Share your skills, gain new ones
See what it means
Week by week, our volunteers empower thousands of young people to learn new skills, make new friends and stand on their own two feet. They’re our everyday heroes. They shape young people’s lives for the better, and find out a whole lot about themselves in the process, too.
Today, there are nearly 60,000 young people on the waiting list to join us in the UK. We’re more relevant and more needed than ever, but it’s not always easy to keep up with the demand.
That’s where you come in.
You do not need to be Bear Grylls to join us. You do not need to have been a Scout when you were younger. You do not even need to know how to put up a tent. Our door is open to people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds, and we are only able to change lives because people like you lend a hand. We are talking about tea makers, tidy-uppers, and skill sharers. We are talking about minibus drivers and first aiders. We are talking about students who want to boost their CV, and parents who volunteer so they can spend more time together as a family.
Whatever your skillset, lend a hand for as little or as much time as you can spare, and we promise you’ll get more out than you put in. Because whether you’re helping a leader to run an activity in the local town hall, organising a night away, or buttering 120 slices of bread a group of very hungry eleven year olds - no two Scout meetings are the same. The difference you make, though, is always great.
We provide the training. You show up, get stuck in, and make memories for life.
Sounds fun? Worthwhile? It is.
Contact Tony Guy, Chair, Stratford on Avon District Scouts on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or your local Group.
The Scouts is the UK's largest mixed youth organisation with more than 450,000 members in the UK and more across the world.
Our innovative spirit and ability to make things happen plays a vital role in the development of young people everywhere and these available roles will give you the chance to make a big impact on the lives of young people.
Our volunteers come from all backgrounds – from students to Scout Leaders, retired professionals to those just wanting to get involved in something different and rewarding for a couple of hours a week.
You may just want to volunteer to help on a short term basis or be interested in a more regular volunteer position with us – either way your contribution will be invaluable in helping us run and develop our centres. It doesn't matter if you're with us for just a few hours or become a regular volunteer, you'll be given full support and training to fulfil your role.
You may have professional trade skills that can help maintain our facilities, such as carpentry or mechanics, or just be interested in getting involved in the day-to-day support of our centres. Whatever your current skills and aims we're sure to have the right role for you.
Training for Volunteers
Our award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouting as our young people.
Scouting’s quality depends on its volunteers and our volunteers depend on Scouting to teach them the skills they need.
National leader
Our modular training scheme delivers the full spectrum of required skills. Volunteers can choose training modules that are relevant to the role that they do, ranging from leadership to running residential experiences and first aid.
Our training scheme was recognised with a National Training Award from UK Skills. It is one of the reasons why we have managed to increase our volunteer numbers over the past few years, against the national trend.
Relevant skills
Over 90% of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have been of relevance to their working or personal lives, so we’re certainly doing something right.
A study of volunteers found that more than two thirds of respondents reported a direct correlation between their volunteer experience within Scouting and gaining employment or career development.
Training in Scouting has also enabled volunteers to gain accreditation for Open College Network awards in Youth Work, and helped them to become associate members of the Institute of Leadership and Management and the Institute for Training and Occupational Learning.
Volunteer with Scouts as a Leader
Be a Team player? Love supporting young people. Great at planning?
Most of our volunteers work directly with young people aged 6-18 through our Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer groups, known as sections – helping young people gain skills for life through activities and adventures.
Volunteer as a Trustee
Trustees look after the governance of Scouting and support leaders with administration and financial support. No job is too small for a Trustee.
Volunteer as a Communicator
To communicate both internally and with the general public using the latest and established communication skills. The includes Social Media, Web site contents, and Established Media.
Volunteers as an Occasional Helper
Scout Active Support is a way to help scouting without the commitment of a regular meeting. You can help occasionally or on a specific project.
No previous experience with young people?
No problem. Whether you'd like to help week-after-week or whenever-you-can, we provide training, learning opportunities and cups of tea – every step of the way.
Being a volunteer has changed me quite drastically. I never thought I'd be able to lead children in activities. I didn't have the capability or confidence. Now I do.
Chris, Section Leader, Manchester
