{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Charlotte \u2013 Content Manager","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 2015 Scouts launched a web platform to support Network Scouts (18 \u2013 25 year old youth members). In recent months we have been through a consultative process as part of our Digital Transformation strategy which is set out to improve and simplify our digital offering for our users.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn recent times the resources, information and functionality of the site have not been updated nor used by a significant amount of Network members. This is not a reflection of the innovative contribution many of you gave to the initial development of this site, and we would like to thank all for your contribution and efforts, the traction of numbers to the site is not a reflection on the effort of our dedicated volunteers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re aware that developments in infrastructure and technology are required to propel this site further, however:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ethere has only been 17 projects created since the beginning of 2019 (with 0 created in 2020)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Esince the launch in 2015, the platform has only had 4267 log ins.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe costs of UK Scout Network website is the same as our main website \u003Ca href=\u0022/\u0022 title=\u0022scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003Escouts.org.uk\u003C/a\u003E, which comparatively receives in excess of over 1,000,000 website visits a month.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt the beginning of April a survey was sent to current users and non-users of the UK Scout Network website, which asked about usability, experience and value. We didn\u2019t find any great support for keeping the site, however:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESome highlighted they found the FAQs useful. Therefore, these are now hosted in \u003Ca href=\u0022/network/\u0022 title=\u0022Network\u0022\u003Escouts.org.uk/network\u003C/a\u003E. This includes being part of a District Scout Networks, the role of a DSNC, the role of a programme coordinator and \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-things-locally/recruiting-and-managing-volunteers/role-descriptions/scout-network-roles/district-scout-network-commissioner-essentials/\u0022 title=\u0022District Scout Network Commissioner Essentials\u0022\u003EDSNC essentials\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESome used virtual badges. So we\u2019ll provide these digitally for download on the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Scout brand centre\u0022\u003EScout brand centre\u003C/a\u003E in due course.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESome appreciated a place to invite other Network members to national or local events. So we\u2019ll enable Network Commissioners to submit a request for an event open regionally or nationally to be hosted on our main website, \u003Ca href=\u0022/events/\u0022 title=\u0022Events\u0022\u003Escouts.org.uk/events\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the lack of use outlined above, and being able to find ways to maintain the features that members did appreciate, we believe the site is not the best use of members\u0027 money and so recommend decommissioning the UK Scout Network website in June 2021. However if there is a consideration we have missed, \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022mailto:digital@scouts.org.uk\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Digital at scouts email address\u0022\u003Eplease get in touch\u003C/a\u003E by Friday 28 May, titling the email \u0027UK Scout Network website\u0027.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou\u2019ll be aware that our strategic plan, \u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/strategy/\u0022 title=\u0022Skills for Life\u0022\u003ESkills for Life,\u003C/a\u003E is committed to reviewing the 14-25 programme. How the programme is supported digitally will be one of the things we will consult on once that project is up and running.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Check out our other news this month","buttonLink":{"name":"May","id":null,"url":"/news/2021/may/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"002f6c","label":"002f6c"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"14 May 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48662,"nodeName":"UK Scout Network website","title":"UK Scout Network website","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/12108/fdl-hp.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dab8e1b20252a0","caption":"Scouts purple logo","type":"jpg","size":93039,"width":1268,"height":664,"altText":"An image of a purple background showing the white Scouts logo"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"UK Scout Network website","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Read about the consultative process of the UK Scout Network website.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODY2MiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/may/uk-scout-network-website/"}