Scouting found itself competing for young people's time against many other extracurricular activities and schools themselves which were increasingly venturing into the same types of activities. The adult leaders became concerned with the growing litigation culture in the UK.[21]Scouting has also been challenged by a negative stereotype as being old fashioned.[22]
The programme change in 2002 sought to overcome the growing challenges facing the Movement and saw changes at all levels of British Scouting – the most apparent being the suspension of Venture Scouts. To replace this senior section, The Scout Association created theExplorer Scouts for 14- to 18-year-old members, and the Scout Network for 18–25-year-olds.[19] The Scout Association also introduced a number of new badges, such as computing skills and skateboarding, to modernise the image of Scouting.
Other changes in 2001 included changes to the leadership training so that it became more flexible, allowing for specific roles in the Movement, rather than the general leadership training which preceded it. New Scout uniforms for all sections and leaders were also introduced in 2001, designed by Meg Andrews, with the aim of being more modern and appealing to young people.[24]
There was criticism of some of these changes, mostly citing problems with the implementation, although several years into the new structure the Explorer Scout and Scout Network sections have become well established. Census figures for the last few years show an upturn in membership, with The Scout Association in April 2010 announcing the highest rate of growth in British Scouting since 1972, with total membership reaching just under half a million.[21][25] Scouting in Britain continues to promote the same Principles and Methods as written by Baden-Powell in Scouting for Boys more than 100 years ago.