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Recruitment: a fresh approach

Family Events

Overview:

It is important to keep parents informed about what is going on in the Section. It is even better if they can stay informed and get involved at the same time! Planning family events is one way to do this. It could be in the form of a parents’ evening, or you may even like to invite them to an activity or camp that you are planning. This way, parents will be able to experience for themselves what Scouting is all about and have a taster of what it is like to help out. With any luck, some may decide to take on a role or responsibility as a result!

Top tips:

• If you are organising a family camp, make sure you have approval from the relevant Commissioner.
• Be sure to give parents plenty of warning. Just because they are usually able to drop their young people off in the evenings or at weekends, this does not necessarily mean that they are available themselves. So give them time to plan for the event.
• Promote the event within your Section. Make parents feel that it should not be missed!
• If possible, try not to limit your guests to just parents. Encourage them to bring other children and other family members. This will give you an opportunity to appeal to a wider variety of adults.
• Make sure the event is well planned. This is an opportunity to show parents what Scouting is about – so make sure it is fun! There is no point inviting parents to an event and then leaving them with little to do.
• Follow up parents after the event. You could send a letter home with the young people in your Section thanking them for coming, hoping they had a good time and explaining how they can get involved further if they want to. Ask them to let you know about their hobbies, interests and/or jobs and ask if they would be willing to share these with young people on a Section night.

Case studies:

Newham District

Newham District have had two new Groups open. On the open evening for each they did a presentation to parents asking for help. This resulted in several parents volunteering who are now ready to start the Appointment Process.

Support material:

• Factsheet FS120083: Family Camps (Support information on the organisation of family camps)
• Factsheet FS140049: Group Parents’ Evening (Guidance on planning and running a group parents’ evening)
• Parent pack/Leaders Pack

Download factsheets for free using the ‘ScoutBase Library’ link below or order a printed copy from the Information Centre (0845 300 1818)

Further Information (Links):

ScoutBase Library (Factsheets) www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts
Parent website www.scouts.org.uk/parents