Volunteer

The everyday adventure at 26th Bournemouth is only possible thanks to our adult volunteers, who support Scouting in a wide range of roles from working directly with young people, to helping manage our 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.

Scouting's award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouts as young people, but focusing on what you want to get out of volunteering with Scouts, while respecting how much time you have to offer. Over 90% of Scout volunteers say that their skills and experiences have been useful in their work or personal life.

Without adult volunteers, we cannot operate and run the sections and programmes and this is where we most need your help.

So why not take the '4 week challenge' and make a life changing difference to young people?

Volunteering with the 26th Bournemouth

At the 26th, we always welcome anyone that is interested in volunteering with us, as well as any parents who may like to help us out on a 'parent rota'.

Whether you are already in Scouting, work with children, have just moved to the area, or just fancy trying something new, we would be delighted to have you on board! We especially love it when our volunteers have a particular passion or skill which they would like to share.

As a group, we support and encourage all of our volunteers, whether you can volunteer just once a term or every week… even if you want to become a fully trained leader (which would be SUPER)!

If you are doing your DofE, helping out with a Scout group is a great way to achieve your ‘volunteering’ section and we would welcome you at the 26th too.

Volunteering in Scouting Allows You To...

adopt a new family that never stops extending and developing friendships that stand the test of time!
be around people that think you’re amazing, even when you don’t feel good enough!
try something new and learn new skills, but also share your own skills and passions!
support, mentor and encourage young people in the community and help them achieve!
give young people hope when they find things tough, putting a smile on their face and being someone they look up to!
be you, and teach others that it’s ok to be themselves too!
enjoy loads of fun activities like camping, hiking and lots more!
and loads of other reasons too… just ask any of our volunteers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Scouting experience to join?

Absolutely not. You do not have to have any experience of Scouting at all. As long as you are over 18, you can help out as an adult volunteer in Scouting. There is no upper age limit. Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good at organising games? Handy in the kitchen? Like being outdoors? Do you like camping? Or DIY? We all have useful skills and that is all you need, along with a desire to help young people to grow and develop key life skills.

I don't have much spare time?

Volunteering with us is easy, fun, and fully flexible. A great idea is for a number of adults to share a leadership role, which means you only have to come once every couple of weeks. Our aim is to have more leaders per section to reduce the time everyone commits to. We also have roles that don't require a regular weekly commitment, such as helping on camps/events or looking after equipment when needed. The more adults we have, the more flexible it becomes and the less time everyone has to put in as we share amongst more leaders.

What about training?

The training available through Scouting is award-winning. There is a strctured training programme available for every adult, with some mandatory modules such as safeguarding and safety that everyone must complete. You will be fully supported by our Group Lead Volunteer and a Training Advisor, and the training courses are a great way to meet even more new friends in Scouting. Most importantly, all the training is absolutely free.

What roles are available?

Please Contact Us to find out which specific roles are available and where we could really benefit from more support.

What about support?

We have some very experienced adults with years of experience in Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts who are there to help and support you. We are a friendly, approachable team, and everyone will help you join in and play an active role with us. All sections are supported by our Group Lead Volunteer who will ensure you have a really good welcome.

How do I find out more?

To find out more, please fill in the Contact Form and our Group Lead Volunteer will contact you for an informal and non-commital chat about how you can help.

I've been asked to fill in an Adult Information Form?

Thank you for volunteering! Here is the Adult Information Form you need to fill in so we can register you as an adult member on Compass.

Thank you for volunteering!

Access the 'Getting Started' Training

Other Ways to Help...

We know that working directly with young people isn’t for everyone, but we also welcome anyone that may be interested in being a member of our team who help run our Group ‘behind the scenes’. So if you have any experience or interest in programme design, policy implementation, taking minutes, administration and eating biscuits, we may welcome you too!