Scout Permit Scheme - an updated guide to a new system
- Nathan Cole
- Jan 12
- 7 min read
Scout Permits, the gateway to fun!
In our Demystifying the Scout Permit blog, we delved into the Scout Permit Scheme as it stood several years ago. Following on from a number of legal cases, Scouting has overhauled it's approach to running activities with a focus on providing fun in the safest manner possible.
If you've not read our earlier blog, why not have a read to gain an understanding.
The New Permits System — Using the Scout Membership System
The Scout Association now manages all Adventurous Activity Permit applications and records through the national My Membership digital system. This modernised approach makes the process clearer, more consistent and ensures that permits are tracked securely and officially.
What’s Changed?
Previously, permit applications and records could be managed manually or held locally. Under the new system, the My Membership platform is the single source of truth for all permitted activities — from application to assessment, approval, renewal and even recording any restrictions. If it’s not in My Membership, it doesn’t count as an official permit.
How It Works for Applicants
Log In to My Membership
Start by signing in at scouts.org.uk and go to My Membership.
Navigate to the Permits Section
Under Programme Support, select Permits and search for the activity permit you’re interested in.
Apply Online
Click Apply on the permit page. You’ll be prompted to enter details like:
Permit Category and Type
Your Location (usually your Group or District)
Your Assessor (internal or external)
Any qualifications and experience
Supporting documents such as logs or certificates
Assessment & Recommendation
Your chosen assessor will be notified through the system and will guide you through the assessment. After assessment they upload their recommendation back into My Membership.
TOP TIP - Don't forget that you need to message your assessor directly as they are unable to see where you're from or any contact details. If you've asked them for a permit out the blue, they will likely reject you!
Approval
A Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver will review the recommendation, safety checks and safeguarding status before granting your permit. Once approved, it appears in your My Membership record — and this is the official permit.
What Happens After You Apply?
You can save and return to your application at any time before submission.
Renewals follow the same process, also through My Membership. You are able to renew your permit within the final month of it being valid.
Your permit will last up to five years, after which you must apply again. Not all permits are issued for the maximum time limit with this being down to the technical assessor.
Only the technical assessor can impose restrictions based on your skill set.
How can GoSport help?
GoSport Activity Centre has a strong track record of supporting Scout groups and volunteers across the UK with training and assessment related to the Scout Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme. While the Scout Association does not require specific governing-body training before applying for an activity permit, we help volunteers prepare practically and confidently for the assessment process.
Permit Training
We deliver Scout-focused training that helps candidates understand the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme, including:
What assessors will look for in an assessment ⟶ technical competence, rule knowledge, and personal suitability.
How POR and the Scout guidance define the structure and responsibilities of permits.
The differences between Personal, Leadership and Supervisory permits and how they relate to group size and supervision levels (e.g. max 8 craft/12 people leadership limit).
This training gives volunteers the knowledge they need to be ready for their assessment with confidence.
Paddlesport Assessments
GoSport can arrange practical paddlesport assessments aligned with the Scout scheme:
We provide real-world paddlesport settings and scenarios where candidates demonstrate skills and experience.
Our assessors help you prepare documentation and paddlesport techniques ahead of your assessment.
Note: Scout permit assessments are not automatically tied to external qualifications, but training based on Paddle UK standards or similar can be a useful way to build skills before assessment.
The future of the permit scheme?
We predict that Governing Body Qualifcations will be required within the next couple of years.
For those not in scouting, the Scout Permit Scheme is a recognised method of getting youth involved in adventurous activities in a "safe" environment. The movement appreciates that not all volunteers have the time or money to attain the governing body qualifications which they might then use for free to provide amazing opportunities to their youth members.
Course attendees have to work to Assessment checklists similar to - Kayaking Assessment Checklist which relates skills back to the Paddle UK Canoeing standards and requirements for their courses such as the PSRC.
In addition to the Paddle UK standards, that need to be attained to be signed off for a permit, there are different levels of permit award and water classifications
These are:
Personal – Allows a young person (under 18) to take part in craft specific water sports with others with a personal permit.
Leadership – Allows the permit holder to lead activities for a single group.
Supervisory – Allows the permit holder to remotely supervise more than one group.
