About the Young Leaders' Scheme

The Young Leaders' Scheme is a programme designed to facilitate young people aged 14–18 who work with a section (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts). It gives these Explorer Scouts the skills and knowledge to act as part of the section leadership team, and covers subjects such as a balanced programme, Child Protection, First Aid, and leadership skills.

Completion of the Young Leaders' Scheme modules are based upon attendance at either Notts Scouts' virtual training sessions or face-to-face training provided by districts. The missions are where this learning can be put into practice within the section they volunteer in.

The Young Leaders' Scheme is designed to help Young Leaders develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding they need in their current role, which can be built upon if they later decide to take on a role as an adult volunteer.

Learn more about the scheme Module info Mission info

How do I get started?

There are two routes to completing your Young Leader scheme training, either face-to-face within a district or online e-learning through the county.

Face-to-face session within my district

To find out who your local District Explorer Scout Young Leader (ESYL) volunteer by emailing young.leaders@notts-scouts.org.uk

E-learning through the county

Register for a virtual Module A learning session here
Complete the e-learning sessions in the purple section on the right
Once complete, login to Hampshire Scouts' learning platform, go to your avatar in top-right, then My Account > Certificates
Download and email your certificate to young.leaders@notts-scouts.org.uk where it will be recorded against your record

Once you have completed the Young Leader learning, you will be eligible for the badges and certificate. If you need further support, then visit the Explorer Scout Young Leaders' Support Area.

E-learning sessions

We want our young leaders to be prepared for their time supporting our sections, and the training modules are there to help. Alongside the face-to-face sessions ran within districts, you can also access online e-learning from the recordings of Zoom webinars provided by Hampshire Scouts.

While we prefer people complete training via face-to-face sessions, this e-learning allows people to complete any missing modules if there are no modules running at the time. You can listen to Hampshire Trainer (Steve Osborn) delivering the webinar and undertake the activities in your own time. You will need to complete a quiz at the end to get the certificate. Follow the links below to complete the modules and then submit your certificate through the form on the left for it to be recorded.

Note that Module K: First response is currently delivered as face-to-face within districts.

Module A: Prepare for take-off (compulsory)Module B: Taking the lead

Modules C & J: That's the way to do it and communication it!Modules D & F: Understanding behaviour and making Scouting accessible & inclusi

Module E: Game on!Modules G & H: Programme planning

Module I: What did they say?

Face-to-face sessions

Across Nottinghamshire, our District teams run regular face-to-face training sessions for all Explorer Scout Young Leaders aged 14 to 18 in your local area. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to come together with other Young Leaders in your area to complete the key modules of the Young Leader Scheme. Whether you're just starting out or working towards your missions, these interactive and engaging sessions will help you build the skills & confidence needed to support and grow as a leader.

Each District has a dedicated Explorer Scout Young Leader (ESYL) volunteer who coordinates the training locally, ensuring it's relevant, accessible, and fun. To find out when the next session is happening near you and how to get involved, reach out to your local ESYL volunteer — they’ll be happy to help you get started on your Young Leader journey!

If you have any questions, then please email us via youngleaders@notts-scouts.org.uk.

Contact your district ESYL

Options at 18+

Supporting all of our Young Leaders as they transition into the adult volunteer roles is one of our key priorities. Therefore, all Young Leaders who register via the sign-up link above will receive an email close to their 18th birthday to offer guidance with their options at 18. We encourage all of our Young Leaders to work with their District Training Team so that they can provide tailored, local support.

Options at 18 booklet