¶ YouShape Award
¶ 🔍 Overview
The YouShape Award is all about youth-led Scouting. It supports Explorers in taking charge of their programme, making decisions, and developing leadership skills to help them in and out of Scouting. It is the perfect stepping stone into adult Scouting
📌 Who is it for? All Explorers (aged 14-17) can earn this award!
📌 What’s it about? You can shape your Scouting experience by planning, leading, and reflecting on activities.
📌 Why should you do it? It helps you build confidence, develop leadership skills, and get involved in decision-making while having fun!
¶ ☑️ Requirements
The top award is broken into four badges, each with its requirements.
It's important to know that YOU can decide if you've achieved the requirements on each badge by following the official requirements.
¶ 🔵 Central Section
This badge is about making a real impact on Explorer Scouting in your District or County.
- Choose one thing you’d like to change, improve or deliver for Explorer Scouts in your District/County, and make it happen.
Example: Run an activity for your District/County, improve communications between Explorer Units, or introduce a new way to recruit young people into Scouting. You could also provide feedback in a district forum. I did this, which signed me off this badge.
¶ ✍️ Plan Section
This badge is about organising activities and shaping the programme.
- Complete at least one of the following:
- Plan a district event.
- Think of a way to help people improve at something outside Scouts and share your idea in a Unit Forum.
- Plan an entire programme to help other Explorers achieve a specific skill, goal, or badge.
- Create an activity that helps young people not in Scouts to learn a Scouts skill.
Example: If you're a Young Leader, perfect! Run a badge night for your unit, planning the night. That's what I did.
¶ 🚶 Lead Section
This badge is about taking responsibility and leading activities or people.
- Complete at least one of the following:
- Help a new adult volunteer complete their induction.
- Lead a session for another Explorer Unit.
- Lead a Unit Forum for your Unit.
- Lead a two-night camp under a Nights Away Events Passport with no adult volunteers.
Example: If you've done a Top Award (i.e. Explorer Belt, DofE), run a night for another Explorer Unit, which signs off the badge. I did a fun presentation!
¶ 🗣️ Represent Section
This badge is about advocating for Explorers and making your voice heard.
- Complete at least one of the following:
- Work with a District/County Trustee Board member to research and propose something to improve Explorer Scouts in your District/County.
- Identify a group of potential adult volunteers and tell them about the benefits of volunteering with Scouts.
- Take part in a project with Explorers from across your District/County that uses skills you’ve learned at Scouts to help people in your community.
- Work with your Group/District/County Lead Volunteer to lobby a decision-maker about an issue that affects Scouts.
Example: Got an idea? Suggest it at the district/county level, research the idea for them, and propose it to them in an email.
¶ ⌚ Example Timeline
This is a suggested timeline based on my personal experience.
Tip: YouShape is flexible. You can earn the badges in any order.
- 0-2 months: Achieve Plan Badge
- 3-4 months: Achieve Lead Badge
- 5-6 months: Achieve Represent and Central Badge, achieving the YouShape Award