Scout groups not enough Volunteers

[girlfriend44]

Local Scout group has lots of children signed up but enough volunteers do in danger of closing.

Is this the same everywhere?
What stops people from volunteering?

So for many, it's less 'I can't', and more 'I don't want to'.

But there is nothing wrong with this if it's a paid-for activity even if it would make the waiting list shorter and things run better. People make their choice one way or the other. Of course people with limited time or want-tos will come in the summer or when the activity is something they like.

If you can't get volunteers as an organisation, year around, then the organisation needs to look at changing in some way or another to be more appealing, as others have been saying, no?

But there is nothing wrong with this if it's a paid-for activity even if it would make the waiting list shorter and things run better. People make their choice one way or the other

I wouldn't really expect parents to have to help at a true 'paid-for' activity, such as dance lessons, music lessons etc, if they are being run by paid staff. But I think it's not unreasonable to expect a small amount of help from parents who's child attends a volunteer run group such as scouts, even if they pay subs. Subs are only kept low by having full time volunteers, and parental help where necessary.

We actually don't often ask for parent help, as we have quite a few volunteer leaders, but I have run parent rotas in the past. I'd never make the parent rota compulsory, as I don't think that's fair to children if their parents won't help. But it really does grate, when I'm giving up hours each week, and I don't think I'm unreasonable to feel this way. I know don't have to volunteer, but neither do parents have to send their kids to scouts.

Of course people with limited time or want-tos will come in the summer or when the activity is something they like

Of course. But my point is that parents say they don't have the time, couldn't possibly help, until it's something that they think it's worth making the time for. Which shows that they could make time, they just won't. It makes me feel like they see me and my leaders as childcare, rather than a worthwhile activity.

If you can't get volunteers as an organisation, year around, then the organisation needs to look at changing in some way or another to be more appealing, as others have been saying, no?

Perhaps, but we do have around 160 000 volunteers in Scouting in the UK. But modern life style / modern attitudes mean that demand for child places at scouting, and other activities such as kids football etc means that demand almost always outstrips supply. Too many parents want their child to attend lots of clubs/activities, but aren't willing to put in much effort, past dropping their child at the door, to make sure this can happen. As a few upthread have said, they'd rather throw money at it. Unfortunately this just isn't how volunteer led clubs work.

The problem is that some of the activities require leaders to be skilled, ie bushcraft, mountaineering,kayaking, sailing, and so on, so there is a skill shortage, outdoor activities are the backbone of scouting.

Not if that defeats the point and purpose of the organisation.

The organisation effectively ceases to exist anyway if you start to do that.

Where are the people without jobs who would be able to lead these activities for a paid fee?

These mythical people who don't exist.

As i said before, it would be the same group of parents, but they would get more grief from parents who could not be bothered and they'd get less support from parents.

The net result would be much the same.

The idea that you could employ people on part time minimum wage, to work unsocial hours to fit with school children across the country is just deluded.

At best you would get inexperienced and disinterested teenagers who would be massively out of their depth.

I volunteered in Scouting for over 30 years (yes, I got a medal!), it was a huge commitment with training, updating your skills, paperwork, recruiting volunteers etc etc and that was before even spending the evening with the young people. I loved it and it was my main 'hobby' but clearly a lot of people don't feel the same about volunteering. And it was easier years ago to get more support (& respect) from parents. I gave it up a few years ago to do other volunteering.

And it was easier years ago to get more support (& respect) from parents

I think this is true, I think some of the problem these days is that parents are often working longer hours than they were in the past, and children go to many more clubs than they did in the past. A perfect storm of wanting more for your child, but not enough time to help provide it.

I’m not sure quite when the disrespect started to creep in. Most of the parents of my cubs are lovely, and do support us. But there’s always one or two who grumble if we’re 2 minutes late back from an activity, or if their child got less badges than others (due to non attendance!) or criticise us for lack of communication (when I sent 3 emails giving the information, but they didn’t know they had to read them!)

This in absolute spades. Doesn't matter if you can't volunteer as a full time leader, just volunteer.

Help out on the hikes. Do the washing up. Help for an hour at a camp. Help out behind the scenes.

People don't really appreciate that a scout group (beavers, cubs, scouts and possibly squirrels going forward) will involve a premises and a pretty decent number of children and adults (my group is single pack but has around 90 kids and adults). There is always room for an extra pair of hands.

Agree @moggerhanger - the a district and County should enable the work - but it doesn't. It's an old boys club full of blokes with no career, family, friends or other hobbies and they spend their time inventing new rules or commiserating over old ones they can no longer enforce.

Those of us that work with the kids and deliver scouting are mainly female, younger with full time ions, kids etc but we can see the benefit and so put ourselves out.

Joining a bit late but wanted to leave perspective of a scout group that has overcome this issue. We have grown from apps 30 kids 10 years ago to 300, with a solid 60 adults leaders and helpers and it is huge fun!
I guess some of the contributors are a very welcoming GSL, got everyone to contribute with small jobs, then group instructions on training (which several of us newbies did together) and constant support from experienced leaders.
We also reached out to other established scout groups (they were amazing, giving up time and resources to train us). Now we have a good structure, a good mix of experienced and new leaders, even young leaders joining us from our explorers and even a new hut. We also have a massive waiting list and not enough space - we literally run activities with multiple groups every day except Sunday.

Please don't give up. I know the paper work, training, risk assessment sometimes feels like a pain - but they are there for good reasons.
Find likeminded parents and helpers and look to each other for support. Get help from other scouts - most importantly have fun.