The Scout Association’s Recruitment & Retention Strategy Chris Nagle

Recruitment & Retention Priority since 2004 Variety of different approaches Parent Pack Big Adventure Want-to-join Student Recruitment etc. But Ad-hoc Lacked coherence / strategic approach

Approach to volunteering Historically relied on Membership model “career volunteers” Less reliable in today’s society Need to re-think our approach “volunteers as customers”

Time – largest barrier to volunteering Potential volunteers think: –Scouting doesn’t need volunteers –Scouting is boys only –they don’t have the skills needed –will be unable to manage behaviour Scouting isn’t welcoming to new volunteers Volunteers are “sucked in slowly” Recruitment research - generic

40-45% parents of youth members 40-45% “came through the Movement” Remaining 10-20% wide variety of sources but... majority have / have had some connection with Scouting Very few come from: advertising campaigns national websites Recruitment research - Section based roles

Limited research but..... Over 95% “promotion” from within Length of service rather than skill set Skilled professionals / managers are willing to volunteer –on their own terms External perception –“Scouting’s volunteers only work with children” Recruitment research - Manager & Supporter roles

Limited research but..... New volunteers leave because of: scale and scope of role behaviour of young people difficulties with adults Parents episodic volunteers Further research is required Retention research