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Programme and Badge updates

Discover all the updates we've made to the programme and badges from 2023 to date.

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Badge updates

Hikes Away Staged Activity Badge

Time on the Water Staged Activity Badge

Badge updates

Updated Scouts Chef Activity Badge

Minor updates to the Scouts Chef Activity badge, to embed the topic of reducing food waste, to support sustainability. 

The Gateway Award.

Scouts are now working with the learning disability charity Mencap to deliver their Gateway Award which is an activity award scheme designed for young people with learning disabilities, including those with more complex support needs. The Award can now be used in place of the challenges for our Explorer and Network Top Awards, similarly to DofE. Young people with learning disabilities can still choose to take part in any of our other awards too, and we have guidance on making adjustments to awards available.  

Find out more about the Gateway Award

Badge Updates

Air Activities Staged Activity Badge

  • All stages of the Air Activities Staged Activity Badge have been updated in collaboration with the RAF to make them more achievable.
  • Young people can follow either the old or new requirements until 30 June 2026. From 1 July 2026, only the new requirements will apply.

Top Award updates

We've updated the Chief Scout Platinum and Chief Scout Diamond Awards nights away requirements. They’re now aligned with the changes made to the King Scout Award in June 2024.

The nights away requirements are now:

Chief Scout Platinum

  • Complete eight nights away as an Explorer Scout of which four must be camping. Any nights away can count for this section, including those used in another part of this award

Chief Scout Diamond

  • Complete 16 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which eight must be camping. Any nights away can count for this section, whether used in another part of this award, or to count towards the Chief Scout Platinum award.

Badge Updates

Explorer Space Activity Badge

  • We have recently added the Space Activity Badge to the Explorers programme. The badge is sponsored by the UK Space Agency.

Top Award updates

Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Gold Award

  • On 1 February 2025 the DofE introduced new requirements to the residential section of the Gold Award. This makes it more inclusive, accessible and flexible. You can find details of the new DofE Residential Requirements. We've updated our DofE Residential Section webpage to reflect the changes made by the DofE.

King's Scout Award Residential

  • We’ve also updated our King's Scout Award Residential Challenge to reflect the changes. Find out more about the King's Scout Award.

Badge updates

Updated Swimmer Staged Activity Badge

  • We’ve updated the Swimmer Staged Activity Badge to make the stages more achievable for all sections. We’ve worked closely alongside volunteers and National Swimming Organisations to better align our stages with the levels or awards our young people can gain through swimming lessons.
  • There’s a transition period until the end of August 2025 where young people can use either set of requirements. From the 1 September 2025, they can only work towards the new requirements. 

Scouts Space Activity Badge

  • We’ve combined the Scouts Astronomer and Astronautics Activity Badges into one Space Activity Badge. We worked closely with UK Space Agency to bring together and update the requirements.
  • There’ll be a transition period until the 30 June 2025 where young people can still work towards any of the three badges.
  • The Scouts Astronautics badge will be discontinued from July 2025 and the Astronomer requirements will be removed.

Beaver Space Activity Badge

  • We’ve updated the Beavers Space Activity Badge requirements. There’ll be a transition period until the 30 June 2025 where young people can still work towards both sets of requirements. After this date, young people can only work towards the new requirements.

Cubs Space Activity Badge

  • We’ve updated the Cubs Astronomer Activity Badge and have renamed it to the Cubs Space Activity Badge. There’ll be a transition period until the 30th June 2025 where young people can still work towards both sets of requirements. After this date, young people can only work towards the new requirements.

Badge updates

Updated Disability Awareness badges 

New requirements for the Beavers Disability Awareness Activity Badge and the Cubs Disability Awareness Badge launched. The badges have been updated in-line with the social model of disability, and to provide space for young people to to learn about non-visible or less visible conditions.

We’d encourage everyone to use the new requirements as soon as possible. But, if you're already working towards the badge or have activities already planned, you can continue using the old requirements until August 2025.

