Being Prepared

Adopting a values-based approach to digital inclusion.

Awards and spent a few days and some late nights meeting rap, R&B and kuduro superstars from across Africa: names like Banky W, Fally Ipupa, Daddy Owen, Cabo Snoop and Radio & Weasel, from Angola to Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond, all huge stars in their own countries, selling truckloads of records despite rampant piracy and a rickety music industry. These guys are kind of the Jay Zs and Snoops of Africa, basically.

The 'Being - Prepared' project

Adults in Scouting do amazing things with young people every day, and whether you are climbing a mountain or using social media you should use the values and methods of scouting. The online world is just another ‘undiscovered’ world of opportunity. You can be part of the ‘open landscape’, exhibiting your values, being appropriate role-models and effective 'digital' citizens working in partnership with young people.

The purpose of this website is not to provide you with the answers, but to engage you in the conversation, and to help you to take responsibility for making your own choices. Choices that are founded upon Scouting values and methods.

This website is the result of an Open University project, whose aim is to explore barriers in relation to making the online world more accessible to volunteers.

The project has looked at the wider issues of digital inclusion as seen through the four barriers identified by the Government's Digital Inclusion Strategy : Access, Skills, Motivation and Trust.

The project has drawn upon existing research and practices to identify the issues surrounding these barriers, and explores whether the adoption of a ‘values-based approach’ to digital inclusion, could offer a simple, but effective framework to help engage volunteers in discussions about digital participation.

About me.

Samantha Marks                                                        

I work for The Scout Association as National Development Officer (Safeguarding).                                                

My job means that I focus on the proactive and educational work around safeguarding.              

I am also a Open University student on my final module for Masters in Online and Distance Education.                                                  

I get very passionate about stuff and believe in finding the positive proactive ways to engage in the world. We can only change the things within our power, but every little change makes a difference to the world.