We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without adults like you.
Our adult volunteers are a friendly group at the heart of our community. Giving back will improve your wellbeing, equip you with skills for the future, and help you make a positive impact on the lives of young people.
There are two main types of roles at Westside:
- Section leaders and assistants, who run our meetings, camps and activities.
- Behind the scenes supporters, enabling all of that to happen.
Scroll down to find role descriptions for some of the help we’re looking for.
If you can only occasionally help, that’s OK. Whether you’d like to be an activity planner, tea-maker or craft creator, we appreciate any time you can spare. In fact, almost all of our roles can be flexible to suit your other commitments.
Neither do you need to have any ‘traditional’ scout skills, such as tying knots or reading maps, before joining us - all you need is enthusiasm to get stuck in, and we can support you to learn new things if you want.
At Scouts we celebrate difference and welcome everyone. Whatever your background, identity or ability, there’s a volunteer spot with your name on it.
Email lead.volunteer@westsidescouts.org to join the team.
Role descriptions - supporting roles
Lead Volunteer
The Lead Volunteer manages and supports the Scout Group and its Leaders to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the Group develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association. They provide a strategic direction for other volunteers. The most important skill for a successful Lead Volunteer is the ability to manage adults effectively - no prior knowledge of traditional ‘scout skills’ or Scout Association rules is necessary! There is scope to delegate many parts of the role, or to formally share responsibility with formal Deputy Lead Volunteers.
- Ensure that the Scout Group thrives and has the best systems in place to support adult volunteers and develop the Group – including a Group Trustee Board and Section leadership teams.
- Provide line management and support to the Leaders in the Scout Group, including setting objectives for their work and holding regular reviews and one-to-one meetings. -Ensure that the Scout Group has an adequate team of supported and appropriate adults working effectively together and with others to meet the Scouting needs of the area.
- Ensure that a challenging, exciting and balanced programme is offered to young people in the Scout Group.
- Work with other Lead Volunteers in the District to ensure that the District thrives and supports Scout Groups.
Group Secretary
The Group Secretary is a charity trustee who supports the running of the Trustee Board. This role would suit someone who is organised, but no formal experience is required. This is a flexible role, with only a small number of commitments around board meetings. Responsibilities include:
- Organising Trustee Board meetings and taking minutes.
- Support the Chair in the organisation of Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings, and take minutes at these events.
Marketing Lead
The Marketing Lead helps demonstrate the great work we do within the group, to support the group to grow sustainably - in the short term, this means a particular focus on recruiting new adult volunteers! This is a flexible role, without any regular commitments, but which could be grown to meet your interests. There would be considerable opportunities to be creative, but materials are already available from HQ so it would also suit someone who enjoys reaching out to new people.
- Lead in the creation and dissemination of advertising materials to help grow the group sustainably.
- Help section leaders to expand the group’s social media presence (optional)
Role descriptions - frontline roles
Section Leader - Scouts section
The Scouts Section Leader drives the operation of our scout section (10.5 to 14 years). They should be motivated to help the section deliver skills for life and comfortable engaging with our great young people on a regular basis. However, you’re not doing this alone - this role can be shared as part of a team, and will always be supported by assistant section leaders and the rest of the group. Prior knowledge of traditional scouting skills, like knots or map reading, would be helpful, but they’re not essential, and the skills that Scouts seeks to develop in our young people is wider than ever, including a range of creative and teamwork challenges - plus, the rest of our leadership team will support you to develop new skills and it can be a great way to build your practical as well ‘softer’ skills.
- Delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people.
- Ensure the safe delivery of the programme in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
- Ensure that every young person in the Section has the opportunity to attend at least one nights away experience each year.
- Actively support and promote the achievement of badges and awards in particular the Chief Scout’s Award.
- Ensure regular opportunities are provided for young people to express their views on the programme and running on the Section, and that those views are taken into account.
- Agree responsibilities with Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants and parent helpers taking into account the development of the individual’s leadership potential.
- Ensure accurate records are kept of the young people in the Section in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
- Make and maintain good relationships with parents/carers of the young people, including running a parent rota.
Section Leader - St Luke’s Beavers
The St Luke’s Beaver Section Leader drives the operation of our beaver colony at St Luke’s (6 to 8 years). They should be motivated to help the section deliver skills for life and comfortable engaging with our great young people on a regular basis. However, you’re not doing this alone - this role can be shared as part of a team, and will always be supported by assistant section leaders and the rest of the group. This is a great role for
- Delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people.
- Ensure the safe delivery of the programme in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
- Ensure that every young person in the Section has the opportunity to attend at least one nights away experience each year.
- Actively support and promote the achievement of badges and awards in particular the Chief Scout’s Award.
- Ensure regular opportunities are provided for young people to express their views on the programme and running on the Section, and that those views are taken into account.
- Agree responsibilities with Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants and parent helpers taking into account the development of the individual’s leadership potential.
- Ensure accurate records are kept of the young people in the Section in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
- Make and maintain good relationships with parents/carers of the young people, including running a parent rota.
Assistant Section Leader - all sections x9
Assistant Section Leaders support our Section Leaders to deliver great programmes for their age groups. They should be motivated to help the section deliver skills for life and comfortable engaging with our great young people on a regular basis. However, you’re not doing this alone - you will always be part of a bigger team and even semi-regular commitments (eg every other week) are a huge help. Prior knowledge of traditional scouting skills, like knots or map reading, would be helpful, but they’re not essential, and the skills that Scouts seeks to develop in our young people is wider than ever, including a range of creative and teamwork challenges - plus, the rest of our leadership team will support you to develop new skills and it can be a great way to build your practical as well ‘softer’ skills.
Assistant Section Leaders support the responsibilities of Section Leaders (listed below), as agreed locally:
- Delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people.
- Ensure the safe delivery of the programme in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
- Ensure that every young person in the Section has the opportunity to attend at least one nights away experience each year.
- Actively support and promote the achievement of badges and awards in particular the Chief Scouts’ Award.
- Ensure regular opportunities are provided for young people to express their views on the programme and running on the Section, and that those views are taken into account.
- Ensure accurate records are kept of the young people in the Section in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
- Make and maintain good relationships with parents/carers of the young people, including running a parent rota.