Scouts can now earn a fundraising badge by working with the online fundraising platform GoFundMe to launch a campaign and raise money for a chosen cause.
GoFundMe approached the Scout Association about the partnership that will see young people involved with the Scouts get tips and resources about online fundraising.
Resources will be aimed at Scouts, who are between ten and a half and 14 years old and Explorers, between 14 and 18 years old.
The platform will give tips and resources to Scout groups and leaders to help the young people select a charity or cause and fundraise and aims to inspire the next generation to be active citizens and connect with charities.
Helen Dagley, head of PR and partnerships at GoFundMe, said: “From March for Our Lives to campaigns to combat climate change, young people are increasingly taking action on GoFundMe to solve problems they see in the world around them.
“Combined with the huge amount of work the Scouts do to inspire young people to get involved in their local community, this exciting new partnership aims to inspire and empower the next generation of fundraisers.”
Scouts are better engaged
Research from the Scouts says its members are 29 per cent more likely to take an active role in their communities than non-Scouts.
Its young people are 29 per cent more confident taking an active role in communities and volunteer for 54 hours more than young people who are not Scouts.
Over three quarters of Scouts surveyed said they were more likely to help in the local area and felt a greater responsibility to the local community because of Scouting.
Simon Carter, assistant director for the Scout Association, said: “Equipping young people with skills for life is at the heart of what we do in Scouting.
“Our aim is to help young people develop a strong sense of belonging to their local community and wider society and to encourage them to take an active role and helping other people.
“The partnership with GoFundMe will play an important role in helping young people raise money for causes they believe in, in the most cost effective way possible”
Scouts said it works with over 475,000 young people every week, and claims to be the largest coeducational youth movement in the UK. More than 200 activities are provided to Scouts around the UK and these are run by 163,000 volunteer leaders.
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