Join our volunteer team

If you’re an existing Scout leader moving overseas and want to volunteer or start a new Group – Get in touch - we’d love to hear from you.


At Scouts we celebrate difference and welcome everyone.


Whatever your background, identity or ability, there’s a volunteer spot with your name on it

Volunteering can be a brilliant way to boost your mental wellbeing. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping young people get skills for life, and you might even learn a lot about yourself along the way. 

Scouts can make you feel good in other ways too. We’ll guide you to an opportunity where you’ll: 


  • Make friends and meet people 
  • Try new things and challenge yourself 
  • Get outdoors and get stuck in 
  • Positively impact your community 
  • Create vital opportunities for young people 
  • Make memories that'll last a lifetime 


If you can only occasionally help, that’s OK. Whether you’d like to be an activity planner, tea-maker or craft creator, we appreciate any time you can spare.


Current Vacancies

Vacancy: BSO Youth Lead

By Graham Eden • May 3, 2026
Thanks for your interest in becoming the next British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Youth Lead. This role is about opening doors, lifting voices, and shaping a movement that puts young people at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’ve been in Scouts for years or you’re brand new to it, if you’re passionate about helping young people influence decisions and lead change, this might be the challenge you’ve been waiting for. What is the BSO Youth Lead? The BSO Youth Lead makes sure young people are meaningfully involved in shaping Scouts at every level - from local decision‑making to BSO strategy. You’ll work closely with the BSO Lead Volunteer, the BSO Chair and the Trustee Board to champion youth voice, bring new perspectives into key discussions, and support young people across BSO to influence the movement. Your leadership will help ensure that young people feel heard, respected and empowered, and that their ideas directly contribute to the direction of Scouts Purpose of the role This role exists to embed youth leadership in every part of Scouts. You’ll help young people shape programmes, policies and projects, while also supporting volunteers and staff to involve young people meaningfully in their work. You’ll: Bring youth perspectives into national decisions and conversations. Support and coordinate Youth Leads across BSO to strengthen youth shaped Scouting locally. Lead the BSO Youth Team (District Youth Leads and teams), guiding youth engagement, forums and initiatives across BSO. Support the District Youth Leads across BSO, including bringing them together regularly to collaborate, share ideas and work towards shared goals. In everything you do, you’ll champion the simple belief that young people deserve a meaningful say in shaping their own experiences. Who you’ll work with & support you’ll receive The BSO Youth Lead works in partnership with the Area Lead Volunteer. You will be supported by: The BSO Leadership team The UK Scouts Youth Team Other Youth Leads across the UK and Overseas You'll also be part of our BSO Leadership Team

Vacancy: BSO Heritage Team (Technical Specialist)

By Chris Wanley • January 6, 2026
About the role We’re looking for someone with technical skills to support our project to preserve British Scouting Overseas ( and its predecessors) History, so that the content we collect and curate can be online and accessible with the minimal need for updating and software upgrades. Ideally you will have skills and knowledge in creating websites for historical content, creating secure websites and able to work with none tecnical colleagues to put these concepts across.

Volunteer with BSO

Get inspired

800 volunteers like you, helping more than

2,200 young people across 28 countries each year to build #SkillsForLife.


Volunteering with young people

Team player? Love supporting young people? Great at planning? 


Each week, our volunteers help young people gain skills for life through activities and adventures.

Most of our volunteers work directly with young people aged 4 to 18 through our groups, known as Sections


Working in teams, they might:

  • Welcome young people and families to sessions and events
  • Make sure everyone's safe, supported, included and having fun 
  • Help to plan and lead activities
  • Get involved with days out, camps and expeditions 
  • Share and learn skills – from coding to cake decorating to canoeing 
  • Celebrate young people's achievements big and small 


No previous experience with young people? No problem.


Whether you'd like to help out week-after-week or whenever-you-can, we provide training, learning opportunities and cups of tea – every step of the way.


Want to make a big impact behind the scenes?

Your time and skills can make a difference in so many ways. 


Not all volunteers work directly with young people. Locally, regionally and nationally, many help out in other ways.