Mayor champions Scouts to boost young people’s job prospects

West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker has shown his support for Scouts and Cadets as a way to secure young people's job prospects.

1.5 million young people and adult volunteers across the UK continue to be involved in these enduring institutions which have evolved to stay relevant in the modern age - and their popularity could be about to grow further.

Research has shown how being part of a uniformed organisation can significantly boost a young person’s confidence and ability to get on in life. 

Mr Parker is backing an initiative in which nearly 300 young members of the Army Cadets, Scouts, Girl’s Brigade and St John Ambulance are taking part in workshops in West Midland schools to share the benefits of volunteering with other youngsters. 

The tailored sessions are being run by volunteering organisation, Youth Organisations in Uniform West Midlands after the West Midlands Combined Authority Careers Hub secured funding from the Department for Education in partnership with the Careers & Enterprise Company. 

The school visits show how volunteering can provide valuable work experience and improve job prospects by helping young people develop the personal and interactive skills needed to succeed in the world of work.   

More than 500 young people and 50 schools are set to benefit from the initiative by the end of 2026.  

The Mayor met some of the young people taking part in a YOU WM session at the Q3 Academy in Tipton, where he was invited to join an RAF Air Cadets drill practice and experience other workshop tasks. 

The Mayor said: “Tackling youth unemployment by giving young people the skills they need for the modern workplace has been my priority since day one. 

“Work experience and volunteering help young people to build the confidence, resilience and practical skills they need to land a great job, and joining a uniformed organisation is one of the best ways of doing that. 

“I’ve seen real energy and dedication here today. Those taking part have shown the power of volunteering in not only helping young people achieve their full potential but in generating the pride in place that comes from being an active member of their local community.”  

Latest figures from YOU WM show there are more than 30,000 young people involved with the 11 uniformed youth organisations active in the West Midlands and more than 8,500 adult volunteers.  

One of them is 13-year-old Air Cadet Jack Price, who is also a pupil at the Q3 Academy Tipton. Jack said: “Being a cadet has opened up so many experiences for all of us. We get to fly aircraft, take part in leadership activities and do loads of other exciting things. 

“It teaches you discipline but it's not about people shouting at you all the time like some people think. It's about helping you become the best version of yourself and achieve your full potential.” 

Fellow pupil and Air Cadet Joanna Oladokun, aged 14, added: “When I first joined, I'd always been quite a shy person, so I wanted something that would push me out of my comfort zone, help me speak to different people and build my confidence. 

“It teaches you a lot of skills that help you move on into work or further education. Things like organisation, discipline and confidence are all skills that I probably wouldn't have developed as much without being a cadet.”   

Findings in a recent report by the University of Northampton show that being part of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at school supports young people to improve their wellbeing, social skills, resilience and confidence as well as reducing absence and exclusions.   

As well as soft skills, members of the Cadet Force can gain vocational qualifications with the Cadet Vocational College while taking part in activities which can help strengthen applications when applying for jobs.  

Col George Marsh, chair of trustees, YOU WM, said: “Through volunteering in uniformed youth organisations, young people gain confidence, experience teamwork and acquire essential life skills to equip them for the world of work. YOU WM is delighted to be working with WMCA through our school workshops to highlight these benefits.” 

Dan Edmonds, careers and aspirations leader, Q3 Academy Tipton, added: “At Q3 Academy Tipton, we believe volunteering and experiences of the working world are an important part of our students' journey.  

“Our CCF RAF unit is a crucial part of this journey, helping to inform and develop important soft skills that students will use in the future while also contributing to students' academic performance.”  

YOU WM is a collaboration of the Army Cadet Force, Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association, Combined Cadet Forces, Fire Cadets, Girlguiding, Girls’ Brigade, RAF Air Cadets, Sea Cadets Corps, Scouts, St John Ambulance and the Volunteer Police Cadets. 

Antonia Bance MP, Member of Parliament for Tipton and Wednesbury, said: "It was fantastic to see first-hand at Q3 Academy Tipton how the Cadets and other uniformed youth organisations are helping young people build confidence and develop the skills they will need to succeed in life.    

"It’s great to see the Mayor backing young people here in Tipton and across the West Midlands to discover the benefits of Scouts, Cadets and other uniformed organisations." 

The undisputed "heyday" of uniformed organisations was between the 1920s and the early 1960s with membership numbers swelling to record highs in the post-war era. 

In the UK, Scouts hit a historic peak membership of over 608,000 in 1976, and organisations like Girlguiding UK and the Boys' Brigade were cultural cornerstones of British youth. They provided a structured, community-focused social life, traditional outdoor skills, and discipline.