Youth Programme

As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We encourage young people to do more, learn more and be more.

Youth Programme

In Cheshire, we host nearly 9,000 young people within nine Districts made up of 150 Groups and 50 Units. These cover Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Chester, Halton and Warrington. As Scouts, we are proud to deliver active and balanced programmes for young people aged 4-25.

We have a dedicated Programme Team who represent and support the delivery of the youth programme in the County. This team is led by the Programme Team Leader with members of the Programme Team offering collaboration, advice, guidance, events and practical support to leaders and Commissioners across all nine districts of Cheshire.

Nights Away Event Passport
This is for use by Scouts, Explorers, their leaders and District officials.

Click here for more information on NAEPs

Click here to download a NAEP form

Charly O’Brien
Programme Team Leader
[email protected]

Click here to send a #TeamCheshire visit request


What’s on?

Check out our current events and areas of programme being delivered in Cheshire!


Programme Team

All Programme Team departments and the relevant ACCs are displayed below.

Squirrel Scouts (aged 4-6)

Joining Squirrels is just the beginning!

Squirrels is a completely new provision for 4–5 year olds. There are plenty of reasons to get stuck in, as Squirrels gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun outdoors, learn new things and earn badges through fun activities.

Squirrels was launched in 2021 here North Warrington, Knutsford, Helsby and Birchwood. We’ll get in touch when there’s a group near you. Squirrels might not be open in your community just yet, but you can still register your interest in volunteering with Squirrels now.


Mel Black
County Advisor
(Squirrels)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireScouts
[email protected]



Beaver Scouts (aged 6-8)

Try new things. Make new friends. Joining Beavers is just the beginning of your big adventure.

Beavers are the second youngest Section in the Scouting family. Young people can join Beaver Scouts in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday. They can move to the next Section, Cubs, between 8 and 8.5 years old.

Easily recognised by their distinctive turquoise sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends, playing games, going on visits and helping others. They usually meet together once a week in a Beaver Scout Colony.

Some Beaver Scout Colonies also organise ‘sleepovers’. These are often the first time a young person spends a night away from home. They take place in suitable buildings, often Scout centres.


Ruth Clemson
Assistant County Commissioner
(Beavers)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireScouts
[email protected]



Cub Scouts (aged 8-10)

Develop new skills. Soar to great heights. Being a Cub opens up a whole other world.

You will get a chance to try lots of different activities like swimming, music, exploring, computing and collecting. If you do them properly you will get a badge which you can wear on your uniform.

Cub Scouts also get to go on trips and days out, to places like the zoo, theme parks or a farm. Sometimes you will be able to go camping with the rest of your Pack. This will mean you sleeping in a tent and doing loads of outdoor activities.


Pam Owen
Assistant County Commissioner
(Cubs)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireScouts
[email protected]



Scouts (aged 10-14)

Jump in and get muddy. Give back and get set. Scouts ignore the butterflies and go for it, and soon so will you.

A young person can come in to the Troop at 10 and may stay until they are 14 years old. The Scout Troop is the fourth and final Section in the Scout Group.

Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme. “Participation” rather than meeting set standards is the key approach and for the Scout who wants to be recognised for his or her achievements there are a number of Challenges Awards and Activity Badges. Scouts take part in a balanced programme that helps them to find out about the world in which they live, encourages them to know their own abilities and the importance of keeping fit and helps develop their creative talents. It also provides opportunities to explore their own values and personal attitudes.

Being outdoors is important and half the Programme is given over to taking part in both the traditional Scouting skills, such as camping, survival and cooking as well as the wide range of adventurous activities, anything from abseiling to yachting.

The international aspect gives Scouting a special appeal and many Scouts now travel abroad during their time in the Section. Scouting is about being with friends, as part of a team, participating fully in the adventure and opportunities of life.


Charly O’Brien
Assistant County Commissioner
(Scouts)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireScouts
[email protected]



Explorer Scouts (aged 14-18)

Do more. Share more. Be more.

We are proud to be the fourth section of the Scout family for young people aged 14-18. Cheshire currently hosts over 1,000 Explorer Scouts in over 45 units who have gained some incredible life-shaping experiences through scouting. We are also proud to host an evolving Cheshire Young Leader scheme. By following an inclusive and youth-led programme, Explorers are encouraged to challenge themselves, do their best and be themselves through an exciting time of their lives.

We are delighted to share some exciting news, vital links and new resources with you here. Enjoy discovering the web pages and get involved with as much as you can.


Amelia Riley
Assistant County Commissioner
(Explorers)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshExplorers
[email protected]



Network (aged 18-25)

It’s time to grow. This is your playground. Network promises life-shaping adventures.

As a Scout Network Member you get to take part in all the usual great Scouting activities such as kayaking, climbing, orienteering… as well as work on projects helping to support you local community.

Scout Network can give you the opportunity to gain the many awards and qualification made available to you like the King’s Scout Award and Explorer Belt to name just a couple. You can also, if you choose, get more closely involved in working with the younger Sections and providing them with the same kind of opportunities you’ve had through Scouting.

Scout Network allows 18 to 25 year-olds who have an interest in both Scouting and their own personal development, and ultimately want to have fun, the opportunity to do so.


Ian Turnbull
Assistant County Commissioner
(Network)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireScouts
[email protected]



Young Leaders (aged 14-18)

Explorer Scouts in Cheshire have the opportunity to take part in the Young Leader’s Scheme which is just one of the exciting programme elements and awards in the Explorer Scout section.

Have you enjoyed your time in scouting? Do you want to continue your experience of scouting? At 14 years old, you are eligible to move onto the Young Leader Explorer Scout Section. As a Young Leader (14-18 years old) you are able to become a leader in the Beaver, Cub and Scout sections but you must become a member of the District Young Leader Unit. They are Explorers who choose to devote a large part of their scouting experience to other sections. They are also able to belong to an Explorer Unit as well.

The Young Leaders’ Scheme helps Explorer Scouts to develop and grow as individuals. It allows them to make a valuable contribution to their community and give service to others. The scheme also helps them fulfil the service elements of their awards and to become leaders of the future.


Diane Blurton
County Explorer Leader
(Young Leaders)
Cheshire, UK
@CheshireYLs
[email protected]



Top Awards (aged 4-25)

Reaching the top starts with a reward.

Awards are a great way of giving young people the recognition and validation they deserve for all the hard work and dedication they give to Scouts. In every section, a young person can work towards activity, core, challenge and special badges. Young people will achieve these by following a high-quality, balanced programme with their section.

The Chief Scout's Awards are:

  • Squirrels Acorn
  • Beaver's Bronze
  • Cubs Silver
  • Scouts Gold
  • Explorers: Platinum & Diamond
  • Young Leaders: YL Belt
  • Network: King’s, Explorer Belt, Scouts of The World

Young people will have lots of opportunities to achieve these awards and the Cheshire Programme Team are here to help support that happening.


Carol Frain
Assistant County Commissioner
(Top Awards)
Cheshire, UK
@Ches_Top_Awards
[email protected]


Put your phone down and what are you left with? Just teamwork, courage and the skills to succeed.’
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout Bear Grylls