Change 1: A warmer welcome for everyone
We are moving...
We’re going to make a better first impression for new or returning volunteers. It’ll be clear where to sign up, what to expect, and what stage they are at. They will also be in control of moving this forward as much as possible.
Historically our District Appointments Panels have welcomed new volunteers into their role. Although these panels are an important step in our appointment process and help us keep young people in scouting safe, it can be somewhat intimidating and unclear for new volunteers, and despite our very best efforts and rarely as welcoming as they could be. It can also be really off-putting for potential volunteers, meaning that they don’t get involved.
We are moving to a much warner way of welcoming new adults, and this means changes to our appointment process. This will include a welcome conversation in place of the formal appointments panel meeting. Conversations will be group led and will happen where the new adult volunteers.
This will mean:
Volunteers will be welcomed locally with ease
Welcome conversations will take place where the new adult volunteers
Your new team members will be supported through their welcome and induction by an allocated welcome buddy
New volunteers will be empowering through a new self-service tools for learning and development
There will be more digital tools to support local volunteer recruitment
Admin will be reduced for our current and new volunteers, making the process quicker and smoother. This will allow you and your team more time to focus on the elements that really need a human touch
What will stay the same
As a Movement we are committed to following the NSPCC Safer Recruitment Guidelines, which means that there's a mandatory requirement to meet these as Scouts.
These are the elements of the recruitment and appointment process which will stay the same:
The new volunteer will need to:
- Providing at least two references as a new volunteer
- Complete a DBS disclosure check
- Have a CE check completed by UKHQ
- Take part in a conversation around suitability and safety for the role with two people
We've developed a system that enables you to start using welcome conversation in your group now using our current rules and systems. Click the banner below to find all the information, tools and resources you need to get started...
Watch our zoom session...
Understand...
Watch these short videos to learn more about what's changing (any dates mentioned have moved to the new rollout time line)...
Plan...
- Decide who is going to lead this change in your group / unit
- Form a working group
- Map out what this means for your teams
- Network with others
Deliver...
- Start to clean up and update your team's Compass records (click here to access Compass)
- Take part in our online Module 37 - appointing new adults learning
- Watch our welcome conversations transition video
- Use our welcome conversation transition process to start using the new ways of working with our current rules and systems
Keep going...
We will move to the new ways of welcoming adults using our new digital tools in early 2024