Community Impact

How can we improve perception in our communities:-

Scouting is a highly regarded organisation essential to the future success and development of young people in our communities.   Scouting is the primary youth organisation and there will be many hundreds of young people now wanting to join something that is exciting and appealing.  In your local communities we are already recognised and respected as providing essential lifeskills to young people – Lets make SCOUTING their first choice.

As the Scout Motto say’s Be Prepared ! and below are five useful points that we should consider in everything we do.

• Up your visibility

Any opportunity to raise your profile and visibility should be taken.  Despite the cold and wet evenings that are now upon us, if you are organising outdoor face to face Scouting, please ensure that you all wear scarves, branded hoodies or the like. Perhaps you can take Group flags or banners to be displayed even if only for a short while. All of these measures will help to create greater presence.

• Seek out cross-functional opportunities

When times are better (and they will be better) , try to identify opportunities with other organisations, or working with specialists and publicise these initiatives on your Group Facebook or Group Websites. Also try to promote this using the various local media sources, Local Neighbourhood and or Resident Associations as they all have Facebook Groups or magazines

• Promote yourself

Post a regular advert on these sites or magazines to promote your Group. Explain what you do and how you can help young people in your community. Tell of your contribution to the community and of the accomplishments of your members e.g. (Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards etc). Ensure your Group is registered on Google Business and sites like this.

• Seek out advocates

Do you know who your local Councillor or MP is? When we reopen and get back to some kind of normality, invite them down to a Colony, Pack or Troop evening and engage with your young people to speak about their community, their concerns or worries ? Build up a relationship with these local people as quite often they hear about funding or opportunities that might help the Group in the long run.

• Ensure you are correctly branded

Ensure that your Group HQ / meeting place is correctly branded and has an encouraging and welcoming sign outside. A contact number for new enquiries is always a good idea. Update Group leaflets, and see if your local supermarket, newsagents or other community stores will allow a poster in the window or leaflets inside the store.