Scouts are a go-getting group of young people aged 10 ½ to 14 who:
- Master new skills and try new things
- Make new friends
- Have fun and go on adventures, at home and abroad
- Explore the world around them
- Help others and make a difference, in their own communities and beyond
Week in and week out, they gather in groups called Scout Troops to conquer the small task of changing the world.
What do Scouts get up to?
Discovering the world
Being a Scout is all about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.
Alongside your new friends, you’ll master the skills that’ll help you weather the storms of life, and try things you’d never get the chance to do at home or at school – working with trained volunteers to achieve whatever you set your mind to.
Starting small, thinking big
Scouts start small but think big. They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their doorstops, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up.
In a society that can often feel increasingly isolated and inward facing, Scouts build bridges and break barriers.
Throughout history, they’ve played all sorts of useful roles in society, and this legacy continues today.
Listening in, lending a hand
Scouts seek out the answers to the big questions, and to the smaller questions that don’t seem to matter but really should. Most importantly, they say yes more often than they say no – whether they’re taking part in their first ever camp away from home, writing their first line of code, or accepting the last of the toasted marshmallows.
Sound like fun? That’s because it is. All that’s missing is you.
Who leads Scouts?
Each Scout Troop is made up of young people aged 10½ to 14, led by trained adult volunteers who are on hand to share their skills and keep everyone safe. Traditionally, Scout leaders were nicknamed ‘Skip’ – an abbreviation of ‘Skipper’, which is a name given to a ship’s captain. In some Troops this name is still used, but these days it’s more common for Scout leaders to just use their real names.
Within their Troop, Scouts are part of a Patrol – smaller groups of Scouts who look out for one another, and help each other grow. Scouts usually gather in their Patrols at the beginning and end of meetings. They might also stick together on expeditions or trips away, or during certain activities.
Become a Scouts volunteer
All of our leaders are trained volunteers, working to make sure Scouting is safe, inclusive and accessible. Some lead the Troop week in and week out. Others visit occasionally to help run a session or drop in to share their skills.
Uniform and badge placement
You don’t need a uniform to join. But once you’ve settled in, you’ll start speedily earning badges, and you’ll need to know where to put them!
