It’s all about growing Scouting

As if you needed reminding, why does growth matter? Growth matters because young people only stay if they get adventure – growth equals more staying than leaving, thus greater success in our mission. Growth is inextricably linked with the quality of Scouting experiences – where Scouting is outstanding, it grows! Success is also self-perpetuating; volunteers and prospective volunteers join and stay longer in successful organisations which actively support them to feel valued, proud and effective.  Let’s ensure  that everything we do stacks up with this.

No County fees for volunteers  - it’s all about growth

News has probably reached you by now (following my note last week to DCs and District Chairs) that we will not charge any County membership fee for adult volunteers in 2012.  To read a copy of the full letter to DCs/District Chairmen, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact your DC/District Chairman directly.

This decision signals our huge appreciation of the amazing contribution that adult volunteers make.  We believe that “paying to volunteer” for Scouting should become a thing of the past, although we recognise that it may take some time for this to become a reality across the whole organisation.  You may already have seen our longer term vision and goals for how we want to support and develop positive volunteering experiences. Increasing the number of adult volunteers is crucial to growing youth membership. We know over 1,000 young people are currently registered as wanting to join and that far more could join if there were more adults to provide and support Scouting. Unsurprisingly, there is a strong correlation between increased numbers of volunteers and youth membership growth.

No County fees for newly formed Groups and Sections – it’s all about growth

In addition to not charging a County fee for adult volunteers, we will not charge any County membership fees for any youth members of newly formed Groups or Sections that fall within the definitions used by Headquarters for the award of Development Grants. Opening new Groups and Sections are amongst the highest impact ways to grow Scouting. Just one extra new Group in each District would mean c. 600 more young people benefiting from Scouting in Avon (c. 7% growth). We know too that not all our Sections are operating at capacity for a variety of reasons. If every Section were able to take in just one additional young person, over 400 more would benefit from Scouting across the County.  Coeducation and girls in Scouting is another key to growth and development - if 30% of our Beaver, Cub and Scout membership comprised females with no loss of male membership, 1,600 more young people would benefit (16% growth).   If we were more proactively inclusive in this way, it might even help us recruit new and different volunteers who currently discount us. I know that not all of this can happen overnight, though there can be some quick wins in Groups/Sections such as the "one additional person" per Section challenge.  I know also that adult volunteers/leaders and their approaches are crucial to addressing these challenges.  That’s why “adult volunteers” linked to growth are my top priority. Let’s join together in growing Scouting.

Changes that have helped make this possible – it’s all about growth

We have been able to make these changes in County membership fee charges with no impact on the County’s overall finances which we invest in services and support to help develop and grow Scouting.  These changes have largely been made possible by ceasing the subsidy to Avon Scout users of Woodhouse Park (£12k) and uplifting the youth membership fee by 3.7% to £9.50 (i.e. less than inflation).  Woodhouse Park is now a National Activity Centre (NAC) managed by The Scout Association (HQ).  According to the stats, the County’s Woodhouse Park subsidy very disproportionately favoured particular Groups/Districts. So, in view of this and the fact that it is now a NAC, we decided to spread the benefit more fairly and to link our policy on County fees more explicitly with our goals for growing and developing Scouting. The value of the removal of adult volunteer County membership fees (£19,285) is greater than the combined value of previous subsidies.  We know that more adult volunteers means we can improve and grow Scouting and research is also rightly clear that parents believe Scouting is very good value for money.  Gilwell, who operate Woodhouse Park, tell us that they are not concerned about the removal of the County subsidy for Avon users.  The Association’s National Activity Centres (NAC) have worked well across the UK and have a pricing model for Scouts and non Scout users that make them financially viable, enable investment in their development and improve Scout usage and satisfaction with quality in relation to value for money.  News is just in that the site will benefit from real investment during next year including the installation of a High Ropes Course, Climbing Tower and refurbishments to key facilities.  The strategic decision of my predecessors on the 50 year lease of Woodhouse Park to headquarters for operation as a NAC is clearly paying dividends already. Not only do we not hold the risk whilst retaining a Scout site (and ownership) in the County (whereas before we made losses in a number of years) but the site also gets much needed investment in its development.

Other measures – they’re all about growth

The finance sub-committee has also been tasked with exploring the creation of a ‘hardship’ fund to provide targeted financial support in cases of particularly pressing need.  In addition we will promote better use of the various headquarters development grants and support those wishing to apply for them.  Our approach is also to influence Districts and Headquarters to consider similar measures which would amplify the effect of our decisions.  As well as tightening our financial and risk management arrangements to ensure we make best use of the funds we have, over the medium to longer term we also aim to diversify our income streams and gradually reduce reliance on the membership subscription.  We will also develop more transparent reporting so that members and other stakeholders can see more easily how and why we invest our funds the way we do.

Send your stories and comments on growth and development

Why not share what you’re doing on growth and development?  At our recent County meeting Axe District shared some examples of what they are doing to recruit and retain younger leaders (e.g. from universities) and to train a more flexible pool of volunteers with Scouting skills.  At the County level I also met with Network members recently.  We’re now looking to recruiting a new lead volunteer and team to manage the Network and provide support across the 14-25 age range.  More on this soon.  In Brunel they’re near opening a new Explorer Scout Unit following the recent growth success story at Bradley Stoke.  A partnership with the local Council also means they have a fantastic new headquarters.  However big or small, share your success stories to inspire others!  Keep up the fantastic work and thank you for everything you do.