District Lead Volunteer Induction

Materials to support District Lead Volunteers through their induction

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A big welcome to you in your new role!

District Lead Volunteers are key to Scouts working well locally. We hope you’ll enjoy every minute in the role, and feel proud knowing that you’re changing lives and creating opportunities for more young people and adults in your community.

This page is full of tips and information, so take your time to have a look through and find what you need.

We’ve created an induction that’ll give you the best possible start to leading your District. It’ll take around six months and there are four distinct elements to support you as you take on this new adventure. The four elements are:

Two or three online personal engagements with someone from your National team.
A rolling programme of four optional, interactive, online workshops.
District Lead Volunteer Support Days, two per year, one online and one face to face at Gilwell Park. Click here for more details about the Support Days.

An Induction Checklist and Knowledge Checker to help you identify the support you need and where to find it. Click here to download the checklist.

These resources will go alongside your Leadership and Management training.

For support with the digital tools on scouts.org.uk, check out the Digital Tool Guides. If you need help completing a criminal record check, take a look at our guide to criminal record checks.

If your District uses Online Scout Manager, you can check out the help section on OSM once you've logged in. 

Reviewing and Recruiting

Holding regular and positive reviews can create a happy and effective team. In your first six months, you can hold reviews with all of your District team, regardless of their previous review dates, if you’d like. This will help you organise the District in the best way possible to keep it moving forwards. More information is on the guidance for reviews or join the workshop to find out more.

Trustee Boards

District Trustee Boards play a vital role in the running of Scout Districts. Trustee Boards make decisions to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally so we can give young people in the District the best quality experiences.

Read more about the District Trustee Board and how to recruit new Trustees.

You can also view our governance support webinars.

Safeguarding and Safety

Keeping everyone safe is fundamental to what we do. No matter what challenges we face, it’s the one thing we’ll never compromise on. At Scouts, the safety of our young people and volunteers is at the heart of our culture. As a District Lead Volunteer, you’re responsible for safeguarding and safety across the District. To find out more and how you can keep up to date, please view the keeping everyone safe pages.

The Safety Team at UKHQ also run District Lead Volunteer Safety Workshops. These will explore your responsibilities of managing safety as a District Lead Volunteer. You’ll look at our safety policy, practical tips on how you put your responsibilities into practice and where to go for help and support. Sign up to a workshop here.

Join the Lead Volunteer Safeguarding Training for Managers, more information here.

Managing issues and situations 

As a Lead Volunteer, you may need to help resolve issues that your team members bring to you. We have lots of guidance to help you overcome difficulties and deal with complaints. Check out Scouts' Complaints Policy to find out more.

Programme development toolkit

Use our Programme Development Toolkit to assess different areas of your programme offering and receive further. And don't forget the Programme Planning Tool.

Tools to support your induction

Induction Workshops

We’re running a series of four workshops a term to complement your induction. Each workshop will go into more detail on your role as leader of the District, your team, reviews and the volunteer experience.

Join a workshop

Induction Checklist and Knowledge Checker

Use this self-service checklist to confirm what you know and identify areas where you might need more support.

Check your knowledge

Development Planning

Find out how development planning provides direction and ensures more young people have access to Scouts

Check out the support available

Following rules and policy

Stay up to date on our rules and key policies.

Find out more about our policies

Diversity and Inclusion

Scouts is an inclusive, values based movement and membership is open to all those who share our fundamental values.