Adult Training
What is Adult Training?
The Scouts is a voluntary movement dedicated to the development of young people between the ages of 6 and 25. Each week over 100,000 adult volunteers, in a variety of roles throughout the UK, help Scouting to achieve its aim. While The Scouts’ primary purpose is the development of young people, it also seeks to offer personal development opportunities to adults, both within their Scouting role and as individuals. The Adult Training Scheme is one means by which adults in Scouting can be supported in their chosen role to ensure they are able to offer the best possible Scouting to the young people. It can also help to meet personal development needs.
The training scheme, delivered through a framework of modules, is personalised, flexible and about learning by doing. Its focus is on developing adults to be active and effective as leaders, managers and supporters. Training Modules can be completed through a variety of methods: e-learning, video, workbooks or attending local training course. Training courses are held throughout the year at several locations across the County, mainly at County Headquarters in Shiremoor. Once a learner has completed a module though whatever learning method, they are then required to validate it to show they can put the learning covered by a module into practice in their role in Scouting. The focus should be on the learner doing something and this will often be backed up by discussion.
What Training do I need to do?
All adults accepting an appointment are required to show that they have the appropriate skills for the role therefore the training modules that you will need to complete from the Adult Training Scheme will depend on your role. The table below outlines this covering what modules you must complete and the timelines involved.
| Adult Role | Training Required | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Managers and Supporters | Getting Started Modules: Module 1, GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding, Module 4 and Module 2 | Within 5 months of appointment |
| All remaining training modules required for the Wood Badge | Within 3 years of appointment | |
| Section Leaders and Assistant Section Leaders |
Getting Started Modules: Module 1, GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding, Module 3 and Module 2 | Within 5 months of appointment |
| All remaining training modules required for the Wood Badge | Within 3 years of appointment | |
| Section Assistants | Getting Started Modules: Module 1, GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding and Module 3 | Within 5 months of appointment |
| Executive Committee Members | Module 1, GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding and Trustee Introduction. | Within 5 months of appointment |
All learners will be allocated a Training Adviser to supporting them in their training. Their role is to provide guidance, answer questions and complete the validation of your learning. Corey Hogg is the group’s local training advisor and can be contacted via email on corey.hogg@northumberlandscouts.org.uk.
Getting Started
All adult volunteers who agree to take on an appointment within the group are required to complete a small set of initial Getting Started Modules within five months of when they first start (make sure to check the table above for your specific requirements). These modules can be accessed below and are completed online with the exception of Module 2 which is a workbook and covered at the ‘Introduction to Wood Badge Training Course’ held by the county.
Trustee Introduction
Module 2 - Personal Learning Plan
Module 3 - Tools for the Role (Section Leaders)
Module 4 - Tools for the Role (Managers and Supporters)
Once you have completed your initial Getting Started Modules you should print of the certificates and store them somewhere safe. You will be required to validate these to show you can put your learning into practice.
The Wood Badge
Once a learner has completed Getting Started, they will move on to completing all the training relevant to their role. For some roles, a Wood Badge will need to be completed. The Wood Badge is the internationally recognised Scouting training insignia awarded to adults by Headquarters to denote completion of the training required for their role. The Wood Badge consists of two wooden beads threaded onto a leather thong which is worn with Scout uniform.
In the UK, Scouting training is tailored to an adult’s appointment, and therefore not all appointments are required to work towards a Wood Badge. An adult is required to complete their Wood Badge within three years of their full appointment. Once the learner has validated all the modules necessary for their role and has agreed the ongoing learning that they will complete in the next year, the recommendation for award of the Wood Badge can be made.
Ongoing Learning and Development
Our needs as leaders are constantly changing, so to do a good job for our young people it’s important that we are always learning and refining our skills. All learners are required to complete an average of five hours’ ongoing learning each year.
All adult members who hold an appointment for which an appointment review is required must complete two specific pieces of mandatory on-going learning: safety and safeguarding. Both must be completed every five years after initailly competing the getting started modules 1 and 3.
All adult members who hold an appointment that requires a wood badge must complete training every three years to keep their First Aid knowledge and practice uptodate.
