Social and Digital Initiatives

31 October 2024

Three New District Initiatives from our October District Leadership Team Meeting aimed at increasing our visibility with the local community.

If you require any assistance on the below, please reach out to the digital team digital@bescouts.org.uk

Signage Guidelines

Effective signage can play a crucial role in helping Scout groups attract new volunteers and children.

1. Increased Visibility
Improved signage makes your Scout group more visible in the community. Eye-catching signs placed in strategic locations such as schools, community centres, and busy streets can draw attention to your group and its activities. This increased visibility helps raise awareness about your group and its mission.

2. Enhanced Communication
Clear and informative signs can communicate essential information about your Scout group, such as meeting times, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities. This helps potential volunteers and parents understand how they can get involved and what to expect.

3. Professional Image
High-quality signage gives your Scout group a professional appearance, which can build trust and credibility with parents and potential volunteers. A well-designed sign suggests that your group is well-organised and committed to providing a positive experience for children.

4. Community Engagement
Signs that highlight the benefits of joining Scouts, such as learning new skills and making friends, can engage the community and encourage more people to participate. Including testimonials or quotes from current members can also be very persuasive.

5. Easy Navigation
Directional signs can help new members and volunteers find their way to meetings and events easily. This reduces confusion and makes it more likely that people will attend and participate regularly.

6. Cost-Effective Marketing
Compared to other forms of advertising, signage is a cost-effective way to promote your Scout group. Once installed, signs continue to work for you 24/7 without any additional costs.

7. Inclusivity
Signs can be designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all members of the community. Using diverse images and languages can help ensure that everyone feels invited to join.

By leveraging these advantages, Scout groups can effectively use improved signage to attract new volunteers and children, thereby strengthening their community presence and impact.

If you need more specific tips or examples, feel free to ask!

Facebook Guidelines

1. Create Engaging Content
Showcase Activities: Post photos and videos of your group’s activities. Highlight the fun and impact of your events to attract potential volunteers.
Share Volunteer Stories: Feature stories and testimonials from current volunteers. This can inspire others to join by showing the positive experiences of your team.
Use Impact Metrics: Share specific achievements and the impact your group has made. For example, “Our volunteers helped organise a camp for 50 young people last summer”.

2. Engage with Your Audience
Respond Promptly: Reply to comments and messages quickly to show that your group is active and welcoming.
Ask Questions: Engage your audience by asking questions in your posts. For example, “What was your favourite Scout activity as a child?”.
Host Live Sessions: Use Facebook Live to host Q&A sessions or virtual tours of your activities. This can give potential volunteers a real-time look at what you do.

3. Promote Volunteer Opportunities
Post Regularly: Regularly post about volunteer opportunities, including what roles are available and how people can get involved.
Use Clear Calls to Action: Make it easy for people to volunteer by including clear instructions and links to sign-up forms in your posts.
Highlight Benefits: Emphasize the benefits of volunteering, such as gaining new skills, making new friends, and contributing to the community.

4. Leverage Community Connections
Tag Local Organizations: Tag local businesses, schools, and community groups in your posts to increase visibility.
Join Local Groups: Share your posts in local community groups on Facebook to reach a wider audience.
Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with local influencers or community leaders who can help spread the word about your volunteer opportunities.

5. Ensure Safety and Privacy
Get Permissions: Always get permission before posting photos or videos of individuals, especially young  people.
Monitor Comments: Keep an eye on comments to ensure they are appropriate and respectful. Remove any offensive or inappropriate content promptly.
Stay Non-Political: Keep your posts focused on your group’s activities and avoid political topics to maintain a welcoming environment.

Please take advantage of our brand centre – this is a one stop shop for all logos and images to help us stay within the correct branding guidelines.  https://scoutsbrand.org.uk/

By following these guidelines, your Scout group can effectively use Facebook to attract new volunteers and build a strong, engaged community. If you need any more specific tips or help with crafting posts, feel free to ask!

LinkedIn Campaign

Basingstoke East only has 15 followers at present but just like Facebook; it offers us a free and simple way to reach a large number from our local community.

Just like Facebook; it helps if we all connect and follow each other !

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bescouts/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutsuk/

Our District team will now try a pilot to boost our Posts with the aim of reaching business people looking to develop their skillset whilst networking and having fun.

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