Youth Shaped Scouts
Youth Shaped Scouts is about young people having a meaningful say in their Scouting experience. Working in partnership with volunteers, they help shape programmes, make decisions, lead activities, and create positive change at every level of Scouts.
Hi everyone!
I am absolutely thrilled to be your new County Youth Lead for Warwickshire Scouting. ⚜️
My journey started as a young adult in the West Warwickshire Network, combined with helping run my mum’s Cub pack—giving me a fantastic view of Scouting at both ends of the youth journey. I’m also currently working toward my King’s Scout Award and completing my Gold DofE this August, so I’m right there working alongside our older sections to chase those top awards! 🏔️
Over my first 100 days, my focus is all about making leading easier for our adult volunteers and giving our young people a genuine voice. Let’s ditch the corporate clipboards, build a collaborative county youth team, and shape Warwickshire’s next big adventure together. I can’t wait to get started!
Zoë
Zoë Hawyes
County Youth Lead
Warwickshire Scouts
Youth Shaped Scouts
Youth Shaped Scouts is about giving young people meaningful opportunities to influence their own Scout experience. Rather than simply taking part, young people are encouraged to share ideas, make decisions, and help shape the programme, activities, and events that matter to them.
This can be as simple as asking for feedback after an activity and using it to improve future programmes, or it could involve young people planning, leading, or evaluating activities, representing their section, or helping to make decisions across their Group or District.
When young people are trusted to contribute, they develop confidence, leadership skills, teamwork, and a sense of ownership over their Scouting journey.
To find out more, visit the Scouts website.
YouShape Award
The YouShape Award helps young people actively shape their Scout experience while recognising the skills and contributions they make along the way. It encourages everyone to have a voice, take responsibility, and work in partnership with volunteers.
The award has four areas:
- Plan – helping to design and improve the programme.
- Lead – taking responsibility for leading part of an activity or event.
- Represent – sharing the views of others and representing their section, Group or District.
- Create Change – identifying something they would like to improve, setting a goal, and working with others to make it happen.
By completing these areas, young people gain valuable leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while helping to shape Scouts for everyone.
To find out more, visit the Scouts website.
District Youth Leads
Each District is encouraged to have a District Youth Lead who champions Youth Shaped Scouts and supports young people to have a meaningful voice in decision-making across the District.
District Youth Leads work alongside volunteers to embed youth-shaped approaches, support the YouShape Award, and help create opportunities for young people to influence what Scouts looks like locally.
If you’d like to get more involved in Youth Shaped Scouts in your District, speak to your District Youth Lead.
If your District doesn’t currently have a District Youth Lead, consider taking on the role or speak with your District Lead or County Youth Lead about how you could help support youth-shaped decision-making in your area.