Becoming a Young Leader is one of the most rewarding things you can do as an Explorer Scout. You get to make a real difference to younger members, develop skills that will stay with you for life, and take on genuine leadership responsibility while still enjoying everything the Explorer programme has to offer.

The Young Leaders’ Scheme is open to Explorer Scouts aged 14 to 18. As a Young Leader, you volunteer alongside adult leaders in a Squirrel Drey, Beaver Colony, Cub Pack, or Scout Troop, helping to plan and run activities and supporting younger members at every step.

What you’ll get out of it

Being a Young Leader isn’t just about what you give — it’s about what you gain.

  • Leadership skills you can use in Scouting, work, and everyday life
  • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award — your volunteering hours count at Bronze, Silver, and Gold
  • Welsh Baccalaureate — counts towards the community volunteering element
  • Scouts’ Top Awards — including the Chief Scout’s Platinum, Diamond, and King’s Scout Award
  • A strong CV — safeguarding awareness, communication, planning, and team leadership are all real, demonstrable skills
  • The Young Leader Belt Buckle — one of Scouting’s Top Awards, earned on completing the full scheme

How the scheme works

The scheme has 11 training modules and 4 missions. You work through the modules at your own pace, completing missions in the section you volunteer with to put your learning into practice.

Module A is the only compulsory module — you must complete it within three months of starting as a Young Leader. It covers everything you need to know before you begin, including safeguarding, safety, your responsibilities, and how the scheme works.

The remaining modules cover topics like leadership styles, behaviour, programme planning, inclusion, communication, and first aid. You can complete them in any order, either independently or as part of a group session run by the District 14-24 Team.

Start your training

Module A is now available online. You can work through it at your own pace, anywhere, on any device. You’ll need a free account to save your progress and receive a completion certificate.

Start Module A — Prepare for Take-Off

Further modules will be added here as they become available.

The 4 missions

Alongside your modules, you’ll complete four missions in the section you support:

  1. Mission 1 — Plan and run at least three games, a mix of indoors and outdoors
  2. Mission 2 — Plan and run an activity that isn’t a game
  3. Mission 3 — Collect the section’s ideas and take them to a programme planning meeting
  4. Mission 4 — Take responsibility for organising and running part of the programme

Your section leader will support you through each mission and sign them off in your logbook.

Badges and recognition

  • Complete Module A to earn your Young Leader acorn badge
  • Earn a mission leaf badge for each mission completed
  • Complete all 11 modules and all 4 missions to receive the Young Leader Belt Buckle
  • If you go on to become an adult volunteer, you can wear the Young Leader Adult Recognition Badge for life

Get started

If you’re an Explorer Scout in Vale of Clwyd and want to become a Young Leader, get in touch with your Explorer Unit leader or contact the District 14-24 Team. They’ll register you, make sure you have your Orange Card, and help you get started.