Aibu to volunteer to run Cubs?

KindergartenKop · 2022-04-03T12:30:42+00:00

This really! Does anyone run a cub/beaver/rainbow/brownie unit? What are the pros and cons? Does anyone run a unit with their own DC in? Thanks 👍

Schmz · 03/04/2022 13:33

I am a guide leader
I wouldn’t / couldn’t run a unit as I couldn’t manage all the admin etc

But turning up once a week, trips, camps, activities love it !!
Started when my daughter started brownies
She’s grown out of guiding and into other things and I’ve stayed !
It’s a pleasure spending time with young people! I’d recommend it 👍😊

Talksense · 03/04/2022 13:36

I used to volunteer as an assistant leader in GirlGuiding for quite a few years.

There's quite a leap between volunteering on a weekly basis and being the leader-in-charge; dealing with the venue, doing all the paperwork (enrollments, everything had to be uploaded to the portal, ensuring you had enough adults for ratio, risk assessments) and then doing the leadership qualification/first aid/safeguarding.

I was more than happy to assist with planning the evenings/day trips/even reaching out for grants etc but being an actual leader seemed more like work (I would have done it if any of the units faced closing down).

Is it the volunteering that you're interested in getting more info on or has the unit your son wants to join is on the terms that you have to potentially start the unit/volunteer?

Tiredmum100 · 03/04/2022 13:37

Dh does Cubs. He started as dc1 was shy and they were always looking for parent volunteers. He's now dbs checked and done all the online modules etc and had an interview. Dc1 has gone to scouts but he still goes with dc2 now. He really enjoys it. I just asked him what the pros and cons are. I think the only one was when he first started doing it and they were doing some carving, most of his group went home with accident notes for getting cuts 🙄. I think you have to be dedicated if its something you want to do.

toomuchlaundry · 03/04/2022 13:39

There is a running joke in our group, as it is usually said that it is ‘only an hour a week’ It isn’t! There is a lot admin and training involved but worthwhile if you can put the time in

wandawaves · 03/04/2022 13:47

I found the hardest thing was trying to think of fun activities and fun ways to get the badge work done, ie the planning and organising. I mean it sounds OK but when you have to add it to your already busy life, it's just yet another chore. I much preferred being a parent helper.
Maybe in another stage of life I would consider it, but now while I'm parenting my own kids, I'm giving it a miss.

balalake · 03/04/2022 14:16

A work colleague runs a brownie pack. Her sister is also one of the leaders. Seems to enjoy it, I have conversations about it sometimes. Never gone into depth about the admin though.

EssexLioness · 03/04/2022 14:18

I assist weekly with a brownie group, absolutely love it. However it is a huge jump to be the leader of a unit. It is a lot of work and I wouldn’t want to do all the admin

DistrictCommissioner · 03/04/2022 14:24

Thank you so much to all of you who do this work

IsThisNameTaken · 03/04/2022 14:28

I'm a Scout leader - have been doing it for about 8 years now. Started as a parent helper when DS started Beavers and moved up with him to Cubs and became a leader when the current one left. As pp said it's not just 'one hour a week' - it's the admin etc that takes the time. Once you have a programme set up you can repeat it every 2 years in Cubs and not duplicate what the children have done (unfortunately they're in Scouts for 4 years so more effort needed!).
Having said that, it's massively rewarding and I do enjoy it most of the time. Winter isn't as much fun when we're stuck in the hall every week but now it's lighter in the evenings we can get outside and also planning camps for next term.

moggerhanger · 03/04/2022 14:32

I run a Beaver Scout Colony, with two assistant leaders and two regular parent helpers. In the past I have had both DS and then DD in the Colony.

Not going to lie, it's a lot of work to do it well. But I really enjoy it, much more than I thought I would! There's admin software available to help with managing events, badges etc, which is a godsend - your Pack more than likely has a subscription. Getting assistants to delegate to is also really helpful. And I plan, plan, plan - I never wing it, that would be too stressful!

topcat2014 · 03/04/2022 14:35

I am a Beaver section assistant. Think TA vs Teacher.

I like the kids, but struggle with imagination, so not great at the planning.

As far as the kids go, I have the uniform etc.

fiorentina · 03/04/2022 14:38

The Scout association do provide lots of ideas for activities etc and I’d say you need to be organised with planning etc. Also strict with asking for a rota of other parent volunteers when required. There is a fair bit of training to start but you should get help to get that done.

leafinthewind · 03/04/2022 14:43

I run a Cub Pack. The admin is all done through an online system (OSM) which makes it manageable. I struggle a bit with competing expectations (fun vs educational, easy vs challenging) and I struggle to motivate myself to do the required training. But I really enjoy it, and with plenty of adult help it's eminently do-able, even with kids and FT job. If you're going to be running the Pack, you'll enjoy it much more if there are 4 or 5 adults who, whatever their formal role/title, can organise one meeting each per term. And if your Group Scout Leader is good that's a huge load off too.

Original poster

KindergartenKop · 03/04/2022 14:48

I have once dc in cubs and another in beavers. They need a new leader because the current one is leaving. I used to be an assistant guider so I know the work involved. I'm also a teacher, so I'm aware of the realities. But then it's a lot on my plate.

But I don't want the unit to close...

OP posts:

comealongponds · 03/04/2022 14:53

I’m a GG leader but don’t run the unit. Running it is definitely a much bigger commitment, making sure you get everything needed for each activity, consent forms, communicating with parents, hall hire, arranging trips and camps, making sure you have enough adults to cover ratios, appropriate safeguarding and other training, first aid etc etc

If possible I would suggest helping with an established unit first so you can see how things work and also make sure it is something you want to do.

