We want all our volunteers to have the skills and knowledge they need to feel confident to keep young people safe and help them gain skills for life. This is why all volunteers need to complete some learning, and why we encourage them to continue learning throughout their volunteer journey.
Learning at Scouts is organised in a Learning Tree. Growing Roots is the learning everyone needs to complete when joining Scouts or taking on a new role. Some Growing Roots learning needs to be renewed every three years.
Branching Out is the learning you can choose to do to develop your knowledge further. For example, to get permits and accreditations, and to earn the Wood Badge.
The learning you’re required to do
The learning you’re required to complete depends on your role and team. You’ll find the list with the learning required for all roles on the Teams Table in POR.
You need to complete Safety, Safeguarding, Creating Inclusion, Data Protection in Scouts, and Who We Are and What We Do. The only people who don’t need to complete this learning are Presidents, Vice Presidents, Non Member – Needs Disclosure, Retired Members and Designated Carers.
Some volunteers also need to complete Delivering a Great Programme, Leading Scout Volunteers, Being a Trustee in Scouts and First Response.
All volunteers can complete any learning they wish, even if it’s not required for their role.
First Aid courses
We encourage everybody in Scouts to undertake first aid learning.
First Response learning is currently required by volunteers who hold the following roles or accreditations:
- Section Team Members and Section Team Leaders
- Group Lead Volunteers
- 14-24 Team Leaders
- First Response Trainers
- Or those who may be reasonably expected to work directly with young people on a regular basis
The definitive guide to who is required to complete the First Response learning is in POR Chapter 16: Teams table.
First Response learning, is valid for 3 years and must be renewed where the member still holds one of the above roles or accreditations or where a member chooses to complete the learning.
Face-to-face model
Face-to-face First Response learning is often delivered at local Scout meeting places. It combines the theoretical learning (10A) and the practical learning (10B) and can be delivered in one single six-hour session or three separate two-hour sessions.
In Oxfordshire we hold regular 10A & 10B first response courses around the county, click here to book your place.
Blended model
The Blended Model combines a 2.5 hour e-learning with a 3 hour trainer led, online session for the theoretical learning (10A). The practical learning (10B) is a short face to face session.
Volunteers will need to complete all elements of the First Response blended model to be credited for First Response. If you cannot locate a blended course to book onto, you will need to complete your learning via the other delivery methods.
This e-learning should be completed prior to the 3-hour trainer led session and can be accessed via My Learning. You will need to enrol yourself on e-learning to be able to complete it. You can also find it on My Learning by using the ‘Explore Learning’ tab and search for ‘First Response e-learning’
A downloadable confirmation will be available on completion of the e-learning so that, volunteers can share this with trainers before attending the trainer led session. This can be found by navigating to the ‘Wood Badge and skills’ section of My Learning and selecting the First Response e-learning skill. Showing the completed First Response e-learning skill on My Learning, either directly or through a screenshot, can also be accepted.
The online session, led by a First Response trainer, will include knowledge checking exercises and discussions. In some areas, this may be offered as a face-to-face session with practical learning.
Volunteers can only attend the practical learning (10B) once the theoretical learning (10A) is completed.
The following counties deliver the online session for the blended model and offer spaces to volunteers from other countries. You can find booking information by following the links below:
- Essex Scouts
- Greater London North East
- Hampshire Scouts
- Nottinghamshire
- South Yorkshire Scouts
If your county would like to offer online sessions for the blended model to volunteers from other counties and are happy to be linked on this page, please email firstaid@scouts.org.uk
Online model
In this delivery method, the theoretical learning (10A) is done in three separate two-hour online sessions, and the practical learning (10B) in a short face-to-face session, which covers the practical elements of the life support training.
The online session(s), led by a First Response trainer, will provide the theoretical learning (10A), combined with knowledge checking exercises and discussions.
Volunteers can attend the practical learning (10B) only after the theoretical learning (10A) is completed. In Oxfordshire we hold regular Module 10B first response courses around the county, click here to book your place.
Volunteers with external qualifications and professional learning
First Response is specifically designed to cater for Scout and Guide activities, therefore it does not quite align with the content of any external award or qualification.
Volunteers who hold an external certificate are welcome to use that towards completing First Response. In order to convert an external first aid award or qualification, a First Response trainer will support members to identify and meet any skills or knowledge gaps.
Contact our team here and they will be able to support you in converting your award or qualification.
How to complete and keep track of learning
You can complete learning in different ways: eLearning, trainer led, self-directed and a blended approach.
You complete all Growing Roots learning online by accessing My Learning. You find it under the section ‘the learning you need’. Your progress is automatically tracked and recorded in your profile in My Learning and My Membership when completed. You also get reminders when your learning is due.
Branching Out learning is offered locally. You need to contact your District or County / Area / Region Volunteering Development Team to find out where and how it’s delivered. You need to enrol in each learning through your profile in My Learning and then request to be assessed to achieve a skill.
Use the ‘Wood Badges & Skills’ section in My Learning to see all the Branching Out learning available, and to assign a Wood Badge to your profile.
Read the My learning digital tool guide to learn how to access, enrol and complete learning and how to request to be assessed in a skill.
Who can support you with learning
Your Team Leader or Lead Volunteer will help you understand what learning you need to do.
District and County / Area / Region Volunteering Development Teams are also there to support you with your learning. They manage the learning offer locally and can answer any questions you might have. They can support you to access our digital learning and help you find an alternative if you don’t have any access to the internet.
Learning Assessors validate your learning and credit skills.
