Scouting in Stourbridge is nearly as old as Scouting itself and over 100 years after it began it is still welcoming more and more young people every year, and the reasons for this aren’t difficult to understand! It’s all about friendship, fun and most importantly, everyday adventure for our youngsters.
Stourbridge District is a member of the West Mercia County and is comprised of 8 Scout Groups, 3 Explorer Scout Units and a Scout Network Unit, all run or assisted by teams of dedicated adult leaders who are vetted and trained to the Scout Association’s high standards and provide Scouting to over 1000 young people in the District.
Our young people take part in activities as diverse as kayaking, abseiling, expeditions overseas, photography, climbing and zorbing. As a Scout you can learn survival skills, first aid, computer programming, or even how to fly a plane. There’s something for every young person. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express your creativity and experience the wider world.
As Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout, says, ‘Two things matter in life: following your dreams and looking after your friends. That’s what we love about Scouting, it’s about doing great things, loving and enjoying the great adventures, and helping others to do the same’.
What’s this I hear about waiting lists?
Scouting is popular with young people and this means that sometimes we can’t take everyone at the time they want to join us – they have to go on a waiting list. We try to fit people in as soon as we can and will be happy to talk over the options with you.The key for us to be able to provide more Scouting for more young people is the number of adult volunteers we can recruit.
You don’t have to be an adventurer like Bear Grylls to get involved with Scouting. Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good with numbers or maybe handy in the kitchen? We all have useful skills and you can volunteer and help in many ways, from something as simple as occasionally helping make the drinks to leading an expedition.
All the adults involved in scouting are volunteers and we value them greatly for what they do. Volunteering with us is easy, fun and flexible – how much time you give is completely up to you. Whether you help out once a fortnight, month or term or just at special events or camps, there is bound to be a role you can play, and no matter how you get involved, we’ll make sure you’re properly trained and supported.
As well as gaining externally recognised skills and having a brilliant time, Scouting also offers the chance to build on personal skills, like teamwork, confidence and leadership. A study found that over 90% of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have been of relevance to their working or personal lives.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities near you get in touch today!
