{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"By Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Commissioner","standfirst":"As our UK Leadership team complete their first round of online meetings, our UK Chief Commissioner Carl Hankinson reflects on where we\u2019re at and where we\u2019re going as we head into 2022","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/15557/db-20211016-80760-14.jpg","width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"Carl Hankinson smiling at the camera while wearing a navy Scouts polo shirt and stripy scarf","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBack at our best \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe incredible efforts to support sections to get back meeting face-to-face have brought renewed energy and excitement this autumn term.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJust look at some of these amazing pictures: 17th\u00A0Perthshire Beavers out on the Scottish Highlands, Cardiff\u2019s amazing Scouts in a Van, 1st\u00A0New Cross Scouts out on an expedition, Beavers crafty autumn activities in Northern Ireland, 1st\u00A0Pentwyn taking in the amazing views of the outdoors, Wild Wolf ESU camping in the wilds of Snowdonia, and North London Squirrels section in full swing. Give yourself huge credit for leading the way\u00A0to get us back.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/15555/collage.jpg","width":1236,"height":596,"altText":"A selection of images showing Beavers, Scouts, Explorers and Squirrels doing a range of mostly Outdoors activities ","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ENationally, we\u2019ve had to take tough decisions but the sale of Baden Powell House in August \u2013 teamed with great success lobbying government for support \u2013 means we now have solid foundations financially and can focus on the improvements you\u2019ve said you wanted.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDelivering amazing programmes to more young people\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people in Scouts have missed out on a lot. Great programmes each week, plus planning for camps, events, more adventurous activities, and even trips abroad \u2013 these experiences deliver the skills for our young people, making sure they have the opportunity to get their awards and get energised. When it\u2019s sensible, we can\u2018t wait to get back to all of these activities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDelivering our programmes safely \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe must deliver programmes safely. Being asked to update your training or complete additional risk assessments can feel a long journey, but through everyone keeping on top of these responsibilities, we really are turning the corner.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGrowing Scouts again \u2013 young people need us more than ever\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve recently completed the youth membership count (before we do the annual census in January) and the signs are looking good for strong growth as we come back face-to-face. Figures are back to 90% pre-pandemic, and Scouts and Explorers are back to similar levels.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore adult volunteers \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve seen a net increase of nearly 3,000 adult volunteers since April on Compass. Some key moments are planned in the new year for the #GoodforYou campaign.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPowerful recruitment also happens a local level through the right conversations and connections, and we must look to communities that aren\u2019t currently engaged in Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELaunch of Squirrels \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe launch of Squirrels has generated a phenomenal response. We now \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/november/an-update-on-squirrels-over-350-dreys-registered-and-a-camp-pilot/\u0022\u003Ehave 370 Squirrel Dreys open\u003C/a\u003E, with another 100 approved by their Districts and being supported to open soon. 30% of these are in low income areas, helping young people who\u2019ve been hardest hit by the pandemic.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThings we\u2019re picking back up with\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re reviewing provision for 14\u201324 year olds (Explorer and Network), what we wear \u2013 with a commitment that we continue to be a uniformed youth organisation \u2013 and race equity within Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe want our membership to reflect UK society \u2013 what does our focus on being inclusive for all mean for you and your location? There\u2019s some good inclusion practise going on at Group/Unit level and we want to see this shared more locally between Groups and Explorer Units.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImproving our volunteer experience\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re working on lots of improvements based on feedback from members and non-members about how we volunteer; providing a warmer welcome for everyone, a more engaging learning experience and more support to help get everyday things done.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can see more on the plans on \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/testing-hub/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Escouts.org.uk/testing\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/a\u003E. All members can now take a look and provide views and feedback.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe require the digital tools to deliver this vision, and the decision to move away from Compass has been made. We intend to run more detailed briefings on this next year as we know more.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOur plans with Online Youth Manager (OSM)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003EAlongside a new set of digital tools and solutions to transform the administration of adult data and associated admin tasks \u2013\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003Ewe\u2018\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003Ere also seeking to provide\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u00A0OSM as\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u00A0a national digital solution for youth member data management to help volunteers manage sections and support sections\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u00A0Nothing is set in stone yet, so do continue as you are.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022EOP SCXW54828999 BCX8\u0022 data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:160,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:256}\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking to the future\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThings are picking up at pace and starting to feel exciting again. A lot will change and progress, but we\u2019ll be working closely with UK and Country Leadership teams to sequence things in a way that\u2019s steady and at a time that suits you.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe focus now is on our young people and providing exciting and safe provision. Scouts hold the key to unlocking the skills and experiences young people need right now \u2013 and we\u2019re here to support you.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"02 December 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"An update on Squirrels","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/november/an-update-on-squirrels-over-350-dreys-registered-and-a-camp-pilot/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"UK Chief Commissioner","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-people/uk-chief-commissioner/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Volunteer experience Testing hub","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/testing-hub/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Activities","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/","newWindow":false}],"id":50898,"nodeName":"Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Commissioner, looks back at 2021","title":"Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Commissioner, looks back at 2021","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/15557/db-20211016-80760-14.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf224e42511b0","caption":"Carl Hankinson Full","type":"jpg","size":6951612,"width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"Carl Hankinson smiling at the camera while wearing a navy Scouts polo shirt and stripy scarf"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Commissioner, looks back at 2021","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Catch up with the key messages shared in the recent round of online meetings","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDg5OCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/november/carl-hankinson-uk-chief-commissioner-looks-back-at-2021/"}