This page is aimed at assisting all adults in Clyde Region through the application process for an activity permit. Any adult from out with Clyde Region who wishes to apply for an activity permit should contact their local Activities Adviser in the first instance (if adults from out with Clyde Region cannot get an activity permit in their own locality please email the Clyde Region Activities Adviser to check whether an assessment can be offered). Copies of all forms, factsheets and guidance notes are available for download by following the hyperlinks as you scroll through this page or by visiting the Activities Pages on ScoutBase UK.

Full details of the Activities Permit scheme is available on the activity pages of ScoutBase and in factsheet FS120100.

In order to facilitate recording of activity permits being processed/issued, all applicants in Clyde Region are requested to email application forms to the Clyde Region Activities Adviser in the first instance. An appropriate assessor will then be appointed.

In December 2005, the Scout Association launched its revised activity permit scheme. This is designed to show that all those leading adventurous activities within Scouting have the skills, experience and personal suitability to do so.

Everyone who leads an adventurous activity for young people within Scouting is required to hold an appropriate permit for that activity. Details of activities requiring permits can be found in chapter 9 of POR, in the factsheet Scout Led Activity Index (FS120084) and in the A - Z Directory of activities on ScoutBase. Activity Permits are valid for up to 5 years at which time they will expire automatically if not renewed. Note; Activity Authorisations issued under the previous scheme (prior to 2007) remain valid until their date of expiry. 

Any young person or adult who is suitably experienced or qualified can apply for a permit.  It is possible for a young person under 18 to be issued with a permit where authority to use the permit will be given by an appropriate leader within the Group on an event basis i.e. on each occasion it is used. Young people (under 18) do not require a Disclosure Scotland check and Form AA if they are members of the Association, however, you should remember that a Disclosure Scotland application form can be submitted from the age of 17½ and it might be appropriate to do this to extend the validity of a permit for young people of this age (as appropriate checks will be required at the age of 18 and over). In any case age should not be seen as a barrier to a young person applying for a permit as a new permit can always be issued following additional checks at the age of 18.

All adults applying for a permit require to have the appropriate child protection checks carried out. Unless you hold a current appointment as an adult in Scouting you should arrange for an Adult Application form (Form AA) to be completed as a ‘Skills Instructor’. For new appointments a Disclosure Scotland form will also be required and as this can take some time to return, you can start this process according to the arrangements within your District. 

There are three parts to applying for and receiving a permit. These are covered by the responsibilities of the applicant, the approved assessor and the responsible commissioner and are detailed below. In time the activity permit will be recorded online on the Membership Services database, however at present Clyde Region holds its own database of permits issued. Assessment requirements are set and carried out to National guidelines for each activity (See the A - Z Directory online) and therefore once a permit has been issued it is valid in any District or County/Region in the UK (subject to any restrictions placed at the time of initial assessment).

In general, applicants do not require to hold a national governing body (NGB) qualification but they do have to demonstrate that they have the technical competence and experience in that activity. In order to receive a permit you must first complete an application form and be assessed in four areas:

• technical competence;
• knowledge of Scout Association rules for the activity; 
• Child Protection; and
• Personal suitability

The first two will be assessed by an approved assessor (in some cases external assessors may not wish to assess the knowledge of Scout Association rules so this will be done by an appropriate commissioner), the second two by a responsible commissioner.

The application form can be completed electronically or printed off and completed by pen. The assessor will want to see that you have suitable experience of the level of activity you wish to lead and therefore your personal log is an important part of the application. You can attach your own log or use one of the proforma logs available from ScoutBase. In most cases, a practical assessment of your skills will be required, however valid NGB awards will be accepted as evidence of technical competence and in such cases the assessor may decide that a practical assessment is not necessary. It is important that if you have NGB awards, that you send a photocopy/scan of your award to the Clyde Region Activities Adviser or send it by post to Regional Activity Adviser, c/o 21 Elmbank Street, Glasgow, G2 4PB.

Each activity has an assessment checklist that the approved assessor will use to assess your technical competence. You can view the full list of activity checklists available by looking up the activity that you are interested in, in the A - Z Directory. You can use these checklists to identify a permit which meets your Scouting needs and that you feel is attainable based on matching your knowledge and experience with the technical requirements you will be assessed on.

Once you have completed the application form, there are two possible options to being assessed. In most cases you will not have an assessment arranged. Clyde Region has assessors for most adventurous activities. Following completion of your application form you should email it to the Clyde Region Activities Adviser or send it by post to Regional Activity Adviser (address as above). If sending your application by email, please remember to scan and attach any supporting evidence such as log books and NGB awards.

Once your application form has been received, it will be recorded in the Clyde Region database and copied to your commissioner and to an approved assessor. In most cases your assessor will contact you directly to arrange the assessment. Your local commissioner may also contact you to complete the appropriate Child Protection documentation.

An alternative route to assessment might be as part of a course or assessment process arranged through a Scout Centre such as Auchengillan or Lochgoilhead etc. In this case you should complete an application form (as above) and ensure that the appropriate assessment checklist (available from the A - Z Directory) is completed by the assessor. The assessor will sign sections A & B to indicate that you are technically competent for the activity to the level specified and that you know and understand the Scout Association rules and then may return the forms to you. THIS IS NOT A PERMIT - you must send these forms to the Regional Activities Adviser (address as above) for the remaining parts of the assessment to be completed.

Please do not leave an application to the last minute before it is required. Assessors may not be able to carry out a practical assessment immediately or until the conditions are suitable. If a Disclosure form is required this can take several months to process. It is certainly sensible to plan well in advance of requirements.

Once all the parts of the assessment have been completed, the forms will be returned to the Regional Assessor and a permit will be issued. This is a credit card sized, laminated document, which details the activity and any restrictions that have been placed on you. You may not exceed any restrictions until you reapply for a new permit and a new one is issued (even if you gain NGB qualifications). If your technical knowledge or experience increases you may wish to apply for a less restricted permit in an activity. You can do this at any time. An activity permit can only be issued for a maximum of 5 years at which time you must reapply if you wish to continue to lead the activity.

If you wish any further advice on gaining an activity permit email the Clyde Region Activities Adviser or contact Gary Bainbridge at Elmbank Street.