{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Words: Aimee-lee Abraham | Photos: Dave Bird ","standfirst":"Every Scout would love to bring more volunteers on board, but it\u2019s not always easy to find the right people to support you and your young people. \n\nRead on to hear from volunteers who\u2019ve tried and tested various methods to help bring people in, and to find out more about the resources we\u2019ve put in place to help you, every step of the way.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/6465/db-20200228-32896-8628.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting the basics right\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESometimes we\u2019re so focussed on the big picture, we forget about the basics. Let\u2019s start at the beginning\u2026\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMake it as easy as possible for people to find you \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIs the building well lit and signposted? Is it easy to find the entrance? Are your contact details clearly displayed, so passers-by know how to get in touch? We\u2019ve put together a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/3180/venue-tick-list.pdf\u0022\u003Echecklist\u003C/a\u003E to help you get the little things right.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpruce up your space (without breaking the bank) \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you share your venue with others, you might have limited control over how things are managed and decorated, but creating a welcoming atmosphere needn\u2019t require a big budget or lots of renovation work.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETake a look around. How does your space make you feel? Is it generally clean and tidy? Does it feel homely and welcoming?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf the space feels a bit tired, simple tweaks - like putting a \u2018welcome\u2019 mat down on the doorstop or bringing in your own soap dispenser and towels if you know you\u2019re prone to running out - can work wonders.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETalk to your neighbours \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDo your neighbours know who you are? If not, pop round to say hi or post some leaflets through their letterboxes the next time you walk past.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s worth speaking to local businesses and service providers, too. Think about the obvious spots where activities tend to be advertised (like leisure centres, libraries and doctor\u2019s surgeries), then branch further out. You might find extra support from unexpected sources.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENeed an imagination boost? Our \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruit-more-volunteers/name-generation-exercises/\u0022 title=\u0022Name generation exercises\u0022\u003E\u2018name generation\u2019 game\u003C/a\u003E is designed to get you thinking about the people you know and the skills they have, so you can be sure you\u2019ve exhausted your community\u2019s full potential.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKeep your details up to date (and get on Google Maps!)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGoogle Maps allows people to get instant directions from their location to yours, which is good news for you and even better news for Doris down the road \u2013 who\u2019s probably fed up with being asked for directions by now.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDistrict Commissioner for Willesden David Kitchen has put together a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzCJD-Gwlgs\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?v=gzCJD-Gwlgs\u0022\u003Evideo tutorial\u003C/a\u003E to help volunteers do this.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember: it\u2019s equally important to make sure your details are up-to-date on the group finder, so anyone who searches our website can find you.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting family members involved\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFamily members are an amazing \u2013 often-untapped \u2013 resource, with a whole range of ideas, insights and skills to share.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, research shows 45% of new section leaders are family members of existing or prospective youth members. So, before you cast that recruitment net far and wide, it makes sense to ask for a hand closer to home\u2026\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETry the four-week challenge \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe four-week challenge is a zero-commitment test-drive of Scouts, without the pushy cars salesman.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn week one, family members come along to see what we do and how we do it. In weeks two and three, they take part on their own terms \u2013 leading an activity if they feel ready, sharing a skill, or helping out with a specific task, like setting the room up or helping in the kitchen. In week four, they reflect on how things went.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESometimes, they\u2019ll enjoy the experience so much they sign up to become full time volunteers on the spot (yay!). Or, they might decide to help out on a more occasional basis (also yay!).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany groups on the ground have been reporting great success with this method. Take 4th Willesden, for instance, who were able to open a Beaver, Cub and Scout sections by recruiting four parents through this method alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEven if those who take part don\u2019t want to volunteer once the challenge is over, you\u2019ll build new relationships, learn about people\u2019s skills and motivations, and walk away with the knowledge and experience to make a more targeted ask in the future if there\u2019s no match.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019d like to give it a go, we\u2019ve put together a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://scouts.org.uk/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruiting-and-retaining-volunteers/4-week-challenge/\\\u0022\u003Eguide to running the challenge\u003C/a\u003E, with specific actions to take each week.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMake family rotas part of your everyday\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany hands make light work, so why not break down what your group needs into little tasks, and set up a rota to share the load between you?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are a number of tools you could use to do this. Perhaps you\u2019d prefer to stick to a traditional weekly rota, which you could stick up on the wall for people to sign up to at your meeting place? Or, maybe using a digital tool \u2013 like Whatsapp \u2013 would be more efficient.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember: although some family members won\u2019t have time to spare on the ground, they might be able to do remote tasks \u2013 like setting up and managing the rota itself, or helping with admin.