The Welcome Team’s main function is to assist with the process of appointing and welcoming volunteers into the Scouts by advising on their suitability.
It’s important to remember that the team is not a ‘rubber-stamping’ body. It must carry out its responsibilities with integrity and with the welfare of the Movement and its Members in mind. On the one hand, it has an important role in ensuring those who are unsuitable to work with young people or look after funds do not have access to either. On the other, it should not be a barrier to those who are genuinely interested in and suitable for taking on a role. They are also apply a key function in ensuring all volunteers feel welcome, valued and supported through their induction into their new role.
The team meet 6 – 12 times a year and take turns being part of a panel to chat and meet new volunteers, A meeting is made up of three volunteers drawn from the Team which undertakes the conversation with a new volunteer in order to welcome them to the Scouts.
The panel’s purpose is to:
- Make new members of Scouts feel welcomed
- Ensure that new members are aware and accept the values, policies and promise of the Scouts
- Support new members to understand the requirements of their role
It is important that the Welcome Team is as diverse as the people who we hope to welcome and we are looking for people of all ages, ethnicity and walks of life who have good conversational skills to join the panel. Its a great opportunity to gain experience in an interview situation – even if you are the interviewer rather than the interviewee!