But some of the best leaders I know fell into it accidentally and stayed for decades after their own kids stopped!

moggerhanger · 03/04/2022 14:54

@KindergartenKop that's how I joined - DS was a Beaver and the leader was retiring with no replacement in waiting. I said I'd do it for a while, with two other mums, until they found someone else as I didn't think Scouting was really my thing... That was 5 years ago, the other mums have left, and I'm still there with new helpers. I'm also now an Assistant District Commissioner. It's been more fun and rewarding than I expected.

comealongponds · 03/04/2022 14:54

Ah cross posted with your update, I see you know the work involved.

If you can get a couple of other leaders roped in and split responsibility between you, that would probably be easiest.

AnotherNC22 · 03/04/2022 15:01

Im a rainbow and brownie leader, a district commissioner and i sit on the county executive. It is a huge amount of admin, but i also have an amazing team. I try and farm out as much of the "delivery activities" eg. Running the weekly sessions, to my team, which means i can use brain space for the admin side. I also have a dedicated treasurer for all the finance and bank account stuff. If you have been a guide leader, then apparently the OSM for scout leaders is miles ahead of the guiding online system, so you might find its ok. The major work over the past couple of years has obviously been the covid risk assessments, and if you are a teacher, you will likely be familiar with whats required. But i can't deny, its a big drain on my time.

In a way, my tenure as DC has been made easier with units meeting online during covid and then me being on mat leave frok work. It def isn't something to step into lightly, but i do absolutely love it. If you can find a couple of you willing to step up and share the load, it might be easier. Good luck! It's a great thing to do for the kids.

bestbefore · 03/04/2022 15:04

I'm chair of a group and our beavers and cubs are run by a team now - seems easier for folks to manage - so there's a main leader but the tasks are split - one does the badges, one does money, one plans the programme and they take turns to run the sessions. Seems to work!

RedskyThisNight · 03/04/2022 15:04

I used to run a Brownie unit.
I gave up because I was literally doing everything - all the planning, shopping, record keeping, admin, account etc. The other helpers basically only turned up for meetings.

I would say only do it if you know you have at least 1 and preferably 2 other people who are prepared to share the load. Or you have lots of spare time.

Original poster

KindergartenKop · 03/04/2022 21:35

What do you find enjoyable about it? Are there any particular pitfalls/issues I should be aware of?

OP posts:

budgiegirl · 03/04/2022 22:01

I've been a cub leader for about six years, and an assistant cub leader for 4 years before that. It's wonderful, and I absolutely love it, way beyond my expectations. I was a Venture Scout as a teenager, and it feels great to be giving something back to Scouts.

The one thing I would say is that to do it properly takes a huge amount of time. There's a lot of admin and training to do, on top of planning and running the weekly meetings and planning any extra activities/camps. I was very surprised by the increase in the work load moving from assistant to main leader.

I'm lucky, I have a fantastic team of leaders, there are 5 of us running a pack of 32 cubs, and I wouldn't really want to do it with fewer leaders than that due to the size of our pack. We have a planning meeting each term, and split the planning of meetings between us, which helps. I do plan most camps and extra activities myself though, as well as doing/checking risk assessments, sorting badges, ensuring we have correct ratio, communication with parents etc on a weekly basis.

Cons - drain on your time, responsibilities, training. Camps are wonderful, but utterly, utterly exhausting.

Pros - the cubs! They're just fab, we have a laugh, and adults and cubs enjoy themselves immensely. It's wonderful when you see the cubs achieve things they didn't think they could, and you know you had a hand in that, and are giving them memories that will last a lifetime.
The friendship and camaraderie between the leaders is great as well, one of my leaders calls us his second family.

If you are thinking of doing this, I would check that you will have sufficient support (how many leaders will there be, will you be the leader in charge etc?). And I don't think I would enjoy it nearly so much without the use of OSM (Online Scout Manager) which helps with admin, badge records, activity planning etc. So perhaps check if the group uses this.

sanityisamyth · 03/04/2022 22:05

I'm a cubs leader. I love it. I have a good team of assistant leaders and I couldn't do it without them. It's definitely not 1.5 hours a week! Lots of admin (which I love) - planning sessions, planning terms, badge monitoring, writing newsletters, writing risk assessments, booking camps/rock climbing/trampolining/kayaking etc. Feel free to PM me if you want more info!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/04/2022 22:08

I've been a Cub leader for a few years now. I'm actually considering leaving right now as I don't think its good for my DD having me there. I started when both DDs were Beavers. DD1 has now gone through Cubs into Scouts. And now DD2 is halfway through Cubs. One of the big parts is learning independence and she always has a parent around.

My other problem is that DD1 has to come with us. Then in just over a year ill have that problem again, as DD2 will be a Scout but still need to come to Cubs as she will be too young to stay at home alone/with her sister...

Blueeyedgirl21 · 03/04/2022 22:11

I run a brownie unit. I have another lady who is a co-leader and we split everything between us, this is essential IMO - we have had people who wanted to be ‘leaders’ but not actually do much but supervise once a week at activities. This is obviously appreciated but often it took time to explain what we were doing to them, trying to delegate things to them etc that it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Parents helping occasionally works much better as they just get stuck in with whatever and always have a laugh .We deliberately keep a small unit - 14 girls max. It works better for us and I’ve been to units with 5 leaders and 30 girls and it’s mayhem in my opinion some ppl love it that way though ! You can do it in a way that doesn’t take over your life, although I know some people who’s entire hobbies and interests are based around it. I do an hour or so admin a week and 2 hours one evening s a meeting. That’s without trips etc. but you don’t have to do EVERYTHING.