The document provides results from a survey of 243 members of the Scottish Schools Christian Union (SSC) regarding their views on the organization. Key findings include: - Nearly half of respondents are under 20 years old, with most getting involved through school. - The majority of members are not active Christians or do not belong to a particular faith. - Members value the friendship, fun, and confidence-building that SSC provides. - Views are mixed on whether the SSC's aim of promoting Christian faith should be changed to appeal to more young people and those of other faiths or no faith.

2. To support SSC to review its aim.
 To form a consensus on the future
direction, without losing touch with the
SSC’s historical roots and ethos.


3. 243 Responses
 200 fully completed (82.3%)
 The survey was distributed to a database
of 1167 members
 16 opted out and 207 bounced
 26% response rate (from 944)
 47.2% are male and 50.3% female


4. This gives a
picture of who the
respondents are –
your membership.

5. Highland
& Islands
18%
Grampian
& Tayside
23%
Greater
Glasgow, Arg
yle & Clyde
19.7%
Fife &
Forth
Valley
6.7%
Lothians &
Lanarkshire
26.4%
Borders,
Dumfries &
Galloway
6.2%

6. Ages of Members
11-15
16-17
18-20
21-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 or older
9%
26%
11%
8%
15%
11%
13%
7%
Almost half
(47%) of all
members
responding
to the
survey are
under 20

7. Current roles in SSC
Parent
Associate
Subscribing Associate
Active Officer
School Member
Half got
involved
through
school (50%).
Others got
involved
through
friends
(26.6%) and
family
(21.4%)
None joined
through their
church.
6.7%
12.8%
16.8%
24.6%
39.1%

8. 
Since 2010
members
have
attended 1.79
camps on
average (less
than one
each year).

During 2000 to
2009 members
attended
17.29 camps
on average
(more than
one each
year).

9. How familiar are you with the SSC and what it
does as an organisation?
Not very familiar
Quite familiar
15%
41%
44%
Very familiar

10. Do you consider yourself to belong to
any particular faith?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
8%
33%
59%
More than
two-thirds
do
not/prefer
not to say
(67.5%).
E.g. “Just
good moral
values.”
“I am Muslim
but I don’t
consider it a
faith.”

11. Would you describe yourself as an
active Christian?
Yes
No
8%
74%
Prefer not to say
18%
The vast
majority of
members
(81%) are
not active
Christians
(or prefer
not to say).

12. 




I follow the principles but I am not a church
goer - this was a reason for joining SSC. It
didn't ram religion down your throat but
made you think.
I was raised as a Christian but as I've grown
up I've lost that part of me.
If there was one religion I would sign up, but
2,800 to chose from?
Christian principles apart from bigoted and
homophobic views.
Nowadays I question the true meaning of
faith.

13.  The
following reflects how members
view the work of the SSC.

Portavadie 1955

Struan 2013

14. What the SSC means to its members
75.1%
Friendship
47.2%
Fun
43.3%
Raises young people's confidence
26.2%
New experiences
23.6%
Camping
Life skills
Good role models
21.5%
18.5%
Teamwork
17.2%
Outdoor activities
16.7%
Encourages young people to be responsible
16.3%
Encourages young people to contribute…
Adventures and challenges
15.5%
13.3%
Spiritual development
12.0%
Healthy activities
11.2%
Youth activities
10.7%

15. What SSC does best – the top 5
53.9%
Friendship
Raises young people's
confidence
46.9%
Fun
39.5%
Encourages young people to
contribute effectively
24.1%
New experiences
24.1%

16. Make [activities] more relevant to their lives
outside the SSC
 Shift in discussion groups to more focus on
confidence building/life skills/reflection
 Provide more practical advice/training with
qualifications that young people can use on CV
 Make activities more goal-orientated (but still
fun!)
Activities

Continue to allow young members the chance
to express their views and take responsibilities on
 More training with staff - improve youth work skills
 Involve young campers in fundraising
 Make use of high profile former members
 More targeted recruitment
 Better marketing
Operations


