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Adventurous activities permit scheme

Definition of adventurous activities 

Adventurous activities are:

  1. archery
  2. caving
  3. climbing and abseiling, except:
    • bouldering
    • climbs using auto belay systems (systems that lower a climber to the ground without any human intervention)
  4. cycling in cycle environment one and two
  5. hillwalking in terrain one and two
  6. hovercrafting
  7. snowsports (except artificial slopes and nursery slopes)
  8. all water activities, except swimming, on class B1, B2, B3 or A waters
  9. all motorised water activities and SCUBA activities on class C waters.

9a.7.1.1 Permit requirements 
Members of Scouts wishing to run any adventurous activity must hold the appropriate activity permit if: 

  1. any member of the activity group is under the age of 18 
  2. any adult participant has additional needs, disabilities or life-limiting conditions requiring additional support to access Scouts.

For joint activities involving both under- and over-18 members, the activity permit scheme applies. Where these activities are being run by non-members, see POR 9a.6 (Use of External Centres and Instructors). 

This rule also applies to staff and employees operating on behalf of The Scout Association or any Group, District, County or Country.  

9a.7.1.2 Granting permits 
Permits are granted by a District or County Lead Volunteer on the recommendation of an Assessor and following the process and content of the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme (FS120100).

9a.7.1.3 Types of permit 
Permits may be granted for 

  1. personal 
  2. leadership  
  3. supervisory.   

Details of which type(s) are available for each activity are shown in the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme (FS120100).

The remit of each permit may be found in the appropriate factsheet for the specific activity, although all permits may have additional restrictions placed on them based on the skills and experience of the permit holder. There is a list of all activities.

9a.7.1.4 Age requirements
For a Leadership or Supervisory permit, the permit holder must be a minimum of 14 years of age. Where outside agencies impose a minimum age which is greater than 14 years, those higher limits take precedence.

For Personal permits: there is no minimum age, the maximum age is up to (but not including) the holder’s 18th birthday. 

9a.7.1.5 Role requirements 
To hold an adventurous activity permit, members who are aged 18 years and over must hold a full role which allows them to lead regulated activity. 

9a.7.1.6 Recommending granting of permits 
Recommendations for granting of permits may be made by: 

  1. County Adventurous Activity Assessors 
  2. External assessors who meeting the assessor requirements outlined in Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme – Approved Assessors (FS120104)

9a.7.1.7 Permit expiry
A permit must expire within five years of being granted.   

When a permit expires, the permit holder must apply for, be assessed for, and be granted a new permit before they are able to run the activity again.  

9a.7.1.8 Permits for persons aged under 18
In countries other than Scotland, where a supervisory or leadership permit is held by someone under the age of 18, this permit will expire on their 18th birthday. Once they hold a suitable role (POR 9a.7.1.5) as an adult volunteer, they can then re-apply for their permit on the membership system. The need for an in-person assessment is subject to the decision of the Activity Assessor.

In Scotland, if a supervisory or leadership permit is held by someone under the age of 16, this permit will expire on their 16th birthday. Once they are aged 16, they must be added to the membership system and apply for a criminal record check (Scouts’ PVG disclosure).  Once their disclosure status shows as Disclosure Issued, they can then re-apply for their permit on the membership system. The need for an in-person assessment is subject to the decision of the Activity Assessor. 

9a.7.1.9 First Aid Requirements 
All groups undertaking adventurous activities must have access to: 

  1. someone (this need not be the permit holder) holding a relevant and current first aid qualification 
  2. suitable first aid materials.   

For adventurous activities this must be immediate access. The detail of the first aid skills required should be identified by the risk assessment, but the minimum qualifications (or equivalents) must be met (POR 9a.1.1.2(j)). 

9a.7.1.10 Validity of permits in other Districts or Counties 
Once granted a permit, an activity leader may operate with members from another District or County, following the normal approval (POR 9a.1.3) of the District Lead Volunteer or County Lead Volunteer of the members concerned. 

9a.7.1.11 Permits expire when roles end or change 
Permit(s) automatically expire when a permit holder: 

  1. leaves Scouts  
  2. no longer has a role which allows them to lead regulated activity 

In both cases, the permit expires on the date that they leave Scouts or no longer have a valid role.  

9a.7.1.12 Withdrawal of permits 
A Lead Volunteer must review and further restrict or cancel their permit where a permit holder: 

  1. is not following the activity rules 
  2. is running the activity in an unsafe manner  

9a.7.1.13 County self-moderation obligation 
Each County ([NI] Country) must carry out a self-moderation of their management of the adventurous activity permit scheme by the end of each January annually, in accordance with the details in Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme – Moderation (FS120106).

9a.7.1.14 County Lead Volunteer responsibilities in self-moderation 
The self-moderation must be approved by the County ([NI] Country) Lead Volunteer, who must:  

  1. verify that the County ([NI] Country) self-moderation is an accurate record 
  2. ensure that action plans are in place where the self-moderation highlights any minimum standards that are not met  
  3. ensure that any agreed action plans are conducted 

9a.7.1.15 Submitting self-moderation to UK Headquarters 
If selected for national sampling of their self-moderation, the County ([NI] Country) must send their completed County self-moderation form to the UK Headquarters Activities Team at Gilwell Park before the end of February. 

9a.7.1.16 Adventurous activities involving 100 or more people 
Where an adventurous activity (as defined in the introduction to Rule 9a.7) involves 100 or more people, the activity must be specifically approved by the home District or County ([NI] Country) Lead Volunteer(s).

In order for the approval to be made, the following information must be given in writing to the host County ([NI] Country) Lead Volunteer(s) at least two months before the activity:  

  1. the date(s) of the activity 
  2. the numbers and age ranges of those involved
  3. the names and contact details of the responsible Leaders
  4. the outline programme
  5. the proposed location(s)
  6. the proposed transport arrangements, including those to be used during the activity
  7. the proposed method of liaison with local landowners.

For all such large scale activities, the organisers must:  

  1. conduct a risk assessment
  2. consider and document the arrangement for the supervision of participants, including non-members and the procedures to be used in the activity or an emergency
  3. submit a safety plan to the home District or County ([NI] Country) Lead Volunteer(s) for approval.

9a.7.1.17 Alternative procedures for large scale activities 
For large scale adventurous activities where alternative written safety procedures are in place the County ([NI] Country) Lead Volunteer, in consultation with the relevant County ([NI] Country) Programme Team Member, may agree to an alternative system of supervision, checking and control of participating groups.