FAQs

  • Which Section will my child join?

    The section that your child will join depends on their age. Beavers are 6 - 8 years, Cubs are 8 - 10 1/2 years, Scouts are 10 1/2 - 14 years and Explorers are 14 - 18 years. The age boundaries are sometimes flexible to allow children to move up with friends or for new children joining who would need to move up to the next section not long after being invested.

  • What is the joining process?

    Your child can come along to their new section for a free 4 week trial period and will be able to join in with all the games and activities. At the end of 4 weeks, your child can decide if they want to continue to be a part of the group and, if so, will be officially invested and become part of 1st Crownhill.

    In order to be invested, your child will need their new section's uniform. Your leader will invest them at the end of the night in front of the rest of the group, where they will be presented with their new badges and investiture certificate with a chance for you to take photographs of the occasion if you wish.

  • What do Scouts wear and where can I buy it?

    Each section has a different Scouting uniform. To find out what the uniform looks like for your section, check out the page for either Beavers, Cubs, Scouts or Explorers. All official Scout uniform can be purchased at the local Scout Shop. For details on opening times, click here to visit the shop website.

  • How much does Scouts cost?

    The membership cost of Scouting is £30 per term (Scout terms follow the school year with the same half terms and holidays), which covers our weekly evenings at the Scout hut. This can include covering food if the children are cooking, resources for crafts or expenses for local visits or activities.

    Other events outside of this may be charged at an extra cost, although we try to keep this as low as possible. The most common event is a camp or night away, and you will always be informed of any additional costs in advance.

    As the Scouts are a charity organisation, we rely on fundraising in addition to subs to run everything we do and buy everything we need, and will subsidise costs when we can.

  • My child has a disability or additional need, can they still join?

    Yes, children that require additional support can join Scouting. Although we do not have dedicated SEN workers, each section leader and assistant leader has received inclusion training to support young people with additional needs. Your section leader will be happy to talk to you about supporting your child.

  • Are girls allowed?

    Yes, absolutely! Scouts became open to girls as well as boys in 1991, and all groups in the UK support young people and adults through the equal opportunities policy published by the Scout Association.

  • Do I need to stay during the evenings or at events such as camping?

    This will depend on the circumstances, but as a general rule parents do not stay for the weekly evenings at the hut. Local visits are run by leaders and, depending on the activity, we will sometimes ask for parents to come along if we need extra help.

    Parents do not stay at camps, but can stay at public events such as the Field Gun competition that take place over the course of a day or weekend. Again, you will always be advised before an event on who can attend.

  • I don't feel I have any suitable skills to volunteer, how can I get involved?

    Adults can volunteer and help in many ways; you don't need to be Bear Grylls to get involved! If you have a particular passion or skill you'd like to teach (such as DIY or First Aid), you can run an activity with the help of the leaders. If you'd like to help on a more long-term basis, you can become an assistant leader, or take up a behind-the-scenes role such as Group Treasurer. There are hundreds of ways you can help,  simply get in touch, or check out the volunteering page for more information on volunteering vacancies.

  • How can my child complete badges at home?

    Young people in Scouting can complete badge requirements anytime; some badges (such as cycling or swimming) are much easier to do outside of the weekly Scout meetings. What's more, activities completed with school, friends, or just as a bit of fun all count too! All you'll have to do is bring evidence (such as photographs, certificates or completed work) to your Scout leader to award your badge. All badge requirements can be found on the Scout website, or through the My Badges app, available for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone users. The app costs £1.49 and covers all the sections, so you'll only need to purchase it once.

  • Where do the badges go on the uniform?

    Each type of Badge has its own position on the uniform. These can all be found on the page for each Section, or through the My Badges app, available for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone users. The app costs £1.49 and covers all the sections, so you'll be able to use it all the way through Scouting.

  • Which badges can go on the uniform?

    Not all badges can be put on the uniform. Activity badges, staged badges, challenge badges, and other badges received through Scouting activities can all be put on the uniform. Certain special badges (such as commemorative or ceremonial badges) can be put on the uniform for a limited time. All other badges, such as decorative badges, special camp badges, and badges earned from previous sections, can be  displayed onto a scout blanket. A scout blanket is a fleece blanket often worn around a campfire. If you'd like to know more, ask your section leader.

  • Is Scouts a religious organisation?

    Scouting is an inclusive movement and is not affiliated with any religion or belief system. The Scout movement is instead based on core values of integrity, respect, care, belief and cooperation. The original Scout Promise, a commitment made by all members, asks young people to do their duty "to God and to the Queen" but there are many variations to account for different age ranges, faith and beliefs and nationalities.

"To help young people achieve their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as Members of their local, national and international communities"      The Scouting Association on the purpose of Scouting