Scouts' Bob-a-Job week is back as Britain learns to value volunteering again He added: "But it was more that it had run its course - it had been happening in excess of 40 years and it seemed to have fallen out of favour with society. But here we are 20 years later and we have spotted there is a need to get these projects done once again. Society is valuing volunteers more and we feel there is a place for it. The Scouts have always done things for the community. It's about getting back to that and focusing minds on what is important. This is about merely saying this is the week when we will get things done. We hope that people will see what we are doing, realise it is valuable and donate. Scouting is more popular than ever and we believe it is time to get back into delivering these projects. Scout Job Week was launched in Easter week 1949 in a bid to encourage young people in austerity-stricken post-war Britain to assist their friends and neighbours. It followed the 'good turn day' introduced by Scout movement founder Lord Baden-Powell in 1949. Boys would be paid a shilling - roughly five pence, colloquially known as a 'bob' - in exchange for their errands. Whereas the original week saw youngsters knocking on strangers" door and being put to work on whatever needed doing, the new version will have boys and girls working in teams under supervision. More than 2,500 groups across the country will help their local communities with a range of projects, from garden renovation to creating community murals. It is hoped grateful locals will appreciate their collective efforts and donate to the charity. The 1st Sissinghurst Beaver Scout Colony and Cub Scout Pack in Kent are planning to dig a garden at a care home. They will fit bird boxes they have made for elderly residents to enjoy. The 1st Gossoms End Scout Group in Berkhamsted will carry out a litter picking session to tidy up the dry riverbed alongside the Grand Union Canal.