Water Classification
Class C - safe inland waters which are less than 100m wide where flow causes little effect (including swimming pools)
Class B1 - sheltered inland waters and other sheltered water - where currents and tides create no real danger.
Class B2 - the sea up to one mile from the shore, but excluding more dangerous waters close inshore; more sheltered parts of estuaries; large inland lakes and lochs; inland waters Paddle UK Moderate Water
Class B3 - the sea up to three miles from the shore, but excluding more dangerous waters close inshore; busy commercial ports, exposed parts of estuaries; inland waters Paddle UK Advanced Water
Class A - open sea more than three miles from the shore, and other dangerous waters close inshore.
Why not read our blog on water classifications which helps decipher the POR Jargon
Further information on water classifications can be found here and a list of classifications by county can be found here.
So, what does this really allow me to do?
A pretty good question and something that causes plenty of confusion.
Personal
If you hold a personal permit you can go on the water with others who hold a personal permit. It does not allow you to go with anyone not holding a permit. At the same time, this allows leaders to “add” to their permit numbers with personal permitted scouts not falling within ratio. Although you can paddle without direct supervision, you still need your leader's or GSL’s permission and a risk assessment.
At GoSport, we recommend that groups and leaders follow British Canoeing‘s advice: paddle with at least 3 people, have a sufficient skill set to safely paddle, ensure to agree where you are going (and tell someone) and have a means of communication.
Additionally, we would suggest that large groups avoid using the personal permit scheme in order to take more young people out on the water. Large numbers of people make it more challenging to spot someone in difficulty.
Leadership
If you hold a leadership permit you can typically look after a maximum of eight craft or 12 people (whichever is less) at a time, subject to any restrictions on your permit. You must remain on the water with these participants at all times. This is down to a leader being assessed on their group management and rescue skills during the assessment whilst Paddle UK coaches are trained and assessed to a standard where they can offer both bank and water-based coaching.
Supervisory
If you hold a supervisory permit (depending on your assessment) then you can supervise up to three groups, with all supervised groups needing a means of communication with the permit holder. The permit holder should have immediate access to a rescue craft and be in a position/at a distance to provide prompt assistance if required. Whilst on the water, you remain responsible for all the groups you are supervising but can designate someone with the appropriate skills to be the leader of each group.
Does my permit mean I have to take that many people out?
Something that we try to instil into all our attendees is that a permit is the maximum number of people you can take out, not what you have to take out. If you know that the weather is due to close in a patrol of scouts is more of a handful than the others, you can choose to limit yourself. For example, when Nathan and Alex paddle with their scouts in the local area they operate under the 1:8 ratio but when they paddle in an area that they haven’t scouted before they reduce the ratio to 1:4 or 1:6 dependant on the forecast weather, tidal flows, environment, and other watercraft present. But you still have to write a risk assessment.
Risk Assessments
Under the current Scout rules, risk assessments are required for all activities and must be documented (not just done “in your head”). Scouting guidance highlights that good risk assessments should identify hazards and control measures in advance of activities.
At GoSport we help volunteers:
Understand the Scout POR expectations regarding risk assessments.
Write clear, practical risk assessments relevant to paddlesports and the specific water classification you’re planning to use.
This support helps leaders feel confident they’re following current Scout expectations for safe and enjoyable activities. We understand groups need to keep their costs down. We can work with you and your budget to offer as much as we can and get your group thriving out on the water.
How do I get my permit?
Once you have familiarised yourself with the permit scheme, you can use the following steps to apply for your permit and gain the necessary skills. Although there is no requirement to get approval from anyone when applying for a permit, it’s always a good idea to ask your GLV or DLV if they have any contacts who can help.
The following steps detail the typical process:
Book in an assessment with us – get in touch at info@gosportactivitycentre.co.uk
Find your Assessor - Use the handy Digital Tools Guide
Within Scouting - The Membership System keeps a record of permit assessors which you can search when logged into the system. Alternatively, your GLV and DLV should be able to point you in the right direction.
External Provider - Non-Scouting assessors can be utilised through commercial organisations, however, be aware that they might not understand the permit scheme. A handy external assessors guide can be found here.
Once you have been assessed by the assessor, they will fill in a recommendation for the level of permit they believe your skills and experience are capable of fulfilling. This is processed within the Membership System with the assessor uploading a copy of your Assessment Checklist Form.
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