Scouts

Week in and week out, our Scouts gather in groups called Scout Troops to conquer the small task of changing the world.

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.

Our 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, our Scout Leader is nicknamed ‘Skip’ – an abbreviation of ‘Skipper’, which is a name given to a ship’s captain. Our Skip is Peter who is supported by our other leaders Norma, Sarah, Drew and Anthony.

Within our 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.

Our Scout Troop meets every Friday in Term Time between 19:00 to 21:00 at the Scout Hut.

The Bigger Scout Family

Scouts are probably the most well-known members of the global Scout family.

Closer to home, they’re also part of their wider local Scout Group, alongside Squirrels (aged 4-5), Beavers (aged 6-8) and Cubs (aged 8 to 10½). When they’re older, they can also join Explorers (for young people aged 14 to 18) and Scout Network (for young people aged 18-25).

Our Promise and Ceremonies

Every Scout is unique, but they find common ground in their shared Scout values and make a promise to stick by them.

Making a promise when you join the Troop is a way of celebrating these values. Every time a new Scout decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Scouts.

The process usually takes place once you’ve had a few weeks to settle in and is known as being ‘invested’ into Scouts. Usually, the promise ceremony happens in a place you’ve chosen, or in a memorable place that means a lot to the group.

It could be held in your usual meeting place, or it could happen around the campfire, or it could happen on a boat sailing the seven seas. Regardless, it’s a big celebration for all involved, and it’s not uncommon for family and friends to join your fellow Scouts as they cheer you on.

Scouts choose the promise that best suits them.

How to Join the Troop

To get started, fill out our joining form here.

Scouts is 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.