Permits
Guide and training clips on how to apply for, renew, assess, approve and revoke activity permits
Quick links
Guide last reviewed: May 2025
Apply for a new permit
Who can complete this task: All volunteers who are full members and are allowed to lead regulated activity.
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On your welcome page:
1. Click ‘My membership’.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
2. Click 'Programme support'.
3. Click 'Permits'.
4. Click 'Permit search'.
On the 'Permit search' page:
5. Type the permit and click 'Search permit activity', or browse the all permit activities list.
6. Click the permit name.
On the 'Activity details' page
7. Click 'Apply'.
If the 'Apply' button is grey and you're not able to click it, please read the troubleshooting instructions below.
Under 'Add permit details':
8. Select 'Category', 'Type' and 'Location' from the dropdown menus.
Under 'Add health factors and restrictions':
9. Type any health factors relevant to the activity and any restrictions wanted into the text boxes.
Under 'Assessor':
10. Select internal or external assessor.
If you’ve selected internal assessor: Select the assessor's name from the list.
If you’ve selected external assessor: Under 'Add external assessor detail', add their details to the fields. Then, tick the box to confirm the assessor meets the requirements.
Under 'Add qualification':
11. If you have any relevant activity specific qualifications, click 'Add qualification' and type the name of the qualification, the awarding body and date gained in the text boxes. You’ll be able to upload any supporting documents under the section 'Supporting documents'.
If you have clicked on add qualification in error, click 'Delete this qualification' to continue.
Under 'Add experience':
12. Type a summary of your experience into the text box.
Under 'Supporting documents':
13. If you have supporting documents, click 'Add document', type the attachment document description into the box and click 'Browse' to upload the document.
If you have clicked on add document in error, click 'Delete document' to continue.
At the bottom of the page:
14. Click 'Submit', or 'Save' to return to your application within 6 months.
If you've saved the application to finish it later, you'll find your permit application by clicking 'My in progress permits', under 'My permits'.
What happens next: An Adventurous Activity Assessor, Permit Approver, District or County Lead Volunteer receives a notification to assess or approve your application, depending on which permit you applied for.
If you already have the permit, you should follow the guide on how to renew my permit.
There're two reasons why the 'Apply' button might be grey and you're not able to click it:
1. You might already have that permit, and the process you need to follow is to renew my permit.
2. You're applying for more than one permit in the same category. In this case, follow the instructions on how to apply for a permit until you get the the 'Activity details' page (instruction number 7), then add /applypermit to the end of the URL in your browser and press 'enter' on your keyboard.
Continue to follow the instruction on how to apply for a permit (from instruction number 8) to continue with your permit application.
If you've clicked 'Add qualification' in error, click 'Delete this qualification' to continue.
If you have clicked 'Add document' in error, click 'Delete document' to continue.
Renew my permit
Who can complete this task: All volunteers who are full members and are allowed to lead regulated activity.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'My permits'.
4. Click 'My active permits'.
On the 'My active permits' page:
5. Click the permit name.
On the 'permit details' page:
6. Click 'Renew' at the bottom of the page.
The next steps follow the same process for applying for a permit. You can watch the apply for a permit video (starting at 1:13) for additional support.
On the 'Renew permit' page, under 'Add permit details':
7. Select 'Category', 'Type' and 'Location' from the dropdown menus.
Note: Please check if the location filled in automatically is correct. You might need to update this information if you changed where you volunteer since you applied for the permit.
Under 'Add health factors and restrictions':
8. Type any health factors relevant to the activity and any restrictions wanted into the text boxes.
Under 'Assessor':
9. Select internal or external assessor.
If you’ve selected internal assessor: Select the assessor's name from the list.
If you’ve selected external assessor: Under 'Add external assessor detail' add their details. Then, tick the box to confirm the assessor meets the requirements.
Under 'Add qualification':
10. If you have any relevant activity specific qualifications, click 'Add qualification' and type the name of the qualification, the awarding body and date gained in the text boxes. You’ll be able to upload any supporting documents under the section 'Supporting documents'.
If you've clicked 'Add qualification' in error, click 'Delete this qualification' to continue.
Under 'Add experience':
11. Type a summary of your experience into the text box.
Under 'Supporting documents':
12. If you have supporting documents, click 'Add document', type the attachment document description into the box and click 'Browse' to upload the document.
If you have clicked 'Add document' in error, click 'Delete document' to continue.
At the bottom of the page:
13. Click 'Submit', or 'Save' to return to your application within 6 months.
If you’ve saved the application to finish it later, you’ll find your permit application by clicking 'My in progress permits', under 'My permits'.
What happens next: An Adventurous Activity Assessor, Permit Approver, District or County Lead Volunteer receives a notification to assess or approve your application, depending on which permit you applied for.
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'Manage permit applications'.
On the 'Manage permit applications' list:
4. Click the permit name.
On the 'Permit application' page:
5. Click 'Accept and start permit application process', or click 'Reject', or click 'Re-assign Assessor'.
If you’ve accepted the permit request, under 'Stages':
6. Click the 'Technical competence' accordion.
7. Click 'Start technical competence assessment'.
8. Click 'Record technical assessment' or click 'Schedule assessment'.
If you’ve clicked 'Record technical assessment', select one or more technical assessment restriction types from the dropdown menu, type the technical assessment details into the text box, select the tick box confirming you have uploaded the permit assessment checklist or it's already attached to this, and click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
If you’ve clicked 'Schedule assessment', click the 'Add new action' accordion, type the subject into the text box, select the type from the dropdown menu, type the due date or scheduled date and notes into the text boxes, and click 'Save changes'. Once you’ve assessed the member, click 'Mark as complete'.
