As a new member volunteer in Scouts, you will be aware of the need to complete elements of learning to support and prepare you for your volunteering. Here are some details that will help you on your journey. If you have any questions, do ask your Team Leader or Lead Volunteer.

Growing Roots

Growing Roots learning is the mandatory learning that every new 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.

Within Growing Roots, there are elements that everyone must complete within six months* of joining Scouts as an adult member. These are:

• Safety,
• Safeguarding,
• Creating Inclusion,
• Data Protection in Scouts and
• Who we are & what we do.

*Safety and Safeguarding, which make up Safe Scouting, must be completed within 30 days of becoming a member. You will receive a notification automatically by the membership system at -20 days and then further reminders, if required at -10 days, -3 days and 0 days. In the case of the last three reminders, your line manager will also be advised. If you do not complete this learning within this 30 day period, it is likely that your role will be suspended by your District (County) Lead Volunteer until completed. Scouts has no appetite for non-compliance as it is vital that we look to keep all our members safe at all times.

Then there are some additional pieces of learning which some people will need to do, depending on the role in Scouts. These are

• Delivering a Great Programme – required by anyone who is a new Section Team member or new Section Team Leader
• Leading Scout Volunteers – required by anyone who is a new Team Leader (except a Section Team Leader or a Sub Team Leader), or a new Lead Volunteer.
• Being a Trustee in Scouts – required by all new Trustees

How will I know what to do ?

Within the new digital tools is an area called “My Learning”, this is accessed through your member log in at scouts.org.uk. Within this area will be shown

1. Any learning that you need to complete
2. Any recommended learning
3. Any learning that you are interested in and have enrolled to complete.

The page will also pick out any learning that you have started but not yet completed. The learning “tile” will show how much has been completed and when last accessed.

To start or continue a piece of learning, you will simply click on the relevant “tile” on the My Learning page.

What happens when I complete the learning ?

Many pieces of learning, including all Growing Roots, does not require any additional validations or assessment. Once complete, the learning system will automatically show the learning as complete. If the learning has an expiry date, such as Safety or Safeguarding, this will appear in your learning record. The learning system will trigger reminders when this expiry time is approaching so that you can complete the refresh learning in good time.

To learn more about Growing Roots (Scouts.org.uk), click below.

First Response (First Aid)

Although not technically a part of Growing Roots learning, First Response must be completed within 12 months of starting a role. This applies to 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 below.

Please remember, if you have any questions, do ask your Team Leader or Lead Volunteer.