{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Nicola Hilliard, Creative Content Producer","standfirst":"Whether it\u2019s opening a new Squirrel Drey or needing some extra support for a growing Cub section, volunteers are the important key to success. We spoke to some Scout volunteers to see what they did to welcome new adults into their team.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EPlease note, some responses have been edited for length or clarity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/19357/cubs-building-den.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"Cubs building a den out of large sticks with a volunteer looking on.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeing social media savvy\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018I used social media to get four new volunteers, as well as young leaders. I posted in all the local Facebook groups and on my own page. I made it shareable on my own page too, just in case any of my friends were interested or could share it.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018I always try to say that the group is growing and needs some helpers. I think it sound more positive than saying we\u2019re in need or have a lack of volunteers. I also mention all the exciting things we\u2019ve done recently to get people intrigued.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018In our social media shout-outs, we invite people to come for a taster to make sure it\u2019s right for them. We always say one or two extra people to help on one or two weeks in a term really makes a difference!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018I put a post on Facebook asking if anyone wanted any volunteers and someone asked me if I would consider Scouts. I then asked my friend to help and she said yes too. We then got our adult children involved. None of us had been involved with Scouts before, but I was a Brownie leader and am still a Rainbow leader.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/aden2fxf/a-volunteer-putting-up-bunting-at-a-local-eventmin.png","width":7360,"height":4912,"altText":"A volunteer wearing a t-shirt that says Baloo is putting up bunting of UK flags in a marquee.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParent and carer helpers\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u2018We tell our parents and carers that we have to have a parent or carer each week to run. We give everyone a week per term to help on. If they can\u0027t make that week, they make arrangements with other parents and carers to swap. Sometimes we\u0027ve had grandparents, aunts or uncles help instead too.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u2018We mainly had parent volunteers stepping up. Myself and one other person were the only parent volunteers when we started, but it\u2019s grown.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u2018I was keen to have a parent and carer rota. The rota meant people could see what we did and get involved, so we\u2019ve excitedly had another parent join us as a volunteer. We also had volunteer\u2019s partners take on official roles too. The team has blossomed and have picked everything up so quickly over the 18 months since launch!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEncouraging young leaders\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u2018Look at your Scouts and Explorers who could step up as young leaders, then eventually leaders. They\u2019re an essential part of our sections!\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking within the group\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018We had support from two existing Beaver volunteers. One of them had a child who was Squirrels age, so he now splits his time between the two sections. The other Beaver volunteer helped with getting them set up, offered advice, helped them with training and gave them planning ideas.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p3\u0022\u003E\u2018We had some mini training days, with our volunteer\u2019s children helping us to run some sample sessions I\u2019d planned. We even had people who opened our Beaver colony return to help. And now we\u2019re two and half years into Squirrels, we haven\u0027t looked back!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/vorcntzd/a-scout-volunteer-talking-to-three-scouts-outside-the-building.jpg","width":5616,"height":3744,"altText":"A Scout volunteer talking to three Scouts outside the building","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p4\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStarting with Squirrels\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p4\u0022\u003E\u2018Of all the sections, Squirrels seems like the easiest to welcome adults in to volunteer. It\u2019s great, because it helps to create a pool of experienced volunteers who may move up into older sections over the coming years.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p4\u0022\u003E\u2018We had a Squirrel themed Open Day for our waiting list and anyone in our local area. We managed to welcome a team of four adults there, then launched a few months after that.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p4\u0022\u003E\u2018When we opened Squirrels, we used a combination of emailing people on our waiting list with 4-6 year olds and a local social media campaign. We recruited seven new adults. Some were parents and carers of older Scouts and some were totally new. Since then, one of our Squirrels leaders has moved up to Beavers with her son, but we\u0027ve welcomed one more new volunteer.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p4\u0022\u003E\u2018Two years ago I advertised that we were hoping to start Squirrels. Since then, two adult helpers have moved up and are now helping at Beavers, though one has been welcomed back with a younger sibling. We also have three more parents helping. I\u0027m now a Squirrel leader for our second Drey, with three new parents helping.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u2018We always encourage parents and carers to help us on trips and visits, as it helps us to cover ratios. This involvement also shows them how fun it is and how they can actually do the role. We\u2019ve found the quickest way to getting new volunteers is to make the parents and carers feel included, involved and capable.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/21131/leader-sitting-on-ground-talking.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"Squirrel volunteer sitting on the ground with legs crossed talking to the group.","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"02 May 2024","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Volunteer with Scouts today","url":"/volunteer/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"10 top tips after a recruitment event","url":"/news/2023/may/10-top-tips-after-a-recruitment-event/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Getting more adults involved in Scouts","url":"/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruit-more-volunteers/the-recruitment-cycle/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Tips to welcome student volunteers","url":"/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruit-more-volunteers/student-recruitment/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Growing Scouts","url":"/volunteers/growing-scouts/","newWindow":false}],"id":79427,"nodeName":"We heard from you: Top tips on how to welcome volunteers to new sections","title":"We heard from you: Top tips on how to welcome volunteers to new sections","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/fyklmzhp/a-volunteer-helping-a-beaver-to-do-archerymin.jpg?cc=0.0000000000000001234533710780,0.03722268942612085,0,0.11902731057387915\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1db6e4aa9ee65d0","caption":"Volunteer helping Beaver to do archery","type":"jpg","size":1579812,"width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"A volunteer helps a Beaver place an arrow into a bow to do archery outdoors."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"We heard from you: Top tips on how to welcome volunteers to new sections","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"From clever tips to heartening tales, we asked existing volunteers what worked for them to grow and welcome new volunteers to their section.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83OTQyNyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2024/may/we-heard-from-you-top-tips-on-how-to-welcome-volunteers-to-new-sections/"}