What Scouts do

An Introduction to Scouting

The Scouts is the UK’s largest youth organisation, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We encourage our young people to do more, learn more and be more. 

Scouts are do-ers and give-it-a-go-ers. Yes, we go camping, hiking, swimming, abseiling, cycling and canoeing. But we also get to hang out with our friends every week –  having fun, playing games, working in a team and taking on new challenges.

Every week we give almost half a million 6-25 year olds the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.

We’re talking about teamwork, leadership and resilience – skills that have helped Scouts become everything from teachers and social workers to astronauts and Olympians. We believe in bringing people together. We celebrate diversity and stand against intolerance, always. We’re part of a worldwide movement, creating stronger communities and inspiring positive futures.

Everyone’s welcome here. All genders, races and backgrounds. Regardless of your child’s physical ability – there’s a Scout adventure out there waiting for them. And we’ll help them find it.

Sign up to help your child discover their ‘thing’: from abseiling to coding to performance art and everything in between.

Gain skills for life

We question and listen and form wide open minds. We take a deep breath and speak up. 
We think on our feet. See the big picture. Ignore the butterflies and go for it. 

We get back up and try again. We think about what’s next, and plan for it. We jump in, get muddy, give back and get set. 

We’re Scouts and everyone’s welcome here. All genders, races and backgrounds. Every week we give almost half a million 6-25 year olds the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.

Adventure means different things to different people

History would have you believe it lies only in epic journeys and mighty sacrifices, but we disagree.  Because, for Scouts, real adventure doesn’t have to be showy. It doesn’t have to gloat. It doesn’t have to boast.  Instead, more often than not, real adventure starts small and thinks big. It happens slowly but surely. Step by step and brick by brick.

It happens every time a group of ordinary people decide to show up at their local town hall every week, to build something extraordinary together. Which, for most of us Scouts, is every Tuesday at 6pm sharpish. 

Regardless of who you are – whatever your physical ability – there’s an adventure out there waiting for you. And we’ll help you find it.  Discover your ‘thing’: from abseiling to coding to performance art* 

* Or whatever takes your fancy, from our exciting selection of activities