How long should a young person have left their Scout Troop for before they go back to volunteer as an ESYL?

Scouts can request to return to their old Scout Troop to volunteer as an ESYL. However, it is highly recommended that they have a break of 12 months before doing this. This extra time allows them to develop their skills, and gives the old Troop extra time to accept and adjust to the fact they are now an ESYL with different responsibilities. Having a reasonable gap will mean that the ESYL won’t just be seen as another Senior Patrol Leader when they return and are supporting their peers. 

We also highly recommend considering volunteering with a different section. This helps young leaders to see how different sections and leaders do things differently. The have lots to gain from this as well of course things they can bring with them from their time in Scouting.

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