Young Leaders Update December 2024

Firstly as the Young Leaders Team, we would firstly like to thank the Groups for embracing the young leaders in your individual sections and encouraging some of the Explorers to become young leaders. We currently have 29 young leaders at end of year as some move on to do other things and concentrate on their studies.

We currently have approximately 22 spaces across the 4 sections going into 2025 with the largest number of vacancies in the Scout section. The cubs section is the most populated with young leaders.

Mick Suggitt is the Young Leaders Team Leader and part of his role is to get around the groups/ sections when he can and check in with the young leaders to see how things are going.

He will also check to see if they are okay and are completing their young leader training. All young leaders at a minimum need to do Mod A of this and includes any who are doing their Duke of Edinburgh service part as-well as any from the Girl Guide Association.

Alongside me when with your sections Mick will also check to make sure we have still got the young leaders we know about but also add any new ones to our list that have joined. You may get asked multiple times for this information in a short space of time at times if either of us or any of the District Team. Please do bear with us but it is vitally important we keep on top of this so we don’t have anyone fall through the cracks.

Group Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders can also keep us updated at any time. If we know about the new ones as soon as possible Mick can also then prioritise visits to meet up with them and their parents and answer any questions they have but also get them on the right track from the start of their young leader journey. On a young leader's first night, Mick may also attend to help settle them in. If we know about it in advance it may also mean one of us may be able to get over to the section which the young leader is joining so we are on hand to also answer any questions.

Another part of Mick’s role is if any Young Leaders who aren’t attached to a Explorer Unit, they will come under Mick’s wing as the Young Leaders Team Leader.

Within our District we are lucky that we have a few volunteers from the County Young Leader Team within the District. If we have enough new young leaders, it may be that  the County Team could come and deliver a Module A session within District.

Thank-you for your support with our young leaders as they could be the adult volunteers of the future if we manage them right and make them feel valued.

If you do have any questions or concerns at all about the Young Leader scheme or the young leaders themselves then please do get in touch with Mick or myself as we are there to help.

Have a lovely Christmas and all the best in the New Year from the Young Leader Team.

Richard Whomsley - District Programme Team Leader
Mick Suggitt - District Young Leaders Team Leader

Contact the Young Leaders Team by emailing YoungLeaders@BAndHScouts.org.uk