www.gls-scouts.org.uk

www.gls-scouts.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 303883

…THE WORLD’S LARGEST YOUTH MOVEMENT
Scouting is an international Movement with over 28 million
members worldwide, spread across 216 countries and
territories. The number of countries recognising the values
of Scouting and accepting it’s principles is increasing and
there are only four countries in the world who do not offer
Scouting to young people.
…WITH 500,000 MEMBERS IN THE U.K.
In total there are about 500,000 members throughout the
United Kingdom. This includes about 100,000 adults who
have taken up appointments as voluntary leaders,
administrators and supporters.
…BOYS AND GIRLS FROM ALL FAITHS &
BACKGROUNDS
The Scout Association in the UK accepts Members of all
faiths and offers equal opportunities for both boys and girls
no matter what their social, religious or ethnic background
may be.
During 1991, girls were admitted to the Beaver Scout, Cub
Scout and Scout sections. This complemented the
admission of young women to the Venture Scout section in
1976.
During the Spring of 2002, the Scout Association launched
a new programme for young people aged 6-25. This was
the largest change to the activities we offer for nearly 40
years.
Two new sections were created to replace Venture
Scouting: Explorer Scouts (14-18) and the Scout Network
(18-25). This coincided with a complete re-brand of the
Scout Association.
…PROVIDING FUN, CHALLENGE & ADVENTURE
WITH A CLEAR PURPOSE
Scouting in the UK is organised through the Scout
Association. The Association has a clear purpose:
“To help young people achieve their full physical,
intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as
responsible citizens and as members of their local,
national and international communities.”
Even if we can’t solve all the problems in the world, we can
help make it a better place. We do this by helping young
people to develop as active members of their community
who show:
• Self-reliance
• Care
• Responsibility
• Commitment
…LEARNING BY DOING – FROM 6 TO 25
Scouting works well when young people enjoy ‘learning by
doing’ alongside adults - taking part in activities and new
experiences, exploring the outdoors, participating in teams
and taking responsibility.
Our method for giving young people the opportunity to
‘learn by doing’ is called the Programme. The Programme
is a seamless progression of training, activities and
awards that cover everything that young people should do
in Scouting from the ages of 6 to 25.
…AND KEPT SAFE BY OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERS
All adults in Scouting have a responsibility to make sure
that the programme is exciting and fun. We must also
make sure it is safe. The Scout Association’s policies,
rules, code of behaviour, advice on Child Protection and
safety are there to help adults make sure that the young
people in their care stay safe while they enjoy themselves
and learn.
…FOLLOWING THE SCOUT PROMISE
Scouting has a simple and positive Promise that all
Members are required to make. The Promise, together
with the Scout Law, gives a distinctive ethos to the
practices of the Movement and acts as a bond with Scouts
in other countries. The key principles are:
• Duty to self
• Duty to God (or similar dependant on faith)
• Duty to others
Everyone in Scouting expresses their Membership and
acceptance of the three key principles by taking the Scout
Promise and following the Scout Law. Beaver Scouts and
Cub Scouts have their own version of the Promise and
Law, which is relevant for their age.
… AND ORGANISED TO SUCCEED
Scouting in the UK is
operated locally in
10,000 Scout Groups.
Between 5 and 20
groups in an area
make up a ‘District’
which may have
it’s own Explorer
Scout Unit(s).
Scout Counties are
groupings of Districts.
EXPLORER
SCOUT
UNIT
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883
SCOUT
DISTRICT
(1,000)
BEAVER
SCOUT
COLONY
SCOUT
GROUP
(10,000)
CUB
SCOUT
PACK
SCOUT
COUNTY
(114)
SCOUT
TROOP

