Assistant Section Leader

Overview

Would you like the chance to canoe, climb and make bird boxes while improving your CV? As a Assistant Section Leader you will do all of this and more, using your current skills and learning new ones.

We now need a fun, committed person to support young people, helping run games and activities as part of weekly meetings. As part of a small team, you will be plan and deliver a safe and exciting programme for young people, helping them achieve badges and awards.

Enthusiasm, an empathy with young people and a sense of humour are a must. But we can teach you the rest. We’ll support you all the way and ensure you get the training and support you need.

At the last census, Basingstoke East Scouts had over 900 youth members between the ages of 6 and 18 involved in our Beaver, Cub, Scout, Explorer and Young Leader sections. This includes 11 Cub packs across 9 groups, one of which you could be part of.

Appointed by: Group Scout Leader subject to the relevant Appointments Team approval process.

Responsible to: Group Scout Leader

Main contacts: Cub Scouts, Parents, Group Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants, Assistant District Commissioner Section Support – Beavers, Young leaders

Traning: You’ll be required to complete the getting started training within 5 months of appointment, and then work towards your managers and supporters wood badge training.

Main Tasks

• Support the delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people.
• Support the safe delivery of the programme in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
• Ensure that every young person in the Section has the opportunity to attend at least one nights away experience each year.
• Actively support and promote the achievement of badges and awards in particular the Chief Scouts’ Award.
• Actively work with other adults in the Group to support and promote Group or multi-section activities and events.
• Agree how you can support the Section leader to ensure regular opportunities are provided for young people to express their views on the programme and running on the Section, and that those views are taken into account.
• Actively support the section leader to promote the Moving On from Section to Section.
• Work with the Group Scout Leader, the Group Executive Committee and others to support recruiting and inducting appropriate Assistant Leaders and Section Assistants.
• Agree responsibilities with the Section Leader(s), Assistant Section Leader(s), Section Assistants and parent helpers taking into account the development of the individual’s leadership potential.
• Ensure accurate records are kept of the young people in the Section in accordance with the Data Protection Act and pass these records to the Section Leader when the young person reaches the age to move up to the next Section.
• Regularly review the operation of the Section.
• Make and maintain good relationships with parents/carers of the young people. This may include running a parent rota and/or inviting parents to support camps or other residential experiences.
• Follow the Group’s financial procedures which must be in accordance with POR.
• Attend and contribute to relevant Group and District meetings.

Time Commitment

We encourage flexible volunteering and are happy to consider this role on a part time or sharing basis if desired. To give you an idea of the commitment for this role we have put together the following list:

• Weekly section meetings (term time)
• Termly group meetings (3 per year)
• Termly district meeting (3 per year)

We currently have vacancies in a number of groups all meeting on different evenings during term time, so we can match you up with the group which best suits your availability. 

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

• Good communications skills with young people and adult volunteers
• Ability to empathise with and understand others’ problems and issues and help develop workable solutions using available resources and perhaps creative approaches.
• Ability to support the delivery of a balanced programme to young people in a safe and creative manner.
• Familiarity with using email and Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Knowledge and Experience:

• None required, full support and training will be given.

Personal Qualities

• Able to maintain confidentiality at all times and a high level of personal credibility
• Good time-management skills
• Friendly, personable and ability to work with and understand other people
• Willing to help the section.

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