Common requirements All sections
Leader in charge
An adult who is a member of the relevant Section Leadership Team, and who holds a full appointment, must be nominated as the leader in charge for each activity or event.
Numbers & Ratios
For all meetings and activities, Leaders must assess the risk and arrange for sufficient adults to ensure a safe environment for the operation of the section, which may vary depending on the programme. different Minimum ratios apply to each section, often an activity or event will require more adults than the minimum ratio.
Nights Away
The leader in charge of a Nights Away event does not need to be the Nights Away Permit Holder but they can be.
All adults at Nights Away events must hold a satisfactory Personal Enquiry.
Only in the event of an emergency can an adult or helper who holds a satisfactory Personal Enquiry be alone overnight with young people on a
nights away experience.
Squirrels
Section size
The recommended maximum size for a Squirrel Drey is 24 Squirrel’s
This number may be exceeded with the agreement of the Group Scout Leader.
Ratios
Indoor. The minimum ratio for regular indoor Drey meetings is one adult or helper to six Squirrels plus the leader in charge. As a minimum, there must be at least three adults or helpers present at each Drey meeting, at least one of whom must have a full adult appointment with the Drey.
Outdoor. The minimum ratio for outdoor activities held away from the usual meeting place is one adult or helper to four Squirrels plus the leader in charge. As a minimum, there must be three adults or helpers present at the outdoor activity at least one of whom must have a full adult appointment with the Drey.
Nights away. The minimum ratio for nights away experiences is one adult or helper to four Squirrels plus the leader in charge. As a minimum, there must be three adults or helpers present overnight at least one of whom must have a full adult appointment with the Drey
Outdoor / Nights ratio ready reckoner:
- 24 Squirrel = Min 6 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 20 Squirrels = Min 5 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 16 Squirrels = Min 4 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 12 Squirrels= Min 3 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 8 Squirrels = Min 3 Adults + 1 Leader
Min 3 adults at any time
Age range
The core age range of the Squirrel Scout Drey is from 4th Birthday to 6th Birthday . A young person may not join until 4th Birthday and may remain until 6½ years old.
There is no requirement to offer the opportunity for Squirrels to spend at least one nights away experience every year. (unlike the other sections)
Minimum standard
The minimum standard for a Squirrel section is:
- Operation overseen by a Section Leadership Team
- The delivery of a safe, high quality balanced programme
- Opportunities for the members to take part in the decision-making process. Any forum or committee should have youth members and volunteers working together.
Beaver Scouts
Section size
The recommended maximum size for a Colony is 24 Beaver Scouts.
This number may be exceeded with the agreement of the Group Scout Leader.
Ratios
The Leader must plan to ensure that at least two adults (aged 18 or over) are present at the Colony meeting, at least one of whom should hold a Leader, Manager or Supporter Appointment. Other than two adults being present there is no minimum ratio of adults to Beaver Scouts set for regular indoor Colony meetings, but Leaders should arrange for sufficient adults (aged 18 or over) to ensure a safe meeting environment for the operation of the Colony, which may vary depending on the programme.
The recommended minimum ratio for both outdoor activities held away from the usual meeting place and residential experiences is 1 adult to 6 Beaver Scouts plus the Leader in charge.
Outdoor / Nights ratio ready reckoner:
- >= 24 Beavers = Min 4 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 18 Beavers = Min 3 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 12 Beavers = Min 2 Adults + 1 Leader
min 2 adults at any time
Age range
The core age range of the Beaver Scout Colony is from 6 years to 8 years. A young person may join at 5¾ years and remain until 8½ years.
Minimum standard
The minimum standard for a Beaver Scout Colony is:
- Operation overseen by a Leader
- Two adults present
- The delivery of an appropriate Balanced Programme
- The opportunity for each Beaver Scout to attend a nights away experience every year
Cub Scouts
Section size
The recommended maximum size for a Pack is 36 Cub Scouts.
This number may be exceeded with the agreement of the Group Scout Leader.
Ratios
The operation of a Pack must be overseen by a Leader.
