What do Scouts do?

Scouts are do-ers and give-it-a-go-ers. Yes, we go camping, hiking, swimming, abseiling, cycling and canoeing. But we also get to hang out with our friends every week –  having fun, playing games, working in a team and taking on new challenges.

Every week we give almost half a million 6-25 year olds the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.

Everyone’s welcome here. All genders, races and backgrounds. Regardless of your child’s physical ability – there’s a Scout adventure out there waiting for them.

Sections are open to all, and we can usually tweak things to make sure everyone can join in the fun. If you have any questions about accessibility, chat with your local leader as soon as possible. By being upfront from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has.

Lots of young people want to join Beavers and Cubs, so you might have to wait for a space to become available before you can start your journey. Our local Colonies have a waiting list, but parents and other adults might want to think about what they could do to help out. Regardless of skillset or availability, there’s an opportunity for everyone to contribute.

On your first night, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.

Eventually, you’ll get your own uniform to wear to meetings and on trips and nights away. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the sections. It also gives you a place to show off all the badges you earn.

The cost of going to Scouting will vary depending on how your local sections do things. Usually, a basic fee covering the cost of the hire and upkeep of the section meeting place will be collected weekly, monthly, termly or annually – depending on local arrangements. Trips, camps and activities that take place away from the usual meeting place are usually charged separately. Scouting is designed to be an accessible and affordable way for young people to learn lots of new skills through a single membership. Nobody should feel excluded from our activities because of money worries. If you are concerned about costs, adults should speak to their local leader in confidence, to see what they can do to help. In most cases, support is available to make sure nobody misses out.