Provided free-of-charge to all Scout Groups and Units in Portsmouth.
All Groups are encouraged to migrated to the services and tools provided in Workspace, including cloud storage, online forms and best-in-class online office and collaboration tools.
Google Mail (plus Calendar and Contacts) are cloud based applications, storing all your data remotely on Google's servers so that the information is available over any device with access to the Internet. This means you can access Mail, Calendar and Contacts from your desktop, laptop, tablet, phone or from a computer in a library or friend's house that has Internet availability.
Gmail is highly customisable and flexible. You can change themes, alter how mail is displayed, sort messages into folders, send large files and use Google's search interface to search your emails. You can also integrate Gmail, Calendar and Contacts into many other popular email programs such as Microsoft Outlook.
Gmail, Calendar and Contacts are part of Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts.
They are automatically included with your @portsmouthscouts ID.
Google Sites allows you to create a public or private website without having to know how to code it yourself.
Like other platforms, such as WordPress.com and Tumblr, Sites has site-builder features that make it easy and intuitive to design your site the way you want. You can also add "gadgets," such as calendars, maps, spreadsheets, presentations, and more to make your site more functional.
Choose a theme and customise it any way you want for a professional-looking site that looks and functions great across all desktop and mobile screens.
With Sites you could easily replace any paid for websites your Group or Section has in place.
Sites is part of Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts.
It is automatically included with your @portsmouthscouts ID.
Drive is the cloud content management application provided within Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts. It provides easy and secure access to all of your content
Store, share and collaborate on files and folders from any mobile device, tablet or computer.
Drive is automatically included with your @portsmouthscouts ID.
Forms is Google's online software for gathering information, running surveys and organising questionnaires.
You need a Google account to make a Form, but you don't necessarily need an account to complete a form.
You can personalise your Forms with question types, a header image, and a colour theme. Forms can be integrated with Docs and Sheets to create mini-apps.
Forms is part of Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts.
It is automatically included with your @portsmouthscouts ID.
Docs, Sheets and Slides is Google's office suite which integrates all the power and capabilities most people will ever need. The apps have best-in-class collaboration and revision-tracking features. There are no standalone "desktop" versions (they are designed to be used online.
Whilst not perhaps as complete as Microsoft 365 or Word, Excel and Powerpoint, the Google apps provide easy to use functions that will be more than enough for most Scouting needed.
Docs, Sheets and Slides is the office suite provided within Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts.
It is automatically included with your @portsmouthscouts ID.
Groups for business is a core part of the Google Workspace experience.
It provides User mail / distribution lists , Collaborative Inboxes, and more
Groups for Business is part of Google Workspace for Portsmouth Scouts.
Groups are welcome to use other applications and services as they need in support of delivering Scouting in Portsmouth.
Canva is a graphics design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The app includes templates for users to use.
Canva is recommended by Portsmouth Scouts to support creation of impactful and visually engaging graphics for social media. Canva is free to use, with charged add-ons. The free features are generally sufficient for most Groups.
Individuals should register using their Volunteer account email.
Use of social media to communicate with parents and represent Scouts to the public is an important channel.
Portsmouth Scouts recommends Groups deploy social media in the following way:
A single private Facebook group for the Group and all Sections to communicate with parents and members (over the age of 13).
A single public Facebook page to represent the Group and all Section to the general public. Content would include general updates about the work or activities of the Group. A Facebook page can fully replace most traditional Group websites.
Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram are all options- supplementing Facebook, OSM and email as channels of communication to parents/carers and the general public.
Used in partnership with OSM, GoCardless makes it easy to collect both recurring subscription payment and one-off activity or event payments - directly and autonomously from parents.
Portsmouth Scouts recommends the use of GoCardless alongside OSM. Together, they fully automate payment requests, collection and reminders - all but eliminating Leader time spent tracking or handling payments. They also allow Groups to become 100% cashless - a significant time saving and anti-fraud protection for everyone involved with Scouting.
GoCardless integrates directly to OSM Accountancy Tools providing intelligent payment handling and cash-book reconciliation for Group Treasurers.
Both OSM and GoCardless apply fees for handling payment transactions.
Typically, only a single account email within each Group requires access to GoCardless. It is recommended that the Treasurer's email or email alias is the registered email address.
Learn more about GoCardless via OSM Help.
Buffer is a software application for the web and mobile, designed to manage accounts in social networks, by providing the means for a user to plan and schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Instagram Stories, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, as well as analyse their results and engage with their community.
Buffer is recommended by Portsmouth Scouts to support Group's communication strategies. Buffer is free to use, with charged add-ons. The free features are generally sufficient for most Groups.
Volunteers should register using their Volunteer account email.
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others - either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats - and it lets you record those sessions to view later.
The Scout Association have provide every Group with full access to Zoom Pro until 21 May 2022.
Groups can use Zoom for online meetings and occasional virtual events. Group leadership and executive committee meetings can be held quickly and easily on Zoom.
Each Group should nominate ONE Role ID to act as licence holder. Participants should register / sign-in using an Volunteer ID or Personal ID.
