Uniform and costs

Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone feel part of the group.

Scouts uniform

Our uniform consists of a sweatshirt or shirt/blouse, which you can sew some of your badges onto, and a coloured scarf or 'necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional uniform and accessories you can wear, such as hats, hoodies, trousers or shorts.

You can buy Scout uniforms either from our online Scout Store or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, your group’s volunteers should be able to give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it. They may even know if someone is selling a uniform second hand. There may be grants or pre-loved uniform donations available locally to help you buy a uniform too, so ask your group for more details.

What it costs to go to Scouts

The typical cost of Scouts for a young person is around £372 a year. However, this cost can vary depending on where you are, from £20-£500 a year. Some groups charge more and some charge less. 

There’s also the cost of uniform. For example, it’s £17 for a Cubs jumper and £22 for a Scouts uniform shirt. However, there's always the option to buy or use pre-loved uniforms too.

There can be extra costs for day trips and specific activities, such as external trips and camps. These are planned well in advance and to a fixed budget that families can plan for. There are often ways to fundraise or to pay in instalments. A typical weekend camp is likely to cost £30 and a week-long camp can cost £120 (plus travel costs), depending on location and activities on offer.  

No one should be excluded from Scouts because of cost. There are grants available and we aim to make Scouts accessible to all. You can find out more about our cost of living support. Please speak to your local volunteers if you’ve any concerns about this.