Yes, there is no minimum age to hold a permit, whether personal, leadership or supervisory. Perhaps the most typical example is where expeditions are being conducted. However, in these circumstances, the responsible commissioner may place restrictions on time, requiring perhaps that a responsible adult conducts daily visual checks on progress

Yes. You can use external activity providers as long as they have the correct qualifications and level of public liability insurance. POR 9.9

You may find that certain activities require that you only use providers who are either AALA or Adventure Mark Accredited.

Before booking an activity always consult the Scouts website.

For a full list of which activities require a permit please consult the Scouts website.

Yes all Scout Activities including nights away and adventurous activities require a written risk assessment POR 9.4

For more support on writing a risk assessment check out the Scouts website

Yes. All Activity and Nights Away permits periodically need renewing. The maximum a permit can be granted for by a commissioner 5 years. Please ensure you check

To renew a nights away permit you will need to complete the following form and upload a log book.

To renew an Activity permit please use the Assessor Search in Compass.

A Clear Process is a resource that aims to explain how to access adventurous activities within Scouting and how you could work towards providing more experiences. It’s not a one stop shop for everything you need to know but hopefully it will help you understand the first steps you need to take.

Personal activity permits are a type of permit that recognises a young person’s ability to safely take part in an adventurous activity without the need for supervision from others.

Unlike a a leadership or supervisory permit which allows you to lead an activity for other people. A personal permit only allows you to carry out the activity for yourself, not to lead anyone else. So you can only take part in the activity with others holding personal activity permits.

There is no minimum age to gain a permit (as there isn’t for leadership and supervisory permits). It is based on the technical skills and personal suitability of the individual. However, personal permits have no use once someone is 18 as they then come under the rules of adult groups in adventurous activities.

Before you complete an activity notification, you will need to ensure you have all the information about the activity at hand.

InTouch is the system that helps you to communicate at all Scout activities and events. It’s flexible and lets Units, Groups and Sections work out the best way to keep in touch during these activities.

At any Scouting activity, you will need to make sure that you have an InTouch system in place (POR 9.3). This is to make sure that:

• everyone involved knows how Leaders, participants and people not at the event will communicate
• you have all of the details of who is at the event just in case something goes wrong, and you have a system in place in case of an emergency.

This system is likely to be different depending on what activity or event you are running, and the needs of who will be there. An InTouch system is important so that everyone knows of the process for every Scouting event.

1. Group Scout Leaders are responsible for authorising all activities that take place in Beaver, Cub and Scout sections in their Group (with the exception of those mentioned elsewhere in this document). Group Scouts Leaders* will need to see and consider every section’s programme and section leaders have a responsibility to ensure Online Scout Manager is kept up to date in good time with sufficient detail including risk assessments.
2. The District Explorer Scout Commissioner is responsible for authorising all activities that take place in Explorer Scout Units in the District (with the exception of those mentioned elsewhere in this document). The District Explorer Scout Commissioner* will need to see and consider every Unit’s programme and section leaders have a responsibility to ensure Online Scout Manager is kept up to date in good time with sufficient detail including risk assessments.
3. The District Scout Network Commissioner is responsible for authorising all activities that take place in Scout Network in the District (with the exception of those mentioned elsewhere in this document). The District Scout Network Commissioner* will need to see and consider the Unit’s programme.
4. If, in any instance, a Group Scout Leader, the District Explorer Scout Commissioner, the District Scout Network Commissioner is unsure whether to authorise a particular activity, they must discuss it with the District Commissioner or their delegate.
5. In any of the following circumstances an Adventurous Activity Notification must be submitted via https://cesd.org.uk/an to ensure all the the information provided on the form complies with the requirements for that particular activity. Once notified, the District Commissioner will seek appropriate advice on suitability ahead of approving the activity to take place.
   • In the opinion of the GSL/DESC/DSNC/ASU Manager, the activity presents a greater risk to participants than ‘general’ Scout activities. 
   • The activity is provided by an ‘External’ or commercial source (see POR 9.9, FS120086). 
   • The activity requires a leader with an activity permit (incl. activities in “Specialist Terrain” under POR 9.31,  FS120084).
   • The activity requires additional third party insurance (Factsheet FS120084) e.g. Motorsports. 
   • The activity requires a notification to HQ e.g. Air Activities, GoKarting, Trampolining (FS120084).
   • The activity is a High ropes activity (see POR 9.78, FS120423).
   • The activity takes place on or near bodies of water (including class C FS120623 and swimming pools FS120620).
   • The activity involves a public performance e.g. Gangshow (see POR 9.22)

*In the absence of either a GSL/DESC/DSNC/ASU Manager/Activity Centre Manager they are replaced by the District Commissioner or Deputy District Commissioner