…BEAVERS SCOUTS (5+3/4 – 8 yrs)
Beaver Scouts are young people
usually aged between six and
eight years old. They belong
to the first and youngest
Section in the Scouting
family. Young people can join
Beaver Scouts in the three months
leading up to their sixth birthday. They can move to the
next Section, Cub Scouts, between eight and eight
years, six months.
Easily recognised by their distinctive turquoise
sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends,
playing games, going on visits and helping others. They
usually meet together once a week in a Beaver Scout
Colony. Some Beaver Scout Colonies also organise
Sleepovers. These are often the first time a young
person spends a night away from home. They take
place in suitable buildings, often Scout centres.
…SCOUTS (10+1/2 – 14 yrs)
The Scout Section is for
young people, usually
aged between 10 and
14 years. A young person
can come in to the Troop at 10 and may stay until they
are 15 years old. The Scout Troop is the third and final
Section in the Scout Group.
Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of
activities as part of their programme. "Participation"
rather than meeting set standards is the key approach
and for the Scout who wants to be recognised for his or
her achievements there are a number of Challenge
Awards and Activity Badges. Scouts take part in a
balanced programme that helps them to find out about
the world in which they live, encourages them to know
their own abilities and the importance of keeping fit and
helps develop their creative talents. It also provides
opportunities to explore their own values and personal
attitudes.
…CUB SCOUTS (8 – 10+1/2 yrs)
There are loads of fun
things to do as a Cub
Scout. Cubs get
a chance to try lots of
different activities like
swimming, music, exploring, computing and collecting.
If they do them properly they will get a badge which they
can wear on their uniform. Cub Scouts also get to go on
trips and days out, to places like the zoo, theme parks or
a farm. Sometimes they will be able to go camping with
the rest of their Pack. This means they sleep in a tent
and do loads of outdoor activities.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SCOUTING AT:
WWW.SCOUTS.ORG.UK
…EXPLORER SCOUTS (14 – 18 yrs)
Explorer Scouts are young people,
usually aged between 14 and
18 years old. They make
up the fourth Section of the
Scouting family. There are
many types of Explorer
Scout Units, some may be
linked to a local Scout Group,
others may be based around different activities.
Not all Units meet each week, because it’s members
will often be out and about at weekends or in the
holidays doing activities. There will be times when
young people will be busy doing other things such as
exams, and being an Explorer Scout will have to fit
around these. As an Explorer Scout, a young person
will get the chance to work with other Explorer Scouts in
their District, not just their Unit. By doing this, they get
the chance to do many more activities, not just the ones
their Unit organises.
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883

…Who are we?
Greater London South Scout County is responsible for the
growth and development of Scouting in the London
Boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth
and Wandsworth. It is made up of over 100 Scout groups
spread across 10 districts.
Scouting in the UK is operated locally in 10,000 Scout
Groups. Between 5 and 20 groups in an area make up a
‘District’ which may have it’s own Explorer Scout Unit(s).
Scout Counties are groupings of Districts.
…What can I do?
There are a number of ways to get involved in Scouting.
Many people assume that all adults must wear the uniform
and run weekly meetings. In fact, there is a range of
volunteer roles:
SCOUT NETWORK
YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Youth Section for those aged 18-25
• Socialise, try new activities and have a great time!
• Achieve your Queen’s Scout Award, Duke of Edinburgh
or Explorer Belt
scouts.org.uk/network
SCOUT ACTIVE SUPPORT
ACTIVE SUPPORT
• Support Scouting in a flexible way that suits you
• Work with a like-minded group of people
• Make use of your skills
• Get involved in a variety of ways
scouts.org.uk/activesupport
…What do we do?
Everyday of the week adult volunteers offer challenge and
adventure to over 5,000 young people, boys and girls,
aged 6-25. Nearly 1,000 adults volunteer their time to
allow these young people to take risks in a safe
environment, and have their first taste of responsibility.
We give young people experiences they’ll never forget.
…Why volunteer?
With award winning training
and one-to-one support, we
make sure that each one of
our volunteers gets to make
the best use of their skills and
talents. It’s something different
from the norm, and that why a
lot of people like it. Besides all
the support, it is a great way to
make friends, meet new
people and above all enjoy
yourself.
In fact, it’s what’s made us the largest co-educational
youth Movement in the country.
SECTION LEADER
GIVE SOMETHING BACK
• Work with young people regularly
• Directly contribute towards their personal development
• Get training and support relevant to your role
• Can be exhausting but rewarding!
ADULT SUPPORTER
PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT
• Support the adults in Scouting,
enabling them to work with young
people
• Variety of roles available to suit
different people
• Receive training and support
relevant to you role
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING US, VISIT:
WWW.SCOUTS.ORG.UK/JOIN
OR CALL 0845 300 1818
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883

