Scout Sections of the Past

Photo original source: vintage youth groups

It isn't uncommon within the Scout Association to reinvent things and so at the point this photograph was taken this was Venture Scouts, those then only boys aged between 16 and 25 years of age who had transferred from Scouts.
They were replaced around 2001 following a review started in 1995 due to a fall of and problems in retaining Venture Scouts.

This can be understood because for those in education they may have a heavy load of studying including independent research, those in work may have shifts or overtime before we take into account the urge to spend spare time on romantic passions.

A key difference organizationally was that the Venture Scouts where organized at the Scout Group level, the Explorer Scouts were from the District and from which it was felt the resources could be more effectively used across the area to develop a program  that would inspire them, maintaining their interests.

These things include challenges designed to encourage independence, maturity by setting tasks and physical challenges and also the Young Leader program to enable those with the aptitude to take on leadership roles within the organization.