Adult Learning and Development

If you’re joining Scouts for the first time or changing to a new team or role, your Team Leader or Lead Volunteer will help you understand what learning you need to do.

District’s will have their own Volunteer Development Team, supported by Scouts NI’s People and Volunteer Experience Team, who are in place to support all volunteers with their learning. They manage the learning offered locally and can answer any questions you might have. They can also support you to access our digital learning and help you find an alternative if you don’t have any access to the internet.

Volunteers with the Learning Assessor accreditation are responsible for crediting learning on scouts.org.uk.

If you require any help or want to ask a question, then please email us at digitalphase@scoutsni.org.

Discover the learning that all volunteers either need to do or can choose to do to develop their knowledge further:

Growing Roots

• Growing Roots is the learning new volunteers need to do within their first six months, with Safety and Safeguarding completed within the first 30 days.
• It covers the basics of Scouts, safety, data protection and creating an inclusive environment. All courses are available through the Scouts digital system.
• Safety and Safeguarding must be renewed every 3 years.
• Further details

Branching Out

• Branching Out learning is for when you want to stretch yourself and develop your skills and knowledge.
• Some learning will be developed nationally and other learning will be developed locally.
• More details will be shared as they become available, and Scouts NI courses will be published within the weekly e-news.
• Further Details

First Response

• First Response must be completed within 12 months of starting an eligible role and renewed every three years.
• If you have completed an external first aid course or are a member of a profession with first aid training, then you do not need to repeat your first aid learning if it meets the minimum requirements for First Response.
• Only an accredited First Response Trainer can validate external training for First Response. For guidance, please contact Janine Bowen, First Response Team Lead, via email at firstaid@scoutsni.org.  
• Courses will be available throughout the year, where Scouts NI will publish in advance within the weekly e-news.

Wood Badge

• The Wood Badge is an international award demonstrating a volunteer’s personal commitment to learning and development with Scouts.
• Completing the award is optional and volunteers can choose to work towards it as part of their ongoing development.
• Further Details

How do I access learning?

Sign in to scouts.org.uk and go to ‘My learning’ to access all learning and to view your learning record.

There you can see the learning you need to do, explore other learning you might be interested in, request to be assessed and keep track of your progress.

Re-joining Scouts after a break 

If you’re joining or re-joining Scouts after a break of 180 days or more, you’ll need to re-do your Growing Roots learning, even if you’ve completed this learning in a previous role.  

(Last update: August 2025)