Scouting in the United Kingdom
What is Scouting?
Scouting is a worldwide, values based,
educational Movement.
How Scouting began
The World Scout Movement began in the United
Kingdom in 1907 with an experimental camp on
Brownsea Island, Dorset. During the week-long
camp, Robert Baden-Powell and a small party of
boys put into practice his ideas for training young
people in responsible citizenship. In August the
following year, the first official Scout Camp was
held at Humshaugh, near Hexham,
Northumberland.
Today, there are well over 28 million Members in
over 216 countries and territories and the
Movement is still growing. Two-thirds of the world’s
Scouts live in developing countries.
A co-educational Movement
Scouting in the UK is firmly committed to coeducation
so boys and girls can meet the aims of
Scouting through one programme.
The Aim and Method of Scouting
The Aim of Scouting is to promote the development
of young people in achieving their full physical,
intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as
individuals, as responsible citizens and as
members of their local, national and international
communities.
The Method of achieving the Aim is through the
provision of exciting and adventurous activities
with progressive training based on The Scout
Promise and Law guided by adult leadership.
The Programme
The Programme is a seamless progression of
training, activities and awards for young people
aged 6 to 25. The Programme is delivered in five
age groups, called Sections.
Beaver Scouts (6-8 years)
Cub Scouts (8-10½ years)
Scouts (10½-14 years)
Explorer Scouts (14-18 years)
Scout Network (18-25 years)
The Programme aims to help young people to
grow in a number of personal development areas
to ensure the young people themselves really are ‘learning by doing.’
United Kingdom Membership
In the UK, the total Membership is 450,562.
(Source: Census of Membership 2004.)
This comprises:
Role/ Status No. of Members
Youth Membership 360,863
Leaders 61,137
Managers 11,759
Administrators 16,803
Total Membership 450,562
Organisation
Scouting in the UK is administered by The Scout
Association at Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4
7QW.
The Association employs 198 full-time & part-time
staff to support the work of its adult volunteers. In
the UK the Movement is decentralised in 7,848
Scout Groups, each of which comprises one or
more Beaver Scout Colonies, Cub Scout Packs
and Scout Troops. The Groups are supported
locally by 895 Scout Districts which, in turn, receive
support and guidance from 115 Scout County
organisations.
Promise and Law
The Scouts, with the Guides, are unique amongst
youth Movements in having a Promise and a Law
which Members willingly accept as a guide to the
standards of conduct required of them.
In October 1982, The Scout Association introduced
'Beavers' for 6 to 8-year-old boys in response to a
growing demand within the Movement. In April
1986, they became a recognised training Section
and took the title of Beaver Scouts. From 1991,
girls were also able to join Beaver Scouts.
In the UK, Beaver Scouts wear a simple uniform
consisting of a turquoise sweatshirt and Group
Scarf.
Beaver Scouts take part in a balanced programme and work towards Challenges and Activity Badges. There are opportunities to learn about themselves: explore their feelings and develop good habits of health and personal safety. They get to know people: finding out about those in their family, the family of Scouting, the local community and the wider world. Beaver Scouts discover science, nature and technology, exploring the natural and man-made world. Beaver Scouts care; growing in their love of their God and responding to the needs of others, the local community and beyond. Their bright, colourful identity reflects their aim of‘fun and friends’ and a positive experience at this stage often encourages young people to continue their journey through Scouting.
Cub Scouts are young people aged between 8
and 10½ years old. Easily distinguished by their
dark green sweatshirt and Group Scarf, they form the largest Section of Scouting in the UK.
Baden-Powell's originally intended Scouting should
be for boys aged 11 to 18. But seeing the fun and
adventure older brothers and friends were having
as Scouts, younger boys began asking to join too.
The physical development and interests of boys
differ considerably over and under the age of 11,
and Baden-Powell saw training must be designed
on quite separate although complementary lines.
In 1914 'Junior Scouts' were announced and in
1916, they became 'Wolf Cubs'.
In 1966, as part of a modernisation plan, a number
of sweeping changes were introduced and the
Section became known as Cub Scouts. New
proficiency and training schemes were introduced
and the Cub Scout Law and Promise revised.
Following an update in the early 1990s, the Cub
Scout Section has changed again with the
introduction of the new 6-25 programme. Girls have
been joining in the fun and challenge of Cub
Scouting since 1991.
