Brent District Scouts

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Group Lead Volunteer: 27th Willesden

The search is on for a new volunteer team leader for 27th Willesden Scouts,
and we need you to think about anyone you know who would thrive in this role!

So what is the role? 

The Group Lead Volunteer (GLV) is a volunteer manager who supports other volunteers to ensure the Group runs effectively and provides quality Scouting to more young people in Neasden and the surrounding area.

In a nutshell, the Group Lead Volunteer would:  

  • Inspire and enthuse people

  • Apply strategic thinking to a challenge

  • Build and lead a team of key volunteers

  • Be resourceful and energetic

  • Believe passionately about developing young people and volunteers

What’s in it for you? 

Volunteering with us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills and attributes for the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, teamwork ability, leadership, and management skills, including line management experience. In addition, there is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends, and get involved in the community, all of which are great for personal development and will enhance your CV. At the same time, this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives. 

There are several different ways to apply or nominate someone else:  

  • Share this page, which contains a full role description, a nomination form and an application form.

  • Click here to apply or nominate someone using our online form.

The closing date for receiving applications is Sunday, 15th December 2024


The group - 27th Willesden

27th Willesden Scout Group is in Brent District and comprises four sections.
It currently has:

  • 12 Beaver Scouts (6 - 8 year olds)

  • 17 Cub Scouts (8 - 10 ½ year olds)

  • 38 Scouts (10 ½ - 14 year olds)

  • 15 Adult Volunteers (18+ year olds)

The Group has a partnership agreement with the Voyager Explorer Scout Unit.

See this map in the original post

The role – Group Lead Volunteer

Role description

Outline:

To manage and support the Scout Group and its Leaders to ensure it runs effectively, and that Scouting within the Group develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association.

Responsible to:

District Lead Volunteer

Responsible for:

All adults in the Scout Group.

Main Contacts:

  • Section Team Leaders and their leadership teams in the Group

  • Parents/carers of the young people in the Scout Group

  • Group Trustee Board members

  • Sponsoring authority of the Group (if applicable)

  • Group Sub-Team Leaders

  • Other Group Lead Volunteers in the District

  • District Lead Volunteer, District Team Leaders

  • County/Area/Regional Lead Volunteers

Appointment requirements:

Must complete relevant training (wood badge) within three years of accepting the role. Must be eligible for charity trustee status (a member of the Group Trustee Board). It is expected that whilst volunteering for this role you will undertake regulated activity.

Main Tasks

  • Ensure that the Scout Group thrives and has the best systems in place to support adult volunteers and develop the Group – including a Group Trustee Board and Section leadership teams.

  • Provide line management and support to the Leaders in the Scout Group, including setting objectives for their work and holding regular reviews and one-to-one meetings.

  • Ensure that the Scout Group has an adequate team of supported and appropriate adults working effectively together and with others to meet the needs of Scouting in the area.

  • Ensure that a challenging, exciting and balanced programme is offered to young people in the Scout Group.

  • Work with the District Lead Volunteer, District Team Leaders and other Group Lead Volunteers in the District to ensure that the District thrives and supports Scout Groups.

Note: Some of the tasks for which the Group Lead Volunteer is responsible may be delegated to others in the Group, including the Group Leadership Team Members if appointed.

Person Specification

Knowledge and experienceEssential/Desirable
Ability to manage adults effectivelyEssential
Understanding of the challenges of working in the voluntary sectorDesirable
Experience of working with young people and/or community work with adult groupsDesirable
Experience of working in the Scout or Guide Movements as an adultDesirable
SkillsEssential/Desirable
Excellent written and oral communication skillsEssential
Provides advice and guidance effectively to othersEssential
Provides inspirational leadership for the GroupEssential
Can build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of peopleEssential
Enables others to identify issues, clarify objectives, develop attainable objectives and gain the necessary skills and confidence to work as an effective teamEssential
Ability to negotiate compromisesEssential
Plans, manages and monitors own tasks and timeEssential
Can construct and implement long-term plans that improve and expand the Scouting offered to young people, and identify any training, resources and other needs required to undertake this workEssential
Can use basic computer softwareEssential
Personal qualitiesEssential/Desirable
An understanding of the needs of adult volunteersEssential
Flexible approachEssential
Self-motivatedEssential
Able to work as part of a team and promote good teamworkEssential
Resourceful, energetic and enthusiastic about the jobEssential
Acceptance of the fundamentals of the Scout MovementEssential

Detailed Role Description

The role of Group Lead Volunteer is based around six core areas of leadership and management.

