04/09/2026
Dear all,
I’m thrilled to announce, that following the success of Phase 1, we can now confirm that the Ash Legacy project has been extended, for a further 3 years to September 2029. As we approach the end of Phase 1, which began on 1st October 2024, the project has to date recruited and retained spaces for around 400 young people across the County, as well as recruiting over 70 new volunteers, working with 45 Sections. By the time the first phase comes to an end at the end of this month, we will have worked in 8 of the County’s 10 Districts, with many success stories, including 12 entirely new Sections opened, plus plenty more re-energised and supported to allow them to continue to thrive. Read more about the project here: https://www.leicestershirescouts.org.uk/local-scouting/grants-funding/the-ash-legacy/
I would like to thank Abena O’Connor and Sumaya Qirbee, our Local Growth Officers, for their commitment, dedication and passion that has helped make this growth possible. I’m really pleased that they will be staying with us for Phase 2 and will be delighted to continue supporting them as the volunteer lead of the project. Thanks also to Nicola Cody, the Regional Growth Manager for the Midlands; and our Steering Group of volunteers, including members of the County Team and District representatives; who have supported with the selection of projects and have also worked to unblock challenges to continue striving for strategic growth.
But most of all I’d like to thank the amazing volunteers, in all of the Sections we have worked with – be it those joining Scouting for the first time, or those who have been involved for many years. Without you, we couldn’t have made this possible – thankyou for giving the young people in your Sections, ‘A Place to Belong in Scouting’, for working towards growth and helping us to make the Ash Legacy a success so far.
Phase 2 – book into our Drop-in surgery!
We have so much more that we want to achieve in the coming years.
We know that in too many Sections, Groups, Units and Districts across Leicestershire, volunteers are already operating at their limits and need additional support. Every week, I have conversations with volunteers around the County, not only about the support they need currently to keep Sections open, be it young people recruitment, adult recruitment or both; but also about the potential for growth on their patch, if only we could get the adults to make it happen. At the 2026 Census, Leicestershire still had over 1000 young people on waiting lists across all of our Groups – we are determined to do all that we can, to enable more of these young people to enjoy Scouting – supported by more amazing volunteers.
Of course, this task is never easy. We are yet to find the magic volunteer tree and we absolutely recognise that our volunteers are already busy and often cannot commit any more time to Scouting. But our work in Phase 1 has shown that great results can be achieved, if we create the best possible environment for growth and use our tried and tested methods.
We are very aware that despite the number of Sections we have already reached, our capacity can never reach the demand. So in Phase 2, while we will still be working with Sections/Units and Groups directly, we also want to spend time focusing on District teams, helping to grow and develop District’s infrastructure; to better enable them to, in time, support Groups with growth and recruitment, leaving a long lasting legacy. As a County team, we are also working to identify areas of new development, to maximise our potential for strategic growth.
In order to expand our reach even further, to help launch Phase 2, we will also be running a Drop-in surgery at County HQ on 1st November – where you can book in a 30 minute chat, with myself, Abena or Sumaya, to talk all things growth. Whatever your role or experience in Scouting, you are welcome to come and have a chat – be it about recruiting volunteers, expanding the numbers of young people in Sections, opening new Sections, building volunteer teams, or something else; we would love to see you! Please see the flyer attached to book on!
Thankyou as ever, for all of the time that you give to Scouting and our 7,600 youth members. We look forward to working with you all, to allow Scouting to grow and develop further in Leicestershire.
Jack Barber
Team Leader – Special Projects and Development
Leicestershire Scouts
