Skills for life in Old Town, Swindon

FAQs

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?

Our regular meetings are typically held once a week during school term times – but the exact times depend on location and age group, with 400 young people involved in Old Town & Wichelstowe, there are far too many different times to list here!

We also run occasional activities at weekends or during the school holidays, including camps.

How much does it cost?

All members pay a membership subscription to the group. This varies slightly dependent upon the specific group you join, but is typically £30-£40 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 PX Adventures. Note that 12th Swindon is an Air Scout Group, so all Scouts and leaders wear the special blue Air Scout shirt (there is no difference in uniform for Beavers and Cubs). You’ll be given the necker and badges when you join.

Will my Child be Safe?

All our volunteers undertake DBS checks and are required to keep their safeguarding and safety training up-to-date at all times. 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 have been up to recently 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 – it’s great fun! Whether it’s helping out occasionally as part of a parent rota, supporting trips or camps, or taking on a more regular volunteering role, we are entirely dependent on volunteers to run our weekly meetings. Behind the scenes we are supported by an active volunteer Executive Committee (Board of Trustees).

Is there a waiting list?

Whilst we’d love to be able to offer a space to everyone who wants to join, this isn’t possible at present due to the popularity of Scouting in Old Town, and we have a waiting list in place.

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.

How do we Get Involved?

Get in touch with us today!