This page gives a general introduction to adventurous activities. Other pages and links provide more detailed information about specific activities, training, permits, funding, etc.
For further information or enquiries:
Contact Activities Team
Running adventurous activities
To run adventurous activities for our young people you will usually need a permit. However you do not need to be a high level expert or have external qualifications, let alone be a professional instructor to obtain a permit. You will just need to show that for the level of activity you want to lead you have the adequate skills in the activity and in looking after young people taking part. Normally this involves a combination of training and experience – the requirements are detailed in The Scout Association’s Activity permit scheme.
The Activities Team can advise you on what is involved including on training opportunities.
Activity training programme
Our Activity teams and assessors run a range of weekends and courses for leaders, instructors and helpers interested in developing their skills so that they can run adventurous activities themselves.
Further details can be found on the Activity training page.
County Activity Teams
Our County Activity Teams provide specialised support for leaders interested in giving their young people experiences of different adventurous activities as part of the adventure and outdoors programme. You can find out more about them on their respective web pages:
Applying for or renewing an
Adventurous Activities Permit
Applications and renewals need to be made on the ‘My Membership’ section of our national website. Once in My Membership go to Programme Support, then Permits, then Permit Search and look for the permit you want and click on Apply. Follow the instructions including entering your location (i.e. where your main role is) and select an assessor from ‘Royal Berkshire’ if we have one.
If you already have a permit for that activity, the Apply button will be greyed out, so after going to Programme Support and Permits, you will instead need to go to My permits, then My active Permits. Then click on the permit you want to renew, extend or amend, and at the bottom of the page click on Renew instead.
There are few circumstances when the Apply button is greyed out but you can’t use the renew process. In that case add /applypermit at the end of the URL for that page and press Enter.
More detailed guidance on applying for a permit is available at https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/digital-tool-guides/permits/
If you are under 18 you will not be on that system and you will need to contact and apply through our County Administrator.
If you have a current adult role in Scouting, but cannot log in, you should go to the Digital tool guides which will tell you how to register and log in for the first time. When asked for your email address, give the one you used when applying for your role. If you can’t remember, ask your group lead volunteer.
Please remember when applying for an adventurous activities permit that it is vital that you provide information on any previous permits, together with evidence of any relevant qualifications and a log of your experience over the last 5 years so that the assessor can decide what if any further assessment is necessary.
You may also find it helpful to note the contact details of your assessor before you submit your application in case you need to contact them.
Applying for or renewing a Nights Away permit
Applications and renewals for Nights Away permits follow exactly the same process but you should ask your Training Adviser to put you in contact with a Nights Away Assessor (NAA) in your District who will be able to help you through the process. If you do not know who your Training Adviser is, your Group Lead Volunteer should be able to help you contact them and/or one of your District’s NAAs.
If none if them can help you, contact the County Activities Team.
Funding for activity training
We have now extended our activity training grants scheme to cover more activities. In addition, more adult volunteers, Young Leaders, and Explorers are now eligible, and there is no longer a specified closing date.
Click here for further information about activity training grants.
Advanced first aid training
for adventurous activities
For those who want or require advanced first aid training we run a programme of 16 hour Outdoor Pursuits courses. The course is free to members of Berkshire Scouting. See the Activity Training page.