Scouting in Nottinghamshire thrives thanks to the passion, commitment, and generosity of our amazing volunteers. At the centre of supporting this community is our Volunteering Development Team, whose mission is to ensure every adult in Scouting feels appreciated, supported, and empowered throughout their volunteering journey.
From providing a warm and welcoming introduction to equipping volunteers with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed; this team plays a crucial role in helping everyone flourish. They also champion recognition, making sure the outstanding contributions of our volunteers are celebrated and never overlooked.
Giving our volunteers a warm welcome is essential for helping them understand their responsibilities and feel valued from the start. Since our post-transformation changes, the new welcome journey has opened up exciting opportunities, and our Welcome Team has been exploring innovative ways to make a bigger impact as people join. We welcomed 463 new volunteers to Scouts in 2025 and supported them through their joining journey. As part of this warmer welcome, we also wished 56 volunteers a “Happy 1 year anniversary” to celebrate this important milestone in their volunteering journey.
We now have a comprehensive support system in place to guide new volunteers through each step, ensuring mandatory learning, disclosures, references, and welcome conversations happen at the right time. A huge thank you to Colin for his hard work in revitalising this important engagement with our volunteers and helping them feel supported from day one.
We are committed to ensuring our volunteers have the skills and knowledge to thrive in their roles. Our Learning Team plays an integral role, offering a wide range of training opportunities, both within and beyond the national learning scheme.
In 2024, we launched the Nottinghamshire Scouts Experience Survey to understand where volunteers wanted additional support. Following this, in 2025 we delivered new learning around mental health and neurodiversity, led by subject matter experts. The survey continues to guide us in meeting volunteers’ learning needs, with plans to expand into areas such as managing challenging behaviour. We also began piloting in-house e-learning for these topics, using feedback to refine courses before a wider county rollout.
The standout achievement of 2025 was the completion of the refreshed Safety e-learning, with over 2,000 volunteers successfully navigating our new digital tools. This was made possible thanks to the dedication of lead volunteers and the collective commitment of all our volunteers to safe Scouting.
First Response training also grew significantly, with more frequent courses delivered to support the increasing number of volunteers in scope. We certified an incredible 596 volunteers with their first response learning, up from 391 in 2024. A huge thank you to the entire First Response learning team for their tireless work in this area.
We are proud that 54 volunteers earned their Wood Badges in 2025, reflecting our strong commitment to learning and development. We also have a further 135 volunteers who are working towards gaining their wood badge.
A massive thank you to all our Learning Team members, including trainers and assessors, whose dedication ensures that Scouting continues to thrive across Nottinghamshire.
Our Volunteering Development Support Team is the backbone of how we support volunteers across Nottinghamshire. They provide crucial data and insights that allow us to respond effectively to the needs of our volunteers and ensure that Scouting can continue to be run smoothly and safely.
The team works closely with districts, and their volunteering development leads, helping to maintain high standards of compliance across mandatory learning, disclosures, and first aid. Their guidance ensures that volunteers are supported, equipped, and confident in their roles, while also helping the county meet its safeguarding and operational commitments.
A huge thank you to Lee and Mike for their dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts throughout 2025. Their hard work behind the scenes is vital to the smooth running of Scouting in Nottinghamshire, and their contribution ensures that every volunteer feels supported, valued, and empowered to make a difference.
Our County Awards Advisory Group works tirelessly to ensure volunteers across Nottinghamshire are recognised and celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Scouting. They also support district teams in acknowledging local efforts, helping to foster a culture of appreciation throughout the county.
In 2025, we were proud to present 50 Good Service Awards to leaders who demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication. These awards celebrate the passion, energy, and selflessness of those who go above and beyond to deliver remarkable experiences for young people.
We also honoured 258 volunteers with Length of Service Awards, recognising years of sustained dedication. Together, these awards represent an extraordinary 3,790 years of service to Scouting in Nottinghamshire—a powerful testament to the strength, stability, and long-term commitment of our volunteer community.
This year, we introduced “Thank You” postcards, giving volunteers an easy way to recognise the great work of their peers in a timely manner. They were particularly popular during Volunteers Week in June, which was fantastic to see, with 51 being sent out.
We also hosted our first-ever Thank You Garden Party at the stunning Archbishop’s Palace in the grounds of Southwell Minster. The Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Veronica Pickering, the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Ed Attenborough, and County Lead Volunteer, Jordan Phillips, welcomed 125 guests, all celebrated for their exceptional service. It was an inspiring, heartwarming event, and we’re thrilled it will return in 2026.
A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone involved in this vital work, and to all our volunteers whose generosity, dedication, and commitment make Scouting thrive across Nottinghamshire.
