CYP Now - Scouts to expand to further 500 deprived areas and trial early years provision

Efforts will be made to set up Scout groups in 500 more deprived areas, and trial provision for children under the age of six as part of a new five-year strategy, the Scout Association has said.

The uniformed youth work organisation said it wants to focus on growing its numbers by 50,000 more young people by 2023, increasing access to Scouting for young people "from all walks of life".

The aim to extend the movement to 500 more deprived areas follows the establishment of 834 units in deprived areas since 2013.

The new strategy also commits to greater support for volunteers, with a renewed focus on improving volunteer recruitment, training, and support.

And the organisation has also said it will explore the potential for early years provision and intends to research, pilot, and evaluate different models to extend Scouting to under-sixes.

Matt Hyde, chief executive of the Scouts said: "Scouting in the UK has experienced unprecedented growth in the last 13 years, with nearly half a million young people coming to Scouts each week to gain skills for life.

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