Below you can find a list of our most frequently asked questions, click the question to jump to the answer.

Joining – How do I enrol a young person?

Simply get in contact. The best way is to submit details through our joining webpage. You can register to join beavers as soon as the young person has had their fourth birthday. Notably this does not guarantee an immediate place as there is often a waiting list. Please note this is a secure website where information provided is encrypted and kept confidential.

Waiting list – Why is there one?

It simply because we do not have enough adult volunteers and some sections are already full. There are strict guidelines on the ratio of adults to young people and we are unable to extend beyond these.

Subscriptions (subs)

Subscriptions not only support the group but go towards the running costs of the Scout Association as a whole. If you have any questions then contact your leader.

Subs is paid three times a year, just prior to the term starting.

We believe that anyone should be able to take part in Scouting regardless of their financial position, if you feel this applies to you, please get in touch to see what we can offer.

Badges – Where do I sew them?

Click on the appropriate section for a diagram of badge positions.

• Beavers

• Cubs

• Scouts

Discounts – Are there special offers for Scouts?

Yes. Lots of offers are available for members of the Scout Movement. Some are for leaders only, supporting them in providing material to run activities. Others are for all members. Companies such as GO Outdoors, Millets and Mountain Warehouse offer a range of discounts.

Duke of Edinburgh Award – Can I help at Scouts?

Yes, that would be fantastic! For further information see the official factsheet or contact us.

Young People working for their DofE Awards with other Operating Authorities (such as schools) may help with Scouts, Cubs or Beavers for their Volunteering Section without becoming Scout Association members. Although preference will be given to those part of our Explorer Unit and working towards their young leader training

All volunteers are required to

• have DBS clearance (depending on age),

• register and undertake the same training as our members (a minimum of Module A of young leaders training).

The DofE Volunteering period is limited to the time required for the DofE Award. If volunteers wish to stay longer they need to become a member of the scout organisation, as a Young Leader or Leader depending on age.

Module A includes 1) Purpose and Method of The Scout Association. 2) Child protection. 3) Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR). 4) Activity rules and safety. 5) Understanding the role of the Young Leader and where they fit in the overall organisational structure

Leaders – What do they get paid?

Nothing. Leaders are just ‘normal’ people (trained by the movement) who try their very best. They are a rare breed who are rewarded by the feedback you provide – highlighting the fun, skills and opportunities that they have enabled. Please support or join them if you can.

Programme – How is it planned?

Behind the fun of Scouting, there is a well considered educational programme.  Whilst Groups will undertake different activities from each other, the main programme areas are: Outdoor and Adventure; Global; Community; Fit for Life; Creative; and Beliefs and Attitudes.  Leaders are trained by the Scout Association to plan and deliver this programme.

Uniform – What is it?

Scouts wear a uniform of blue trousers and a coloured sweatshirt, shirt or polo shirt (which varies depending on the age range). All Scouts (adults and young people) wear a coloured scarf or necker, the colour of which varies depending on the Group. The Scout Shop or your leader will be able to advise on requirements.

Insurance – Is my child covered?

Yes. All Members are covered under the Scout Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy.

Kit – What do I need?

This varies depending on what sort of camp and which section you are in (Beaver or Scout for instance). The following provides a rough outline of useful kit. It is not essential to have all of this to be able to participate.  PLEASE NAME EVERYTHING.

• Head Torch – one of the most used piece of kit

• Sleeping Bag (mummy shaped, 3-4 season)

• Sleeping Mat (foam or thermarest type. Lilos don’t tend to last)

• Camp Pillow (the older you get the more likely you’ll need to swap your home pillow for a smaller camping version)

• Small Day Rucksack (for day hikes and general trips)

• Large Rucksack or holdall (for all your kit. Suitcases don’t work well in muddy fields)

• First Aid Kit (Leaders always have these, but we encourage young people to maintain their own)

• Good Waterproofs

• Hiking Boots (waterproof and supportive)

• Personal Wash Kit Bag (and contents – although this is often the least used piece of kit!)

• Plate, Bowl, Mug, Cutlery  (Plastic or enamel. China and glass doesn’t like camp)

Ideas for presents (i.e. not essential kit, but great to own)

• Survival Bag – Orange plastic type (great for packing all your kit into inside your rucksack as it keeps it dry)

• Compass

• Tarpaulin  (A sheet big enough to sleep on, use as a shelter, wrap your kit in etc.)

• Hammock (give a night out under the stars a go?)

• Fleece

• Paracord (search for things you can make with it online – it's brilliant!)

• Penknife

For recommendations on makes and manufacturers then speak to your leader

Lots more ideas at the Scout Shop in Camberley, or the online Scout Shop

Volunteer – I’m really busy but would like to help

How many hours or days you wish to volunteer is completely up to you. But put simply, we couldn’t do it without your support! Each and every one of us is a volunteer (and we do have fun!)

You can become a leader or regular helper, part of the supporters committee (who help arrange fundraising) or perhaps you could spare an hour for maintenance, cleaning or fundraising (sorting jumble, building the village bonfire  or helping sell burgers at fetes for instance). We don’t even mind if you don’t have any young people in the group.

History – When was the group founded?

West End Scout Group was started in 1924. Our present scout hut was opened by Sir Michael Grylls MP (Bear Grylls' Father) in 1973.

Scout Shop – Where is our nearest?

Our nearest Scout shop is at:

4th Camberley Scout HQ
270 London Rd
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3JP

Open Saturday morning, 10:30 until 12:00hrs.

There is also an online Scout Shop.

Penknife – Can I bring one?

Penknives are optional kit on certain activities. We do use them, but under leaders guidance. We don’t expect to see them when activities don’t require them (if in doubt please ask your leader). We believe it’s important to understand and practice how to use them in a safe and correct manner (as well as axes, saws etc). For instance they may be used for gadget making, fires and shelter building. However, we ask that parents carry them to and from any meeting/camp. That leaders look after them when not being used and most importantly that leaders are to be made aware of them. Any hint of inappropriate use and we confiscate them returning them to parents/carers.

How to tie a scarf, when you haven’t got a woggle

The Friendship knot is commonly used to tie a scarf when woggles go missing. Click here for instructions on how to tie a Friendship Knot.

How to make your own woggle

All you need is one metre of cord and you can make your own woggle. Click here for instructions.

Do you take risks?

Yes, no activity is without risk. Scouting is about pushing young people to discover themselves.  Its great to see someone achieve something they didn’t think they could.  The sense of achievement from climbing a rock face, lighting a fire, or sailing a boat can change a young person forever. So too, however, can an accident, and although we take appropriate precautions accidents cannot always be avoided.

As leaders we take the responsibility of looking after other people’s children very seriously. For this reason we are not only trained, or use external qualified instructors, but carry out a risk assessment on every activity and event we do. But its not just about getting it down on paper. We constantly assess and adapt to situations. We also believe that its important to share the ability to assess risk, helping young people to become more aware of their surroundings themselves. As well as assessing risks before and during events, we always look back to consider how things went and whether anything could have been done differently, and our generic risk assessments are constantly reviewed.  Obviously we have robust time tested procedures in place for reporting any accident, but our aim is to prevent them happening in the first place.

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Security

GDPR Regulations govern how Personal Information (PI) can be handled and how it must be protected by Data Controllers. Because of the information held on its members, the Scout Association is classed, under those Regulations, as a Data Controller. For general information about these Regulations, see further guidance on GDPR here.

The Data Protection Act 1998 governs the collection, recording, storage, use and disclosure of personal data, whether such data is held electronically or in manual form. Young people have the same rights as adults under the Act, and the impact on Scouting is addressed below.

This page provides a general overview of the main ways in which data protection may be relevant to scouting. Further information can be found from the Information Commission’s Office (ICO) the independent governmental authority responsible for overseeing and regulating data protection. Further explanation/assistance can also be obtained by contacting the Legal Service Department at The Scout Association UK Headquarters.

How we handle personal data (PI) at West End Scout Group:

Personal Information

At West End Scout Group we utilise the Online Scout Manager (OSM), a third party online management system (Data Processor) for handling, collecting and storing personal data relevant to the day to day running of the Scout Group. This system has been developed specifically for Scouting and Guiding Organisations. More information about the security measures employed by OSM, to protect all personal data can be found here: Security & GDPR.

West End Scout Group stores the majority of the Personal Data held by the Group, on its members, on this online platform and conducts the majority of reviews and updating of information through this system. On occasion paper records of this information is held for taking to camps/sleepovers, or where online access is not possible. Where Leaders have not yet transferred to the use of OSM, data is stored securely through privately owned computers or through the use of paper records which are kept securely. All physical and online records are destroyed when the person leaves the group or immediately after an event.

The Group is able to provide parents with access to all personal information records for their child, held by the group. In the future it may be possible for parents to see this information direct through OSM, following their setting up an account with a secure login. In this instance all parents would be required to ensure that information held by the Group is up to date and they are able to amend/update records as they might change. The Group would send out an annual reminder to all parents asking to undertake this review.

As part of a larger Scouting Organisation, the Group shares its records/information held with the Scout Association headquarters. No information is passed outside the Scout Group, to Third Parties.

Personal Information held on adult members of the Group is handled through the Scout Association Online System, Compass. This has been developed and is managed by the Scout Association for the recording of adult details, training, permits, CBR Disclosures, etc. Information about the use of Compass in the context of GDPR can be found here: Compass.

Payments

West End Scout Group uses Online Scout Manager to process payments for subs, camps, events, etc. using the GoCardless online payment system. Information about how this system processes your data can be found here: GoCardless. This is a secure online payment system to allow parents to safely and easily make payment for their child.

Correspondence

All email correspondence to and from the Scout Group is undertaken through westendscouts.org.uk website, or through direct emails to individual personal accounts.

All text/phone call correspondence is conducted through personal mobile telephones, held by the Section Leaders.

The information is used only for the purposes of Scouting and is deleted after that child leaves the Scout Group.

A request for the information held on you or your child by the Scout Group can be made via your leader or by making a request via www.westendscouts.org.uk ‘contact’ tab.

Website – www.westendscouts.org.uk

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