Nights away at home

Nights Away rules in POR, including rules 9.55 to 9.63, don’t apply to ‘nights away at home,’ so long as the young person’s parent or guardian is present and the night away does take place at home. This means that there’s no need for: a completed Nights Away Notification (Form NAN) for your Night's Away Permit Holder to oversee, for a qualified first aider to be on site or for parents or guardians to have a DBS check.

While a Form NAN isn’t required, parents or guardians may still want to let an appropriate local volunteer know about their ‘night away at home’, to help volunteers understand which young people have earned what badges when Scouts resumes.

Where necessary, volunteers can adapt badge and award requirements to suit the ability or circumstances of each person.​ Requirements can be replaced or removed entirely where the suspension of face-to-face scouting has stopped a young person from completing an award or where it isn’t possible to complete the award within an appropriate time period and where there are no other options for flexibility.

When considering if ‘nights away at home’, should count towards badges and awards, you should also consider:

• Most importantly, the quality of the experience for the individual. Adapting or removing a requirement might result in a learning experience that stretches and challenges one young person, but not another.
• How many requirements you adapt. For instance, counting one or two ‘at home’ nights away may be fine but counting twenty isn't. 
• The importance of the badge. You can be more relaxed about requirements for activity badges than for Top Awards.
• The quality of the experience. Decide whether the person will take part in activities or learning experiences while on the ‘night away at home’.
• Equality of access for young people. Make sure young people who don’t have access to an outdoor space or suitable equipment like a tent, can still participate in the ‘night away at home’.

The Queen’s Scout Award, Explorer Belt, Scouts of the World Award and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award need some extra thought before adapting or changing any requirements. View our guidance on adapting these awards and make sure you get and you should get approval for these from your County/Area/Region (Scotland) Commissioner or Assistant Commissioners.

There are many ways to make sure ‘nights away at home’ form part of a quality programme:

• Bring everyone together and organise a specific ‘night away, at home’ event so your whole section or group can take part. If you plan to do this, make sure you let your Group Scout Leader or Explorer Scout Leader know.
• Provide shared activities and tasks for everyone to take part in at the same time. You can find plenty of ideas on our activities page.
• Connect young people digitally. Have a look at our safeguarding guidance for digital experiences and our advice on what platforms to use.
• Provide ways for young people and parents or guardians who aren't currently with Scouts to join in and have fun.