{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"The London Borough of Brent has seen fantastic growth and interest in Scouting, doubling the membership over the last six years. Now Brent District Scouts are planning to stage a public event for the Big Help Out on 8 May 2023 to put Scouting centre stage and help inspire even more new volunteers.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/\u0022 title=\u0022The Big Help Out\u0022\u003EBig Help Out\u003C/a\u003E is a national day of volunteering to inspire a new generation of volunteers. It\u2019s happening on 8 May, the Bank Holiday Monday, as the culmination of the \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/\u0022 title=\u0022Coronation\u0022\u003ECoronation weekend\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s backed by over 30 different organisations \u2013 led by Scouts and the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Royal Voluntary Service\u0022\u003ERoyal Voluntary Service\u003C/a\u003E. As such, it\u2019s a significant opportunity for Scouts to be seen in public and to start new conversations about volunteering.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s a chance to be part of an historic, national moment, proudly making Scouts a core part of what people see throughout the Coronation weekend.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19771/the-big-help-out-new.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"Graphic logo of The Big Help Out.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EInspiring new volunteers\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E99 years ago, Wembley Stadium hosted a huge international Jamboree that brought thousands of Scouts from across the Commonwealth to this part of North London. However, in recent years, the number of Scouts in Brent had fallen to an all-time low.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat changed when David Kitchen, the energetic lead volunteer in the Borough, and his team tried a different approach, engaging new communities and making Scouts and volunteering as accessible as possible.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We\u2019re now breathing new Scouting life back into the area,\u2019 enthuses David. \u2018It\u2019s a case of build it, and they will come. We\u2019ve opened six new Scout groups in Brent, and we see The Big Help Out as another opportunity to promote Scouting in the area.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBrent has been the fastest-growing District in the County for four of the last six years, with the pandemic affecting the other two. Youth membership has grown by 45% since 2022 and, overall, by 37%, including adults. Most significantly, membership has doubled since 2017.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EJump starting a new group from scratch\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018When I started as District Commissioner, I realised we had to find a different approach to recruiting new members. The Scout Groups we had were full and couldn\u2019t expand; we needed to open new groups,\u2019 explains David.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETaking inspiration from the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruitment-toolkit/four-week-challenge/\u0022 title=\u0022Four week challenge\u0022\u003E4 Week Challenge\u003C/a\u003E, we\u0027ve developed our New Scout Group Challenge. We identify a suitable venue and work with the local community leader to advertise in the area.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe start with \u003Ca href=\u0022/cubs/\u0022 title=\u0022Cubs\u0022\u003ECub Scouts\u003C/a\u003E, the easiest section to recruit; we also start small with 12 young people and their parents.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe run a Scouting programme for a month.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThen everyone, including parents, goes to a campsite for an activity and adventure day. It wouldn\u2019t be an authentic taste of Scouting without the chance to light a fire and toast a marshmallow!\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThis is followed by a presentation day when we recognise their achievement with certificates and prizes \u2013 and ask the young people (and parents) if they\u2019d like to carry on. Of course, the kids say yes, and then the parents can\u2019t say no!\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The 7th Wembley is our newest Scout Group. They started from scratch, just like this, and none of the new members had been Scouts before. The Beaver Challenge is happening now with 12 young people, and we already have a waiting list to join, and the Scout Challenge will start after Easter.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EUsing The Big Help Out to support inclusive growth\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We had already planned our District Camp for the weekend of the Coronation, and we thought about making a special event,\u2019 says David. \u2018However, our members told us they\u2019d like to watch the Coronation at home with their families. When we heard about \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/\u0022 title=\u0022The Big Help Out\u0022\u003EThe Big Help Out\u003C/a\u003E, we thought it was a great idea, so we changed our plans.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We decided to hold a visible and accessible public event on the Bank Holiday Monday as part of The Big Help Out. We\u2019re talking with Brent Council now about making this possible. We dream of holding it on Olympic Way, leading to the stadium.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Our members were proud to parade down Olympic Way and be able to join the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London \u0026amp; the Mayor of Brent on the steps of Wembley Stadium for the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III last year. This will be another excellent opportunity to show that Scouting is alive and well in Wembley.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Visit the Scouts Brand Centre","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETemplates and resources to support The Big Help Out are now available on the Scouts Brand Centre.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Scouts Brand Centre","id":null,"url":"https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/search?s=coronation","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":null,"title":"Resources for The Big Help Out","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EBringing Scouts to the people\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018For The Big Help Out, we\u0027ll be offering free pop-up activities to engage families from different backgrounds and communities. We\u2019d like to offer a mobile climbing wall and a selection of traditional Scouting activities. We\u0027ll also be able to talk to local families and ask them where we should run our next Scout Challenge to open a group.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut what advice does David have for those thinking of \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/preparing-for-the-big-help-out/\u0022 title=\u0022Preparing for The Big Help Out\u0022\u003Erunning a Big Help Out event\u003C/a\u003E?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It\u2019s about visibility,\u2019 says David. \u2018You need to go where people already are. We did have a conversation about running the event in the park, but the public won\u2019t come unless we advertise it really well. If we do it on the high street, people are already there.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGood luck to David and all Scouts in Brent for their Big Help Out.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Preparing for The Big Help Out","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf this has inspired you to run your own event for The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May, then we\u2019ve got plenty of support and resources for you. You\u2019ll be in good company and part of a historic day of service and celebration.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Preparing for The Big Help Out","id":null,"url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/preparing-for-the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#490499","title":"Start planning your Big Help Out","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"06 March 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"How to plan your Big Help Out event","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/preparing-for-the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"How to recruit new volunteers at The Big Help Out","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/volunteer-recruitment/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Great resources to support The Big Help Out on the Brand Centre","url":"https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/search?s=coronation","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"The Big Help Out","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"The Coronation of HM The King","url":"/national-events/coronation/","newWindow":false}],"id":76472,"nodeName":"The Big Help Out heads to Wembley","title":"The Big Help Out heads to Wembley","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/19771/the-big-help-out-new.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf49a059458c0","caption":"The Big Help Out New","type":"jpg","size":68054,"width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"Graphic logo for The Big Help Out."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The Big Help Out heads to Wembley","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Brent District Scouts are planning a public event for The Big Help Out to help inspire even more new volunteers.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NjQ3MiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/march/the-big-help-out-heads-to-wembley/"}