Berkshire Scouts provide an adult recruitment workshop. If you would like to book a workshop please ask your District Commissioner to contact: Volunteer Development Officer (VDO)
Do you have a social media presence?
Social media is an excellent tool to promote awareness and keep connected but there can sometimes be confusion regarding what can and can’t be posted. The Scout Association has provided clear guidance and advice on how you can use Social Media sites to your advantage.
See also the Berkshire Scouts webpage on social media.
Shout about the great work you do!
Use the Brand Centre to find and create posters, invites, flyers etc. You don’t have to buy them, you can download and print at home. Display these in your Scout headquarters, but remember to update them every now and again. Put them up in local supermarkets, doctor’s surgeries, bus stops, shopping malls, etc. The Brand Centre, also offers excellent guidance. These are the current Scout Brand Guidelines.
Contact local newspapers, magazines, parish newsletters, etc, when you have a good news story or exciting event. They always need content and may well be willing to support/feature it.
Attend local events, offer to have a fundraising or activity stall (you may even make some money!). You may not get a lot of recruits this way but you are raising the awareness of Scouting and you never know!
Advertise to a wider audience
Many volunteer websites offer useful information in addition to advertising roles. If you feel advertising on a volunteer website would be effective for you then please discuss priority vacancies with your District Commissioner (DC) for them to feedback to the Volunteer Development Officer (VDO).
Getting parents through the door
Have an open door policy, invite parents in at the end of the session to see what goes on, it may just demystify Scouting! Make time for someone to chat to parents at the beginning and end of each meeting. Have a ‘Bring a Parent’ evening so that the parents can really see what happens at a Meeting, make sure you include lots of games and hands on activities.
Have a parent rota and make sure that every parent is introduced and feels welcomed. Give them something engaging and fun to do, rather than just the washing up!
Offer The Four Week Challenge to parents, other family members and friends. This is a good way to persuade people involved as it gives them an opt-out if they decide it is not for them. You can find posters on
Brand Centre.
Invite parents on visits and excursions, larger adult numbers are always welcome when travelling away from the Scout headquarters. Invite parents to family camps, camping is fun! Give parents specific jobs to do eg: camp photographer, cook, first aider, shopping, water collecting, woodpile management if they do not yet feel confident engaging directly with young people.
