Wait List Update - We Need Volunteers

Currently, all sections for young people (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers) are over-subscribed, and we are applying our waiting list policy at a meeting on the 9th of December to make decisions on to whom we can offer spaces.  As you know, we prioritise those children whose parents/carers are able to support the Group by volunteering - either as a leader or as a Trustee.

There is a little more information below on what those roles entail - some of you have already ticked the "willing to volunteer" box, but I want to be sure you know what you're signing up for.

Ideally, of course, we'd have spaces to offer for all those interested - but at this point, we won't be able to increase the number of Young People without an increase in leaders.  It's tricky to get that point across without making it sound like the Hunger Games!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us before 9 December.

Leadership roles:

Here’s a bit more information on what becoming part of a section leadership team involves - the most important things to note are that it’s a team effort, and that your contribution is flexible - we recognise that things change, and the amount of time people can commit will vary.  We normally have around 15 leaders "on the books", spread across the four sections (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers).  The more leaders we have in the team, the less each individually needs to take on.  It's also worth noting that you don't have to volunteer for the section your children are in - in fact, it's often better if you don't!

The approach to volunteering in Scouting is changing - towards the way we’ve always been doing it in Dunning - there’s a bit more information about it here: Team descriptions | Scouts.  There are further changes coming around first aid and on-line training  - but fundamentally, it's still along the lines of the below.

Why become a leader?

The Group can’t function without volunteers - for some sections we have had to close the waiting list unless more leaders sign-up.  You also get “first dibs” on attendance at events/camps for your children.

But aside from that, being a leader can be genuinely rewarding and enjoyable.  It’s a lovely group of kids, and it’s great watching them develop new skills and grow in confidence and resilience as they move through Scouting.

The social side is good fun too - it’s a supportive group of adults, and we’ve had some very entertaining evenings!

What are you signing-up to?

Fundamentally - whatever you can contribute.  But we’d hope you can commit to helping regularly, and most leaders help out for at least three or four meetings per term (so around once a month).  Depending on the role you take, that can either be taking a lead in running activities for those nights, or helping to plan the programme and delivering a meeting as the “leader in charge”, supported by the other leaders.

It’s not a commitment for life - and we’ve had Leaders join-up for a year, then take a sabbatical for various reasons before coming back again to help out (or leaving altogether).

What’s the process for becoming a leader and what training do I have to do?

The training is in the process of changing (to become simpler), but at the moment there are four main elements to joining:

1. Complete an adult information form (don’t worry too much about the sections on qualifications/interests/ethnicity etc.) and send it back to me.
2. You’ll be put through the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme - mygov.scot - to ensure you are suitable to work with children (it’s a short form to complete, once you’ve been registered, and I’ll need to check some ID).  If you’ve already got a PVG, please send me your PVG number - it makes the form even shorter!
3. There will be some basic online training modules to complete - each takes about 20 minutes, and gives you a bit of background on Scouting and teaches you about safety and safeguarding in Scouts, and the inescapable GDPR training!  If you are interested in becoming a section leader/assistant section leader, then there’s also a tools for the role module.  We also encourage everyone to do a free first aid course - a useful skill for us all to have, and you have up to a year to go on the course.
4. Finally - you’ll have a “Welcome conversation” with the appointments committee.  That’s basically a chat with three leaders from outside Dunning, who will make sure you know what you’ve signed-up for, get an understanding of your motivation for joining Scouting and give you a chance to ask questions.  

We can discuss the above stages in more detail - but that’s the gist of it.  

One important point - being a leader doesn’t require any special skills, background in Scouting/Guides or knowledge of knots!  The Group was started by a group of friends, almost none of whom knew anything about Scouting; we’ve all learnt “on the job”, and you will too (and don’t tell anyone, but most of the leaders still can’t tie a decent knot).

Trustee role

There's information on the Scout website - Trustee Information Pack | Scouts

Fundamentally, the Trustees help make sure the Group is being run effectively and, critically, support the leaders in delivering a programme of activities and events.  That means taking an active role in fundraising, maintaining equipment and our buildings, communications (newsletters etc.), running social events and generally doing all they can to take the "behind the scenes" work from the leaders.  As well as providing robust governance for the Group around insurance, finances etc..  At the moment we are particularly keen to recruit a bookeeper/treasurer (which will free-up our Treasurer to move to a leadership role).