Adult Learning

Scouting is dedicated to the development of young people. Across Somerset, we have over 1,400 adult members who volunteer, in a variety of roles to help achieve this aim.

Whilst our primary purpose is the development of young people, we also want you to have the skills and knowledge you need to carry out your volunteering role and feel confident to help keep young people safe during scout activities. In addition, some elements may well help you outside scouts too.

Our national adult learning framework is referred to as THE LEARNING TREE [click on the link for more information].

It is fundamentally made up of Growing Roots learning and Branching Out learning. This core framework is supplemented by some specialist skill learning and first aid.

Growing Roots learning is the mandatory learning that every member needs to complete. Some elements in here will be completed once, when you start out as an adult volunteer in Scouts and some, requires a regular refresh, to ensure we remain current in our learning.

If you are a new adult member, click on the image below to find out more.

Branching Out is optional learning you can access to further develop your skills and knowledge having completed Growing Roots should you wish. This can be with the aim of

  • Stretching yourself and developing new skills or,
  • Completing some required learning in order to be given an accreditation or permit,
  • Working towards completing a Wood Badge (see below “Wood Badge”).

To gain the award of a Wood Badge you need to complete both Growing Roots and Branching Out learning.

To learn more about Branching Out, click on the image below.

First Response (First Aid)

All members who have, or might be expected to have, regular contact with young people must have a current first aid qualification (meeting the Scout syllabus) at all times. Roles included are: Section Team Members, Section Team Leaders, Lead Volunteers (Group, District or County) and some Team Leaders and Team Members (District / County). If in doubt, please contact your Lead Volunteer. This learning must be refreshed every three years to remain compliant and to be considered as “first aid cover” for section meetings, events, camps etc.

Completion of your first aid training can be undertaken in one of three ways, you can

  • Attend a one day, in-person course run by Somerset Scouts or,
  • Complete the Blended learning option which includes e-learning, trainer led virtual session and an in-person practical assessment (all three parts must be completed in that order) or,
  • Provide a copy of an externally completed first aid course lasting a minimum of six hours and with a practical assessment covering both adult and child CPR. Some additional learning is likely to be required to meet full Scouts syllabus. This is completed online, and should take you about 30 minutes. All certificates must be sent to adult-training@somersetscouts.org.uk so that they can be reviewed and checked as acceptable for scouts. The learning will then be added to your “My Learning” page.

For more details about completing your first aid training, click on the image below

Wood Badge

The Wood Badge is now optional for all adult volunteers and is no longer time bound for completion.  It is awarded in recognition of your personal commitment to learning and development with Scouts.  You will be able to continue to work towards completion into and through 2025 using the current scheme.  New learning will gradually be developed and introduced over the next couple of years to ensure the award remains relevant.

If you already have a Wood Badge, you are not able to earn another but, can continue your learning to ensure you are both up to date and ready for the challenges that Scouts bring.

If you are interested in finding out more about completing a Wood Badge, click on the image below

Ongoing Mandatory Learning

To ensure that our adult members remain up to date with key topics of learning, some elements (Safety, Safeguarding and First Aid) require a regular refresh every three years.

For more details about completing your ongoing mandatory learning, click on the image below

Learning Calendar

If you are looking for an in-person or virtual course, these are listed in our Learning Calendar. Courses hosted and delivered can include ones from other Scout Counties in the UK where booking details will be different so please ensure that you read all the requirements.

To see what courses, both virtual and in-person are available, click on the image below

More Information

If you are looking for information on how learning is captured within the My Learning area of your membership including

  • identifying where to find My Learning
  • how to identify what learning is required
  • how to select and complete a course or
  • how to submit for assessment
  • and other useful stuff

click on the image below, launch the video on All Member Training and fast forward the video to 30:40 and run through the content until 43:45

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron, a great honour for UK Scouts.

The King continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Find out more
King Charles III

Our Patron, HM King Charles III