9. Click the 'Scouts rule knowledge' accordion.
10. Tick the box confirming that the applicant is aware of the general and activity specific Scouts rules for the activity and how these affect them.
11. Click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
What happens next: A Permit Approver, District or County Lead Volunteer receives a notification to approve the application. They'll complete the sections Safe Scouting, Personal Suitability and Granting.
If you’ve rejected the permit request:
1. Select 'Reason' from the dropdown menu.
2. Type comments into the text box.
3. Click 'Submit and reject'.
What happens next: The volunteer who applied for the permit receives a notification informing the permit request was rejected.
If you’ve re-assigned the permit request:
1. Select an assessor from the list.
2. Select a reason from the dropdown menu.
3. Type your comments into the text box.
4. Click 'Submit and re-assign'.
What happens next: The Permit Assessor you selected receives a notification requesting them to assess the permit request.
Approve a permit application
Who can complete this task: District and County Lead Volunteers and Permit Approvers.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'Manage permit applications'.
On the 'Manage permit applications' page:
4. Click the permit name.
On the 'Permit application' page, under 'Stages':
5. Click the 'Safe Scouting' accordion.
6. Click 'Start safeguarding safety'.
7. Tick the three boxes confirming that the applicant holds a valid disclosure and current safety and safeguarding training.
8. Click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
9. Click the 'Personal suitability' accordion.
10. Click 'Start personal suitability'.
11. Select one or more personal suitability restriction type(s) from the dropdown menu and type personal suitability details into the text box.
12. Click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
13. Click the 'Granting' accordion.
14. Click 'Start granting'.
15. Select one or more permit restriction type(s) from the dropdown menu, type the date of expiry and permit restriction details into the text boxes.
16. Tick the box confirming that in granting this permit I have transferred any restriction recommendations from the technical assessment and confirm that these restrictions have been clearly communicated to the applicant.
17. Click 'Grant permit'.
What happens next: The volunteer who applied for the permit receives a notification confirming their permit application was approved.
If you haven't received a permit application you were expecting, please contact the Support Centre. They can check to whom the application was sent.
We're experiencing some issues when Permit Assessors apply for a permit. Some applications are incorrectly being sent to County or HQ level for approval.
Permits using External Assessors
Who can complete this task: District and County Lead Volunteers and Permit Approvers.
The Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver must approve the Assessor.
Start by signing into Scouts.org.uk
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'Manage permit applications'.
On the 'Manage permit applications' page:
4. Click the permit name.
On the 'Permit application' page, under 'External assessment details':
5. Make sure the External assessor details are correct and match the relevant requirements as set out in the external assessor qualification table. If needed, add a verification method in notes.
6. Tick the box ‘By accepting the assessment, I confirm that I have checked this assessor meets the relevant requirements as set out in the external assessor qualification table.’
7. Click 'Accept assessment'.
Please be mindful that it might take a few minutes for the digital tool to update the permit application and to notify the Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver.
The Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver must approve the Assessment, Scouting Skills, Safe Scouting, Personal suitability and Granting.
Start by signing into Scouts.org.uk
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'Manage permit applications'.
On the 'Manage permit applications' page:
4. Click the permit name.
On the 'Permit application' page:
5. Click the 'Technical competence’ accordion.
6. Click 'Record technical assessment'
7. If needed, upload evidence of the assessment (Assessment check sheet).
8. Select one or more technical assessment restriction types from the dropdown menu, type the technical assessment details into the text box,
9. Select the tick box confirming you have uploaded the permit assessment checklist or it's already attached to this, and click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
10. Click the 'Scouts rule knowledge' accordion.
11. Select ‘Start Scout rule knowledge assessment’.
12. Tick the box confirming that the applicant is aware of the general and activity specific Scouts rules for the activity and how these affect them.
13. Click 'Submit and mark as complete'.
Continue to follow the instructions from step 5 under ‘Approve a permit application’ of the digital tools guide, as per any permit.
Revoke a permit
Who can complete this task: District and County Lead Volunteers and Permit Approvers.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Teams'.
2. Click 'My teams'.
On the 'My teams' page:
3. Click the team name.
On the left-hand side menu, under the team's name (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
4. Click 'Permits'.
On the 'team’s permits' page:
5. Click the permit activity.
On the 'Permit details' page:
6. Click 'Revoke' at the bottom of the page.
On the 'Revoke permit' page:
7. Type the revocation reason into the text box.
8. Click 'Submit'.
What happens next: The volunteer receives a notification confirming their permit was revoked.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'My active permits'. If your permit request hasn’t been approved yet, click 'My in progress permits' instead.
4. Click the permit name.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
1. Click 'Programme support'.
2. Click 'Permits'.
3. Click 'Permit search'.
In the 'Permit' search box:
4. Type the permit you’re looking for and click 'Search permit activity', or browse the all permit activities list.
On the permits list:
5. Click the permit name.
Under 'Activity details':
6. Click 'View permit holder'.