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Scouts

Explore the world, challenge yourself

Who are scouts?

Scouts are young people aged 10½-14 who:

  • Master new skills and try new things
  • Have fun and go on adventures, at home and abroad
  • Make friends
  • Explore the world around them
  • Help others and make a difference, in their own communities and beyond
Week in, week out, they gather in groups called Scout Troops to conquer the small task of changing the world.

Build confidence, resilience along with adventure...

Build confidence, resilience along with adventure...

What do scouts get up to?

Being a Scout is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways. Here are some of the things you'll get up to with your new friends.

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 will 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 doorsteps, 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, or 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.

Other young people aged 14 to 18 might help out too. These are Explorer Scouts taking part in the Explorer Scout Young Leader's Scheme .

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 Beavers (aged 6-8) and Cubs (aged 8-10½). When they're 14, they can join Explorers (for young people aged 14-18) and later Scout Network (for young people aged 18-25). Although both of these are closely associated with the younger sections, they are not part of the local Scout Group.

"I don't normally let Thomas carry dinner plates through – he can be clumsy... but when he cooked me a meal from scratch, I was so proud."

"I don't normally let Thomas carry dinner plates through – he can be clumsy... but when he cooked me a meal from scratch, I was so proud."

Promise, Law 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.

Options for the promise can be found here

A similar ceremony – known as a Moving On ceremony – usually happens once you reach the end of your time at Scouts. It’s an opportunity to celebrate all you’ve achieved and conquered and enjoyed – including that time you moved mountains, and laughed so hard on camp you spurted lemonade out of your nose. It’s also a chance to properly say goodbye, and send you on your merry way.

The Scout Law is the same for all members of Scouts, Explorers, Network and all other adults. It is as follows:

A Scout is to be trusted.
A Scout is to be loyal.
A Scout is friendly and considerate.
A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouting.
A Scout has courage under all difficulties.
A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of posessions and property.
A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

So, how do I join?

The first step to becoming a Scout is to find your nearest Scout Troop in our groups section. To get started, reach out to a local leader to see if spaces are available and find out more about where and when the group meets.

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. By being upfront from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has the best opportunities. More information on specific adjustments can be found here .

Our subscription fees (subs for short) vary group by group, they include the following:

  • Membership of The Scout Association
  • Insurance for all Scout related activities in the UK
  • All badges (you may be charged a small fee for replacements)
  • A necker (you may be charged a small fee for replacements)
  • Section night activities. The only exception is if we do an outside activity but advance notice will be given if any extra is needed
  • Most importantly, lots of opportunities and fun
Should you have any difficulties paying, please do contact us because we don't want any young person to miss out on the opportunities we can offer.

More information about fees can be found here

Waiting Lists

Lots of young people are itching to join Scouts, so you might need to wait for a space to become available.

If your local group has a waiting list, parents and other adults might be able to solve the problem. We don’t just need swashbuckling adventurers to lead expeditions. We also need listeners, tidy-uppers and tea-makers, for as little or as much time as they can spare. If your parents or carers are curious about giving it a go but don’t want to overcommit, why not ask them to complete our four-week volunteering challenge? Every hour counts, and everyone is welcome.

You could always try the Four Week Challenge . This is a test drive of Scouting. It's a try-before-you-buy with no commitment to see if volunteering is right for you.

More volunteering information
Uniform and Badge Placement

This diagram shows the correct placement for badges on the Scout uniform. If you have any queries, please do get in touch with a leader who will be able to advise you.

Uniforms and other Scout merchandise can be purchased from the Wirral Scout Shop.
Please note that the shop can only sell badges to registered leaders. For replacement badges, you will need to speak to a leader at your group.