Activities in which it is acknowledged that that there is a greater risk to those involved are covered by the permit scheme. The list of Adventurous Activities is available on the Scouts website. If you are planning an activity, it's worth checking if it's on this list. If it is you will need a leader with a permit to allow you to run the session. (There are exceptions, for example if you get a qualified professional from an external organisation to run the session.)
You can search for existing activity permit holders via the Membership System. If they have made their profile visible then you will be able to search them via: Programm Support - Permits - Permit search and then look for the activity that you are interested in running. Selecting the activity will allow you to View permit holder details. When searching you can filter via the 'County' field and search for permit holders in 'Forth' region to help narrow down the search to local permit holders.
If you need help finding existing permit holders get in touch via maps@frscouts.org.uk.
To run activities listed on the list of Adventurous Activities requires a permitted leader to be responsible for the activity. This could be leaders in your group (perhaps from different sections), or leaders from elsewhere, if you do not hold a current permit.
Some activities can be done in a limited manner without holding a permit if you have relevant experience. For example low-level 'hillwalking' in Terrain Zero, or watersports on Class C waters. Discuss this with your Group Lead Volunteer, as a level of competence is required (and may need to be demonstrated) before your District Lead Volunteer will allow these activities to run.
Depending on your experience you may need to attend relevant training and assessment. If you have relevant qualification from the activity Governing body then you may have already demonstrated the necessary skills for a permit to be awarded. The process is described on the Scout website, and the application is made via the Membership System. If you are interested in gaining a permit in an adventurous activity, then please reach out to the relevant assessor via the contacts below for guidance first. General queries can be sent to MAPS@frscouts.org.uk
Your permit only becomes valid after assessor approval, District Lead Volunteer approval, and it is recorded on the Membership System. Only once it appears on the Membership System is your Activity Permit valid. The Scout Association Membership System is the only official record of valid permits for Scouting activities.
Congratulations on the award of your Activity Permit - once it is approved and shows on the Membership System (look under Programme support - Permits - My permits - My active permits) then you can take groups out on your permitted activity. The permit MUST be approved and showing on the Membership System before you run a session.
You are encouraged to keep a record (logbook) of any sessions you organise, run or just take part in - as this will be required when it comes to renewing your permit. Log Book Details: this can be a simple record of your activity sessions held on a spreadsheet or word document, or you can supply details via an online log book (for example the D-log for hillwalking/climbing).
Any record should include:
- Details of all Scouting Activities to include date, location, group details, your role in organising and delivery, and any relevant comments.
- Details of any relevant skills training you have attended in the last 5 years.
- Details of any relevant qualifications you have achieved in the last 5 years.
- Can include details of relevant personal activities as further evidence of recent experience.
Permit renewal requests are submitted via the Adult Membership system. Navigate to your expiring permit (Programme support - Permits - My permits - My active permits) and select the permit for which you are requesting a renewal. Towards the bottom of the permit informaiton page there should be a 'Renew' button, clicking this starts the renewal process. This should be done before the permit expires, otherwise you will need to apply for a new permit.
You are required to provide evidence to support your application for permit renewal, this is uploaded to the Membership System as part of the renewal application. This should include a 'log book' record of activity sessions you have run, or helped at in the last 5 years. Where a permit required advanced first aid qualification, evidence of current qualifications should also be uploaded. The relevant assessor will use this information to arrange for permit renewal (note: this can include reassessment where deemed necessary).
Log Book Details: this can be a simple record of your activity sessions held on a spreadsheet or word document, or you can supply details via an online log book (for example the D-log for hillwalking/climbing). Any record should include:
- Details of all Scouting Activities to include date, location, group details, your role in organising and delivery, and any relevant comments.
- Details of any relevant skills training you have attended in the last 5 years.
- Details of any relevant qualifications you have achieved in the last 5 years.
- Can include details of relevant personal activities as further evidence of recent experience.
Where possible please select the same assessor that issued the expiring permit, they will be best placed to assess any request. Where this is not possible then it is common to try to use local assessors - in our case those based in the Forth Region. If you are having difficulty identifying a suitable assessor please get in touch with the Region MPAS via MAPS@frscouts.org.uk