2nd St Neots Scout Group has five Sections: two Beaver Colonies, two Cub Packs and a Scout Troop. Currently, all Sections are full, but we run a waiting list system to enable parents to register that their young people wish to join a Section. This Policy attempts to explain how we match places, as they become available, with young people on the list.
General notes:
§ Filling in the form on the website is the only way to register a child with the Group as we need to ensure fairness in administration of the waiting list: http://2ndstneotsscouts.scoutsites.org.uk/contact-us/child-joining/
§ For a young person to be added to the waiting list, the following details MUST be supplied: full name, date of birth, address + postcode, and phone and email contact details of at least one parent/guardian.
§ Young people approaching the Beavers joining age (6 years) may only be added to the list from age 5½.
§ Further restrictions may sometimes be applied to the waiting list to avoid creating unrealistic expectations of our ability to offer membership places.
§ Targeted section capacities are as follows but the capacity of any section may be reduced to ensure that we can support additional needs of young persons, provide a balanced programme for all members and adhere to required adult : young person ratios.
Thursday Beavers: 18
Monday Cubs: 18
Wednesday Cubs: 18
Tuesday Scouts: 18
§ Registration on the waiting list is no guarantee that a place will be offered.
§ If a young person waiting for a particular Section does not obtain a place in time to join that Section, then they will remain on the list for the next Section up.
§ Our Group relies on the efforts of our adult volunteers (Leaders, Assistants, Occasional Helpers, Executive Committee, etc.), without whom it would simply not continue. We always need more adult volunteers. Therefore, we give a high priority to those on the waiting list who have an adult family member who is willing and able to take on a Role within the Group.
§ The age ranges for the Sections are: Beavers: 6 to 8 years, Cubs: 8 to 10½ years, Scouts: 10½ to 14 years.
§ Scouting is open to all young people (irrespective of gender, faith, ability, sexuality or any other factors). If a young person needs additional support in order to participate in scouting, this should be discussed with the leaders, who will work with parents to establish a plan of action.
§ The school that a young person attends is NOT a factor in deciding the priority for allocation of places. Although our Scout Hut is located very close to the Round House Primary Academy, we welcome young people from the whole of the general area, regardless of school attended.
Priorities when allocating places
The following is a list of criteria that we may use when allocating places to young people – in approximate order of priority (highest priority first).
1. The young person is already a member of 2nd St Neots, and is moving up from the section below (i.e., Beavers to Cubs or Cubs to Scouts).
2. A parent or other adult family member commits to volunteering in one of the following roles: Leader, Assistant Leader, Section Assistant, Occasional Helper or Executive Committee Member.
3. The young person is already a member of The Scout Association at a Group outside of Hinchingbrooke District and has recently moved to the St Neots area.
4. The young person has a sibling who is already a member of 2nd St Neots.
5. If allocated a place, the young person will have at least six months within the Section being joined before reaching the age of moving up to the next Section.
6. After all of the above have been taken into account, the amount of time spent on the waiting list will be considered as a factor.
Further considerations
§ If a young person already has a place in one of our Cub Packs and wishes to transfer to the other Cub Pack, no special priority will be given to such a request.
§ A young person wishing to transfer from another Group within Hinchingbrooke District to 2nd St Neots is given no special priority.
Enquiries
To discuss volunteering opportunities refer to the Group website: http://2ndstneotsscouts.scoutsites.org.uk/contact-us/volunteer/
(Waiting List Policy Revised 13 Jun 2022)