The Leader must plan to ensure that at least two adults (aged 18 or over) are present at the Pack meeting, at least one of whom should hold a Leader, Manager or Supporter appointment. Other than two adults being present there is no minimum ratio of adults to Cub Scouts set for regular indoor Pack meetings, but Leaders should arrange for sufficient adults to ensure a safe meeting environment for the operation of the Pack, which may vary depending on the programme.
The recommended minimum ratio for both outdoor activities held away from the usual meeting place and residential experiences is 1 adult to 8 Cubs Scouts plus the Leader in charge.
Outdoor / Nights ratio ready reckoner:
- >= 32 Cubs = Min 4 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 24 Cubs = Min 3 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 16 Cubs = Min 2 Adults + 1 Leader
min 2 adults at any time
Age range
The core age range of the Cub Scout Pack is from 8 years to 10½ years. A young person may join at 7½ years and remain in the Pack until their 11th birthday.
Minimum standard
The minimum standard for a Cub Scout Pack is:
- Operation overseen by a Leader
- Two adults present
- The delivery of an appropriate Balanced Programme
- The opportunity for each Cub Scout to attend a nights away experience every year
Scouts
Section size
There is no recommended maximum size for a Troop. The operation of the Troop must be overseen by a Leader. The Leader in charge must plan to ensure at least two adults (aged 18 or over) are present at regular indoor Troop meetings held in the usual meeting place, at least one of whom should hold a Leader, Manager or Supporter appointment.
Ratios
The minimum ratio for all other Troop meetings and activities, including Nights Away, is, If there are 12 or fewer Scouts: a minimum of 2 adults, including the leader in charge.
If there are 13 or more Scouts: one adult to 12 Scouts, including the leader in charge.
For all Scouting activities a risk assessment must be carried out as stated in Rule 9.4 or POR and Leaders should use this to arrange for sufficient adults (aged 18 or over) to ensure a safe environment for the operation of the Troop. This may vary depending on the programme, and may be more than the required minimum, but cannot override the minimum requirements stated in Rule 3.9c and 3.9e of POR or those required by the activity rules in chapter 9. Of POR
For a night’s away event led by a Nights Away Permit holder, the recommended minimum ratio is 1 adult to 12 Scouts. However, a Troop’s Leader must plan to ensure that as a minimum, at least two adults are present overnight. Only in the event of an emergency should an adult be alone overnight on a residential experience.
Outdoor / Nights ratio ready reckoner:
- >= 36 Scouts = Min 3 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 24 Scouts = Min 2 Adults + 1 Leader
- >= 12 Scouts = Min 1 Adults + 1 Leader
- <= 12 Scouts = Min 1 Adults + 1 Leader
Age range
The core age range of the Scout Troop is from 10½ years to 14 years. A young person may join at 10 years and remain until 14½ years.
Minimum standard
The minimum standard for a Scout Troop is:
- Operation overseen by a Leader.
- Two adults present
- The delivery of an appropriate Balanced Programme
- The opportunity for every Scout to attend at least one nights away experience each year
Explorer Scouts
Explorer Scout Units are part of a District’s provision of Scouting.
An Explorer Scout Unit and a Scout Group wishing to work together should enter into a Partnership Agreement.
The Explorer Scout Unit should have opportunities for the members to take part in the decision making process. Any forum or committee should have both Explorer Scouts and Leaders working together.
Ratios
The adult to Explorer’s ratio for ALL activities including the usual meeting place or nights away experiences is for a minimum of 2 adults present.
It is good practice to have at least one male and one female Leader.
Explorer Scouts are allowed to take part in peer led programme opportunities (i.e. where no adults are present), including peer led nights away, provided the activity is suitable for the experience and ability level of the Explorer Scouts involved. These must be run under remote adult supervision, and this must be clearly communicated to parents.
Age range
The age range of the Section is from 14 years to 18 years old. There is flexibility at either end of the age range. The age for moving from the Scout Section is between 13½ and 14½ years and moving to the Scout Network between 17½ and 18 years. The leaving age is upon reaching the 18th birthday.
Minimum standard
The minimum standard for an Explorer Scout Unit is :
- There should be at least two adults present for the Explorer Scout Unit
- At least one of whom must hold a Leader, Manager or Supporter appointment.
- The delivery of an appropriate Balanced Programme
- Every Member of the Explorer Scout Unit must have the opportunity of attending a camp every year.
