Thanks for your interest in becoming the next British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Deputy Youth Lead. This role is focused on empowering young people across our global movement, with a particular focus on driving achievement of Top Awards, empowering youth voices, and translating feedback into structured, practical support across our districts: Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World and Lone Scouts.
If you are 18–25 yrs old, bring a genuine commitment to Scouting and possess the curiosity to explore how young people want their ideas represented and implemented, this position offers a direct opportunity to support youth leadership internationally.
What is the BSO Deputy Youth Lead?
The BSO Deputy Youth Lead works closely with and supports the BSO Youth Lead to ensure young members across all overseas districts are meaningfully involved in decision-making and supported through their Top Award and shaping their scouting experience.
In this role, you will maintain consistent contact with volunteer teams across districts, lead data informed research into award completion & membership, facilitate youth forums, and collaborate with District Youth Leads to understand local operational contexts. Through problem solving and building strong relationships, you will help identify structural and practical barriers to Top Awards and work with the according teams to address them. You will help to expand programme adaptability & growth while implementing the "place to belong" & “skills for life” strategies.
Your work will help ensure that youth perspectives actively inform organisational decisions, support executive governance, and ensure Section achievements are consistently recognised across BSO and wider Scouting platforms.
Responsibilities of the role include:
The Deputy Youth Lead collaborates directly with the BSO Youth Lead and District Youth Leads across Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World and Lone Scouts to strengthen youth led Scouting, drive award completion, and support local leadership teams.
Core duties include:
Empowering Youth & Championing Top Awards
Developing a thorough understanding of section Top Awards, actively promoting them across districts and supporting initiatives that assist young people in completing their highest awards and supporting young people in shaping and leading their scouting experience.
Promoting YouShape & Peer Leadership
Championing the YouShape Award, Earth Tribe Award, Explorer belt and other frameworks across sections and promoting the Young Leaders’ Scheme to build peer leadership capacity in older Scouts and Explorers across all districts.
Governance Support
Supporting the BSO Youth Lead in representing youth voice within BSO governance structures, helping prepare youth forum reports for BSO leadership/Trustees, and deputising at strategic meetings when required.
Tackling Barriers to Achievement
Conducting research projects to track award completion trends, identifying structural or practical obstacles, and collaborating with district teams to implement effective solutions while expanding on information and knowledge about Top Awards.
District Collaboration & Regular Check-Ins
Maintaining regular communication with District Youth Leads to support team performance, align priorities, and maintain progress across BSO’s scope.
Delivering Youth Forums
Facilitating structured youth forums, both virtually and in person at Area events and documenting key outcomes to inform BSO programme decisions as well supporting District Youth Leads in leading Youth Forums during Section, Groups and District- visits.
Meeting Representation & Information Handover
Attending national and BSO level strategic meetings alongside or in place of the Youth Lead upon their request, maintaining accurate meeting records and systematically handing on relevant updates to district volunteers.
Promoting Successes & Best Practice
Highlighting youth led initiatives, YouShape achievements and Top Award successes through BSO newsletters, social media, and internal communications.
Developing Central Resources
Creating centralised toolkits, templates and guidance to support adult volunteers in facilitating youth led activities locally or in their districts.
Context Aware Programming
Reviewing forum insights and district feedback to ensure BSO youth programming remains adaptable to global events, local climates and regional realities.
About You
We are seeking an organised, self motivated individual aged 18–25 who communicates effectively, values data informed analysis and decision making and is committed to supporting young people. You do not need to have answers to every operational challenge immediately; what matters most is your curiosity, digital competence and ability to manage your time independently & willingness to support the Youth Lead in their role through team-meetings, communication and regular updates with the ability to manage tasks within the time-frame agreed.
Focus on Youth Empowerment & Awards
Knowledge of section Top Awards, pathway frameworks (or an eagerness to master them early on) and a drive to remove obstacles to achievement & understanding of BSO’s unique situation and challenges that come with.
