At Scouts, we provide young people with the opportunities to develop Skills for Life – including confidence to speak up, feeling empowered to make a difference and being ready to take the lead. That’s what being youth shaped is all about. Our programmes and decisions are shaped by young people, working in partnership with volunteers.
The difference you’ll make to young people
Youth Lead Volunteers help young people to make their voices heard and improve scouts for the better. You’ll be working to help more young people get the opportunity to speak up and take the lead – skills and experiences that set them up for the future. And in the process, you’ll get to learn plenty of new skills yourself too.
What does the Youth Lead Volunteer do?
Youth Leads are volunteers responsible for driving youth shaped in their local area. They support volunteers, shape the programme, influence decisions that we make at Scouts and take the lead.
They are aged 18-25 at appointment and enable volunteers to embed the ideas and decisions of young people into local scouting.
They play a key role in the leadership and management of the District. They need to motivate both volunteers and young people. Responsilities in a youth commissioner role vary, but are likely to include:
- Supporting volunteers to put the views and ideas of young people at the heart of their section’s programme
- Promote participation in the YouShape award in their District, as well as top awards
- Help to ensure that young people get regular opportunities to take the lead, including promoting participation in the young leader’s scheme
- Inspire and motivate young people in the District, ensuring they know about all the different opportunities available to them in scouting, including when they reach 18 years old
- Influence decisions that are made in the District as a member of the District Executive Committee. Ensuring that young people are at the heart of decisions.
Support every step of the way
The Youth Lead Volunteer is line managed by Matt, Lead Volunteer, who will help you set objectives and work with you towards improving local youth shaped scouting.
Each County (or equivalent) also has a County Youth Lead Volunteer who will be able provide support.
And the UK Youth Commissioner team are also here to support Youth Lead Volunteers too – running inductions, events, webinars and more. So you’ll have support available whenever you need it.
What you’ll get from the role
Being a Youth Lead Volunteers is an amazing role. As well as helping to drive youth shaped locally and giving young people a say, you’ll also be learning loads of new skills and having fun along the way.
You’ll get experience and develop skills that will look seriously impressive on a CV or university application – things like teamwork, communication and organisation, but also experience with governance, working with young people and leading others.
Across the UK, there are now over 600 Youth Lead Volunteers doing amazing things. Ready to join them?
Express your interest below and Gabby, our current Youth Lead Volunteer will be in touch.
