Section Leader

Overview

Would you like the chance to go camping, climbing, potholing, lead community projects while helping prepare young people with skills for life? As a section leader you will do all of this and more, using your skills and learning new ones.

As part of a Cub Scout pack, you will be plan and deliver a safe and exciting programme for young people, making sure every young person gets the chance to spend at least one night away each year.

You’ll use your energy and creativity to help young people have fun, develop their potential and earn a wide range of badges and awards, including the prestigious Chief Scout Awards. Of course you won’t have to do this alone – a team of supporters, parents and the young people themselves will help you plan and deliver the programme. But it’s your enthusiasm and sense of fun and adventure that will inspire them.

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

Responsible for: Cub Scouts within the pack, Assistant Section Leaders, Section Assistants, Young Leaders

Main contacts: Cub Scouts, Parents, Group 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

• Delivery of a safe, exciting and stimulating Balanced Programme for the Section taking into account the needs, interests and abilities of the young people.
• Ensure 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.
• 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 co-operate with other section leaders 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 Assistant Section Leaders, 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 role sharing opportunities where 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 develop workable solutions using available resources and perhaps creative approaches.
• Ability to deliver a balanced programme to young people in a safe and creative manner.
• Experience of planning, organising and running activities/events (though there is plenty of help available to help with this initially). It is not expected that the postholder does this alone.
• Familiarity with using email and Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Knowledge and Experience:

• Preferably, experience of working within a Section and with other adult volunteers (but not essential as this can be developed in the role and taking the training that is required for the position)

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 develop the group as well as the section.

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