The Wood Badge Award

What is it?

The Wood Badge is the internationally recognised award for adult training in Scouting. It shows that a volunteer has completed the training relevant to their role and is putting their skills into practice.

Completing your Wood Badge means you’re confident, supported, and able to give young people or the adults you support the best possible experience.

Who needs to complete it?

The Wood Badge award is optional for volunteers to complete. There are two available wood badges;

• Section
• Manager and supporter

If you are in a governance or honorary role it is not possible to gain a wood badge. However trustees do need to do the mandatory learning applicable to that role. This is known as ‘Growing Roots’.

What’s Involved?

If you wish to complete your wood badge, you must have completed all of the growing roots learning associated with your role before signing up for it in My Learning.

1. Growing Roots Learning – ‘Who we are and what we do’, ‘Creating inclusion’, ‘Safety’, ‘Safeguarding’, ‘Data protection in Scouts’.
2. Growing Roots for some people – ‘Leading scout volunteers’, ‘Delivering a great programme’, ‘Being a trustee in Scouts’, ‘First Response.
3. Branching Out Learning – Other modules which allow you to learn new skills and allow you to put them into practice. These are a combination of face to face training courses, online and on the job learning.
4. Learning Validation – showing how you’ve put what you’ve learned into practice. This can be through conversations, photos, programme plans, or observations.

How Long Does it Take?

There’s no set deadline, but most volunteers complete their Wood Badge within 3 years of their role starting. It’s designed to fit around you, not the other way around.

What Support Will I Get?

• Wimbledon and Wandle Training Team: provides support and assistance with completing your wood badge.
• District and County Training Team: Runs courses (face-to-face or online) across the year.
• Resources: Modules, e-learning, and guidance available through My Learning.

What Happens When I Complete It?

You’ll be awarded:

• The Wood Badge beads (two wooden beads on a leather string, with a proud Scouting history).
• An update in My Membership to confirm your award.
• The knowledge that you’re fully trained and ready to give the best support to young people and your team.

How to Get Started

1. Log into the My Learning and check your role and training requirements. This is also where you will sign up for completing your wood badge.
2. Contact the District Training Team Leader to plan your route. For Wimbledon and Wandle, that is Alison Edwards
3. Complete “Growing Roots” learning within your first 6 months.
4. Work with a member of the District Training Team to complete and validate your modules towards the Wood Badge.