Growth & Development
Need support to recruit adult volunteers and engage with more young people? You've come to the right place...
We know that the Scouts change lives by giving young people skills for life, so we want to make growing the Scout movement as easy as possible.
Along with the ever-changing hub of ideas and resources available on the Scout website, Hampshire Scouts has its own dedicated Growth & Development Team consisting of 3 Growth & Development Officers, and a Growth & Development Manager. We are ready to support growth & help start Scouts in places we’re not currently in by helping volunteers grow their local Scouts.
Meet the team below and get in touch through the project request form or by emailing them at [email protected].
Growth and Development Fund
The Growth & Development Fund is for Districts and Groups who would like to expand in their communities.
Growth & Development Team
Lucinda Seward
G&D Officer
Ellie Selwood
G&D Officer
Heather Kirk
G&D Officer for Winchester and Itchen
Growth Hub
Welcome to the Growth Hub, your self-service resource centre for growing, strengthening and sustaining Scout Groups. Here you'll find a range of practical guides, templates, recruitment materials and development tools designed to help you attract young people, recruit and retain volunteers, and support the long-term growth of Scouting in your area.
Whether you're starting a new section, expanding your volunteer team, or looking for fresh ideas to engage your community, these resources are here to help you take the next step with confidence.
Many of our resources are available to download and use straight away. Some documents have editable Canva versions, allowing you to customise them with your group's branding, local information and photos. If you'd like access to an editable Canva template, simply get in touch and we'll send you the link.
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Social Media Pack
A 39-page guide to making the most of your Group’s online presence, with practical tips for promoting Scouting on social media.
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Student Volunteers Poster
A ready-to-use poster recruiting students aged 18+, highlighting skills for work and university and flexible roles that fit around studies.
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Beavers Recruitment Poster
A poster recruiting 6–7 year olds to Beavers, with space to add your meeting place, night and an email for booking a free trial session.
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Volunteer Welcome Pack
The Scouts onboarding guide for new adult volunteers: what your role involves, your first steps, the support on offer and a handy jargon buster.
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Group Leadership Recruitment Poster
A ‘Calling all Community Champions’ poster recruiting Group leaders, offering full training and support. Adapt the example Group name to your own.
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Being a Scouts Trustee
What trustees do, who the role suits, the skills it builds and the time it takes, usually five to seven meetings a year.
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Trustee Recruitment Post
A social media graphic asking ‘Could you be a Trustee?’, setting out the benefits and making clear no previous Scouting experience is needed.
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Squirrels Taster Session Poster
Invite 4–6 year olds to a free taster session and ask parents to help run a new Drey. Add your own date, time, venue and contact email.
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Scout Leader Recruitment Poster
‘The only thing missing is YOU!’ A poster recruiting leaders for Scouts aged 10½–14, with space to add your own contact details.
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Volunteering Is Good for You
A general recruitment poster covering every section from Squirrels to Explorers, with age ranges and a reminder that full training is provided.
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Volunteering Options at a Glance
Eight Group roles at a glance, from Section Assistant to Treasurer and Fundraiser, with what each involves and the typical hours needed.
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Explorer Volunteer Poster
A poster recruiting Explorer leaders, ideal for anyone building experience in teaching, outdoor activities, youth work or leadership.
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Volunteer Induction Process
A six-step infographic of what new volunteers complete, from ID and DBS checks to safeguarding training, the Welcome Conversation and First Aid.
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Starting a Squirrels Drey: Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for opening a new Squirrel Drey, from support and a venue to budgets, family comms and the Expression of Interest form.
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Employability Skills from Scouting
An infographic of the workplace skills volunteers build through Scouting, including leadership, teamwork, problem solving and communication.
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Career Pathways Through Volunteering
Shows how volunteering links to careers in education, childcare, social care, outdoor work, management and charities, plus the training on offer.
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Growth & Development Fund Guide
How the G&D Fund works: up to £200 for each new section and £500 for each new Group, matched by the District, and how to apply.
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Where to Advertise Volunteer Roles
Where to post your volunteer roles: the Scouts membership system, local volunteer centres, national volunteering sites and community channels.
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District Youth Representative Role Description
Role description for a District Youth Representative, who makes sure young people’s views shape District programmes, meetings and decisions.
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District Youth Lead Role Description
Role description for the District Youth Lead, who champions Youth-Shaped Scouting and leads the District Youth Team and Youth Council.
Case Studies
Squirrels Launch at 1st West Leigh
Squirrels, the newest and youngest section of Scouts has officially arrived at 1st West Leigh, with three new adult volunteers…
Read More