FAQ's or Frequently Asked Questions
Thinking about joining the adventure at 4th Eastcote? You’re bound to have loads of questions about Scouting – we’ve tried to answer some of the most common ones below, but if you can’t find the answer please get in touch!
Is there a waiting list?
We are victims of our own success and there is usually a waiting list to join. It’s best to add your child to our waiting list when they are between four and five years old.
We give priority to children who:
- Have a close family adult member involved in the group
- Have a close family youth member involved in the group
- Are looked after children
- Have special needs (providing those needs can be accommodated within the group)
- Have a close family connection with St Lawrence Church
- Live locally
- Have been on the waiting list the longest
Adult volunteering
Everything the group does relies on volunteers. Whether its leading section meetings, running camps, looking after the hall or raising money, our friendly and active volunteer team are always looking for extra help. Find out how you can get involved.
Where do we meet?
4th Eastcote are based at St Lawrence Church in Eastcote, near Ruislip in Middlesex.
How much does it cost?
All our members pay a termly (3 times a year) subscription to the group, this is currently £30 per term for Cubs and Scouts and £27 per term for Beavers. This includes:
- Membership of the Group, District and National Scout Association
- Insurance
- Use of the Scout Hall
- Cost of most materials and resources for weekly meetings
Camps, Trips and some activities are charged separately. You should expect to pay around £40 - £50 for a weekend camp (dependant on location, etc). Trips are generally charged “at cost”.
Parents and Guardians
We encourage parents and guardians to become involved in the Scout Group, in fact without them we cannot continue to provide a wide range of activities. The amount of time involved could be as little as a couple of hours a week as an Assistant Leader or more if you have the time and like to become involved in the weekend activities.
Uniform
Each of the different Sections wears a uniform, you will find out what you need from your Leader once you have joined, don’t go rushing off spending money until you know what to buy.
Full Uniform is:
- Beaver or Cub jumper, Scout uniform shirt (Badges are provided on investiture evening)
- Group Scarf & Woggle (presented on Investiture)
- Scout Blue Utility Trousers
Will my child be safe?
All our leaders undergo DBS checks (formerly known as CRB), and a strict appointment procedure is followed.
In addition to training for running and organising scouting activities and games our leaders are trained in areas such as Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Challenging Behaviour, etc. and we follow the Scout Associations “Young People First” safeguarding procedures.
What activities do you do?
We do far too many activities to list – the best way to find out what we get up to is to check out the welcome page and the individual Beaver Cub and Scout programme sections of this website.
Can Girls join Scouts?
Yes! All our sections have boys and girls as members. Our leader team is mixed too.
Does my child have to go Camping?
A key part of Scouting is going away from home on residential nights away trips. These are a mix of camps, indoor sleepovers, and expeditions. Typically Beavers will be offered two nights away each year, Cubs normally get the opportunity to do two camps or pack holidays a year and Scouts get to complete at least four weekend events plus a week long summer camp.
Whilst attendance at camps is not *required* it is strongly encouraged, and is a core part of the programme. Over the years we have found that young people who do not attend the camps miss out on a huge part of the Scouting Experience Young people are not able to complete their Chief Scout Award without attending camp. If you have any concerns about your son/daughter attending camps, or about paying for them, please do talk to us!
Is Scouting a Religious Organisation
4th Eastcote is an open Church Sponsored Scout Group. This means the Scout Group and the Church support each other in achieving their aims. We encourage you to be part of our Church community although you don’t have to worship at St Lawrence’s to be a member of 4th Eastcote. This maybe because you choose to worship elsewhere or have a different faith or beliefs.
Scouting is open to those of any faith, or no faith at all. During your child’s time in Scouting they will be encouraged to explore their own beliefs, and to learn about world faiths. Various versions of the Scout Promise are available, and your child will be encouraged to make their own choice as to which they would like to make. Whilst we encourage young people to explore their faith, Scouting is not itself a religious organisation.
Will I be expected to help?
In a word, Yes. We are a family-orientated group, and encourage all family members to get involved. Whether its helping occasionally as part of a parent rota, supporting trips or camps, or taking on a more regular leadership role, we are entirely dependant on volunteers to run our weekly section meetings. Behind the scenes we are supported by an active Executive Committee and fundraising team.
But don’t let that put you off – volunteering for the group is very rewarding, and can be great fun. We run a range of social events for parents and families throughout the year, and its a great way to make new friends – for the adults as well as young people.
How is the Group Managed
Scouting has a defined management structure. At 4th Eastcote each Section is managed by a Section Leader. All the sections, along with the group in general, are managed by two Group Scout Leaders – who are managed by the District Commissioner.
The group is a registered charity, and as such is managed by a board of trustees known as the Executive Committee. This committee is made up of leaders, parents and lay members.
If you want to know more please use the Contact button on the main menu above.