Here is some useful information, together with the questions and answers that we include in our Welcome and Joining packs.
Useful Information
Where do I sew the badges?
When a child is invested, and throughout their time with us, they’ll receive various badges to wear on their uniform top. Below are guides to where they go.
Where the diagrams show a separate District and County badge on the sleeve, we instead have a single combined badge.
When we give out a special badge that is worn on uniform for a limited time, such as a Coronation Badge for HM The King, this is an “Occasional Badge”.
What uniform do I need to buy?
After a child has decided they want to join, and before they can be invested as a member, we ask that they wear a uniform top to weekly meetings. These can be purchased from the Scouts’ official online shop. The links below will take you straight to the product page.
For Beavers the uniform top is a sweatshirt.
For Cubs it’s a sweatshirt and a polo shirt.
For Scouts it’s a shirt or blouse.
We provide the badges and scarf (“neckerchief”), and these are presented during a short investiture ceremony a few weeks after a child has chosen to join.
There is no need to purchase uniform trousers, as jeans or other casual trousers are fine for weekly meetings.
We may have a small number of pre-loved uniform tops in our storage, so please ask a Leader if you’d like us to check for you.
Which badges do I transfer to a new uniform?
When moving from Beavers to Cubs, or from Cubs to Scouts, please can you move these badges over to the new uniform top:
The World Membership badge
The highest numbered Year badge
The Group nametape and the District/County badge
The highest number of each blue staged activity badge from the sleeve
(eg Nights Away, Hikes, Emergency Aid)
Easyfundraising – free money for our Group!
Our Group is signed up to Easyfundraising.
By visiting our page and signing up, you can raise free money for us whenever you shop online.
For New Members starting a trial period
When do we meet?
We meet weekly, during Bristol’s school terms, in the Hall of The Harbour Totterdown (formerly Totterdown Methodist Church), 7 Bushy Park, Bristol, BS4 2EG (map). We run the following groups (we call them “sections”):
Beavers, for ages 6 to 8, Thursdays from 6:15pm to 7:30pm.
Cubs, for ages 8 to 10 ½, Mondays from 6:30pm to 8pm.
Scouts, for ages 10 ½ to 14, Wednesdays from 7:45pm to 9pm.
Occasionally we meet in other locations and the Leader of the section will communicate this in advance.
Entry to the Hall is through the main front gates of the Church and the front doors will be opened at the start time of the meeting.
Parents or carers of children attending Beavers must come up to the Hall to drop off and collect their child. All other parents and carers are also welcome to come up to the Hall, and to talk with our volunteers at the start and end of the meeting.
How much does it cost?
Whilst trying out one of our sections for the first few weeks there is no charge, and no need to buy any uniform.
When a child is sure they want to join we charge a subscription fee (we call it “subs”) of £105 per year.
To make this easier to pay we ask for the subs in three equal payments of £35. These are due in January, April and September. If a child joins mid-way between these months, then we will ask for a smaller payment.
We’ll provide details of how to pay when we ask for the first payment.
What information do I need to provide?
We only collect and store information that is relevant to us running safe and inclusive activities.
Before trying any of our sections we need to have the following information:
- The child’s first name, last name and date of birth.
- The name and telephone number of their parent(s) / carer(s) for the purpose of notifying them in the event of an emergency.
- Details of any disabilities, medical conditions, allergies, cultural needs, other dietary requirements (e.g., are they vegetarian or vegan; any intolerances or specific forbidden foods) or additional needs that we might need to be aware of.
- Details of any medications the child may have with them to be taken when needed (e.g., inhaler, epi-pen, antihistamines, etc).
If your child is trying Beavers, please write this information down and bring it along to their first meeting.
If your child is trying Cubs or Scouts, please can you email it to the person that you are in contact with, e.g., the Section Leader or the Lead Volunteer.
On the first night you may be given an information form that asks for further details.
How can I help?
Some of our sections operate a rota for parents / carers to sign up to, to provide help for one off meetings. Please do consider adding your name to this as it allows the meetings to run much more smoothly and allows our members to have more fun!
If you’d like to volunteer with us regularly, please do speak to one of our volunteers and let them know. We’d love to have more volunteers!
For New Members continuing after their trial period
How do I pay?
When a child is sure they want to join we charge a subscription fee (we call it “subs”) of £105 per year. To make this easier to pay we ask for the subs in three equal payments of £35. These are due in January, April and September. If a child joins mid-way between these months, then we will ask for a smaller payment.
The easiest way to pay is by bank transfer, directly into our Group’s bank account. Please contact Matt for the bank details if you need them.
What uniform do I need to buy?
After a child has decided they want to join, and before they can be invested as a member, we ask that they wear a uniform top to weekly meetings. These can be purchased from the Scouts’ official online shop. The links below will take you straight to the product page.
For Beavers the uniform top is a sweatshirt.
For Cubs it’s a sweatshirt and a polo shirt.
For Scouts it’s a shirt or blouse.
We provide the badges and scarf (“neckerchief”), and these are presented during a short investiture ceremony a few weeks after a child has chosen to join.
There is no need to purchase uniform trousers, as jeans or other casual trousers are fine for weekly meetings.
We may have a small number of pre-loved uniform tops in our storage, so please ask a Leader if you’d like us to check for you.
Where do I sew the badges?
When a child is invested, and throughout their time with us, they’ll receive various badges to wear on their uniform top. Below are guides to where they go.
Where the diagrams show a separate District and County badge on the sleeve, we instead have a single combined badge.
When we give out a special badge that is worn on uniform for a limited time, such as a Coronation Badge for HM The King, this is an “Occasional Badge”.
Is there any financial help available?
Yes!
Family budgets are facing increasing pressure and we want Scouting to be available to all, without financial concerns getting in the way. We have a fund in the Group that is there to help with this. It’s named in memory of our Group’s founder, Frank “Skip” Webb, and we know he’d be delighted that it’s being used to ensure no child misses out on the fun of Scouting.
Please do contact the Section Leader or our Lead Volunteer directly, and in total confidence, if you’d like to hear more about the Skip Webb Fund and how it can support you with the cost of subs, events and camps.
How do I contact the Leader?
By now you’ve hopefully met the Section Leader. If you need to email them for any reason you can reach them at:
Beavers: Angeline angeline175beaverscouts@outlook.com
Cubs: Ben akela175@hotmail.co.uk
Scouts: Simon swphonemail@gmail.com
Group: Matt matttrow76@yahoo.com
