Are Your Leaders Trained and Insured?

All leaders attend the ‘Wood Badge’ training scheme recognised as the standard training for leaders in all Scout associations throughout the World.

How Do I know My Child is Safe in this Scout Group?

All leaders are subject to DBS checks and certifications as required by the BBS & BGS Association.

The BBS & BGS Association promotes the sponsorship of member group by local bodies such as their Church, School or similar, who will be knowledgeable concerning those persons running the Scout Group.

Do You Go Camping?

Camping is an essential element of traditional Scouting, the Scout’s training is designed to be put fully into practice at the annual Scout Troop camp, the pinnacle of the Scouting year. Scouts camp in Patrols under the leadership of their Patrol Leader and Patrol Seconder, hence Scouts are required to attend camps so as not to let down their Patrols and leave them shorthanded. Every Scout should want to camp.

Both the Scout and Wolf Cub Sections go camping under canvas (in tents). Beavers are considered too young to go camping and we consider that this leaves a greater expectation for them to look forward to when they become Wolf Cubs.

Is it True that Girls are not Accepted?

The BBS & BGS Association was the first Scout association to admit girls, others followed many years later. Our Scout Group accepts and welcome girls to join, in past years we have had over 50% girls to boys in the Scout Troop, the ratio does vary. We find that girls enjoy Scouting activities and compete at an equal level to the boys.

I Hear that Traditional Scouting is Boring; is that so?

Baden-Powell took the best ideas from other youth organisation at the time plus his experiences in the army, and there is no doubt that he came up with a thoroughly well thought out programme of training and education. These ideas are still as prevalent to-day as they were then, in fact they are still used in education, other youth organisations, the armed forces, etc.

The training programme set by Baden-Powell permits great flexibility within a set course and framework, you can make this as interesting and as challenging as you require. The traditional Scout Group carries out activities the same as any other Scout association. Some Scouts who have left our traditional Scout Group have been so inspired, enthused and with great competence gained, have undertaken even great adventures, hiking and cycling around parts of the World; another became a vet treating alligators in the Everglades in America; a simple bridge building pioneer exercise for one Scout meant that he was leaps and bounds above the other applicants for Sandhurst Army Officers Training College, the last I heard he was a Major, to mention just a few and all have acknowledged the great fun and skills gained from traditional Scouting.

If you think that traditional Scouting might be boring, come along and try and keep up with us.

I’m in Another Scout Group in Another Association but I Think that your Scout Group Will be Better for me, May I Join?

In the past we have had many Scouts from other Scout Groups come along and joined and found that they could soon settle into our friendly Scout Group and yes, any badges and awards you have gained elsewhere will be acknowledged by us and the appropriate badge or award in our training programme given without further testing.

I’m an Adult, how do I Get Involved as a Leader?

We are always looking for new leaders and helpers, or those offering specialist training and examiners. It is so simple, either complete an application form, or e-mail Skip or telephone and he will take it from there.

If I Miss a Meeting, is that a Problem?

Each week or in advance the Section leaders compile a programme for that week’s meeting, so if you find that you are unable to attend a simple telephone call or e-mail to the respective leader and alternative arrangements can be made. Of course we all have things that crop up from time to time, but obviously the more leaders and helpers that we have to more easier it is to accommodate these occurrences.

Did Baden-Powell not say that "Scouting is a movement, because it moves forward. As soon as it stops moving, it becomes an organisation and is no longer Scouting"? Therefore should you not move with the times?

No, Baden-Powell did not say that; it is one of the biggest misquotes in scouting. It is claimed to be a quote from Baden-Powell but those that quote it never have a proper citation. The closest source actually says this:

"A Scout officer came to me the other day with a scheme for organising the Movement on a better footing than hereto. It involved a certain amount of expense in offices, whole-time secretaries, etc. [...] in this more centralised and ordered system a far more accurate record could be kept of the development, a more regular standard of efficiency among Troops could be set up, and a better general supervision maintained."

"My dear chap! But you have not got the hang of Scouting. We are a movement not an organisation."

Baden-Powell, 'The Scouter', July 1921.

Therefore, the quote actually means something quite different, Baden-Powell is objecting to scouting being a top-down organisation with paid staff. The BBS and BGS has no paid staff and its structure is faithful to how Baden-Powell envisaged a movement. Of course there are other Scout Organisations both in the UK and other countries that make up the Scout Movement.