Boy Scouts To Bob-A-Job Windows Again

Scout's bring back Bob-a-Job week to return: For one week a year eager young scouts will once again be seen in towns and villages across the country helping out with gardening, car cleaning and shopping. Scout Job Week, affectionately known as Bob-a-Job week, which saw scouts carrying out jobs in return for a small payment was abandoned in 1992 after nearly 50 years, following concerns over "health and safety". Fears raised that young people should not knock on the doors of strangers. The week, now called Scout Community Week will be held in May next year, with youngsters throughout the UK helping out in their local areas and volunteering instead of being paid. A new survey by consultants PACEC conducted to mark the launch of Scout Community Week, which will run between May 14-20 next year, reveals that more than a third (36%) of former youth scout members volunteer for two hours a week, compared to 26% of the general population.

The family helper badge (Canada): Clean windows & wash a floor.

New bob-a-job week set to put volunteering back at heart of scouting: The Scout Association is planning to reintroduce 'bob-a-job' week in a bid to encourage young people to get more involved in their local communities. The scheme had previously seen young people, from age six to 25, across the UK carry out various jobs including car washing, gardening and helping elderly people with their shopping. However in the new scheme, called Scout Community Week, scouts won't expect to receive a penny for their hard work.

From window cleaning to shoe shining and household chores to outdoor activities, thousands of scouts will lend a hand in their local areas when the scheme launches between May 14 and May 20, 2012. Bear Grylls, the UK's chief scout, said the move would put volunteering back at the heart of scouting. "All scouts promise to help other people and there is no better way of showing this than getting involved in your community," he said. Scouting is open to all young people aged six to 25 of every faith and background. There are also plenty of opportunities for over 25s to become involved as leaders, assistants or administrators.

Cleaning windows, the UK version of the home help badge.

Scouts launch voluntary 'bob-a-job' week: Scouts are to volunteer their services in a dedicated UK week of action for the first time almost 20 years after "bob-a-job week" ended. It is estimated that up to 400,000 young people will be involved. The original series of scout volunteer weeks was known as "bob-a-job week", and saw members of the public asked to contribute a shilling - worth five pence - in exchange for scouts doing jobs. Meanwhile, a new report says almost half of all Scouts are now volunteering in their wider community as well as with the Scout movement.