This page is for Section Leaders and GLVs to understand what is needed when they have YLs in the section or Group.

Additionally, it contains information for DoE Volunteering.

The Young Leaders’ Scheme is an ongoing scheme, designed to enable young people aged between 14 and 18, to develop their leadership skills, through being part of the leadership team in a younger section.

The HQ Factsheet is here

All Young Leaders must be members of a Young Leaders’ Explorer Scout Unit, and be supported by an Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leaders). They access an ongoing programme of training, which involves completing training modules and working towards four missions, as part of the leadership team in a younger section.

Young Leaders are still young people in Scouting, and whilst supporting a younger section, they fall under the responsibility of the Section Leader for that section, supported by the Team Leader (Young Leaders) and the Young Leader Training Team.

Hopefully, many of these Young Leaders will be the adult leaders of the future, giving something back into Scouting having had a great time themselves in the youth Sections. It is important that we encourage them and help them make the most of their young leadership experience, as this will both benefit them in their personal development, and your Group and the Movement as a whole.

For relevant information about the Young Leaders Scheme, and supporting Young Leader’s in your section, click here.

Registration

ALL young leaders (even non-members) MUST be registered with the Young Leaders Explorer group, ideally prior to starting.  Your section must also keep records for safety reasons during your Programme and Events. 

If the Young Leader is already an Explorer Scout, arrange to have their record shared with you.  Most Explorer leaders also share them with the YL Unit.

If they are Non-Members, you will need to create a record and share it with the YL Unit.

Minimum Information needed

  • Full Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Parental Details (Name, address, e-mail, phone)
  • Member details (Name, address, e-mail) – Any messages sent to them are also sent to parents.  We do expect them to be mature and communicate with us themselves if possible.
  • Medical Details (Allergies, health information)
  • Group name
  • Section Name
  • Are they YLs or just doing DofE. (If you cannot find where to put this on the OSM record, just e-mail it to the Team Leader: rhian.lister@poolescouts.org.uk

Sharing Records on OSM

The easiest way to register them as a YL is to share their records on OSM. In this way, you can also see their YL Training Records

Then Share one Member

Click a name on Personal Details. 

Click on Moving On,

Select Share with another section. 

In Groups and District, select Poole District and then click on Poole Young Leaders

Click on Share one Member

Advice to give them

Inform ALL new YLs that they MUST do the next Module A and give them the date of the next one.

Click here to see the calendar

Young Leaders will be also be e-mailed the date of the next Module A, once their details have been shared with the TL(YL)

Anyone who does not attend Module A within 3 months will not be able to continue volunteering or be signed off until this is done.  I would notify your Group’s Young Leader Co-ordinator and GLV of this.. All Young Leaders must complete Module A – Prepare for take off of the Young Leaders’ Scheme within three months of joining the Young Leaders’ Unit.
This covers fundamental issues including the aims and methods of Scouting and Child Protection. However, we should encourage all Young Leaders to complete more (and hopefully all) of the modules available.

Safeguarding

The Young Leader is not an adult leader. They must be supervised by a warranted adult leader at all times, and never given sole responsibility for a group of younger people. You cannot use a Young Leader as a substitute for having the requisite number of adults present at your meetings

ESYLs should never be left alone with a section, should always be supported, and must not be counted in the section’s adult to young person ratios. It’s important to have an in-touch process in place, and to be aware of any medical details and contact details relating to the ESYL.

The same Young People First (Yellow Card) guidance you apply to your section should also be applied to ESYLs. You should never spend time one-on-one with an ESYL, and should never directly text or email them without copying in other members of the leadership team, for example.

ESYLs have their own version of the Yellow Card: Young People First (Orange Card). This is introduced in Module A, which covers safeguarding and child protection in detail.

It’s integral that every ESYL has their own copy of the Orange Card with them at all times. Following the rules not only safeguards young people in the section, but also safeguards the ESYL themselves, preventing them from putting themselves in vulnerable positions.

The Child Protection Policy of the Scout Association applies to the Young Leader just as it does to any other person.
If they take part in any residential or adventurous activities as a Young Leader, you should always obtain their parent or guardian’s permission.

4. Although Young Leaders are young people and cannot be treated as adult members, neither can they be managed in the same way as the young people in your section.

If the Young Leader accompanies you on a Nights Away they must have separate sleeping accommodation to both the leadership team AND the Scouts.

It is the responsibility of the GLV to manage YLs in their group same as any other leader, section leaders can help by keeping everyone informed and knowing the rules.

D of E volunteers

You MUST be 14 to do your DoE volunteering in scouts. Schools may start the DofE in year 9, but you can’t do your Volunteering until you are 14 (with Scouts).

All D of E Volunteers MUST be registered with the YL Unit there is an online form on the Website to register Poole YLs with our YL Unit. The registration form can be found here.

