Launching our Lambeth Scouts Volunteers WhatsApp Community!
We want to make it as easy as possible to communicate with all our volunteers across Lambeth, to let you know about events, important updates, and celebrate the fantastic work you do for young people across the borough. So, we’ve launched a new WhatsApp community – ‘Lambeth Scouts Volunteers’!
—————
What is a WhatsApp Community?
WhatsApp Communities allow us to organise multiple group chats under one umbrella, making it easier to manage communication. The district team can send announcements to all members, and volunteers can easily access and participate in different groups within the community.
For example, we have open groups for volunteers in each section (Beavers, Cubs etc.), as well as those involved in Governance (trustees, treasurers, chairs etc.), and closed groups for members of different teams.
What is the difference between an open and a closed group?
Open group – anyone across the district can join. These are for general sharing of events, updates, and opportunities! Once you have joined the main community, just tap on a group to join it. You will also see a description of the group which lets you know what it is about. For example, anyone involved in Beavers across the district can join the Beavers chat – volunteers can share ideas about programme for weekly meetings, or invites to district events!
Closed group – for members of specific teams. For example, we have a chat for all Group Lead Volunteers. These are included in the main community so all communication is in one place, and our phones don’t get cluttered! If you are in a team which has a closed group, you will be added automatically.
Question – I don’t want all the groups I join to show up in my chats, and clog up my phone?
Once you join the community, by default you will be able to access the groups you join in two places, the ‘Communities’ tab, and the ‘Chats’ tab. If you don’t want them to show in the ‘Chats’ tab with all your other messages, you can archive each group so it isn’t displayed (don’t worry, you can still send and receive messages via the ‘Communities’ tab!). The link below is a guide on how to archive a group:
How to archive or unarchive a chat or group
Question – I don’t want to get a notification every time a message gets sent?
No problem! We know you already dedicate a lot of time to Scouting, and joining another WhatsApp group can seem daunting. If you don’t want to receive a notification every time someone sends a message, you can mute the chat. This means you won’t receive notifications, and you can simply check the chat whenever you feel like it. The guide below explains how to do this:
How to mute or unmute individual or group chat notifications
Question – does this have an implication for GDPR?
There are a few points to consider. Firstly, when you join the community as a whole, your number is not viewable to other members of the community. Numbers are only visible to other members of the individual groups. For example, if you join the community and are added to the ‘Lambeth – District 14-24 Team’ chat because you are an Explorer Team Leader, plus you choose to join the ‘Lambeth – Scouts’ chat, then only members of these groups can see your number.
For the closed groups for district teams, such as the GLV or 14-24 team groups, members already have access to each others phone numbers on the membership system. There is a ‘legitimate interest’ in sharing this data so members of the team can communicate to further the purpose of the charity and help us move forward to our objectives.
For the open groups, such as the section or governance groups, members must choose to join these and so sharing of personal data, which is not otherwise viewable on the membership system, is by consent. If you do not wish other volunteers across the district to have your number, do not join these groups (although we would encourage as many people as possible to join – communication between groups is how we will build a strong district!).
—————
How to join!
Tap the link below to join. If you have any difficulties, please contact lambeth@southlondonscouts.org.uk and we will be happy to help.
Click here to join the Lambeth Scouts Volunteers WhatsApp Community
or type the link below
https://chat.whatsapp.com/E25sSoWTYmy1lHo3qHOzfD?mode=ac_t