{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Matt Tyldesley, Programme Design Officer (14-24)","standfirst":"We\u0027ve been doing research into the past, present and future of Explorers and Network to aid us in crafting a fresh programme that better suits the needs of young people. After looking back at our history, engaging with the movement across the UK, and learning from National Scout Organisations across the world, find out what we\u0027ve learnt so far.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/21010/14-24-june.jpg","width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":"14-24 team in June","caption":"The 14-24 team","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy we\u2019re looking into a redesign\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe want young people to have the best shot at life \u2013 to be ready for \u003Cspan\u003Ethe job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027ve got plenty to be proud of. Since we introduced Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, our numbers have been going up year after year, except for during the Covid-19 pandemic.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBack in 2019, a whopping 76% of young people thought our Section Leader volunteers were giving them an amazing experience.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut, we know we can do even better. Lots of Scouts aren\u0027t moving up to Explorers and a lot of Explorer Scouts don\u0027t continue on to Network.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat\u0027s why we\u0027ve been taking a hard look at what we offer to 14-24 year olds.\u0026nbsp;So, six months into our research, what have we learned?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EWhere it all started\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe started by looking into the background and history of our work for older Scouts. Going from Rover Scouts to Venture Scouts before becoming Explorers and Network, which were introduced in 2002.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe original vision was to be different to, but to build on the strengths of, Venture Scouts. The aim was to be linked to external awards, such as Duke of Edinburgh, but to remain faithful to our values. It aimed to offer choice to young people, as well as being flexible and adaptable to local needs and concerns.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur research looked into how the vision played out in reality. It found how Explorers and Networks were meeting its original vision, as well as how it could be considered to be developed. You can find all the details \u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/19963/v11-14-24-discovery_background-research-narrative-document-2.pdf\u0022\u003Ein our report.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETalking to those currently in Explorers and Networks\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027ve spoken to Explorer volunteers and Network members in online workshops. We then started to identify some common themes from those too:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere\u0027s lots of \u003Cstrong\u003Evariation in the way Explorers is structured\u003C/strong\u003E and delivered. Units with strong links to Scout groups and their District often thrive, while those with poorer links and support often struggle more.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe main barriers affecting Explorer groups are the \u003Cstrong\u003Elack of volunteers and lack of Explorers\u003C/strong\u003E, due to Scouts not progressing, being held onto by leaders or because the programme doesn\u0027t feel relevant to them any more.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe lack of clear purpose, structure and self-led nature\u003C/strong\u003E of Network makes it quite vague in what it actually is, resulting in an awareness issue and a pressure on \u003Cspan\u003EDistrict Scout Network Commissioners (\u003C/span\u003EDSNCs) to organise events.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearning from National Scout Organisations across the world\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe were lucky enough to brief UK Scout Network attendees at the \u003Cstrong\u003EEuropean Youth Agora. \u003C/strong\u003EThis gave us the chance to talk to young people from other National Scouting Organisations (NSO\u2019s) about their motivations, challenges, successes and perceptions.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe combined this with a workshop we delivered with \u003Cstrong\u003EScout Adventures international volunteers\u003C/strong\u003E to give us some great insights from 17 different National Scouting Organisations, including:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere are common motivations across different NSO\u0027s, including being part of the Scouts community, having positive experiences in nature, and giving something back to Scouts and their local communities.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EChallenges to participation and growth include competing interests and a lack of maintained motivation, difficulty championing youth voices and values through older members, and a lack of enough members at local levels.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20416/two-scouts-taking-part-in-a-crate-stacking-activitymin.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"A Scout climbs up on crates while another Scout reaches out their hand to help them up.