D of E volunteers who are not members of the scouts (Schools/Guides/Cadets etc) MUST only be there for the duration of their service (3-4 months Bronze etc). After that time there is an insurance issue.

It is the group’s responsibility GLV or Section Leader to ensure all YLs are registered and mentored. Section Leader leaders should sign off the Missions in the Young Leader Log book and then the Team Leader(Young Leaders) can sign off the Award.

Find out more on the DofE here

The DoE HQ Factsheet is here

New details:

Signing off the Missions.

This is an Award, not a badge, so will take some time.  Young Leaders have until their 18th birthday to finish, so it is not a race.

The first criteria is to complete 11 modules of training (they can do these in any order and at any time) and then apply what they have learnt in the section in which they are volunteering –

NOTE:  Most Young Leaders need practice to perfect the skills learnt.  Leaders should not sign off the missions until the Young Leader has delivered sessions competently over a period of time.  It is very unusual to sign off a YL in the first 18 months (although anyone who is over 17 when they start may be displaying levels of maturity and competence quicker and so be progressing more rapidly than younger Young Leaders.

When they are confident doing this, the TL(YL) will meet the Young Leader to finalise all the signatures.

Signing off Non-Members

Duke of Edinburgh Award Participants:  You need to let me know how long they have chosen to volunteer for as they must leave at the end of their allocated time.  To complete their Volunteering, they must upload their Module A certificate onto their EDofE site.  You can either complete their book which they can then scan, or you can fill in their electronic record (You will need their EDofE number to do this).

Guiding etc. Please let me know if anyone is doing this so I can send the appropriate information to you.

For any queries, please ask your nominated Young Leader Co-ordinator who will contact the Team Leader if needed (rhian.lister@poolescouts.org.uk)

What is a Young Leader?

Explorer Scout Young Leaders (ESYLs) are Explorers who volunteer alongside adult leaders in a Squirrel Drey, Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop. They’re a valuable asset to any leadership team and play an active role in the section, bringing a range of fresh ideas to the table and acting as positive role models for the young people they work alongside.

Can non-members doing an Award be a Young Leader?

Yes,  Young people from outside Scouting can also participate if they’re working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or Queen’s Guide Award.  They will be registered as Scouting Young Leaders for the duration of their volunteering.

How old is a Young Leader?

All Young Leaders in the Squirrel, Beaver, Cub and Scout sections  after they have transitioned up from Scouts (usually 14 -18 (although they may be 13 years 6 months), and must be members of a Young Leaders Unit (not necessarily an Explorer Unit). Non-Members must be 14 or above for insurance purposes.

Can Young Leaders help with their old Scout Troop?

ESYLs can request to return to their old Scout Troop to volunteer as an ESYL. However, it is highly recommended that they take a break of 12 months before doing this. Extra time away enables them to develop their skills before taking on more responsibility, and gives their old Troop time to understand and accept the ESYLs’ new role.

Who is the Team Leader (Young Leaders) TLYL?

The YL(TL) is responsible for ensuring Young Leaders are recruited correctly, trained for the role and receive support throughout to ensure the Award can be completed and awarded.  Contact: Rhian Lister (rhianlister@poolescouts.org.uk)

Do Young Leaders pay the Scout Membership fee?

If a member of an Explorer Unit, the Membership fee will be paid as Subs through the Unit.  For non-members, the section where they are volunteering should pay the membership for them.

How many Young Leaders can there be per section?

It is recommended that there be no more than 3 Young Leaders per section to allow them to develop and complete their missions

Do Young Leaders wear a uniform?

Explorers wear their normal uniform with either their Explorer necker, or the necker of the group where they are volunteering. Non-members do not usually wear uniform, but clothing MUST be appropriate for working with younger children.

What about sleeping accommodation for nights away?

Young Leaders must have their own accommodation separate from young people in the section and any adults.

How can Young Leaders access training?

An e-mail is sent by Rhian Lister to registered Young Leaders only inviting them to apply for a course, usually 6 weeks prior to the date.  To join the course, it is essential to click on the link. Dates of courses will be published at the beginning of the academic year on www.poolescouts.org.uk/youngleaders. 

What training do Young leaders have to undertake?

The Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme (ESYLS) is the learning programme for Young Leaders. It contains 11 modules and 4 missions for them to work through whilst volunteering in their chosen section.  More details on the modules can be seen here: https://www.poolescouts.org.uk/young-leaders-modules-missions-and-awards/

What do you do if your Young Person is interested?

  • Speak to a Section Leader where you would like to volunteer
  • Speak to an Explorer Scout Leader (Or a Young Leader co-ordinator in your Group)
  • E-mail rhian.lister@poolescouts.org.uk