Thinking about joining the adventure? You’re bound to have loads of questions about Scouting – we’ve tried to answer some of the most common ones below, but if you can’t find the answer then please do get in touch!
When do we meet?
There are three specific age ranges in 1st Wanborough Scout Group; Beavers meet on Tuesdays, Cubs on Thursdays and Scouts on Wednesdays. To find out more about each section, including meeting times and locations, please get in touch.
The different age ranges are:
- Beavers (ages 6-8)
- Cubs (ages 8-10.5)
- Scouts (ages 10.5-14)
Times of individual weekly meetings may vary due to activity, location, etc. If you want to come along and visit us please get in touch with us first.
As a guide, our terms are generally the same as the school terms, although we continue to run a variety of special events and activities during the holidays.
How much does it cost?
All members pay a membership subscription to the group of £32 per school term (three times per year).
This includes:
- Membership of the Group, District, County and national Scout Association
- Insurance
- Meeting place costs
- Cost of materials and resources for weekly meetings
Camps, trips and some other activities are charged separately. Trips are generally charged “at cost” although we generally get a lower admission rate than the general public!
Is there a Uniform?
All our members wear a uniform, which can be purchased from the Scout Shop in Milton Road, Swindon.
Will my Child be Safe?
All our leaders undertake DBS (formerly known as CRB) checks, and a strict appointments procedure is followed. The leader in charge of each section (and many of our other leaders) have undertaken extensive training, covering areas such as Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Challenging Behaviour, etc. The group has clear behaviour policies which are followed, and we follow The Scout Association’s “Young People First” safeguarding procedures. A qualified first aider is present for all activities and appropriate first aid equipment is available whether we are in the hall or out and about.
Scouting encourages young people to take sensible risks in a controlled way. Your child will climb trees, light fires and learn to use knives, as well as taking part in a number of adventurous activities. We recognise that minor injuries are an inevitable part of childhood, but follow risk assessment and operating procedures to ensure that all activities are as safe as possible.
What activities do you do?
We do far too many activities to list – the best way to find out what we get up to is to check out our Facebook page.
Can Girls join Scouts?
Yes, certainly! Scouts has been co-educational for many years now. Lots of girls are already enjoying the adventure in Old Town, and we also have a mixed leader team.
Will I be expected to help?
We encourage all family members to get involved. Whether it’s helping out occasionally as part of a parent rota, supporting trips or camps, or taking on a more regular leadership role, we are entirely dependent on volunteers to run our weekly meetings. Behind the scenes we are supported by an active Executive Committee.
But don’t let that put you off – volunteering for the group is very rewarding and great fun!
Is there a waiting list?
We do try our best to give a space to everyone who wants to join. However, young people sometimes have to wait a little while before a space becomes available.
It is well worth adding your child to our joining list from an early age to increase the chances of a space being available when they reach joining age. We recommend that wherever possible all children join us as Beavers at age 6, and work up through the group.