Transforming Scouts - Launchpad event
On the 4th November 2023, we held our County Transformation Launchpad event at The Pavilion in Cheltenham. This event was aimed at Group Scouts Leaders, Group Chairs, District Explorer and Network Scout Commissioners, District Commissioners and District Chairs.
We video recorded all of the content delivered on the day and you can find videos below, along with versions of the slides to show you the content we covered.
Welcome!
The day started with our opening talk where we:
- Welcome participants
- Showed some of the frustrations that volunteers experience
- Gave an overview of Scouts is transforming
- Explained how the day would run
Click on the image to see the slides
Click to watch a recording of this session
We split into three separate breakouts where each participant was invited to attend two sessions.
Session 1 – Warmer welcome
Kat Holter talked through how we will be making Scouting even more welcoming to new volunteers with Welcome conversations. The following topics were included:
- Changing to whose responsibility it is to get references
- Changing from an AAC to a conversation with the line manager and a Welcome volunteer
- What groups and Districts need to do to prepare
Click on the image to see the slides
Click to watch a recording of this session
Click on the image to see the slides
Click to watch a recording of this session
Session 2 – Training into learning
This session led by Mark Spiller looked at how we will be changing adult training to help make it simpler, more relevant and more engaging for volunteers, both new and existing. During this session we:
- Explored how training is perceived today
- Creating a new Discussed the new learning framework made up of two parts:
- Growing roots – Learning that is required to be completed by all volunteers
- Branching out – Optional extra learning to help volunteers develop skills and knowledge for the role they want to do
- Moving to a optional Wood Badge
- How learning will be made more accessible and more engaging
Session 3 – Team-based volunteering
Led by Chris Meadows, this session focused on how we will move to task-focused teams that will help us be able to attract, recruit and support volunteers. The following topics were discussed:
- Changing role titles so we are easier to understand
- Promoting and enabling a team based approach to share the load of volunteering
- How Groups can be structured in this new approach
- How Trustee boards can provide good governance in Scouting
Click on the image to see the slides
Click to watch a recording of this session
Action planning
We came back together as Districts to discuss what we had learned, what each Group and District needs to start doing to prepare for Transformation locally and what support they would need.
Closing
We wrapped up the day with a short closing talk where we set the challenge to everyone to:
- Become the change champions for your Group, Units or Districts
- Use the readiness checklists (see below) to start thinking about what you will need to do locally
- Check and double-check Compass records and that every member has a unique email address which will be used to access the new Digital platform. (See here for more information)
Click on the image to see the slides
Click to watch a recording of this session