If your young person is a member or wants to join our group, this section is for you.

We’ve got answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on this page.

Information for Parents and Guardians of Scouts at 9th Warwick

If you’ve got a question, chances are we've answered it here. If not, just get in touch with us!

We want to make getting into Scouting as easy as possible for you and your young people. As part of any new venture you undertake, you'll have questions surrounding different aspects, and if your young person has deciced they'd like to become a Scout, it will be no different.

These are just some of the questions that we’ve been asked in the past, but in the event that you’ve got a question that hasn’t been answered on this page, all you need to do is get in touch with us using the details at the bottom of the page, and we’ll get back to you.

Can my little boy or girl join?
Absolutely! Scouting has been open to all children, regardless of gender, since 1991.

How old does my young person need to be?
Our Group provides sessions for young people between 4 and 14years of age:

Squirrels for young people between 4 and 6 years of age
Beavers for young people between 6 and 8 years of age
Cubs for young people between 8 and 10½ years of age
Scouts for young people between 10½ and 14 years of age

Is there any flexibility in those age ranges?
Most of our sections allow for some flexibility in the age ranges, giving around 6 months either side of the age ranges for young people who need extra time in a section, or who would like to remain within friendship groups when they move up. The only exception to this is in any Explorer Scout Unit, where young people will automatically cease to be a member on their 18th birthday.

Can I join a waiting list if my young person is too young?
Yes. You can add your young person’s details to our online waiting list.

How safe will my young person be?
Extremely. The safety and wellbeing of our youth is our first concern, as part of The Scout Association's Young People First policy. The Yellow Card for adult volunteers and Orange Card for youth volunteers both detail the child protection policy and code of practice, and our policy is to safeguard the welfare of all members by protecting them from neglect and from physical, sexual and emotional harm.

Can I stay with my young person during their session?
We understand that some of our younger members might prefer to have a familiar grown-up around while they try new things, but we find that even the most nervous of our youth members are absolutely fine once their grown-ups have left the building. That said, if you'd like to help by giving some of your time, you can find out about becoming an adult volunteer if you'd like to spend time with your young person at Scouts.

How much does membership cost?
Our membership subscription is charged at the start of each term, and is based on a cost of £54 per young person, per term, payable by our portal using GoCardless – Direct debit

Can I pay based on the number of sessions a young person attends?
No. Our fees are a membership subscription, not an attendance fee, and because our membership subscription helps to cover our programme, rent and other costs, they are payable each term, regardless of the number of sessions your young person attends.

Is there a free trial available?
Yes. To make sure that Scouting is right for your young person, we offer a free trial session during which your young person can meet other young people in their section and consider whether they'd like to join or not.

Are there any other payment methods I can use?
If you're really struggling to pay by GoCardless, please speak to us and we'll see what we can do.

How long do I have to pay?
Once you've become a full member, your membership subscriptions will become due immediately after your free trial ends.

Do you offer any help for people struggling with finances?
Yes. If you do need assistance, and cannot pay your subs, you can speak to us in full confidence. While we are a charity, we’ll always try to help as much as we can, offering extended payment plans and other financial assistance, if we can, on a case-by-case basis. Please don't be afraid to ask.

How much does the Uniform cost?
Your young person will need their uniform before we can invest them as a full member of our group, and you can purchase your uniform from the Scouts online store. The latest prices are available on the Scouts Store website.

Does my young person have to wear a uniform?
Yes. The Scout Association is a uniformed organisation, and we make sure that all our members wear their uniform with pride.

When do we need to have uniform for our young person?
We ask that all members have their uniform within six weeks of joining. Young people will not be invested into their section without the official uniform.

Where do badges go?
You can view our where to sew badges page for more information.

Are all leaders and helpers trained and vetted?
Simply put, yes. All our adult volunteers that regularly give their time to help young people thrive will be interviewed, asked to provide references, undergo mandatory training to help them be the best they can be, and undergo an enhanced disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. In addition to this, special additional training is provided for our leaders who take young people away on residential events like camps and sleepovers.

What rules do volunteers follow?
All volunteers are bound by and are expected to follow a simple and clear code of behaviour, which we call The Yellow Card. It's gvien to all adults that interact with young people, whether they're an occasional helper, section assistant, leader, supporter or manager, and is included in the training each adult volunteer receives. Every adult volunteer is also given their own Yellow Card to refer back to, which has contact details for The Scouts safeguarding team. You can see a larger version of the Yellow Card at our meeting place on our notice board.

What policies does the Group follow?
Every Scout Group and individual involved in Scouts is bound by the Scouts' Policy, Organisation and Rules. Two of the key policies in POR are child protection and safety. You can see the full policies in the Policy, Organisation and Rules section of the Scouts website.

What are the arrangements for events, camps, activities and nights away?
We will always give you notice, ask for your permission and provide you with a way of contacting the group while your young person is away with us. We will always have at least two adult volunteers present at any residential activities, such as camps and sleepovers, unless the young people involved are participating in an expedition or an event where adults are not expected to attend at all. We’ll always tell you if there is to be no adult presence for a particular activity, and we’ll never ask to take individual young people away on their own.

Can I find out more about The Scouts' policy on safeguarding and safety?
Yes. We've only included the key points of the safety and safeguarding policies here, as we keep up to date with Scouts POR at all times. You can find out more by visiting the Stay Safe: Safety and Safeguarding Policy page on the Scouts website.

If your young person is a member or wants to join our group, this section is for you.

Information for Parents and Guardians of Scouts at 9th Warwick

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