About this Group

Our meeting place in South Petherton, Somerset, is a hive of activity, with over 60 young people participating in a varied programme each week.

Beaver Colony (ages 6 to 8)
Cub Pack (ages 8 to 10 ½)
Scout Troops (ages 10 ½ to 14)

Our dedicated team of volunteers, led by Group Lead Volunteer Tim Burch and supported by the Group Trustee Board, is committed to providing a high-quality Scouting experience. Both fun and engaging, our programme fosters a love of the outdoors and a sense of adventure. We are a charity that encourages and prepares children to take a full and active role in the community.

Whether your child is looking for new experiences or you’re interested in volunteering your time, we encourage you to get in touch. Adults can have fun and adventure too, from just assisting with occasional evenings to becoming a leader.

Safety

Our local Group follows the same policy and rules as all other Scout Groups in the United Kingdom, set out by The Scout Association in its Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR). All our programmes are planned within those rules so that the safety of your child is maximised even during the most adventurous of activities.

All uniformed leaders, parents who are occasional helpers, Trustee Board members and others who help out in various ways are required to undergo a criminal record check (DBS). Parents and others who do not have a Scout DBS can still help, but are always supervised by those who do have it.

Uniform

Our uniform is a sweatshirt or shirt/blouse, on which you can sew some of your badges, and a gold and black scarf or 'necker’ to represent South Petherton. There are lots of other optional uniform items and accessories, such as hats, hoodies, trousers or shorts.

Uniform can be bought from the East Somerset District Scout Shop either in person at St Andrews Scout Hut, Preston Grove, Yeovil BA20 2BQ (see website for opening times) or online. 2nd South Petherton Group optional clothing can be bought from the 2SP online shop.

Cost

Subscriptions (or subs) are £20 per child, paid half-termly. This covers the weekly costs of maintaining and meeting in the Scout Hut, insurance, leader training, equipment and materials. Payments for this are usually through the 2SP online shop.

Extra event costs will vary. This may be for example £5-10 for a trip to the cinema or an evening canoeing. Or it could be £50-150 for a weekend camping or an adventure holiday. We try to give as much warning as possible, and spread the event costs into manageable payments.

Nobody should be excluded from Scouting activities because of cost. We aim to make Scouts accessible to all. Payment plans can be offered, second hand uniform and equipment sourced, and grants are available.

Please speak in confidence to your leader or the Treasurers if you have concerns about this.