{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EPeer leadership is a key part of the Explorer Scout experience. One of the most effective ways to develop it is through small teams or patrol-style groups, where young people lead, support and learn from each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EExplorer Units have flexibility in how they organise young people. While many use informal or short-term teams, some Units, especially larger ones, use patrol-style groups to create more opportunities for peer leadership and shared responsibility.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUsed well, this approach helps shift leadership towards young people, giving them real ownership of activities while building confidence and teamwork.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhy use teams or patrols?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a smaller Unit, it\u2019s often easy to work as one group. As numbers grow, that gets harder. A few voices can dominate, activities take longer to organise, and it\u2019s more difficult for individuals to take real responsibility.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESplitting into smaller teams creates space for peer leadership to happen more naturally.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, on a programme night, instead of running one large activity, each team might take on a different role. One group runs a game, another leads a skills session, and another manages equipment and timing. Young people aren\u2019t just taking part, they\u2019re leading each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver time, teams can build trust and identity, which supports stronger peer relationships and more confident leadership across the Unit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhat does this look like in practice?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s no single model to follow. Some Units keep things flexible, while others use more consistent patrol-style groups. You might start by using short-term teams, then keep those groups together for longer if it helps build confidence and leadership.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, across a term:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETeams are formed for skills nights\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThose same teams work together on a camp\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThey stay together for a competition or challenge\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis gives continuity and helps young people grow into leadership roles within their group.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome Units name their patrols and keep them for a term or longer, especially where building identity supports peer leadership. Others change teams regularly to give everyone the chance to work with different people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhere patrol-style groups really help\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are times when consistent teams significantly strengthen peer leadership.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOn camps, patrols can take responsibility for their own cooking, kit and routines. Instead of leaders organising everything, young people coordinate within their own group, making decisions together and supporting each other to get things done.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring expeditions, especially DofE, keeping teams together helps build trust and reliability. Young people learn how to lead, follow, and problem-solve as a group.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn larger Units, patrols can also make meetings more manageable. Smaller groups allow clearer communication, and peer leaders can help keep things organised and moving.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ELeadership within teams or patrols\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUsing teams or patrols creates regular, meaningful opportunities for peer leadership. Leadership doesn\u2019t need to sit with the same person all the time. It can shift depending on the task, giving more Explorers the chance to lead and support others.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOne Explorer might lead on planning a camp menu\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAnother might take charge of running an activity\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESomeone else might organise equipment or timings\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome Units appoint patrol leaders, while others rotate roles or keep leadership informal. What matters is that leadership feels genuine. When young people are trusted with real responsibility, they develop confidence, communication skills and the ability to lead their peers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EMaking it work for your Unit\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou don\u2019t need to introduce patrols all at once. It can start small and build over time.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, on your next camp, you might split the Unit into teams and ask each one to plan meals, organise kit and take responsibility for cooking. Afterwards, reflect together on how it went and whether to keep those teams for future activities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow you form teams matters too. Sometimes letting friendships guide groups builds confidence. At other times, mixing people helps develop new connections and avoids closed groups forming. Most Units use a balance of both.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf teams are creating more opportunities for young people to lead and support each other, they\u2019re working well. If not, it\u2019s fine to adapt your approach.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EThe role of volunteers\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA focus on peer leadership doesn\u2019t mean stepping back completely. Leaders still set expectations, make sure things are safe and support young people to succeed. The difference is allowing space for Explorers to lead each other, stepping in to guide rather than direct. That might mean letting a team work through a challenge before offering support, or helping a young person reflect on how their leadership went.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis balance helps young people feel trusted while knowing support is there when they need it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EKey points\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUsing teams or patrols is one of the simplest ways to build peer leadership in your Unit. When used well, they help:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECreate real leadership opportunities\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBuild teamwork and trust\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EShare responsibility across the Unit\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStart simple, give young people meaningful roles, and adapt your approach so it works for your Unit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EExciting ways to use teams or patrols in your Explorer Unit\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":true,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESet a multi-week challenge where each team works on a substantial project (such as organising an event, building a pioneering structure or running a community activity). Teams manage roles, deadlines and resources independently, then present and evaluate their work against agreed criteria.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Inter-Patrol Project Competition"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEach patrol designs and delivers a high-quality skills session (e.g. survival skills, first aid scenario, or problem-solving challenge) for the rest of the Unit. They must plan outcomes, manage time and adapt their delivery based on how others respond.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Peer-Led Skills Festival"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGive each team/patrol responsibility for planning and delivering a full mini\u2011expedition, including route planning, risk assessment, kit management and leadership roles.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring the activity, rotate leadership so different members take charge of navigation, decision-making and team coordination under real conditions.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Patrol Expedition Challenge"}]}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Find out how you can use peer leadership to develop your Explorer Unit","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"Peer Leadership - Using Patrols in Explorer Scouts","versionDate":"10 June 2026","reviewDate":"01/01/0001","redirectUrl":"","id":89869,"nodeName":"Peer Leadership - Using Patrols in Explorer Scouts","title":"Peer Leadership - Using Patrols in Explorer Scouts","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Peer Leadership - Using Patrols in Explorer Scouts","headerSubTitle":"Find out how you can use peer leadership to develop your Explorer Unit","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"Find out how you can use peer leadership to develop your Explorer Unit","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84OTg2OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/running-an-explorer-unit/explorer-guidance-and-support/peer-leadership-using-patrols-in-explorer-scouts/"}