformation for volunteers who lead teams
There are some responsibilities that sit with Team Leaders, such as welcoming volunteers to the team, and making sure that everyone knows what tasks they're working on, and has the support they need.
Read our guidance for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders