Scouting is a global, educational youth movement with a membership of over 40 million members worldwide, providing young people with fun, challenge, and life changing adventure.

Discover what you can do

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

Scouting strives to be shaped by young people in partnership with adults, to make positive impact in our community, embrace and contribute to social change and prepare young people to be active citizens.

Scouting is open to all young people – boys and girls – aged between 6 and 25,
regardless of gender, faith, ability or background.

There are five sections in which Scouting takes place:

Beavers

6-8 years

Cubs

8-10½ years

Scouts

10½-14 years

Explorer

14-18 years

Network

18-25 years

Our Mission

Scouting actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

Parent And Cub

Our Mission

As Scouts we are guided by these values:

Care

We support others and take care of the world in which we live.

Respect

We have self-respect and respect for others.

Integrity

We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.

Cooperation

We make a positive difference; we cooperate with others and make friends.

Belief

We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.

Trees Icon

Programme

Our Programme is designed to help young people learn new skills and develop existing ones, learn about their local community and the wider world, improve their fitness and health and develop their creative talents. It encourages them to enjoy adventure in the outdoors and develop their beliefs and attitudes against the backdrop of the Scout Law and Promise.

The Programme is tailored to the interests, needs and pace of each individual, but also recognises group achievement.

The highest personal achievement in each Section is the Chief Scout’s Award and the ultimate accolade is the coveted Queen’s Scout Award. Some of our top awards are even recognized by the UK university admissions body UCAS.

From age 14 it is also possible to register through Scouting for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Gibraltar.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

Our Responsibilities

In Scouting, our adults operate responsibly in accordance with our policies on Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Bullying, and Safety in Scouting. The Scout Association applies stringent vetting procedures, including criminal record checks, for all adult appointments.

Our policies and procedures are designed to keep young people safe from harm whilst they enjoy the fun and excitement of their Scouting adventure.

Young people first: safeguarding and safety in Scouting

Wherever we go and whatever we do, we put young people’s safety and wellbeing first.

Child protection and safety are two of our key policies that anyone involved in Scouts must work to.

Child protection policy
Safety policy