London’s uniformed groups need YOU

At the moment, around 75,000 young people take part in London’s uniformed youth groups. That’s roughly 8% of those of compulsory school age in the capital. Yet there are another 7,000 plus young Londoners on waiting lists who may miss out on what these groups can offer, due to a lack of adult volunteers.

That’s why I’m delighted to be spearheading the Mayor’s new drive to recruit 3,000 adult volunteers to run the groups so that young people who want to join aren’t excluded from the opportunities these groups offer.

We want more young people of all backgrounds to have a chance to benefit from the sense of freedom and adventure these groups can give. The Mayor is particularly keen to extend these groups’ reach to inner London’s more disadvantaged communities, where, whether due to a lack of resources, volunteers or premises, there is currently a shortage of provision.

Many children in London’s inner city never or rarely get a chance to properly engage with the outdoors. It’s not hard to see why. If you are an inner city kid from a poor family living in cramped conditions, how else will you get the chance to try out exciting outdoor activities for real? From flying and sailing to climbing, orienteering and community police work, through these groups young people can try out challenging new activities in a highly disciplined environment.

Freedom and responsibility are mentioned time and again in these groups, and research shows that young people benefit immensely from the chance to develop life skills and build character in a structured way. Youngsters in these groups are also less likely to skip school, achieve better results in education and are less likely to offend or behave anti-socially than their peers.

So the groups are great for young people, but what’s in it for the adult volunteers that run them? Well, the groups are also a great way for the adult volunteers to benefit similarly in terms of learning new skills, and boosting their self-worth and satisfaction. It is also highly rewarding to know that you are making a positive difference to a young person’s life. 

About YOU London

YOU London is a unique partnership of the oldest, largest and most experienced uniformed youth organisations in the capital, from the Army Cadets to the Scouts and Volunteer Police Cadets

Find out more about the YOU London partnership

Further information on volunteering