From the County Lead Volunteer

What is Skills of Leadership? Skills of Leadership (SofL) is the East Midlands Region’s innovative approach to Scouts’ Manager & Supporter Training, condensed into an intensive weekend experience. This course meets all the objectives of the national training scheme but delivers them in a dynamic, interactive, and collaborative format. Our goal is simple: equip volunteer leaders with the confidence, knowledge, and practical tools to lead effectively – all in one immersive event. Why We Created SofL Traditional Manager & Supporter training can take months to complete. SofL accelerates this process without compromising quality, making leadership development accessible, engaging, and time-efficient. It’s designed for: Group / District / County Lead Volunteers District and County Team Leaders Anyone who is aspiring to a leadership role in Scouting and would like to explore what it could be like Anyone who would like to refresh their current knowledge of volunteer leadership Anyone who would like to complete a Managers & Supporters Wood Badge Course Highlights Over two days, participants explore: The Bigger Picture: Understand The Scout Association Strategy, why growth matters, explore the role Scouting plays in local communities, and learn how inclusive, youth‑focused Scouting helps young people thrive. It’s All About You: Discover your personal leadership style, explore communication and motivation, and learn how to adapt your approach to support others effectively. Let’s Talk Teams: Learn practical approaches to adult recruitment, retention, team building, coaching and mentoring — plus how Young Leaders can be supported and empowered. People & Processes: Build confidence in the essential processes that keep Scouting safe and effective, including safeguarding responsibilities, volunteer reviews and feedback, and navigating everyday challenges. You do not have to attend all two days; the course is split into four main chunks. These can be seen on the booking system below. What You’ll Gain By the end of the course, volunteers will have: A clear understanding of how their role supports growth and youth-shaped Scouting; Practical tools for recruiting, supporting and motivating volunteers; Increased confidence in communication, coaching, and team leadership; Knowledge of key safeguarding and volunteer-support processes; New ideas, fresh energy, and a stronger support network across local Scouting. A Taste of the Activities Throughout the course, volunteers will take part in hands-on, reflective and discussion-based activities, such as: Exploring their personal leadership strengths; Mapping their local community and identifying new opportunities; Practising coaching conversations using the GROW model; Working through team-based scenarios and challenges; Planning practical next steps to grow and support local Scouting. These activities are designed to be supportive, confidence-building and relevant to real Scouting situations. What Participants Say Feedback from recent courses has been overwhelmingly positive: “This is genuinely the most useful Scout training I’ve done and will have a positive impact on my group moving forward.” “Networking and sharing ideas with other volunteers was invaluable.” “Fantastic course, very enthusiastic and helpful presenters.” Why Choose SofL? Meets all national training objectives of the Manager & Supporter Wood Badge in one weekend. Interactive and collaborative learning environment. Immediate impact on your leadership role. Next Steps Interested in joining the next Skills of Leadership course? Book here