Below are our key achievements in 2025, and you’ll be able to find out lots more detail and achievements in the later pages of our annual report.
Programme
Top awards earned: 1,261 Chief Scouts Awards, 106 Duke of Edinburgh Awards, 21 Young Leader Belts, 15 Explorer Belts & 2 King’s Scout Awards
Notts Scouts Adventure delivered 20,386 youth activity hours and over 2,300 adult training hours. Fantastic progress is being made with fundraising and development of the new activity centre building, ensuring long-term adventure programme sustainability. We have 110 volunteers supporting the adventure programme.
Nottingham Gang Show returned for its 75th anniversary in 2025 with a record-breaking cast of 123 senior and 63 junior cast members, all supported by 70+ volunteers, delivering over 21,000 activity hours.
The BIG Hideout was launched, with over 100 Explorers going on the run from our hunters in this immersive game of strategy and teamwork.
We appointed four unit leaders for the 2027 Jamboree in Poland and selected our 36 young people who will represent Nottinghamshire on the international stage.
Growth & Development
Growth in Squirrel numbers, with more drays due to open in 2026, which will drive further growth.
Small dips in Beaver & Cub numbers, driven by declining birth rates and an increase in challenging behaviour, leading to smaller section sizes.
Another year of growth in the Scout and Explorer Sections.
Really healthy volunteer numbers, with 2,354 members giving their time to Scouting in 2025.
The number of Young Leaders increased yet again, strengthening youth leadership development.
Volunteering Development
Volunteers are now getting a warmer welcome, with clarity being provided on mandatory learning, disclosures, references and welcome conversations. We had 463 new volunteers join us in 2025.
We certified 596 volunteers for First Response (up from 391 in 2024)
Additional courses were provided in areas our volunteers requested more knowledge of: Mental Health and Neurodiversity.
Over 2,300 volunteers completed the new national Safety e-learning, a phenomenal achievement.
We awarded 54 wood badges to our volunteers upon completion of the adult training scheme.
We recognised lots of our volunteers, with 50 Good Service Awards and 258 Length of Service Awards (totalling 3,790 years of service). Our County Awards Advisory Group have fostered a strong culture of appreciation.
Perception
We strengthened our relationships with the Lieutenancy and civic leaders at the Gang Show
Worked with the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire to recognise 125 volunteers at our first ever Thank You Garden Party.
Over 2,000 young people took to the ice thanks to our partnership with the National Ice Centre
The BIG Hideout provided the perfect opportunity to engage with public figures (such as Hunted’s Ray Howard) to drive public interest and visibility
Young people represented Nottinghamshire at the King’s Birthday Service
Youth Shaped Scouting
6 young people represented the county at the National Youth Forum, shaping our future strategy
Delivery of young leader training and working with Hampshire Scouts to provide more flexible options