…Career prospects
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to test out
potential career choices, helping you to find a job you
enjoy. And the experiences you gain are invaluable
when applying for jobs, proving both your interest in a
particular career path and your success at it.
…Developing new skills
Volunteering improve your employability by developing
your skills. By volunteering, you can learn how to
communicate better with people and work as part of a
team to achieve your goal. These are all things that help
to make your CV look more interesting when applying
for jobs.
By volunteering, you can also show employers that you
have an interest in improving both your community and
yourself beyond academic study. Employers are
increasingly seeking ‘well-rounded’ individuals, i.e.
people who can show more than just academic
achievement. Volunteering helps you to develop skills
and attributes you do not necessarily use in a
classroom. These include planning, leadership,
motivation and self-management.
…Gaining qualifications
Volunteering can lead to all manner of qualifications,
both formal and informal. Scouting offers training for
volunteers, both internally and as part of a nationally
recognised qualification. Such training and
qualifications provide volunteers with transferable skills
that can improve their performance at work or whilst
studying, and add further to your CV.
…Building self confidence
Many volunteers encounter a variety of new challenges
when they begin giving time in their communities.
Sharing new experiences with new people, they can
learn new skills that can give them confidence to face
challenges in other areas of their lives.
…It’s a good thing
Volunteering gives you the chance to help other people
to achieve their goals and succeed in what they want to
do. Helping others in this way can lead to greater selfesteem
and encourage you to face and overcome new
and bigger challenges.
…Give something back
Many people recognise that there are a wide range of
community organisations helping young people, and
indeed many people have benefited from their work.
They understand that young people get a lot out of the
activities provided by volunteers, and want to give
something back to their community in the same way.
…Making friends
Volunteering is a great way to meet people with similar
interests and to simply have fun. Working with young
people involves a variety of activities, and can be a
chance for a volunteer to rediscover adventure for
themselves, whilst making new friends and having fun.
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING US, VISIT:
WWW.SCOUTS.ORG.UK/JOIN
OR CALL 0845 300 1818

Jargon busting
Like most big organisations, Scouting uses a lot of abbreviations and has its own names for different
things.
Below is a quick reference guide to some of the key ones. Abbreviations are shown in brackets next to
the term.
Baden-Powell (B-P)
Activity badges
Lord Robert Baden Powell, the Founder of the Scout
Specialist optional badges in the first four Sections
Movement.
that extend a young person’s interest of skills.
Assistant Beaver Scout Leader (ABSL)
An adult appointed to assist the leader of the Beaver
Scout colony.
Assistant County Commissioner (ACC)
An adult who works in a Scout County to support
other adults at District or Scout Group level. They will
normally focus on a specific area e.g. Cub Scouts,
Activities, Adult Training.
Assistant Cub Scout Leader (ACSL)
An adult appointed to assist the leader of the Cub
Scout pack.
Assistant District Commissioner (ADC)
An adult who works in a Scout District to support
other adults at Scout Group level. They will normally
focus on a specific area e.g. Cub Scouts, Activities,
Adult Training.
Assistant Explorer Scout Leader (AESL)
An adult appointed to assist the leader of the
Explorer Scout unit.
Assistant Scout Leader (ASL)
An adult appointed to assist the leader of the Scout
troop.
Associate member
An adult who wishes to join Scouting, but not take the
Promise. Associate Members cannot hold Leader or
Commissioner appointments.
Award Scheme
The system of badges, certificates and awards the
recognises young people’s achievements. It also
recognises their participation in the Programme.
Balanced Programme
The Balanced Programme is one that provides young
people with a wide range of activities drawn from
each of the Programme Zones through a variety of
methods.
Beaver Scout
An invested Member of the Movement aged between
5 3/4 and 8 1/2 years of age.
Beaver Scout Colony (Colony)
The name given to the grouping of Beavers Scouts
who meet as a Section.
Beaver Scout Leader (BL)
An adult appointed to run a Beaver Scout Colony.
Chief Scout
The Chief Scout leads Scouting in the UK, and is
supported by the Chief Commissioner of the UK. The
current Chief Scout is Bear Grylls.
Commissioner
An adult appointed to provide support to other adults
either in a support or managerial role.
County
A geographical area which provides support to Scout
Districts and Groups.
County Commissioner (CC)
A person appointed to lead, promote and maintain
policies of the Movement.
County Executive Committee
A committee that supports the work of the County
Commissioner.
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883

