The leadership team takes overall responsibility for the planning of the programme and coordination with parents.
Usually the Section leader is the first point of contact and coordinates the team ensuring that all the necessary tasks are done. But it is fine to hand over specific tasks to another member of the team.
Usually the team meets together to discuss and plan the programme and different team members take on, different tasks. It may be that your Section assistant usually runs the games.. or your ASL does the records.
All Leaders (SL & ASL) commit to a 3 year training programme- most of which is offered online and can be validated locally by activities within your sections
Once your role has been decided you can start training with the Getting Started Modules.
First aid courses are available either online or face to face and run locally once or twice a year. We may offer other face to face training weekends ,especially for scouting skills, which are great fun, but not mandatory.
Assistant Section leaders work together with the rest of the team, to plan and run meetings.
Sometimes we don't have a section leader but 2 or more assistants divide the work and run the section between them.
Typically the whole team will meet together to plan the terms programme and responsibilities will be divided. It may be that you're really good at admin and you take on the online badge recording, or that you prefer to run games...
All Leaders (SL & ASL) commit to a 3 year training programme- most of which is offered online and can be validated locally by activities within your sections
Once your role has been decided you can start training with the Getting Started Modules.
First aid courses are either partly opnline or face to face and run locally once or twice a year. We may offer other face to face training weekends ,especially for scouting skills, which are great fun, but not mandatory.
Sectional assistants have less overall responsibility and don't normally take a meeting without an appointed leader being present. They can contribute to planning and running some aspects of the programme.
Training: Sectional assistants are only required to do the Getting Started Modules as they contain essential information on our policies including safety, child protection etc. These can be done online in a few hours and then validated by a quiz or something done in the normal meetings. You are also welcome to undertake first aid and other training if you wish. Online training is free, and any fees for agreed in person training are covered by the group.
Agreeing your role: Normally a new assistant agrees their exact role with the section team, as it will vary depending on your availability and skills, and what the section needs.
Depending on the section your child is in, they may run a weekly parents rota, or ask for extra help as and when they need it. For example, if a leader is away, or we are going outdoors.
It is really helpful to have people who attend (semi)regularly and get to know the young people. If you do attend more than once a month, or overnight, we must follow the clearance procedures laid down by scout association. Occasional helpers cannot take a meeting in the absence of a leader as they are not insured.
No training is required- but it is possible to do some if you wish, so you know the rules and perhaps gain first aid skills
After 10 years service our existing Group Scout leader Helen, is looking to step down later this year or next.
Being team leader for our group is a challenging role which requires a fair amount of time, however Scouting is reorganising and some tasks currently part of the GSL's role will be shared by the team.
Main tasks are coordinating the team
Liaising with the Exec
Supporting leader recruitment
Supporting group events and camps
Some Scouting/Guiding or similar experience is useful.. training is essential.
Please do get in touch if interested- this role is not something the group decides, but we can put forward a preferred candidate to district.
This role includes working closely with the GSL and helping with a variety of tasks as agreed between them.
One or more people can be assistants...
It may be someone who is already working with a section, or who has done previously, but that isn't essential
There are moves to try to spread the current GSL workload among a team, and this is a great first step
It can be a step on the way to becoming a GSL(team leader) later, but that isn't a requirement.
Like any leadership role (online) training and clearances are required.