1.  Providing direction. As an effective GLV, you will be required to:

  • Lead by example to promote a co-operative culture of working in the Group.

  • Create a vision for the future development of the Group that takes into account the strategic objectives of The Scout Association and the plans for your District.

  • Develop, implement and regularly review a plan to realise a vision for the Group.

  • Provide leadership, inspiration and motivation to all adult volunteers in the Group.

  • Ensure that everyone in the Group follows the policies and rules of The Scout Association.

  • Carry out regular one-to-one meetings and support adults reporting directly to you.

2.  Working with people. As an effective GLV, you will be required to:

  • Develop good working relationships based on trust and Scout values with adults in the Group and with others in Scouting.

  • Plan for and ensure that suitable adults are recruited to work in appropriate roles in the Group.

  • Manage and support the adults in the Group – including allocating tasks and reviewing their progress.

  • Support adults in the Group to develop by completing formal training, learning on the job, trying out new skills and addressing problems affecting performance.

  • Build a team spirit in the Group and support the development of the team as a whole.

  • Address conflict as it occurs within the Group, and reduce the likelihood of it happening through good communication and other methods.

  • Run effective Leaders’ meetings in the Group and participate fully in the Group Trustee and District meetings.

  • Ensure that adults in the Group perform to agreed standards, and if serious problems occur, that correct procedure is followed in consultation with the District Lead Volunteer.

  • Carry out effective reviews and re-assign or retire people if necessary.

  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other relevant organisations in the Group’s local area.

3.  Achieving results. As an effective GLV, you will be required to:

  • Satisfactorily complete projects in the Group for which you are responsible.

  • Satisfactorily resolve problems and issues raised by adult and youth members of the Group and by parents or carers of youth members in the Group.

4.  Enabling change. As an effective GLV, you will be required to:

  • Encourage adults in the Group to think of new and creative ways to improve the Group.

  • Be enthusiastic about new ideas, give constructive feedback on those ideas and encourage and support further work on them.

  • Carry out plans to implement change, working together with all members of the Group.

  • Recognise the contribution of others towards change and improvement.

5.  Using resources. As an effective GLV you will be required to:

  • As part of the Trustee Board, manage the Group’s budget.

  • As part of the Trustee Board, ensure that there is an adequate income for the Group, including identifying other income sources such as grants.

  • Work with the Trustee Board and Leaders to ensure that the Group’s meeting place and equipment are safe, and that adult volunteers act in a responsible manner.

  • Work with the Section Teams and the Trustee Board to ensure that the Group has sufficient physical resources to support the programme.

  • Work with adults and youth Members to minimise the negative impact and maximise the positive impact that the Group has on the environment.

  • Make decisions about all matters within the Group based on the best available information.

  • Ensure that all adults in the Group have the right information provided in a timely manner and in the most effective way.

6.  Managing your time and personal skills. As an effective GLV, you will:

  • Agree on realistic goals and targets with the District Lead Volunteer for the development of the Scout Group, which work towards The Scout Association’s strategic objectives.

  • Ask other adult volunteers for feedback about how you carry out your role and act upon it.

  • Regularly check how you use your time and identify possible improvements so that you focus on the goals and priorities that you have agreed with the District Lead Volunteer.

  • Identify the skills and knowledge that you need to develop or improve and the steps you will follow to do so.

  • Attend National, County/Area/Regional, and District Group Lead Volunteer meetings, workshops and events.


How to apply

Process

Thank you for your interest in volunteering. The following pages contain a role description and the person specification.

You can apply for the role using the application form or nominate someone else using the nomination form. Nominated people are not committed to applying unless they wish to.

Shortlisting will be based solely on the candidate's information in their application form. All applications should address the role requirements as laid out in the role description and person specification.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 15th December 2024

Interviews will be held shortly after the closing date.

Further information

For more information or an informal chat about this vacancy, please contact:

Name: David Kitchen, District Lead Volunteer

Email: daivd.kitchen@brentscouts.org.uk