With a fresh new image, cartoon mascots and an
exciting and balanced programme of activities, the
Cub Scout Section is as strong as ever. There are
currently some 137,612 Cub Scouts in the UK.
Scouting is for boys and girls aged between 10½ and 14 years, who want to make friends and
develop their widening interests in ways that are
both educational and fun. It is ideal for young
people who want a break from the usual after
school routine of homework, games and TV.
With the emphasis on adventurous activities,
action and involvement, Scouting means more
than just camping. Hiking, rock climbing, gliding,
sailing, pioneering, canoeing, parascending,
abseiling, First Aid, motor mechanics, electronics,
amateur radio and photography are just some of
the things they do.
Their uniform of activity trousers, with teal green
polo or long sleeved shirt, reflects their
adventurous lifestyle.
Each Scout Troop consists of small groups (usually
called Patrols) of six to eight young people, one of
whom is the Patrol Leader. The PLs share
responsibility with the adult Leader for maintaining
standards and training within the Troop. All Scouts
are encouraged to take part in the decision-making
process and regular Forums provide the chance for
them to help in planning Troop activities.
Outdoor activities feature prominently in the Scout
Troop. The highlight for most is the annual
summer camp or expedition, and much of the rest
of the year is devoted to preparing for this. Even in
winter there may be Patrol hikes or weekend
camps. Map reading, camp cooking, First Aid and
other skills can be practised at any time of the year.
Explorer Scouts are young people usually aged
between 14 and 18. They make up the fourth
Section of the Scouting family.
In the Movement’s early days, Lord Baden-Powell
saw the need to provide a programme for young
men who wanted to continue after their time in the
Scout Section. Senior Scouts, developed to meet
this need, continued to evolve over the years.
In 1967, Venture Scouting was formed from the
existing Senior Scout and Rover Scout Sections,
becoming the first Section to welcome girls into
the membership in 1976.
During the late 1990s, it was decided that, in order
to meet the changing needs of young people over
the age of 14, two new Sections should be
created. Venture Scouting was discontinued and
Explorer Scouts for 14 to 18-year-olds and the
Scout Network for 18 to 25-year-olds, introduced.
There are many types of Explorer Scout Units:
some are linked to the local Scout Group, others
may be based around local activity or other
centres.
They are encouraged to work with other Explorer
Scouts in the District, not just the Unit. This
widens the chance to take part in many more
activities, not just those their own Unit organises.
All Explorer Scouts wear a uniform consisting of
beige shirt and blue activity trousers, and have a
wide choice of optional items.
All members of The Scout Association between
18 and 25 years are members of the Scout
Network. As a member of Scout Network you
could be:
?? a Leader with another Section
?? a Sectional Assistant or Skills Instructor
?? a Member of the Scout Fellowship
?? a Member in another capacity
Local Networks can be based at County, District
or Group level; some may be focused around a
specific activity or location such as a Gang Show,
Activity Centre, climbing or canoeing club.
Scout Network programmes reflect the huge
variation in Members' interests. Some local
Networks will have activities concentrating on one
area of the programme, whilst others will have a
wider range. One of the key elements is the
opportunity to spend nights away, either under
canvas or in other accommodation.
Like all those in Scouting aged 18 and above,
members of the Scout Network wear a uniform
consisting of a ‘stone’ shirt and smart blue
trousers or skirt for formal occasions.
Adult Leaders
Successful Scouting depends on the quality,
commitment and enthusiasm of its adult leadership
- volunteers who freely give their time to help the
development of young people. All Leaders are
required to undertake training to equip themselves
for their roles and the Movement's training
programme has become recognised by
professional trainers as one of the best of its kind.
One of The Scout Association's strengths has
always been its ability to attract a strong element of
adult support for Leaders.
Men and women over the age of 18 are welcome to
join Scout Fellowship, regardless of whether they
have had previous connections with Scouting. By
joining, they have an opportunity to contribute to
Scouting’s work in whatever way they can.
Safe from harm
It is the policy of The Scout Association to
safeguard the welfare of all young people by
protecting them from physical, sexual and
emotional harm. Our ‘Young People First’ policy
includes a code of good practice for adults in
Scouting.
The Scout Association has an effective, well-tried and tested system for vetting adults coming into the Movement to protect young people from harm.
Scouting for all
In 1997, The Scout Association published its Equal
Opportunities Policy covering both adults and
young people.
Further information
To find out more about Scouting in the UK, visit
www.scouts.org.uk or call our Scout Information
Centre on 0845 3001818.
