Skills for Life
Skills for Life
Our plan to prepare better futures in Scotland
Scouting encourages young people to be the best that they can be. We give young people the confidence to dream big and the determination and drive to achieve their goals. Now we want to do more.
Our strategy for 2018-2025 supports and empowers our volunteers to deliver an amazing programme. It is our plan to contribute to a better society. Above all, it’s a plan for young people who deserve the best skills, the best support and the best possible futures.
We believe that Scouting empowers young people to give them skills to achieve the remarkable, and opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of the rapidly changing world.
Gordon Robertson, Chair, Scottish Board
Skills for life
Our vision
By 2025 we will have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme.
We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.
Our mission
Scouting actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
Our values
We act with care, respect, integrity, cooperation, exploring our own and others beliefs.
Watch our video
Our goals
Growth
We have been growing for over a decade, and want to continue that trend so we can bring skills for life to more young people across Scotland. By 2025 we will have:
5,000 more young people aged 6-25 in Scouting
1,000 more Section Leaders (including Assistant Section Leaders)
500 more Young Leaders
Inclusivity
Scouting is open to all. We now have over 7,000 female members, and Scout groups are opening and thriving in new communities across the whole of Scotland. By 2025 we want to see:
Scouting membership reflect society in Scotland
200 new sections, especially but not exclusively, in areas of deprivation, remote and rural areas, and in new communities
Youth Shaped
Young people are at the heart of Scouting. We support young people to shape their experiences and take on leadership roles at Scouts. By 2025 we will have:
young people shaping their Scouting experience with 50% of Groups and 75% of Districts and Regions earning Youth Approved Awards
Community Impact
We want to provide even more opportunities for young people to be active citizens and have a positive impact in their communities. By 2025 we will have:
50% of youth members taking part in community impact projects
50% of young people achieving top awards.
Find out what practical actions you can take to deliver the plan locally.
Our three pillars of work
To achieve our objectives we will focus on three pillars of work:
Programme
A fun, enjoyable, high-quality programme consistently delivered and supported by simple tools.
People
Scouting will be delivered to more young people from different backgrounds by more, well trained, better supported, motivated adult volunteers from different backgrounds.
Perception
Scouting is understood, more visible, trusted, respected and widely seen as playing a key role in society today.
Find out more
You can download our strategy booklet to find out more about our three pillars of work.
How we got here
We worked closely with UK headquarters on a joined-up approach to the development and consultation of this plan to make sure our strategy is aligned with the UK strategy, while being relevant and achievable in Scotland.
More than 5,000 adult volunteers have helped to review the objectives and consider the strategic priorities, including volunteers from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also spoke to more than 6,000 young people, members of the public, politicians and other influencers.
There was a clear steer by volunteers to keep the four strategic objectives from the Scouting for All plan: growth, inclusivity, community impact, and youth shaped.
Over 5,000 volunteers and young people across the UK took part to shape the final version of the plan, which was approved by the Scottish and UK boards at the beginning of 2018.
Find out more about the UK plan
Call to action for volunteers
Find out what practical actions you can take to deliver the plan locally.
More information