Scouts Angler badge

We’ve updated the requirements of the Scouts Angler Activity Badge to create a more educational, environmentally friendly and sustainable badge and added new tips to the page. Requirements changes are:

  • Req. 4, 6, and 8 merged into Req. 7
  • Req. 2: There’s a new requirement to ‘Understand how the Countryside code should be followed by anglers, and where and how to fish legally.’
  • Req. 4: New requirement to: ‘Learn about invasive species and make sure to check, clean and dry your equipment to stop them spreading.’

Badge updates

Islamophobia Awareness Month blanket badge 

  • In November, we launched a new blanket badge for Islamophobia Awareness Month, supported by the Muslim Scout Fellowship (MSF).
  • The badge and activity ideas aim to promote understanding, respect and inclusivity in Scouts, as well as in the wider community. 

Badge updates

Scouts Pioneer

  • Req. 1a: removed ‘missile launcher’ and replaced with ‘catapult’.

Scouts Water Activities

  • Req. 1e: the word ‘Surfing’ was replaced with ‘Sports’.

Scouts Communicator

The following qualifications were removed:

  • Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Competence and Authority to Operate
  • Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence

Scouts Camper

  • Req. 1: ‘under canvas’ removed and requirement changed to the following: Camp as a Scout for at least 15 nights. You could camp in a tent, or try something new, from hammocks to bivouacs, or even indoors.

Scouts Survival skills:

  • Req. 1d: ‘burning qualities of wood’ removed.
  • Req. 3: removed 24 hour time scale.
  • Req. 1e: added ‘and maintenance’ to the end of the requirement about knife skills.
  • Additional tip for Req 2: Young people could find other ways to demonstrate their survival kit. It could be a list, pictures cut from magazines or a digital recreation of their survival kit.’

Badge updates 

Earth tribe 

The Earth Tribe Award was launched in June. This new award will help all Scouts take action to create a better world. Whatever Section you’re in, there’s a way to be a planet champion. 

King’s Scout Award requirements updated  

Published updates to the King’s Scout Award so it is easier to understand and submit. There are changes to volunteer sign-off and the Nights Away section, and you'll need to make sure you download and submit the new log book. You'll be able to see full details on the King's Scout Award page, or you can reach out to your local King's Scout Award volunteers for support.   

Badge updates 

Squirrels Space Explorer badge  

At the start of May we launched a new Space themed badge for Squirrels, working with the UK Space Agency. We piloted the badge with local dreys to co-design four new activities, and the new badge image was created by an Explorer Scout, working with Supple Studios.  

Badge updates

YouShape Award for squirrels 

In collaboration with the UK Youth Team, we launched the new Squirrels YouShape award, along with lots of activity ideas to help leaders deliver the award.    

Programme support 

Programme Development Toolkit  

We've refreshed the Quality Programme Checkers and created our new online, user-friendly Programme Development Toolkit. Volunteers can use the toolkit to reflect on their programme and find additional support resources. 

Programme emails  

April we sent our latest half-termly email update to Section Lead Volunteers and Team Members with activity ideas and inspiration for summer, and some Programme news.    

Badge updates 

Outdoor in 24 Blanket Badge

Outdoor in 24 is encouraging Scout sections, from Squirrels to Network, to get outside throughout 2024.

Whether it's for one meeting, going on nights away or taking on the Outdoor in 24 challenge, we're hoping to get young people trying something new in the great outdoors this year. There's even an extra 24 hours from the leap year in 2024 for you to get outside.

Programme support

ProgFest  

At the end of October, programme volunteers from across the county came together to share ideas and hear about the programme work coming up in the next 12 months. The sessions explored volunteer transformation, Outdoor in 24, being youth shaped and more. It was enjoyed by all, so a massive thank you to all who came along or supported it in some way. We’ve had lots of positive feedback and thank-you messages from local volunteers and are hoping to run the event again in 2025. 

Programme support

New Support for planning occasions and events as part of your programme

Badge updates

Explorers Leadership Activity Badge

Following feedback from members and working with the British Army we've updated the requirements for this activity badge. View the updated Leadership badge and requirements.

If you’re already working toward the badge or have planned activities in your programme you can continue using the previous Leadership Activity Badge requirements until the end of 2023.