Welcome!
The Scouts is the UK’s largest youth organisation, and the world’s largest youth movement. We believe in preparing young people with Skills for Life.
Whether you or your child(ren) have just joined, or whether you’re thinking about getting involved, the information on this page will hopefully be helpful.
You may also find the section pages useful for more details on on awards and activities.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please do get in touch!
Who are we?
Who can join Scouting?
Why join Scouting?
How much does it cost?
Which age section is right for my child?
Uniforms
Investitures and making the Scout Promise
Staying updated
Communications
Section Leaders would have their own preferred methods of contact that would have been explained to you when your young person joins. This would usually be emails for normal communications, or by phone in case of emergency.
We have a private Facebook group which parents are encouraged to join. It’s for our members only (Leaders, parents, and young people aged 14 and above as per Facebook policy) and a great way to share photos, news, and get questions answered. We vet all requests to join the Facebook group, and regularly conduct checks of the group membership to ensure that only current members are allowed in the group.
Online Scout Manager (OSM)
Most of our sections use Online Scout Manager (OSM) for administration. OSM has been designed by leaders for leaders – enabling us to do all of our administration in one simple, secure, GDPR-compliant system. Access is restricted to certain DBS-cleared leaders in the Group only.
We use it to manage our membership register and monitor attendance and keep track of badge progress. Its full features include a Parent Portal which would allow you to access your child’s records and follow their progress, and see our programme and events, among other features. We are not currently subscribed to the Parent Portal service, however we will consider it if there is sufficient interest. If this is something you are keen to be made available to you, please speak to your section leader.
Being safe and supported
Safeguarding
[More info]
Inclusion and diversity
Scouting is designed to be flexible to support all members to take part, achieve, and reach their full potential. Everyone is welcome, and in fact some of our leaders are specially experienced in supporting young people with special needs. Please let us your leader know about any special requirements that your child may have, including dietary preferences/requirements or if they would require additional help or support with any activities. The more information you can share with us, the better equipped we are to support the full participation of your young person.
Find out more about the Scout’s policy on Inclusion and Diversity, and the practical ways in which we deliver the Programme to those with additional needs and neurodiversity.
How can I help as a parent?
Facts at a glance
Scouts has over 597,448 members in the UK and 57 million worldwide.
UK Scouts’ youth membership (4-18 years) grew by 8,700 in 2023-24.
We have 145,339 adult volunteers in the UK.
There are 107,000 young people on our waiting lists.
Our current Chief Scout is adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne Fields, who succeeds Bear Grylls.
Nearly a third of our total UK movement is female.
