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Youth shaped scouting

Young people decide. Adults make it possible.

Youth shaped Scouting means the Programme is planned, led and shaped by the young people doing it — in every section, from Squirrels to Network.

Young people are not just shaped by Scouts; they are shaping it.”

Giving young people a place to belong, and the skills to thrive. Young people belong somewhere when they have a say in what happens there. We want every young person to shape their own adventure, take on responsibility, develop skills, make decisions and influence their own scout programme.

Youth shaped Scouting is not new either. Young people have shaped their own Scouting since 1907. What has changed is that we now have a clear way to do it deliberately, a badge that recognises it, a strategy that expects it, and no good excuse left.

And it works in both directions. The more young people shape their own experience, the more they get out of it — they enjoy it more, stay longer, move up through the sections and go further with their top awards. Sections that hand things over are the sections that grow.

Three things every section can do

  • Ask — run a short forum in the sub-teams, most weeks, not once a term.
  • Hand over — give a real job to a young person and let them do it their way.
  • Close the loop — tell them what you did, and what you could not do yet.

What youth involvement includes

  • Sharing their ideas and being taken seriously
  • Learning from, and teaching, each other and adults
  • Taking part in decisions that affect them
  • Planning the Programme, activities and camps
  • Getting involved in every part of Scouting

  • Squirrels: YouShape: Little Voices, Big Ideas

    Squirrels shape their Drey by choosing, trying and telling. YouShape at this age is about simple, genuine choices that four to six year olds can understand — choosing between activities, helping pick a theme, taking a small turn at leading, or sharing what they enjoyed. Through Plan, Lead and Represent, Squirrels start to see that their ideas matter and can change what happens around them. The most important part is closing the loop: listen to what they say, act on it, and make sure they know “we did this because you chose it.”

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  • Beavers: YouShape: Have Your Say

    Beavers shape their Colony through short, frequent and hands-on choices. A Colony Forum should feel nothing like a meeting — it can be ten minutes in Lodges, one clear question, a quick vote, and an answer they can see make its way into the programme. Through Plan, Lead and Represent, Beavers start turning ideas into action: suggesting activities, helping plan nights away, leading games and speaking up for their Lodge or Colony. The key is making sure they see the result, so they learn early that having an idea, sharing it and getting involved can genuinely change what happens at Scouts.

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  • Cubs: YouShape: Your Pack, Your Ideas

    Cubs shape their Pack through Pack Forums, Sixes and real responsibility. They are old enough to help run things themselves, so youth shaped Scouting should increasingly mean volunteers stepping back and giving Sixers, Seconders and other Cubs the space to discuss ideas, make decisions and see them through. Through Plan, Lead and Represent, Cubs can help build the programme, lead games and activities, support others and speak on behalf of their Six or Pack. Giving them genuine jobs — rather than just titles — helps Cubs discover that their ideas are valued and that they already have the skills to influence, organise and lead what happens at Scouts.

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  • Scouts: YouShape: Shape Your Troop

    Scouts shape their Troop through Troop Forums, Patrols and real leadership. Youth shaped Scouting at this age should mean more than asking what activities they fancy — Scouts should be helping set the programme, making decisions in their Patrols and taking responsibility for turning their ideas into action. Through Plan, Lead and Represent, Scouts can plan and cost activities, lead nights and camps, represent their Patrol and speak up beyond the Troop. When Patrols are trusted to actually plan, organise and lead, the programme becomes something built with and by Scouts, not simply delivered to them.

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  • Explorers: YouShape: Your Unit, Your Say

    Explorers shape their Unit through real responsibility, shared decisions and youth-led leadership. At this age, youth shaped Scouting should mean Explorers are helping run the Unit — chairing forums, building the programme, planning trips, understanding the budget and making decisions, with volunteers alongside them rather than always in front. Through Plan, Lead and Represent, Explorers can take ownership of activities, nights away and expeditions, support younger sections as Young Leaders, and represent their Unit beyond the meeting place. Giving them genuine responsibility now helps turn confident Explorers into the volunteers, leaders and decision makers Scouting needs next.

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  • Scout Network: YouShape: Your Network, Your Say

    Scout Network is run by its members, for its members. There is no YouShape Award because youth shaped Scouting is already built into how Network works — members choose what they want to do, organise projects, manage budgets, take on roles and decide what their Network becomes, with District and County teams there to support rather than direct them. For Network, Plan, Lead and Represent are not badge requirements but a useful test of whether member-led Scouting is really happening. Network members should be planning their own programme, leading projects and expeditions, and representing young people in Districts, Counties, Trustee Boards and beyond — while still having space to enjoy Network as members, not just as volunteers.

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  • YouShape across your District

    A youth shaped District is one where young people help plan, influence and improve the Scouting happening around them. That could mean shaping District events, programme opportunities, facilities, communications or spending, with the District Youth Lead helping make sure lots of different young people are heard and their views reach the people making decisions. The key is acting on what they say — involving them early, giving them chances to lead, and showing clearly what changed because of their voice.

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