About us
Overview of Scouting
We are the UK’s biggest mixed youth organisation. We change lives by offering 6 to 25 year olds fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that we make a positive impact in communities.
Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Our members gain valuable skills for life including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world.
What do Scouts do?
Scouts take part in a wide range of activities as diverse as kayaking, abseiling, expeditions overseas, photography, climbing and zorbing. As a Scout you can learn survival skills, first aid, computer programming or even how to fly a plane. There’s something for everyone. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express your creativity and experience the wider world.
What do volunteers do?
This everyday adventure is only possible thanks to our team of adult volunteers, who support Scouts in a wide range of roles from working directly with young people, to helping manage a local community based Group, to being a charity Trustee. We help volunteers get the most out of their experiences at Scouts by providing opportunities for adventure, training, fun and friendship.
Our award winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouts as young people. Our approach focuses on what you want to get out of volunteering with Scouts, while respecting how much time you can offer. Over 90% of Scout volunteers say that their skills and experiences have been useful in their work or personal life.
Key facts and figures
The Scout Association is a UK charity founded in 1907 and now boasts a membership of over 620,000 young people and adult leaders. We are the largest mixed youth movement in the UK. Scouting activity is delivered through 7,000-plus community based Scout Groups nationwide.
Scouting is widely recognised and is one of the most trusted charities in the UK, giving it a significant level of influence and responsibility. Scouting’s greatest strength lies in its grass roots. It is locally that Scouting is best able to identify and work directly with young people most in need.
We believe that through the everyday adventure of Scouting, young people and adult volunteers regularly experience new challenges that enrich and change their lives.
The current focus for the Trustees and those in Scouting in the UK is delivering our strategic vision.
Our strategy
A new strategic plan for Scouting across the UK is currently nearing completion to secure a strategic direction through to 2023 and to grow on the success of the current plan. Team UK (the team of commissioners that leads Scouting across the UK) will play a key part in leading the delivery of this strategy. More details on the work towards our new plan are available at www.scouts.org.uk/ourplan
By 2023 we will have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme. We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.
Further information on our strategic objectives are provided on our website at www.scouts.org.uk/ourplan
Scouting’s fundamentals
Our Mission
Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
Our Values
As Scouts, we are guided by these values:
Integrity
Respect
Care
Belief
Co-operation
Further information on our fundamentals, including details of our values, are provided on our website at http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/key-policies/fundamentals-of-scouting/
Scouting’s key policies
In common with all members in Scouting, the Chief Commissioner of Wales is required to promote and follow our key policies. The policies cover:
Child Protection
Equal Opportunities
Religion
Safety
These policies are fully explained on our website at http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/key-policies/
