What we do
Every year we help over 450,000 young people in the UK enjoy new adventures; to experience the outdoors; interact with others, gain confidence and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Working alongside our youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of roles and opportunities available.
Working alongside our youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of roles and opportunities available.
We are the UK's biggest mixed youth organisation. We change lives by offering 6 to 25-year-olds fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that we make a positive impact in communities.
Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world.
What do Scouts do?
Scouts take part in activities as diverse as kayaking, abseiling, expeditions overseas, photography, climbing and zorbing. As a Scout you can learn survival skills, first aid, computer programming, or even how to fly a plane. There’s something for every young person. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express your creativity and experience the wider world.
What do volunteers do?
This everyday adventure is possible thanks to our adult volunteers, who support Scouts in a wide range of roles from working directly with young people, to helping manage a Group, to being a charity Trustee. We help volunteers get the most out of their experiences at Scouts by providing opportunities for adventure, training, fun and friendship.
Our award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouts as young people. Our approach focuses on what you want to get out of volunteering with Scouts, while respecting how much time you can offer. Over 90% of Scout volunteers say that their skills and experiences have been useful in their work or personal life.
Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world.
What do Scouts do?
Scouts take part in activities as diverse as kayaking, abseiling, expeditions overseas, photography, climbing and zorbing. As a Scout you can learn survival skills, first aid, computer programming, or even how to fly a plane. There’s something for every young person. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express your creativity and experience the wider world.
What do volunteers do?
This everyday adventure is possible thanks to our adult volunteers, who support Scouts in a wide range of roles from working directly with young people, to helping manage a Group, to being a charity Trustee. We help volunteers get the most out of their experiences at Scouts by providing opportunities for adventure, training, fun and friendship.
Our award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouts as young people. Our approach focuses on what you want to get out of volunteering with Scouts, while respecting how much time you can offer. Over 90% of Scout volunteers say that their skills and experiences have been useful in their work or personal life.
Sections
If you think Scouting’s just about knots, woggles and big shorts, then be prepared to be surprised. It’s how Richard Branson, Barack Obama and David Beckham got their start in life and you can benefit too.
There are 450,000 young people in Scouting, spread across five sections: Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network. Each section has its own balanced programme of activities, badges and awards.
There are 450,000 young people in Scouting, spread across five sections: Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network. Each section has its own balanced programme of activities, badges and awards.
Beavers 6-8
Beaver Scouts are our youngest members. They usually meet weekly to take part in a wide range of activities including games, crafts, singing, visits and good turns, along with plenty of outdoor activities.
They will also have the opportunity to take part in the fun and excitement of camps and sleepovers. It may be the first time they spend a night away from home so it’s a real adventure for them.
They will also have the opportunity to take part in the fun and excitement of camps and sleepovers. It may be the first time they spend a night away from home so it’s a real adventure for them.
Cubs 8-10½
A Cub Scout Pack can have up to 36 Cub Scouts and is split into smaller groups called Sixes. Cubs take part in a wide range of activities designed to be interesting and challenging. A Cub Scout meeting consists of games and activities with plenty of time spent outdoors.
Camps and holidays are some of the most memorable events of the year for Cubs.
Camps and holidays are some of the most memorable events of the year for Cubs.
Scouts 10½-14
Each Scout Troop consists of small units of six to eight Scouts called a Patrol, usually led by a Patrol Leader. Outdoor activities feature prominently, with the highlight being camping. Throughout the year, Scouts learn various skills, such as map reading, camp cooking and first aid in preparation for camp.
Rock climbing, potholing, gliding, photography and international experiences are just some of the things they get up to.
Rock climbing, potholing, gliding, photography and international experiences are just some of the things they get up to.
Explorer Scouts 14-18
Explorers are encouraged to lead themselves in deciding the programme
and direction of the Unit, with support and guidance from leaders. The section also includes the Young Leaders’ Scheme, where young people are able to take on a leadership role in one of the younger sections.
There is wider scope for activities like offshore sailing, campaigning, performing, parascending, mountaineering and expeditions.
Ashby & Coalville District Explorer Scouts
and direction of the Unit, with support and guidance from leaders. The section also includes the Young Leaders’ Scheme, where young people are able to take on a leadership role in one of the younger sections.
There is wider scope for activities like offshore sailing, campaigning, performing, parascending, mountaineering and expeditions.
Ashby & Coalville District Explorer Scouts
Scout Network 18-25
Scout Network is the fifth and final section of the Scouting movement. Scout Network members take part in a variety of activities, which they undertake and organise themselves with the support of a Scout Network Leader.
Example activities include abseiling, camping, circus skills, climbing, go-karting, gorge walking, hiking, pioneering and watersports.
