A shortage of volunteers means the 36th Sheffield Scout Group, which covers the Crosspool and Ranmoor area, will close if it doesn’t find any new recruits.
The Scout section (for ages 10 and above) is currently without a leader, while the Beaver and Cub groups (six to eight year-olds and eight to 10) are in desperate need of a helping hand.
Michael Holmes, the Group Scout Leader, said many adults don’t think they have the right skills to become a Scout Leader, meaning they don’t put themselves forward.
“Most parents have got the skills – even if they don’t think they have. Really, it’s a desire to help your young children become good citizens.”
The 36th Sheffield Scout Group is almost 100 years old and has been one of the largest groups of its kind for many years.
A Scout Leader is a managerial role who works closely with assistant leaders to deliver a fulfilling experience. All training, including a DBS check, is provided by the Scouts. The only real cost is their time.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic people’s jobs and ability to commit their time has changed, leading to a drop in volunteers, Mr Holmes said.
“The children need you,” he added. “Someone who can give one night a month would still be useful to us.”
There is currently a waiting list of children for the group. If they had the leaders then they would be able take all of the children on.
Jo Owens is the Beaver Leader but has had to give in her notice because of other commitments.
“It’s not just our group that’s struggling for leaders. It’s a similar situation across the region and the country,” she said.
Pre-Covid, there were 156,647 Scout volunteers across the UK. There are now only 139,461 – almost 20,000 less.
“It would be sad to lose such a long-running Scout group,” the Beaver Leader and mum said. “Where else can you find a group that does something different every week?”
“Lots of people were in the Scouts and then became leaders when they were adults. It’s sad we can’t offer the next generation the same,” she added.
The Ranmoor / Crosspool Scout Group is looking for around six volunteers. Anyone interested should contact Michael Holmes directly at michaelfholmes1@gmail.com. More information about the Scouts can be found here.
