Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers all have a version of this award. It is designed to make it easier for volunteers to have a youth-shaped programme, where what you do each week (and at wider events) is decided on and led by the young people’s ideas. At the same time, the YouShape Award helps young people work with volunteers to learn valuable skills for life, such as communication, teamwork and leadership.

Squirrels

Working with the Squirrel Section Support Team, the Youth Team has produced guidance for the YouShape Award. This menu of suggestions provides a framework for volunteers to adapt to their Drey – Squirrels YouShape Award Guidance.

Through this, our youngest section can make their own choices and feel confident that those choices will not just be supported, but valued from the very beginning. If you would like further support or ideas, please let us know.

Explorers

The team have begun visiting our ESUs with workshops, earning Explorers their Central Badge. This gives the young people an introduction to the YouShape Award and, when they have completed the full award, Explorers can apply to have it presented by the Youth Team through this form.

Guidance for Volunteers

In Denewulf, the Youth Team’s plan is to produce a pack for each section demonstrating different ways the award can be approached so that volunteers have a template to follow when guiding the young people in their section. This has now been achieved for the Squirrel section. We are speaking to groups across the District who have already had a go at developing these strategies, and if you think you can help, please contact us via [email protected].