Young Leaders (YL)

Key adult roles associated with the Young Leader (YL) program

The following roles are people you will get to know or may become aware of:

  • Explorer Scout Leader – Young Leader (ESL-YL) – Ron Bochard
  • District Explorer Scout Commissioner (DESC) – Amanda Doran
  • District Commissioner (DC) – Nick Hough

Please read the summary below and look at the links on the left. You can register online with to become an East Surrey Explorer Young leader. If you would to discuss this feel free to contact the Young Leader section Leader Ron Bochard please provide a contact number!

What is the Young Leaders’ Scheme?

The Young Leaders’ Scheme is just one of the exciting programme elements in the Explorer Scout section. All leaders in the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout Section who are between the ages of 14 and 18 must be members of a Young Leaders Unit. They are Explorer Scouts who choose to devote a large proportion of their time in Scouting to service in another section.

The Young Leaders’ Scheme helps Explorer Scouts to develop and grow as individuals. It allows them to make a valuable contribution to their community and give service to others. The scheme also helps them fulfil the service elements of their awards.

YL’s are a valuable asset to any leadership team who play an active role in their chosen section, bringing a range of fresh ideas to the table, and acting as positive role models for the young people they work alongside.

3 Different Young Leaders Roles

For every new Young Leader and change of role, the Scout Association requires us to have a Explorer Scout YL Placement agreement. There are 3 different YL roles, click the role to open a PDF of the placement agreement for each role.

The main differences between the 3 roles are below

  1. Starting age
    • Members can start from 13 ½ as they transition to either the Member YL & Active Explorer or Member YL Only
    • Non-Members can only start from age 14
  2. End date of role
    • Members can remain in their placement until age 18 at which point, they must leave the YL program. If they wish to continue volunteering in Scouting, they must take on an Adult scouting role.
    • Non-Members only stay in role until they a) have completed their specific DofE award that they have a placement agreement for or b) have decided to stop their DofE award. They can only volunteer up to the age of 18. They must complete a new placement agreement for any subsequent awards
  3. Insurance cover from the Scout Association
    • Members are covered for both Legal Liability & Personal Accident and Medical Expenses
    • Non-Members are only covered for Legal Liability
  4. Capitation costs
    • Members pay capitation
      • YL Only as well as YL & Active Explorers capitation is paid by the Group within East Surrey that the YL’s support
    • Non-Members do not pay capitation
  5. Term fees
    • Members
      • YL & Active Explorers pay a term fee to their Explorer section
      • YL Only do not pay term fees
    •  Non-Members
      • pay a £25 fee for each DofE award for each DofE award they wish to complete with Scouting
  6. Uniform & Scouting Awards
    • Members where the Explorer uniform and District scarf, and can earn all available scouting awards
    • Non-Members where a Polo shirt (which I provide as part of £25 fee) and cannot earn any scouting awards
  7. DofE
    • Members can use DofE for either “Skill” or “Volunteering”. They will need either the ESLYL or SL to sign off their eDofE which should be provided to the ESLYL and kept as a record in OSM
    • Non-Members can use DofE only for “Volunteering”. They will need either the ESLYL or SL to sign off their eDofE which should be provided to the ESLYL and kept as a record in OSM
    • Members can start Bronze from age 13 ½, Non-Members from Age 14
    • DofE Silver can start in the school year that the youth turns 15
    • DofE Gold can only start when the youth is 16 years old