Curious and Insight Driven
A commitment to understanding how young
people want their voices represented, using active listening rather than making assumptions. A fundamental belief in making young people central in decision-making & supporting them in making their ideas become reality by enabling youth-shaped opportunities.
Self Accountable & Independent
Comfortable working remotely, managing personal task lists and meeting commitments alongside education or work with a capacity to be adaptable for unforeseen changes.
Technical Proficiency
Confident using digital collaboration tools, online meeting platforms and basic spreadsheet data to maintain organisation across time zones.
Willingness to Travel
Availability and willingness to attend key BSO Area and District events in person when required.
Strong Interpersonal Skills
Ability to build positive working relationships with adult volunteers and young members, seeking to understand the root causes of local challenges. Good communication skills to work alongside the Area Youth Lead, District Youth Leads and other volunteers to find the best possible solutions with all ideas being considered.
Organised Record Keeper
Diligent with meeting documentation, note taking, and information management to ensure accurate & persistent communication.
Cultural Awareness
Respect for the distinct operating environments across Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World & Lone Scouts
Values-Led
Demonstrates a commitment to Scout values: integrity, respect, care, belief and cooperation.
A note on experience
You don’t need to have:
- held a BSO Area role before
- years of leadership experience
- been in Scouts for a long time
If you’ve led a project, helped run an event, supported a team, or had a role where you’ve encouraged others - that counts.
And if you haven’t had chances yet? That’s okay too. Bring your ideas, your point of view, and your enthusiasm. We’ll support you with the rest.
Time Commitment
- Approximately 3-4 hours per week, on average
- High proportion of independent online work, scheduled flexibly around education/employment.
- Ability to travel to selected BSO Area or District events as needed.
- Remote (with global experience)
Term of appointment
- 2 to 3 year initial term
- Annual reviews and regular check ins
- Must be 18-25 at appointment
- Completion of UK Scouts' Growing Roots learning modules within the first 6 months, alongside Safeguarding, Safety, and First Aid compliance. Attendance at Youth Lead training sessions and relevant national youth leadership events.
- No prior Scouting experience required – just a willingness to become a member
- Ideally is located, or has been located overseas with British Scouting Overseas.
Application tips
Applying for a BSO role can feel a bit daunting - but it doesn’t need to. We’re not looking for perfection; we’re looking for your passion, your ideas and your potential. Here are some simple ways to make your application shine
1. Be yourself
We want to hear your voice, not what you think we want to hear. Write and speak in away that feels natural to you.
2. Show why youth voice matters to you
Explain what youth shaped Scouting means in your eyes and why it’s important. This helps us understand your motivation and connection to the role.
3. Use real examples
Think of moments where you’ve helped, led, supported others, influenced a decision or brought people together. These don’t need to be from Scouts - college, work, sports, activism, youth groups or your community all count.
4. Keep it clear and simple
You don’t need long sentences or fancy language. Tell us what you did, why it mattered and what you learned.
5. Talk about how you work with others
This role involves collaborating with volunteers, young people and senior leaders. Sharing how you build relationships or work in teams will really help.
6. Share your ideas
You don’t need a perfect plan — just show us what inspires you. What would you love to explore or change? What energises you?
7. Be honest about your strengths
Tell us what you’re proud of, what you’re good at and what you’d like to develop. Growth is part of the role, and support is built in.
8. If you record a video, don’t overthink it
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.9. Ask for support if you need it
If you need help understanding any part of the application or require adjustments, we’re here to help.
How to apply
Before making an application pleas make sure you’ve carefully read the role information above.
Key Dates
Closing Date: 15 November
Interview Date: TBC
For more information
If you’d like to discuss he role in more details, please email Graham Eden (BSO Lead Volunteer) or for an information conversation about what being the BSO Youth Lead is like, email Theo Lasar (BSO Youth Lead)
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