Our adults come from a variety of backgrounds and do a lot of different roles. Good job there is support just for them so they can do their best nice and quickly.
There’s plenty of help out there for new volunteers, we’re here to help signpost you to the right place.
The two most important websites for you are the UK Scouts Learners portal which has resources and details on all the training and the Hampshire Scouts Adult Training Sub-site which has details of courses being run locally.
Getting started – basic training
When someone starts, they have got five months to complete the basic training modules.
All of these can be completed as eLearning online and completion is proved by sending a certificate to a training advisor or to your line manager.
Find the modules and the eLearning on the Scout website, Getting Started pages.
Wood badges – for leaders, managers and supporters
For volunteers who need plenty of skills for their role there are modules to cover all they need to do. When they have completed all the modules, you get a Wood badge just like other Scouts since 1919. Volunteers have 3 years to do this if their role requires it.
Learn the skills covered in the modules through eLearning, workbooks, courses and more. The options available depend on the module itself. Some volunteers may have the skills already and won’t need to do additional learning in that skill. Find details of training course dates on the Hampshire Scouts training site and eLearning and workbook on the national website – there are pages on Training for all Appointments and modules for Section leaders.
Once the learning is done, put what you’ve learned into practice – this is called validation. You’re picking up what you’ve learned and putting it into practice in your role every day. What these activities are depend on the module and shouldn’t create any extra work for you – it should be things you do as part of your role anyway. You can validate modules with a training advisor.
The training for managers and supporters also has learning and validation stages but is a little different. You learn the skills through independent learning followed by skills courses delivered regionally. Book onto Skills courses at the Hampshire Scouts training site. Validation meanwhile is organised into wider areas that don’t always line up with the independent learning and skills courses.
Ongoing learning
We expect our volunteers to keep on learning – after all the Scouts is a movement, we must move with the times. Some things need renewing every three years like Safety, Safeguarding and First Aid training (find details of First Aid courses on the Hampshire Scouts website) so we can keep our members safe.
Five hours of learning each year is what we ask. This can be modules, learning new skills or gaining qualifications like a permit. There are plenty of options.
Training Advisors
There are lots of training advisors in the district who can help you. Sometimes we suggest a training advisor who might be best for you but unless they are your line manager, any training advisor can help. Every now and again we hold validation drop ins where a number of training advisors are on hand to help anyone who needs it to validate their modules.
- Andy Chatwin – District Explorer Scout Commissioner, usually based around Lyndhurst.
- Donna Kerrigan – District Chair, usually based around Fordingbridge.
- Ian Sims – Team DC, usually based around Totton.
- Julie Mair – Local Training Manager, usually based around Totton or Lyndhurst.
- Lynn Tatavossian – Team DC, usually based around Totton.
- Mike Ferris – Scout leader, 2nd Copythorne (Stanley’s Own), usually based around Totton.
- Simon Down – ADC Section Support (Scouts), usually based around Totton.
- Steven Osborn – District Scout Network Commissioner, usually based around Totton.
- Tony Parker – Camp Warden at Harry’s Island, usually based around Fordingbridge.