Everything you need to know

We know how important it is for parents and carers to feel informed, confident and involved.

This page brings together everything you need to know about how 1st Parkstone operates — from weekly activities to what to bring, how payments work, and what to expect from camps and events.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we’re always happy to help – just get in touch.

What to Expect (and What We Ask of You)

We believe Scouting works best when it’s a partnership between our volunteers, young people and parents. Here’s what you can expect from us and how you can support your child’s journey.

What you can expect from us

• A safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where every young person feels valued
• Clear and regular communication about meetings, events and updates
• A fun, varied and engaging programme that helps young people learn, grow and build confidence
• A dedicated team of volunteers who are committed to providing the best possible experience

What we ask from you

• Keep your child’s details and medical information up to date
• Encourage and support your child to take part and get involved
• Read and respond to communications, especially for events and camps
• Let us know if there are any concerns, questions or changes we should be aware of

By working together, we can make sure every young person gets the most out of their time at 1st Parkstone.

Behaviour & Positive Scouting

Scouting is for everyone, and we want every young person to feel safe, respected and included at 1st Parkstone, whatever their background, ability or circumstances.

We follow The Scouts behaviour standards, which set out how young people, leaders and parents work together to keep sessions fun, fair and positive for all. In practice, this means encouraging kindness, respect and teamwork in everything we do, and setting clear, age-appropriate expectations for behaviour at every session. We support young people to sort out disagreements and make good choices, and we always keep everyday behaviour management separate from safeguarding concerns, which are handled through our safeguarding procedures.

Our leaders model the behaviour we ask of young people, follow the Scouts UK Yellow Card code of conduct, and are trained to manage groups safely and fairly. We don’t tolerate bullying, discrimination or exclusion of any kind, and we work with families to put things right quickly if they ever happen. Most day-to-day behaviour is managed by section leaders in the moment, and if something more serious comes up, we have a clear process for working with parents to resolve it. If you ever have a safeguarding concern, please see our Safeguarding and Safety in Scouting page for how to raise it.

Each section also has its own Code of Conduct and Behaviour Policy, with parts that flow into one another so things stay consistent as your child moves up through the group. You’ll find a copy on the relevant section page.

Programme & Activities

Our programme is designed to help young people develop confidence, independence and new skills, all while having fun.

Each section (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts) follows a varied programme that includes:

• Outdoor activities and games
• Team challenges and leadership opportunities
• Badge work and skill-building
• Occasional trips and special events

We aim to strike a balance between structured learning and adventure, giving young people the chance to try new things in a safe, supportive environment.

Camps & Events

Camps and events are a highlight of Scouting and a fantastic opportunity for young people to build independence and friendships.

These may include:

• Local day events
• Weekend camps
• Group trips and adventures

You’ll always receive full details in advance, including:

• Dates and locations
• Costs and what’s included
• Kit lists and expectations

Safety is always our top priority, and all activities follow The Scouts guidelines.

Uniform

Wearing a uniform helps young people feel part of the group and proud to be involved in Scouts. Each section has its own style of uniform, usually including a sweatshirt or shirt/blouse where badges can be added, along with a coloured necker (and woggle) that represents our local group.

Leaders will confirm what’s needed when your child joins and where to purchase items. If cost is a concern, please speak to us, we’re happy to help wherever we can.

Badge Placement

It’s easy to find out where all your hard-earned badges go, just have a look at the links below:

Fees & Subs

Subs help cover the cost of:

• Weekly activities and programme resources
• Membership and insurance
• Equipment and facilities

We aim to keep fees as affordable as possible while delivering a high-quality programme.

Details of current subs and how to pay will be shared when your child joins.

If you have any questions or need support with payments, please contact us in confidence.

Volunteer Information

Scouting is made possible by our amazing team of volunteers and parents often get involved too.

You don’t need experience or lots of free time to help. Whether it’s:

• Lending a hand occasionally
• Supporting events or camps
• Helping behind the scenes

Every contribution makes a difference. If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.

Keeping in Touch

We’ll keep you updated through:

• Online Scout Manager (OSM)
• Emails
• Whatsapp groups
• Regular updates from section leaders

If your contact details change, please let us know so you don’t miss important information.

Have a Question?

No question is too small, we’re here to help. Get in touch with your child’s leader or contact us directly and we’ll be happy to assist.