What is Scout Active Support?
Scout Active Support is a way that adults can provide support to local Scouting.
Scout Active Support is a way for adults to volunteer some time to Scouting in a flexible way that suits them. Scout Active Support is a resource for managers of local Scouting including Group Scout Leaders, District Commissioners and County Commissioner, to use in whichever way is required. The ways that Scout Active Support can aid Scouting are almost endless.
An Active Support Unit can be made up of adults of all ages, interests and backgrounds, whether or not they have been involved with Scouting or Guiding before. They can operate at local, national and international levels, but are most often connected to a District or County. All members of Active Support are there because they wish to give some of their time to Scouting – this can be as much or as little as they like, in a wide variety of activities. Each Active Support also has their own social and activity programme.
The aim of Active Support is to “Provide Active Support”, with the emphasis being very much on practical support of the youth programme at all levels of the Association, from the local Scout Group to National level. These may be specialist groups, for example campsite service crews, skilled activity teams, first aid teams or radio operators, or they may be a more general group of individuals with a variety of interests and skills who are ready to help out at all sorts of different events.
Active Support around the country regularly gets involved in event organisation and support, adventurous activity provision, fundraising, supporting Section Leaders, providing social activities for Districts and Counties, skills based sessions and training. In fact ‘active support’ can be just about anything, the list is endless.
Active Support is a large part of the ‘backbone’ of the Scout Movement – supporting the young people and voluntary leaders wherever help is required. The key to our success is our flexibility – we’re here to help.