17. To help its members
to discover the full
meaning of the
Christian Faith for
themselves and for
the world.

18. Length of involvement in SSC
31 years or more
46.8%
21-30 years 4.8%
11-20 years
7-10 years
3-5 years
2 years or less
9.6%
12.2%
6.5%
21.7%
8.1% 6.1%
22.6%
11.3%
25.2%
25.2%
Belonging to a faith
Not belonging to a faith

19. Members views about the aim of SSC
46.0%
I'm fully aware this is the aim of the SSC
I had no idea this was the aim of SSC
15.5%
The aim should be reviewed and
adapted
The aim should stay the same
36.0%
9.5%
It's important the aim appeals to other
faiths and those of no faith
58.5%
The aim should be re-written to appeal to
more young people
By dropping the current aim we will lose
our values and identity
Changing the aim can be done without
watering down our Christian values
39.0%
10.5%
29.0%

20. Members Views: a comparison of males & females
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
I'm fully aware this is the aim of the SSC
I had no idea this was the aim of SSC
The aim should be reviewed and
adapted
The aim should stay the same
It's important the aim appeals to other
faiths and those of no faith
The aim should be re-written to appeal
to more young people
By dropping the current aim we will lose
our values and identity
Changing the aim can be done without
watering down our Christian values
Male
Female
80.0%

21. Members views: a comparison of those that say
they belong to a particular faith with those that say
they don’t
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
I'm fully aware this is the aim of the SSC
I had no idea this was the aim of SSC
The aim should be reviewed and adapted
The aim should stay the same
It's important the aim appeals to other faiths
and those of no faith
The aim should be re-written to appeal to
more young people
By dropping the current aim we will lose our
values and identity
Changing the aim can be done without
watering down our Christian values
Belong to a faith
Don't belong to a faith

22. 



Out of date. We are far more
spiritual than Christian, in my
opinion. Same values but
more inclusive and
appealing.
I think the fact that I didn’t
know the aim is good, it
shows that SSC show Christian
values without forcing them
down people's throats
Most of our 'Christian values'
are shared by most other
main faiths and by being less
explicitly 'Christian' it does not
mean we should not promote
the opportunities to explore
our faiths, beliefs, spirituality
and fellowship with other
people (eg, discussions and
epilogues). It's good to talk!

Change the aim then
dissolve the club. The aim
is the club.
Spaces for children to be
comfortably and openly
Christian in a public mixed
environment is dwindling.
The SSC retains the ability
for children to be religious
openly alongside others
who do not affiliate - this
important healthy
atmosphere should not be
compromised by excluding
all religious opportunities in
the SSC.

23. We asked members
to have a go at rewriting the SSC aim.
Here are some of
the responses...

24. To provide a community of friendship for
young people based on the principles of
solidarity, respect and tolerance.
 To enable young people to make lifelong
friendships, have fun and become positive
role models in the future.
 The SSC is here for the campers to have a
chance to explore their beliefs and share
there faith with friends new and old.
 To encourage members to understand the
true value of friendship and the importance
of community.


25. 


To provide a trusting community, and to help
it's members take our community values of
trust, tolerance and fun into their wider
communities.
To offer experiences for young people which
are fun and will help them to develop as
individuals including discussion of serious issues
underpinned by a Christian approach.
To teach children the benefit of working
together, the thrill of trying new things, the
importance of fun, to appreciate everyone for
exactly who they are, and how to use these
skills and develop them going forward into their
adult life. (but more catchy!)

26. 



To help young people understand the
importance of everyone’s faith, values and
identities.
To bring some faith, happiness, love, giving and
hope into all young children's lives.
To help its members appreciate the
opportunities in any faith to bring an
understanding of an individuals contribution to
society in a positive way and to better
understand the complexity and influence in
today’s world to promote a greater good.
To encourage its members to be worldwide
citizens who encourage others through
understanding of their beliefs and values.

27. What should a
modern SSC
focus on?

28. Young People
• Fun & friendship
• Faith, values & beliefs
• Skills & confident
• Positive & relevant experiences
Core People
• Recruitment – new volunteers & officers
• Training - improve youth work skills
• Teamwork – taking responsibility
• Leadership – at all levels
Organisation
• Survival strategy
• Fundraising
• Wider reach & marketing
• Strengthen programme & activities