County Scout Network Commissioner (CSNC)
The person appointed by the County Commissioner
to lead the provision of Scout Network in the County.
Cub Scout
An invested Member of the Movement aged between
8 and 10 1/2 years of age.
Cub Scout Leader (CSL)
An adult appointed to run the Cub Scout Pack.
Cub Scout Pack (Pack)
The collective name for Cub Scouts meeting together
as a Section.
District
A collection of Scout Groups within an identifiable
boundary, led by a District Commissioner.
District Commissioner (DC)
A person appointed by the County Commissioner to
lead a Scout District and support the work of Scout
Groups.
District Chairman
Person who leads the administrative support to a
Scout District.
District Executive Committee
The committee that supports the work of the District
Commissioner in the administration and running of a
Scout District.
District Explorer Scout Commissioner (DESC)
The person responsible to a District Commissioner
for the management of Explorer Scouting in the
District.
Explorer Scout
An invested Member of the Movement aged between
14 and 18 years of age.
Explorer Scout Leader (ESL)
An adult appointed to run the Explorer Scout Unit.
Explorer Scout Unit (ESU)
The collective name for Explorer Scouts meeting
together as a Section.
Gilwell Park (Gilwell)
The UK National HQ, National Training Centre and
Campsite of The Scout Association.
Group Chairman
The person nominated annually by the Group Scout
Leader who chairs the Group Executive Committee
and Group Council.
Group Scout Leader (GSL)
The adult appointed by the Scout District responsible
for leadership and management of a Scout Group.
Group Secretary
An adult who provides administrative support to a
Scout Group and its Executive Committee.
Group Treasurer
An adult who maintains the financial records of a
Scout Group.
Helper
An adult who holds a certificate of appointment who
helps with a Section, but does not hold a Leader
appointment.
Investiture
The ceremony at which a Member takes the Promise
when they join the Movement or move Sections.
Law, Scout
The code which all Members of the Movement follow.
Leader
An adult who leads and manages a Section.
Line Manager
The person to whom an adult is responsible, and who
provides guidance and support.
Membership Award
The award given to all Members upon their
investiture into a Section.
Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR)
This publication contains the policies and rules of The
Scout Association.
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883

Programme
The term used to describe the entire programme
experience, including awards, badges and method of
operating the programme for young people aged 6-25
years.
Programme Zone
The areas of activities on which each Section bases
its Balanced Programme.
Promise
A public statement each Member makes upon
Investiture and on other occasions. It states that they
will do their best to follow the principles and values of
Scouting.
Scarf
Coloured neckerchief worn by Members. The scarves
clearly identify Members with a particular Scout
Group, District or County.
Scout
An invested Member of the Movement normally aged
between 10 1/2 and 14 years old. This is also a generic
term used to describe any Member of the Scout
Movement.
Scout Active Support
The new name for the Scout Fellowship. Individuals
aged 18 or over who work together to provide active
support to Scouting in the local community.
Scout Fellowship
Individuals aged 18 or over who work together to
provide active support to Scouting in the local
community.
Scout Group
A number of Sections in the same local community
form a Scout Group.
Scout Information Centre
Located at UK HQ at Gilwell Park, it is a one-stop
shop for information, resources and merchandise.
Call 0845 300 1818 or info.centre@scout.org.uk.
Scout Network Member
All Members of The Scout Association aged between
18-25 can be registered as a part of a Scout Network.
They can participate in the Programme and also have
Leadership or support roles.
Scout Leader (SL)
The adult appointed to run a Scout Troop.
Scout Troop (Troop)
The collective name for Scouts meeting together as a
Section.
Section
A unit in a Scout Group or District – Beaver Scouts,
Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and the Scout
Network.
Skills Instructor
People given a certificate of appointment. They are
normally appointed to instruct young people on
specific skills, such as canoeing or first aid.
Warrant
The certificate of appointment awarded to new
Leaders, Commissioners, Assistant Leaders and
Assistant Commissioners on their appointment.
Wood Badge
Awarded to an adult on completion of their core adult
training.
Woggle
Device used to hold up a scarf, worn around the
neck.
World Membership Badge
The badge worn by many Scouts which tells people
that they belong to the world-wide Movement. This is
normally given to a Member at their Investiture.
Yellow Card
A small card which contains The Scout Assocation’s
child protection policy. All adults working in
Scouting must have a copy.
Scout Network
This is a County co-ordinated network for Members
aged 18-25 years of age.
Young Leader
An Explorer Scout who works as part of
the leadership team in a younger Section.
Greater London South Scouts. Registered Charity Number: 303883