Introduction

1st Winchester Scout Group relies entirely on volunteers.  We recognise that different people can volunteer for different amounts of help – all offers of voluntary help are welcomed.  Uniformed Leaders are our most important volunteers and we are always looking to encourage new people to volunteer for uniformed positions.  At 1st Winchester we believe that each section, be it Beavers, Cubs or Scouts, requires four uniformed leaders and two non-uniformed adult helpers.  Such levels allows for volunteers to enjoy what they do so that the young people also enjoy the activities laid on.  When there are few uniformed leaders, the pressure is high, and this erodes the enjoyment for the volunteers.

There are other non-uniformed volunteer roles which are also important to the effective running of the Group.  1st Winchester has a full and active Executive Committee who help to take further pressure off the uniformed leaders by sorting things like the Group’s finances, website, newsletter, hut maintenance, equipment maintenance and fundraising.  There’s a lot to do in the background for the Group and volunteers are much needed here too.

Levels of volunteering

To help, the Group have identified four levels of volunteering.  Please consider which level you can be of most service to help the Group provide the best adventure for your child.

Parent

We recognise that even as a parent, you will Be Prepared to volunteer to support your son or daughter in some of their activities – things like Remembrance Day and St George’s Day for instance.   As a parent you are also automatically a member of the Group Scout Council, and as such have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting.  You may also Be Prepared to help our fundraising activity by helping your child complete sponsorship forms, or even run a fundraising activity yourself.

Adult Helper

Adult Helpers are more frequent with their help than Parents.  They may help at the odd evening event, or help organise a day activity at a weekend.  Enthusiasm is the only qualification required.  We are always looking for Parents to do a little more to support and Adult Helpers are the next natural step.

Occasional Helper / Group Support / Exec

At this level, an adult’s commitment to helping is clear and regular.  You might now have a specific role such as Occasional Helper with a specific section, or running the Group Newsletter, or being a member of the Executive Committee.  At this level formal processes are introduced such as a CRB check and you may need to become a member of the Scout Association.
The Executive Committee is urgently looking for volunteers to fill these vacant roles.

Section Assistant / Assistant Leader / Leader

At this last level your commitment to volunteering is clear and consistent.  Leading or Assisting the Leading of a section is really enjoyable thing to do.  You become a member of the Scout Association and receive formal training in the work and activities of Scouting.

Our Aim

We believe that we need plenty of adults at each of these levels.  This means that uniformed leaders feel supported and are enabled to run full and exciting programmes.   Not everyone can be a uniformed leader, but there are other things that you can volunteer to do that help our leaders.

Be Prepared

Please Be Prepared to do a little more to help with 1st Winchester Scout Group – be it with a Section that your child is in, or another one.  Speak to a leader or email the GSL or Executive Chairman.