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Shouting about scouting

Scouting about Scouting badge

Week-in, week-out your scout group, explorer scout unit or scout network unit meets in the heart of your local community, but how many members of that community are not aware that scouting is happening just a stone’s throw away from their home, school, church etc.? 

How many young people miss the opportunity to join and benefit from scouting just because they don't know where and how to get involved?

Unfortunately, too many non-scouting parents and young people hear and see nothing about what scouting is doing in their community and what our Movement has to offer today.

Good public relations are important because they help strengthen the positive image of scouting in the local community. This makes it easier to attract support and tell people about modern scouting. Like everything in the media, it is vital that stories about Scouting are presented in a positive way, hopefully with an exciting and inspiring element.

Our Shouting for Scouting badge has been designed to help you publicise your group or unit within your local community and help you grow your membership, both young people and adults, gain increased recognition for scouting and help ensure everyone knows how to be part of the adventure. 

To help it's a good idea to:

  • Identify a member of your group or unit (maybe a parent or support) to act as your Media Coordinator. Their job will be to collect news stories and photographs and arrange for these to be passed to our county media manager who will then contact the media with the aim of get coverage

  • Identify one or two members of your Group or Unit to be your Young Spokespeople. They need to be able to talk passionately about Scouting to interested parties.

 

Badge requirements (the challenge)

To gain our Shouting for Scouting badge your group, section or unit members need to complete at least two of the following:

  • Get your colony, pack, troop or unit’s ‘scouting adventures’ in print, in the local paper or on a website (not including scouting websites!)

  • Design a poster about your section and arrange for it to displayed in your class room at school

  • Take part in a publicity event or project to gain community awareness (at a school fete, supermarket, community fun day etc.)

  • Or any other proactive way of ‘shouting about scouting’ locally.

 

Where are the badges worn?

The badge is worn on the left arm amongst the activity badges that the young person has earned. 

Click here to download the requirements for this badge

 

Take a look at...

Programme ideas

  • Visit a local radio station and conduct some mock interviews

  • Ask your members their opinion on how they would sell scouting to a prospective member so you can understand the key elements that spark interest.

  • Ask someone from a local newspaper to come and address your group, section or unit on how a newspaper works and what makes a good press release

  • Collect a variety of press cuttings from local newspapers and look at which ones are good and why and which ones are hopeless and why.

  • let your members write and illustrate an activity newsletter which, can be given to local people, church members etc!

Image Publicity and Communication

Like most organisations, scouting works hard to promote and maintain a consistent, positive brand.

By brand we simply mean the thoughts and option’s that a person has when they hear the word ‘Scouts.’ It’s up to all of us to ensure that they associate scouting with providing skills for life, everyday adventure, challenge, fun, friendship and having a positive impact These are our main brand values.

To increase recognition, understanding and support for scouting, it is also important to use a consistent look and feel using our logos, colours, fonts whenever possible. (Click here for more details)

If you are promoting scouting locally please keep these points in mind when producing publicity materials such as websites, newsletters and social media.