Updated: 15 June  2026 (re slides, handout & photos)

Keeping our Scout teams thriving

When?   Saturday 9th May 2026

Where? Swavesey Village College, Gilbraltar Lane, Swavesey CB24 4RS.  

Times: 10am – 4pm

Who attended?  Group Lead Volunteers, District 14-24 Team Leaders, Explorer Section Team Leaders or their delegates.

What was the aim of the day?

• A day designed just for you — the volunteers who keep our Scout teams thriving. A practical, energising conference packed with ideas, tools, and strategies to help you support your volunteers with confidence.
• Stronger support means stronger Scouting. Attendees discovered smarter ways to lighten the load, boost confidence, and help their volunteers thrive. Brilliant experiences for young people start with brilliant experiences for the adults who make it happen.
• Hands‑on workshops were provided, lots of honest conversations, and plenty of chances to connect with fellow team leaders who understand the joys and challenges of the role. A really positive and inspiring day.

Programme:

Attendees spent time together thinking about the operational management of their Scout Groups and District 14 to 24 Teams while focussing on the core skills and elements of roles to enhance the support provided to their teams. A mix of plenary and breakout sessions were provided with time to network with like-minded colleagues. The key elements included:

 Morning workshops that focus on Scout Group and 14 to 24 Team management

 Workshop 1: Making our teams-based approach come alive.

This included roles & responsibilities, the Joining Journey, recruiting into teams, partnership agreements and relationship with Trustee Boards.

Workshop 2: Key priorities for keeping Young People safe in  Scouting

• Safety: Nights Away, Adventurous Activities, Risk Assessments, Incident Management, Premises, and Event Management safety
• Safeguarding: reporting concerns, managing incidents, and Yellow Card reminder
• Learning compliance: including Growing Roots and First Response
• Trustees’ responsibilities for Safety and Safeguarding

 Lunchtime Market Place stalls that covered:  Growth, CamJam 2027, Safeguarding, Learning, Volunteering Culture, Explorer Belt 2027. 

Choice of three from the following six afternoon workshops covering:

Inclusion/challenging behaviour, Young Leaders, International, Volunteer recruitment/Growth, Adult recognition, The HQ Membership system.

Guests: 3 members of HQ’s Movement, Support and Growth team led well received 3 afternoon sessions on Recruiting Volunteers and Growth and chatted about Squirrel Scouts and advised on local issues raised.

An outline was given on “Place to Belong” our Strategy to 2035  and how that focusses on what we do best – giving young people a place to belong and giving them the skills to thrive.

Slide deck and handouts

Afternoon workshops –  Click the buttons to download the slide decks

Handouts

Links to the key handouts from The Scouts’ website are below:

• Leading a team – what it means. Find out how Team Leaders and Lead Volunteers work with Team Members to share tasks out
• Approving activities – Guidance of Lead Volunteers and District 14-24 Team Leaders
• Team Members and Helpers
• Our Volunteer Culture

Questions? communications@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk

Photo gallery from the day – coming soon