Scouts and Girlguiding join forces to recruit volunteers
Neil Puffett
Monday, May 10, 2021
Scouts and Girlguiding are collaborating to recruit adult volunteers following difficulties in the youth sector caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been announced.
The organisations said that thanks to a £2m donation from Pears Foundation, they will work together on a joint project designed to streamline and digitally transform how they engage and welcome new volunteers.
The Scouts have previously struggled to attract enough volunteers to meet increasing demand for places, but the situation has been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. As a result of coronavirus restrictions meaning face-to-face meetings have not been possible for much of the past year both the Scouts and Girlguiding have faced additional challenges recruiting new adult volunteers.
The organisations are also aware that the process of “on-boarding” new volunteers can be very time consuming and can make it harder to get new volunteers to quickly and easily get engaged with their new roles. They have been working closely to work out how they can solve some of the issues together, sharing learning and best practice to reduce duplication of effort and stimulate innovation.
The new venture will look at the behind-the-scenes processes, seek to find opportunities to make economies of scale and share learnings and best practice to benefit members of both organisations. It is hoped the new system, designed to make the joining experience smoother, faster and more inclusive will be implemented in 2023.
Matt Hyde, chief executive of the Scouts said: “We are committed to creating a more welcoming and inclusive experience for new volunteers. Having undertaken extensive consultation, this project will enable us to make transformational improvements to make the joining experience more positive and accessible.
"Together we want to make sure we meet the needs and expectations of people looking for simple ways to volunteer with charities like the Scouts and Guides”
Angela Salt, chief executive of Girlguiding, said: “Volunteers are the life-blood of our movements and we want to make it easier for new volunteers to join so that young people can benefit from the wealth of talents and skills that a diversity of volunteers bring.
"We share similar challenges ‘onboarding’ new volunteers so collaborating through this digital transformation project seems like a good idea to us. We are very grateful to the Pears Foundation for their continued support of our organisations, including on this innovative approach.”
The Scouts and Girlguiding previously worked together to open 200 new units in deprived areas of England.
