Who Is A Young Leader?
A Young Leader is anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 who wishes to help in the younger Scouting sections.  Often they are members of an Explorer Unit; however this is not always the case.  As a Young Leader out with an Explorer Unit you will be registered in the Explorer Scout (Young Leader) Unit at district level and are entitled to attend any District Explorer Scout event.

 What Does A Young Leader Do?
Young Leaders can, and do, offer vital sectional support to the Adult Leadership team.  As a Young Leader is closer in age to the young people they are often a key link in the relationship between leaders and the Beavers, Cubs or Scouts.  Young Leaders often end up in the Beaver Colony/Cub Pack/Scout Troop that they themselves were a member of and are able to share some of their own experiences to the current members.

Why Become A Young Leader?
There are many reasons to become a Young Leader.  Some may become one to complete the requirements for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Volunteering section, while for others it may just be a desire to stay in touch with a section they have left.  Whatever the reason the Young Leader Training scheme offers training in new skills which can be used in both Scouting and every day life.

What Is Required Of A Young Leader?
Once  registered as a Young Leader it is required that Module A (Prepare For Take-Off) is completed within three months.  The only other requirement is that a Young Leader should realise that their job is to assist the current leaders.  To help do this there are a further 10 training modules which are based on the Adult Training scheme and can be used to help become a fully warranted leader, these however are not compulsory, unless you are doing your Voluntary section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award within Scouting where there are a minimum amount of modules the must be completed for each level of the award. 

Is There Anything Else?
There is a Young Leader badge which is awarded upon completion of Module A which easily identifies a Young Leader as having completed the basic training.  If a Young Leader completes every Module (A – K) and completed all four missions they will be presented with a Young Leaders belt buckle. The four “missions” – known collectively as Mission Impossible – are designed to run alongside the training, giving Young Leaders the chance to put the skills they have learned in training into practice.  A further badge is awarded upon completion of each Mission. 

What About Rules?
Completing Module A should give Young Leaders basic knowledge of the guidelines to be followed when working within a Unit; this is why it is compulsory to complete it within 3 months.  Before completion of Module A a young person should not be allowed to work with a younger section unless under the strict supervision of a warranted leader.  Even after doing the training a Young Leader is still not a Warranted Adult Leader and as such should not be given the same responsibilities by the Section Leader.  A Young Leader is also still considered a young person by the Scout Association and this should be considered when activities are being planned.  

This brief overview has hopefully given you some understanding of who Young Leaders are and what their role can be.  If you have any questions or you are interested in becoming a Young Leader please do not hesitate to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it