{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"Samantha is from Cambridgeshire and runs two Squirrel Dreys for her local area. Since starting the Drey, they\u2019ve seen massive growth. Read our blog to find out Samantha\u2019s secrets to getting more leaders. ","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/eekjzhxb/samantha-sharp-pic.jpg","width":2048,"height":1336,"altText":"Samantha and her volunteers","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EAfter Samantha\u2019s local group started their first Squirrel Drey in 2022 with just 12 young people, there was immediate interest from parents and young people in the area. Within a year, the group doubled in size and at 18 months, they decided to open a second Drey.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EAnd with more Squirrels and more interest from the local community, it brought in more leaders.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s the magic formula?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003ESamantha, Team Leader, says her secret to success has been using a teams-based approach that\u2019s all about playing to people\u2019s strengths and making volunteering work for everyone.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003ESamantha knows everyone\u2019s busy \u2013 jobs, kids, life in general \u2013 so she\u2019s ensured she has a flexible, fun, and friendly approach that means you can give as much or as little time as you like.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u201CSome of the leaders love planning activities, while others prefer to just turn up and have fun with the kids. When people have things going on at home and simply can\u2019t commit to planning sessions, we can say that\u2019s fine. They can still be involved whatever way they can, still making a difference, and still part of the Scout family.\u201D As Samantha likes to say, \u201CWhatever you want to give, we\u2019ll take it!\u201D\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EInviting parents to take part\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003ESamantha has also seen success by inviting parents to get involved.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u201CMany times, they drop their little ones off and see how much fun everyone\u2019s having, and suddenly, they\u2019re telling us how they used to be a Cub leader or how they\u2019d love to help out, but are worried about the time commitment.\u201D\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EBut when Samantha explains her flexible approach, it\u2019s like a lightbulb moment for them. They realise they can be part of something special without having to rearrange their entire lives.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a sense of community\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003ESamantha says one of the best things about her team is the sense of community they\u2019ve built. There are 30 volunteers across the whole group, and because Samantha and her team are so open and welcoming, people want to be part of it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u201CCovid taught us that time is precious, so we\u2019re making sure to use people\u2019s time proactively.\u201D It\u2019s not about doing everything on your own. It\u2019s about being part of something bigger, where everyone chips in and supports each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThis sense of community extends beyond the weekly sessions too. From a parent who\u2019s a plumber helping out with a leaky tap to another leader organising a fun day out, they\u2019ve built a group of people that truly supports one another. And that\u2019s what keeps people coming back and new volunteers signing up.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWant to grow your group?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EFirstly, think about opening a Squirrel Drey. It\u2019s a great way to get new young people interested in Scouts, and helps attract more volunteers along the way. Join our next \u2018\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/events/thinking-about-squirrels/\u0022\u003EThinking about Squirrels\u2019 webinar\u003C/a\u003E to get started.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EAlso, as we transform our volunteer experience, we want flexible volunteering like Samantha\u2019s to be a reality. Find out more about our \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/volunteering-together/how-volunteers-work-in-teams/\u0022\u003Eteams-based approach to volunteering\u003C/a\u003E and how this could help your Scout group.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"16 September 2024","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Thinking about Squirrels?","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/events/thinking-about-opening-squirrels/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Our new teams-based approach to volunteering","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/volunteering-together/how-volunteers-work-in-teams/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Find out more in our volunteer recruitment toolkit","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruitment-toolkit/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Learn about adult rotas","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/growing-scouts/recruitment-toolkit/adult-rotas/","newWindow":false}],"id":81431,"nodeName":"How we brought in 15 new leaders in two years","title":"How we brought in 15 new leaders in two years","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/eekjzhxb/samantha-sharp-pic.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1db081bc610f1a0","caption":"Samantha Sharp Pic","type":"jpg","size":589380,"width":2048,"height":1336,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How we brought in 15 new leaders in two years","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Read our blog to find out Samantha\u2019s secrets to getting more leaders. 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