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETry to keep an open mind about the sorts of jobs that could be done, working to people\u2019s strengths and preferences, and you could see a huge difference.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E1st Trowbridge Beavers, for example, have been using family rotas for years to get the extra volunteers they need on a weekly basis. Today, over a dozen people who began helping on the rota have since become regular volunteers, including several section leaders, and lots of parents help out by sharing specialist skills less frequently.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESound good? For extra support, we\u2019ve set up a \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruit-more-volunteers/getting-young-peoples-adults-involved/\u0022 title=\u0022Adult rotas\u0022\u003Eguide on how to put together a rota\u003C/a\u003E \u2013 including video footage of 1st Trowbridge in action.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInvite family members to your next camp\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe can talk about how great Scouts is until we\u2019re blue in the face, but a weekend of fun, adventure and skill-sharing will showcase this more than words ever could. That\u2019s where camps and residential experiences come in.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve put together a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/4002/recruiting-parents-and-adults-using-family-camps.pdf\u0022\u003Eguide\u003C/a\u003E, with tips on what do before, during and after the event, as well as guidance around safeguarding procedures and DBS check process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGet everyone together\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGetting a bunch of adults in a room and talking to them about the fun we have at Scouts can be surprisingly effective, so why not get them involved in a Beaver Bistro, Cub Caf\u00E9 or Scout Supper? These are evenings jam-packed with activities, where family members come along to enjoy quality time with their kids while getting a taste of what we do.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor 4th Ashby, this method has been completely transformative. After a few months of trialling it, they\u2019ve gained four new leaders, six new occasional helpers and several new executive committee members.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve put together a bunch of \u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022 title=\u0022Recruitment Toolkit\u0022\u003Ehelpful resources\u003C/a\u003E on this method \u2013 including a PowerPoint presentation showcasing what Scouts is about.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/6466/db-20200224-86524-7781_2.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMastering the art of the welcome \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaking people feel welcome when they arrive is really important if we want to retain volunteers\u2026\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFocus on the individual, their motivations and their needs \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThink about the person you\u2019re welcoming in. Are they already fairly familiar with the group, or visiting for the first time? Do they have a personal connection to Scouts (perhaps they took part themselves as a child, or are getting back into volunteering after a long break)? Or are they completely new to the concept of what we do?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhenever you\u2019re welcoming someone new, it\u2019s best to ask how they\u2019d prefer to do things rather than making assumptions or guessing. Everyone\u2019s different, so remember to meet people where they are, and make sure they have opportunities to ask questions.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPut your hospitality hat on \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDon\u2019t forget to smile. Save space for newbies to hang up any stray coats or bags. Show them where the loo is before they need to ask. And direct them to the tea and coffee stash so they can pour themselves a cuppa.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJust make sure that in giving people access to areas that are likely separate from the main hub of activity \u2013 like communal kitchens and toilets \u2013 you\u2019re never compromising on keeping everyone safe. As always, abide by ratios, look for potential hazards, and make sure multiple volunteers are responsible for having \u2018sight and sound\u2019 of anyone who hasn\u2019t been DBS checked yet.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConsider buddying people up\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen you\u2019re chasing after a bunch of seven year olds, you mightn\u2019t have time to check in on the new adult as much as you\u2019d like to. That\u2019s where buddy systems can help.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESpeak to your existing volunteers about if they\u2019d be willing to keep an extra eye on the newbie in the group while they build confidence.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe mindful of using jargon\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUsing formal language and titles can be intimidating to newcomers. When discussing what you need help with, focus on the task you need doing rather than the role you need to fill. And, if using \u2018Scout language\u2019, like acronyms \u2013 make sure you explain what these mean.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECheck in (and say thank you) often \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s important to check in with people regularly to see how they\u2019re finding the experience of volunteering. It\u2019s also vital to thank people for their time.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou don\u2019t need grand gestures to make an impact. Derek of 10th Willesden found that giving parents a certificate when they completed their four-week challenge worked wonders for group morale: spurring on parents who were new to Scouts and mightn\u2019t have committed otherwise. But even a text or a verbal thank you can be massively effective. It\u2019s all about showing people you value and appreciate them giving up some of their most precious resource: their time.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EShare your successes with us! \u003C/em\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIf you\u2019ve found something that really works on the ground, please let us know. We\u2019d love to learn from it and share it with others. \u003C/em\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"08 April 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":50891,"nodeName":"Growing the family","title":"Growing the family ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/6465/db-20200228-32896-8628.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd0c4100a0","caption":"DB 20200228 32896 8628","type":"jpg","size":4661541,"width":1920,"height":1280,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Growing the family ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDg5MSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/april/growing-the-family/"}