Youth Leads

Youth Leads support volunteers to make sure that young people shape their programme, influence decisions, and take the lead.

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What do Youth Leads do?

Youth Leads are volunteers responsible for driving youth shaped Scouts in their local area. They’re aged between 18 and 25 when they’re appointed.

Youth Leads support volunteers to embed young people’s ideas and decisions into local Scouts. They play a key role in the leadership and management of their District, County, or Area.

District Youth Leads

District Youth Leads support volunteers in their District (including Section Lead Volunteers, Group Lead Volunteers, District Lead Volunteers, and District Explorer Scout Commissioners), helping them to understand the importance of being youth shaped and put it into practice.

District Youth Leads can:

Support volunteers to put the views and ideas of young people at the heart of their section’s programme.
Promote participation in the YouShape award and top awards.
Help to make sure that young people get regular opportunities to take the lead, including promoting peer leadership and the Young Leaders’ Scheme.
Inspire and motivate young people in the District and make sure they know about all the different opportunities available to them in Scouts, including what they can do when they turn 18.
Influence decisions that are made in the District as a member of the District Trustee Board, making sure that young people are at the heart of decisions.

Download an example role description for a District Youth Lead.

County Youth Leads

County Youth Leads support volunteers in their County (including District Teams, District Youth Leads, and County Programme Team Members) to make sure that the County’s activity is informed by young people’s ideas and feedback.

County Youth Leads can:

Help to make sure that the County programme is shaped by young people.
Create opportunities for young people to provide feedback (often through a County Youth Forum).
Promote the YouShape award and top awards.
Support the District Youth Leads in their County, bringing them together to support each other, share ideas, and work towards a shared vision.
Inspire and motivate young people in the County and make sure they know about all the different opportunities available to them in Scouts, including what they can do when they turn 18.
Influence decisions that are made in the County as a member of the County Trustee Board, making sure that young people are at the heart of decisions.

Download an example role description for a County Youth Lead.

UK Youth Lead team

The UK Youth Lead and team are here to help.

Ayesha Karim is the UK Youth Lead – Email Ayesha

We’re delighted to announce our four newly appointed Deputy UK Youth Leads, who’ve been successful following a national search.

Ollie Faragher, Deputy UK Youth Lead (People) – Ollie will look to find new ways to embed youth shaped Scouting in local and national governance structures and support the projects relating to the volunteer experience.
Jake Vickery, Deputy UK Youth Lead (Programme) – Jake will help more young people achieve their YouShape Award, improve peer leadership and shine a spotlight on brilliant examples happening locally.
Robert Mason, Deputy UK Youth Lead (Youth Lead Engagement) – Robert will focus on the growing number of Youth Leads locally, improving the support they get. He’ll look at how we can improve Youth Lead recruitment, training and inductions.
Izzie Inga, Deputy UK Youth Lead (Perception) – Izzie will put young people at the heart of our internal and external communications. She’ll support young people to engage in media and public affairs opportunities, our social media channels and other projects relating to perception.