{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"By Chris James, Head of Brand and Ambassadors","standfirst":"Need a quick and handy guide to staying on brand? Then look no further. Here are 11 top tips that\u0027ll help you share our key messages, and find the right tone, helping more young people gain skills for life.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19869/skillsforlife-at-scouts-gilwell-space.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"altText":"Big ideas this way, #SkillsForLife and an image of a Squirrel Scout in the colourful Gilwell space","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EBefore anyone chooses to support or join Scouts, they first need to understand who we are and what we do.\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur brand helps us do this \u2013 making it easier to talk about ourselves, show what we look like, and get our personality across too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0Here are \u003Cstrong\u003E11\u003C/strong\u003E easy ways to be on brand.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. Talk about skills for life\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese are the skills we help young people gain; to step up, speak up and be at their best. These are the key benefits of being a Scout. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. Call us Scouts\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe only use \u2018The Scout Association\u2019 on formal documents, such as contracts. This makes us more approachable and reflects how people talk about us in real life. \u00A0\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3. Use friendly, conversational, Plain English\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUse contractions such as \u2018you\u2019re\u2019 and \u2018we\u2019re\u2019 when you\u2019re writing to show we\u2019re not stuffy and formal. Don\u2019t use a fancy word if a simple one will do. Get up to speed on \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/catalogue/item/how-we-talk\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022How we talk\u0022\u003Ehow we talk\u003C/a\u003E, use short sentences and everyday language that\u2019s easily understood by all.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E4. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemind people we\u2019re a charity and led by volunteers\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut cut out the Scout jargon and baffling role titles. People know what volunteer means, but probably not District Commissioner (brilliant people, though they are).\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19871/play-your-part-scouts-gilwell-space.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"altText":"Play Your Part and Respect written colourfully on the walls Scouts Gilwell Space","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E5. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe personal and person-centric\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETalk about them, not us. Use \u2018you,\u2019 \u2018me\u2019, \u2018we\u2019 and \u2018our\u2019 and a person\u0027s name as much as possible. This shows we\u2019re people and not a faceless organisation.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00A06. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECelebrate our diversity\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re an amazing family of Scouts from all sorts of communities and backgrounds. Let\u2019s show that in the images we share and in the stories we tell. You\u2019ll find\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/catalogue/category/digital/image-library\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Image library on brand centre\u0022\u003E a great selection of images on the \u003Cspan\u003Ebrand centre\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E7. Make sure everyone\u2019s included\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDon\u2019t use language that excludes people, especially gendered language, such as \u2018mankind.\u2019 Use parents/carers, not just parents. Think about people first. If in doubt, think \u2018what\u2019s the kindest thing to say?\u2019 If you\u2019re not sure how to refer to someone or something about them, ask them. \u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19870/cooperation-and-integrity-scouts-gilwell-space.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"altText":"Cooperation and Integrity written on the walls in the colourful Gilwell space","caption":"Images of our Gilwell Park office space by We Can Creative","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E8. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOpen the paint box\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETake a look at our updated \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/catalogue/item/brand-guidelines-february-2023\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Updated brand guidelines\u0022\u003Ebrand guidelines\u003C/a\u003E, including some new colours: a darker teal (for better accessibility) an orange and a forest green. No need to make any changes immediately \u2013 but feel free to introduce these when updating any print or digital materials. Use the right logo and font, Nunito Sans, which is free. Remember, you can find all our templates on the brand centre, ready for you to personalise, which will already feature the correct logo for you.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E9. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKeep it positive and fun\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re an optimistic bunch, and create bright futures together. Let\u2019s share some sunshine.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E10. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGive it some oomph! \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKeep up the energy. We love what we do. Let\u2019s share that energy and enthusiasm when we talk about Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E11. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemind people of the big picture\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf more people supported Scouts, we\u2019d have more young people gaining skills for life and will help create a stronger, closer, kinder society. And who doesn\u2019t want that? \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"View the updated brand guidelines","buttonLink":{"name":"February 2023 brand guidelines","id":null,"url":"https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/catalogue/item/brand-guidelines-february-2023","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"08 February 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Read our A-Z guide of the Scouts brand centre","url":"/news/2022/july/an-a-z-guide-to-the-scouts-brand-centre/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Visit the brand centre","url":"https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Learn more about our Communications and Marketing team","url":null,"newWindow":false}],"id":48744,"nodeName":"11 easy ways to be on brand","title":"11 easy ways to be on brand","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/19869/skillsforlife-at-scouts-gilwell-space.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd26b4da60","caption":"Skillsforlife At Scouts Gilwell Space","type":"jpg","size":494225,"width":2048,"height":1365,"altText":"Big ideas this way, #SkillsForLife and an image of a Squirrel Scout in the colourful Gilwell space"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"11 easy ways to be on brand","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Need a quick and handy guide to staying on brand? Here are 11 top tips that\u0027ll help you share our key messages.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODc0NCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/february/11-easy-ways-to-be-on-brand/"}