GROUP GUIDE   

Our Scout Group has a purpose built headquarters in Hall Heath Close, off Sandpit Lane in St Albans. Our Headquarters backs onto the Wick, a public area of woodland and field that is ideal for outdoor activities. The Scout Group is the main organisational unit of Scouting and provides facilities and support for all its young members from 6 to 14 years of age. Boys and girls in the Group 6 and 7 years old are in our Beaver Scout Colonies. From 8 to 10 they are in our Cub Scout Packs, and from 10 to 14 in our Scout Troops. Explorer Scout Units for young men and women up to 18 years old are currently District-based. Each Section (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts) has its own adult leaders and weekly meetings, which are normally at our Group Headquarters. Each section has a Scouting programme suitable for its age range.

We are a uniformed organisation, with a training scheme in which progress is rewarded by badges worn on this uniform. See the separate leaflet (included here) about what uniform is needed and how to get it.

Each section has a Promise that new members make at their investiture: these Promises are shown here. This investiture is a short ceremony normally during a weekly section meeting. Each section also has a “Law”, which is the basis of a code of behaviour. Please note that other forms of Promise are available for various faiths. See your Section Leader for details.

YES, BUT WHAT DO WE DO?

The type of programme depends on the age range of the Section. The aim is to have fun and challenge throughout; to encourage our young members to develop responsibility; to promote teamwork and to support personal development. There are opportunities as they grow older for our members to learn to lead others and to develop interests in outdoor activities.

There is a training scheme that progresses throughout these sections and the programme likewise has a natural development. For example, Beavers are mainly based in the Group HQ, but with some weekly programmes outdoors. Cubs are introduced to camping (in tents) and “pack holidays” (indoor dormitory accommodation). Scouts have several camps a year, hopefully including some adventurous activities (e.g. canoeing, mountain walking). Older Scouts go on camping expeditions that they organise themselves. There is a natural progression for our members from one section to the next and hopefully all our young members will go up from section to section within our Group.

WEEKLY MEETINGS

Section meetings are held weekly throughout the year, except when otherwise announced. The program is normally a mixture of activities, skill training and games, with fun and challenge throughout. Especially for Scouts there is also preparation for camps and other expeditions. Please help make sure that your son or daughter is on time for meetings and wears full uniform unless otherwise instructed.

Group members are expected to attend meetings regularly, to enable them to participate fully in our activities. Of course, members may miss occasional meetings because of clashes with school activities etc. It greatly helps the Leaders, if members and parents will be polite enough to let us know beforehand, if they are going to be absent. This also means that we can plan programs accordingly.

GETTING IT DONE: GROUP ORGANISATION

The Scout Group is the registered charity that is responsible for the finance, our Headquarters and equipment. Most activity equipment, such as camping (tents etc), is maintained by the Group for use by all its members. Similarly the Group Headquarters are maintained by and for the whole Group.

The Scout Group has the main responsibility for ensuring that the rules of the UK Scout Association (our national body) are followed, so providing safe conditions and the correct legal framework. The Group Scout Leader coordinates the various sections and is in overall charge of Scouting in the Group. The day-to-day responsibility for your son or daughter is with the section leaders who are appointed by the Group Scout Leader.

The Group Executive consists of representatives from parents, leaders and our sponsoring church. They act as Charity Trustees, and ensure that the finance, headquarters and equipment and fabric are well maintained, so that the leaders can concentrate on providing a high standard of Scouting for all our young members

This Group is sponsored by the Homewood Road United Reformed Church but there is no requirement to be a member of that Church. Each year we have three Church parades on Sunday mornings and members are expected to attend at least some of these.

PARENTS’ HELP

The success of the whole Group depends on parents to do such things as administration, fund raising, maintenance of our headquarters and equipment. There are several ways in which parents can contribute towards this success, so that we can be more effective in making Scouting worthwhile for members. These are outlined in a separate part of this Membership Pack. This outlines various roles within the Group organisation, but does not include the help needed at fund-raising event, or with parents’ rotas to help at Section Meetings.

Please complete the “PARENTS’SUPPORT part of Membership Form to say how you might help.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions are collected three times a year, at the start of each School Term. They cover the basic cost of running the Group. These subs cover section expenses such as the purchase of badges, small items of equipment and books, maps etc. They contribute to the cost of Group camping equipment, upkeep of our headquarters, insurance and capitation fees. Capitation fees are what the Group pays each year per Member towards the cost of running the national Scout Association, the St Albans Scout District etc.

Generally, those members attending trips, camps and other Nights Away Activities pay the cost of them. 

The size of the subscriptions is minimized by various fund-raising events throughout the year. We hope that you will complete a Gift Aid form, included in this Membership Pack, so that we can claim some tax back on subscriptions that you pay, but with no extra cost to you.

GROUP HEADQUARTERS AND PARKING

There is very limited parking in the Group Headquarters' grounds. While picking up children after meetings etc., please try to avoid blocking our neighbours' drives. Normally, parents’ parking for open evenings and other special events is just round the corner at the Homewood Road Church. Please help us keep the neighbours happy by not blocking their drives. Note that children should wait at the Group Headquarters at the end of meetings until collected by parents. The Group cannot accept responsibility for children going to or from the Headquarters. Furthermore, it ensures that behaviour and noise within Hall Heath Close are kept at reasonable levels.

GROUP NEWSLETTERS AND WEB SITE

Regular Group Newsletters will keep you informed of Group and Section, including a list of upcoming activities and when subscriptions are due. In addition the Group Web site is regularly updated with news and information: