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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Joining Cubs

Joining Cubs

The first step to becoming a Cub is to find your nearest Pack using our finder tool. Membership is managed locally, so the easiest way to get started is to reach out to a local leader to see if spaces are available and find out more about where and when the group meets.

Cubs is open to all, and adjustments can always be made locally to make sure everyone can join in the fun. If you have any questions about accessibility, it’s best to chat with your local leader as soon as possible. By being upfront about additional needs from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has the best experience possible. Check out our information on specific adjustments.

Lots of young people want to join Cubs and sometimes you might have to wait for a space to become available before you can start your journey. If your local Pack has a waiting list, parents and other adults might want to think about what they could do to help out. Regardless of skillset or availability, there’s an opportunity for everyone to contribute.

On your first night at Cubs, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.

Eventually, you’ll get your own Cub uniform to wear to meetings and camps. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the Pack. It also gives you a place to show off all the badges you earn.

For Cubs, the uniform consists of a green sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats, hoodies, navy blue trousers or shorts. Uniform can either be bought from our online shop - Scout Store - or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, adult volunteers can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.

The cost of going to Cubs will vary depending on how your local Pack does things. Usually, a basic fee covering the cost of the hire and upkeep of the Cub meeting place will be collected weekly, monthly, termly or annually - depending on local arrangements. Trips, camps and activities that take place away from the usual meeting place are usually charged separately.

Cubs is designed to be an accessible and affordable way for young people to learn lots of new skills through a single membership. Nobody should feel excluded from Cub activities because of money worries. If they’re concerned about costs, adults should speak to their local leader in confidence, to see what they can do to help. In most cases, support is available to make sure nobody misses out.