This week’s Scout Shed Live, Mark and Max have an open discussion about the life of being a Scout leader.

We talk through a mix of real Scout experiences from the week, including programme ideas that worked (and a few that definitely didn’t go to plan), plus the ongoing reality of trying to keep activities fresh, meaningful, and engaging for young people.

The main discussion this week asks a simple but surprisingly divisive question:

👉 Do you recycle Scout badges when young people move up sections, or issue fresh ones?

We explore both sides of the conversation:

• Practical reasons groups recycle badges (cost, sustainability, consistency)
• The value of starting fresh when young people move up
• The emotional side of neckers, badges, and tradition
• How different groups handle transitions between sections
• And how small decisions can impact identity and belonging in Scouting

We also touch on wider programme ideas shared by leaders, including sewing nights, badge skills, and how Scouting skills are often fading in everyday life and whether that changes how we deliver them.

As always, this is an honest, slightly messy, real-world Scout leader conversation, shaped by experience, shared ideas, and a bit of humour along the way.

⚜️ Sunday Night Scout Shed Catch-Up | Community Service in Scouting

This week’s Scout Shed catch-up dives into a question that many of us quietly wrestle with… are we actually doing enough community service in Scouting and how do we get young people to buy into it?

Mark & Max chat through real experiences from the week, including jumble sale fundraising (the good, the bad, and the “why are we doing this again?” moments), and how these big efforts can still bring valuable skills and community connection.

Then we get into the heart of it:
👉 Practical ideas for community service projects (from allotments and food banks to care homes and litter picks)
👉 The challenge of getting Scouts to actually turn up—especially when it’s not “exciting”
👉 Why youth-led choices and peer influence matter more than us just telling them what to do
👉 How community projects can quietly tick off badges without feeling like badge work

There’s also a strong reminder that today’s young people are juggling more than ever—clubs, screens, and busy weekends—so engagement isn’t as simple as it used to be.

We wrap up with some classic Scout leader improvisation (paper plane chaos turning into a great session), plus ideas for upcoming meetings and activities.

If you’ve ever struggled to balance meaningful community impact with keeping Scouts engaged, this one’s for you.

💬 Got ideas that work for your group? Drop them in the comments—we’re all learning from each other here.

In this episode of Big Man in the Woods, I’m joined by fellow Scout Leader Scouty Cathy from the UK Inclusion Team.Cathy is well known on TikTok for her work around inclusion in Scouting, and in this conversation we dig into what that really means in practice — from supporting neurodiversity, to rethinking traditional events like St. George’s Day, to making sure every young person can fully belong and take part.We talk openly about:

• Making Scouting more inclusive for all young people
• Why traditional St. George’s Day parades may need to evolve
• Supporting neurodiverse Scouts and reasonable adjustments
• Quiet spaces, support plans, and understanding behaviour as communication
• How leaders can better engage parents and work as a team around the young person
• Why asking young people what they actually want matters more than assumptions

Cathy also shares practical ideas for adapting activities so that every young person can engage in a way that works for them, not just in one fixed format.This is a honest, practical conversation for Scout Leaders who want to reflect, improve, and make Scouting more inclusive in real, achievable ways.Featuring: Scouty Cathy (Scouty Cathy on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & YouTube)If this sparks some thoughts for your own group or district, drop a comment below — I’d love to hear how you approach inclusion and events like St. George’s Day.