New research from Demos about Scouting and Employability

Date: 21st Jun 2023 Author: Deborah Dumville

Recently Scouts.com announced the launch of new research from Demos (the UK’s leading independent cross party think tank). The report shows that young people who take part in extracurricular activities, such as Scouts, feel much more prepared for the world of work, and are gaining the skills that employers want right now.

The Employability Badge report is about addressing and understanding the challenge of youth unemployment. It explores how extracurricular activities can give young people the skills and experiences they need to start work and progress in their careers.

In particular, it looks at how Scouts can help young people build strong relationships and social experience, and how young people can develop the skills and attributes employers value the most.

The report shows that young people who take part in extracurricular activities feel much more prepared for the world of work, and are gaining the skills (particularly the transferable skills) that employers want right now. Gaining these skills will protect young people’s employability for the jobs of the future, as artificial intelligence (AI) and green jobs come to the fore.

Key findings

  • 53% of those who were in Scouts felt prepared to start work for the first time, compared to 37% people who didn’t take part in any extracurricular activities.
  • 78% of full-time employed people say extracurricular activities had a big impact on their lives, compared to 62% of unemployed people.
  • Young people who were in Scouts are gaining the skills employers most value, with more than half saying the teamwork and leadership skills they learned in Scouts have helped in their careers.

As well as delivering incredible adventures for our young people and tons of fun, Scouts truly does give young people the skills they need for life and work.

You can download the report here.

 

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron, a great honour for UK Scouts.

The King continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

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King Charles III

Our Patron, HM King Charles III