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYoung Leaders\u2019 Scheme\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe developed a survey on the Young Leaders\u2019 Scheme and received over 700 responses from across the UK. We found that:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E84% agree that the Young Leaders\u2019 Scheme effectively prepares \u003Cstrong\u003Eyoung people to become adult volunteers\u003C/strong\u003E in Scouts.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E84% agree that the Young Leaders\u2019 Scheme effectively \u003Cstrong\u003Edevelops leadership skills\u003C/strong\u003E for use in community, work or personal life.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E43% agree and\u0026nbsp;40% disagree that there\u2019s \u003Cstrong\u003Eenough support available to Young Leaders\u003C/strong\u003E undertaking the training scheme.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe survey also highlighted some challenges, including that there\u2019s variation in availability and delivery of the Young Leaders\u2019 scheme across Counties and Districts. Some also said there\u2019s room for improvement between the Young Leaders training and the adult volunteer training.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s next?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve still got plenty more research to do as we continue looking into to find out the best way to support and serve young people in these sections.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe want to develop a programme that engages young people who we aren\u2019t currently reaching.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur Youth Panel is in the middle of looking at surveys from 622 young people who aren\u2019t in Scouts to find out what things they need from extra-curricular activities, as well as what they think about Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re going to continue to engage with the worldwide Scout network, including having online workshops with 19 different National Scout Organisations.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur Youth Panel is planning to observe Network and Explorer groups in 31 counties across the UK.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re also developing self-led workshop activities to be run by our volunteers. The workshops aim to find out exactly what our current youth members want, need and prioritise in Scouts and will\u0026nbsp;help us shape the future.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOpportunities to get involved\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are lots of ways you can continue to be involved in our 14-24 redesign work. You can help us to design the future for Explorers and Network. Come and join in!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/strategy/our-programmes-of-work/redesigning-our-14-24-year-old-provision/\u0022\u003ELearn more about our 14-24 strategy\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-0KGeT3N9EqWt8YapC6clAEX6vXabvtJqIv-8xIBjwVUNDhLNVZFVTdSOUJSTDZXVDI0VzM5MDg1TC4u\u0022\u003ETell us how you think we could make Explorer badges more flexible and accessible\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/86fd84076fec4bb5814521c1ec31ce63?utm_campaign=2326954_14-24 community of interest update - April/May 2023\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_source=Scouts\u0026amp;dm_t=0,0,0,0,0\u0022\u003EJoin the community of interest for monthly updates\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19211/squirrels-and-volunteers-holding-leaves.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"altText":"Three Squirrels in red jumpers hold up leaves to show two volunteers standing in front of them.","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"05 June 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Find out more about our strategy","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/strategy/our-programmes-of-work/redesigning-our-14-24-year-old-provision/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Meet the 14-24 redesign team","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/march/meet-the-team-14-24-re-design","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Join the community of interest for monthly updates","url":"https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/86fd84076fec4bb5814521c1ec31ce63?utm_campaign=2326954_14-24%20community%20of%20interest%20update%20-%20April%2FMay%202023\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_source=Scouts\u0026dm_t=0,0,0,0,0","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Tell us how you think we could make Explorer badges more flexible and accessible","url":"https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-0KGeT3N9EqWt8YapC6clAEX6vXabvtJqIv-8xIBjwVUNDhLNVZFVTdSOUJSTDZXVDI0VzM5MDg1TC4u","newWindow":true}],"id":50445,"nodeName":"14-24 redesign: what we\u2019ve learned so far","title":"14-24 redesign: what we\u2019ve learned so far","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/20012/two-girls-wearing-harnesses-and-crate-building-theyre-holding-onto-each-other-and-wearing-helmets.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dae4c60fee1650","caption":"Two Scouts holding on to each other while crate building","type":"jpg","size":8878209,"width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"Two Scouts in orange helmets and harnesses hold on to each other while crate stacking."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"14-24 redesign: what we\u2019ve learned so far","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"We\u0027ve been doing research into the past, present and future of Explorers and Network. This is what we\u0027ve learned so far.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDQ0NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/june/14-24-redesign-what-we-ve-learned-so-far/"}