Frequently Asked Questions
There's no such thing as a silly question.
Get clarity on the important things
We’ve all been there. We have a question but we’re not sure how to ask. This page will hopefully provide some much needed clarity around the nitty gritty. If your question isn’t answered here or you’d still like to get in touch, please do so!
Where are you based?
2 Home Avenue, Newry - this has been our home since 1975!
How can my child join?
Usually, we hold our registration evening and main intake of new members at the beginning of September each year.
Our older age groups (e.g. Scouts, Ventures and Rovers) tend to have some available spaces throughout the year.
Our younger age groups (e.g. Beavers and Cubs) tend to be oversubscribed, so we advise getting in touch at the start of September.
If you would like to enquire and find out if there are any spaces available for your child at any time during the year, please contact us.
Is there a waiting list to join?
We tend not to keep a waiting list, other than for those children who do not receive a place during our September intake each year.
As our Scout Group is operated entirely by volunteers, we are limited in the number of youth members we can have by the number of adult volunteers we have.
The children of our volunteers are always prioritised for any available places. If you would like to find out more about volunteering, please visit our volunteer page.
How much does it cost for my child to join?
We do our best to make Scouting as affordable as possible for all young people.
We ask for a monthly contribution of £15 per child for 12 months of the year. This contribution covers all membership fees, insurance costs and weekly meetings. For two children, the contribution is £25 per family and for three children, the contribution is £40 per family.
We pride ourselves on being all-inclusive and, therefore, we want to ensure that no child misses out on Scouting due to the cost. If you would like to have a discreet conversation about the costs, please contact one of our senior volunteers.
Are there any other costs?
The monthly contribution will be the biggest cost for parents/guardians. When we go on overnight activities, we may ask for a small contribution to cover the additional costs (e.g. camping fees, food, etc.).
In addition to that, youth members will be expected to wear a Scout uniform, which can cost between £25 and £60, depending on the young person and what they need.
Youth members will also need to have their own outdoor clothing. Hiking boots can cost anywhere around £30 and they will also need waterproofs, hat and gloves (approx £30). Scouts get additional discount (usually around 10-15% off) in shops such as Cotswolds, Go Outdoors, Regatta, Trespass and Mountain Warehouse.
Again, cost should never prevent a young person from joining the Scouts, so if you would like to have a discreet conversation about the costs, please contact one of our senior volunteers.
Do I have to stay with my child?
Many of our volunteers are parents, so we understand how it feels when dropping off your child for the first couple of times. However, in our experience, the best way for the young person to grow and develop is to become independent. Therefore, the short answer is “no, you do not stay with your child” (unless, of course, you want to volunteer!).
What activities do you do?
Activities will vary depending on the time of year and the age group. To see what each of our sections/age groups get up to, have a look at the page linked below.
Where do I get the uniform?
The uniform varies for each of the age groups:
- For all members, the trousers should be dark navy ‘combat-style’ trousers.
- The ‘official’ trousers are available from the Scout Shop for all ages: Scout Shop Trousers.
- You can also by trousers elsewhere, such as these: Craghoppers Trousers (for older members) or Primary School-style navy jogging bottoms (for Beavers and Cubs).
- For all members, the footwear worn should be black shoes, or dark coloured hiking boots, or dark coloured sandals/open shoes.
- For Beavers, the Beaver Scout jumper is royal blue.
- The ‘official’ Beaver jumper is available from the Scout Shop: Scout Shop Beaver Jumper.
- You can also buy a ‘replica’ Beaver jumper from Sinead’s of Newry on Canal Street: Sinead’s.
- We also have a number of ‘pre-loved’ Beaver jumpers in the Scout Den which are available for free or a donation.
- For Cubs, the Cub Scout jumper is navy.
- The ‘official’ Cub jumper is available from the Scout Shop: Scout Shop Cub Jumper.
- You can also buy a ‘replica’ Cub jumper from Sinead’s of Newry on Canal Street: Sinead’s.
- We also have a number of ‘pre-loved’ Cub jumpers in the Scout Den which are available for free or a donation.
- For Scouts, Ventures, Rovers and Scouters, the Scout shirt is midnight blue.
- The ‘official’ Scout shirt is available from the Scout Shop: Scout Shop Scout Shirt.
- You can also buy a ‘replica’ Scout shirt from Sinead’s of Newry on Canal Street: Sinead’s.
- We also have a number of ‘pre-loved’ Scout shirts in the Scout Den which are available for free or a donation.
- Scouts, Ventures, Rovers and Scouters are also expected to wear a Scout belt and lanyard with their uniform.
- Please contact one of our senior volunteers before attempting to purchase these particular items.
Where do I get the neckerchief/Scout scarf?
Called a neckerchief, Scout scarf, necktie, neckie, necko, necker – the neckerchief is worn around the world by Scouts.
The neckerchief which we wear around our necks cannot be purchased. Instead, it is presented to our members when they officially join the Scout Group during a ceremony called an ‘Investiture.’
What if my question hasn't been answered here?
This set of FAQs is certainly not exhaustive so you may still have some questions. We encourage you to get in touch by clicking the contact us button below. We look forward to hearing from you!