Against a backdrop of waning volunteerism across the Caribbean island of Barbados, one of the nation’s most prominent youth development organizations is facing an unprecedented challenge: it is successfully attracting young people to its programs, but cannot find enough adult leaders to guide them. The Barbados Boy Scouts Association has publicly issued a call for up to 300 additional adult volunteers, with a particular focus on recruiting men to support older scout cohorts, according to the organization’s top leader.
Chief Commissioner Trevor Jones outlined the group’s current predicament in an interview with local media outlet Barbados TODAY, explaining that after years of targeted outreach, the association achieved its goal of growing youth membership last year, and expects that upward trend to continue in 2024. The organization’s biggest barrier to expansion, however, has shifted from recruiting young participants to retaining and attracting adult leadership. Jones noted that the volunteer shortage is most acute in programs for older scouts, where male mentors are particularly needed to provide guidance for adolescent participants.
Jones pointed to a broader cultural shift driving the leadership gap, explaining that the decline in volunteer spirit is not unique to scouting, but a widespread challenge across Barbados. “A lot of people tell us they are too busy to commit, and for many that is a genuine reality,” he said. “But beyond competing priorities, we’ve seen the overall culture of volunteerism decline. More people now expect compensation when they step forward to help, and this is fundamentally a volunteer role.” While the association is open to providing limited financial stipends to offset out-of-pocket costs for volunteers, Jones emphasized that individuals motivated primarily by pay are unlikely to bring the level of commitment that young people in the program need.
Marsha-Ann Clarke, lead consultant for the association’s Learning Inclusiveness, Entrepreneurship and Environmental Protection (LIEEP) initiative, pushed back against the idea that volunteers need to make extensive, time-consuming commitments to contribute. Clarke noted that women already make up the majority of leadership for younger scout cohorts, including Beaver and Cub programs, but scouting rules require male leadership for older groups including standard Scouts and Venture Scouts. Even men who can only spare a few hours per month can make a meaningful difference, she argued.
Clarke urged fathers of scout participants to move beyond waiting in the parking lot during activities and get directly involved. “You don’t need to commit to every weekend,” she said. “If you can give a few hours one Saturday a month, or even one Saturday every two months, that is more than enough. Men can help with simple, core tasks from organizing groups to assisting with hands-on projects.” Beyond logistical support, Clarke highlighted the long-term impact positive male role models can have on young participants: “Boys watch how men behave, how they interact with women and female leaders, and they learn so much just from having consistent, positive male presence in their scouting experience.”
Dr. David Bynoe, national coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme – which provides funding for some scouting activities – added his voice to the recruitment call, emphasizing scouting’s unique role in shaping the next generation of Barbadian leaders. “Scouting really moulds and develops young men, who will go on to become future leaders across this country,” Bynoe said. He also noted that conversations around gender equity must also address the specific challenges facing boys in Barbados, where many young men are falling behind socially and academically.
Bynoe clarified that while the organization has a particular need for men, people of all genders are welcome to volunteer. “Even though it is the Boy Scouts, females are already the backbone of much of our work, especially behind the scenes in administration,” he said. “Whether you are male or female, we urge you to consider stepping forward to support this important work for Barbados’ young people.”