We want to ensure that we simplify the process for applying for permits while ensuring the principles of approving are upheld at all opportunities.
Permits
Nights Away Permit Scheme
The Nights Away Permit Scheme is an internal assessment scheme designed to ensure that all those leading nights away events for young people within Scouts have the skills, experience and personal suitability to do so. For more information, please go to the Nights Away section on the Scouts UK website for the most up to date information or contact Andrew Stacey.
Adventurous Permits
The Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme is an internal assessment scheme designed to make sure that all those leading adventurous activities for young people within Scouting have the skills, experience and personal suitability to do so. For more information, please go to the Adventurous Activities section on the Scouts UK website for the most up to date information or contact Andrew Stacey.
Process for completing a permit application
Since December 2024, our process for permit applications have changed significantly and it’s important that as much information is added to the membership system when initiating the process.
Start by signing in to scouts.org.uk.
On your welcome page:
1. Click ‘My membership’.
On the left-hand side menu (if you’re using a phone, click the menu button on the top right):
2. Click ‘Programme support’.
3. Click ‘Permits’.
4. Click ‘Permit search’.
On the ‘Permit search’ page:
5. Type the permit and click ‘Search permit activity’, or browse the all permit activities list.
6. Click the permit name.
On the ‘Activity details’ page
7. Click ‘Apply’.
If the ‘Apply’ button is grey and you’re not able to click it, please read the guide on how to renew my permit.
Under ‘Add permit details’:
8. Select ‘Category’, ‘Type’ and ‘Location’ from the dropdown menus.
Under ‘Add health factors and restrictions’:
9. Type any health factors relevant to the activity and any restrictions wanted into the text boxes.
Under ‘Assessor’:
10. Select internal or external assessor.
If you’ve selected internal assessor: Select the assessor’s name from the list.
If you’ve selected external assessor: Under ‘Add external assessor detail’, add their details to the fields. Then, tick the box to confirm the assessor meets the requirements.
Under ‘Add qualification’:
11. If you have any relevant activity specific qualifications, click ‘Add qualification’ and type the name of the qualification, the awarding body and date gained in the text boxes. You’ll be able to upload any supporting documents under the section ‘Supporting documents’.
If you have clicked on add qualification in error, click ‘Delete this qualification’ to continue.
Under ‘Add experience’:
12. Type a summary of your experience into the text box.
Under ‘Supporting documents’:
13. If you have supporting documents, click ‘Add document’, type the attachment document description into the box and click ‘Browse’ to upload the document.
If you have clicked on add document in error, click ‘Delete document’ to continue.
At the bottom of the page:
14. Click ‘Submit’, or ‘Save’ to return to your application within 6 months.
If you’ve saved the application to finish it later, you’ll find your permit application by clicking ‘My in progress permits’, under ‘My permits’.
Contact us:
If you would like more information or support around permits and using the membership system, please contact us;
- Andrew Stacey, NI Team Lead for Adventurous Activities and Permits – andrewstacey@scoutsni.org
- Scott Robinson, NI Transformation Lead – scottrobinson@scoutsni.org
(Last update: March 2025)