Example activities include abseiling, camping, circus skills, climbing, go-karting, gorge walking, hiking, pioneering and watersports.
Volunteering
Our award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouting as our young people.
Scouting’s quality depends on its volunteers and our volunteers depend on Scouting to teach them the skills they need.
Our modular training scheme delivers the full spectrum of required skills. Volunteers can choose training modules that are relevant to the role that they do, ranging from leadership to running residential experiences and first aid.
Our training scheme was recognised with a National Training Award from UK Skills. It is one of the reasons why we have managed to increase our volunteer numbers over the past few years, against the national trend.
Over 90% of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have been of relevance to their working or personal lives, so we’re certainly doing something right.
A study of volunteers found that more than two thirds of respondents reported a direct correlation between their volunteer experience within Scouting and gaining employment or career development.
Scouting’s quality depends on its volunteers and our volunteers depend on Scouting to teach them the skills they need.
Our modular training scheme delivers the full spectrum of required skills. Volunteers can choose training modules that are relevant to the role that they do, ranging from leadership to running residential experiences and first aid.
Our training scheme was recognised with a National Training Award from UK Skills. It is one of the reasons why we have managed to increase our volunteer numbers over the past few years, against the national trend.
Over 90% of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have been of relevance to their working or personal lives, so we’re certainly doing something right.
A study of volunteers found that more than two thirds of respondents reported a direct correlation between their volunteer experience within Scouting and gaining employment or career development.
The Promise
Our Scout Group is an ‘Open Group’; this basically means that as long as your Child meets the general requirements for membership of the Scout Association they are welcome within our Group.
To become a member of the Scout Association and our group your child will be asked to make a promise at an investiture ceremony. This would normally be undertaken on a meeting evening; however it can be carried out at any event. We would always try and make this a very special event for your child; however it is your child’s investiture and would only be carried out when they were ready. Investitures may be delayed so that they could be carried out at a special event e.g. at camp. You, of course, would be more than welcome to witness this ceremony.
The promise that they make will be dependent on the section that they are joining. The general promise for each section can be found in the relevant section; the promise can, however, be altered in a number of ways to take into account religious beliefs; nationality and / or special needs.
In the promise your child will undertake to either “love God” or to do their “duty to God” (or their choice of deity). Whilst we are not attached to any particular religious body the Group does attend St Michael's church in Appleby Magna for remembrance parade once a year. If your child attends another place of worship then we would ask that they attend this service in uniform.
Their Leader can generally answer any questions that you or your child may have with regard to the promise
To become a member of the Scout Association and our group your child will be asked to make a promise at an investiture ceremony. This would normally be undertaken on a meeting evening; however it can be carried out at any event. We would always try and make this a very special event for your child; however it is your child’s investiture and would only be carried out when they were ready. Investitures may be delayed so that they could be carried out at a special event e.g. at camp. You, of course, would be more than welcome to witness this ceremony.
The promise that they make will be dependent on the section that they are joining. The general promise for each section can be found in the relevant section; the promise can, however, be altered in a number of ways to take into account religious beliefs; nationality and / or special needs.
In the promise your child will undertake to either “love God” or to do their “duty to God” (or their choice of deity). Whilst we are not attached to any particular religious body the Group does attend St Michael's church in Appleby Magna for remembrance parade once a year. If your child attends another place of worship then we would ask that they attend this service in uniform.
Their Leader can generally answer any questions that you or your child may have with regard to the promise
Uniform
Details of uniform for each section, and the location of badges can be found in the relevant section.
At all scouting events we would normally expect your child to attend in uniform from the waist up. However, for specific activities full or suitable uniform activity-wear may be more suitable. Guidance on the expected uniform for each activity would be provided with details of the proposed event or activity.
The Group neckerchief is presented to your child when they are invested into the scouting movement; they are available from the Group. Should this necker be lost replacements can be purchased from the group.
For activity wear there is choice of optional polo shirts, available in turquoise for Beaver Scouts and green for Cub Scouts and Scouts or Group T-Shirts.
At all scouting events we would normally expect your child to attend in uniform from the waist up. However, for specific activities full or suitable uniform activity-wear may be more suitable. Guidance on the expected uniform for each activity would be provided with details of the proposed event or activity.
- Beavers Turquoise sweatshirt and Group neckerchief
- Cub Scouts Dark green sweatshirt and Group neckerchief
- Scouts Teal green smart shirt, Scout belt and Group neckerchief
The Group neckerchief is presented to your child when they are invested into the scouting movement; they are available from the Group. Should this necker be lost replacements can be purchased from the group.
For activity wear there is choice of optional polo shirts, available in turquoise for Beaver Scouts and green for Cub Scouts and Scouts or Group T-Shirts.