5th Testwood Scouts
BEST FOR
Ages 4-25
WHERE
Southampton
What it’s like
Weekly Scouting sections for ages 4 to 25, from Squirrels learning first badges to Network members planning their own trips.
This is a proper Scout group with six age sections running side by side, so a four-year-old and a twenty-year-old can both be members without either of them being in the wrong room. Squirrel Scouts start at 4, Beavers at 6, then Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and finally Scout Network up to 25, each with its own programme rather than one set of activities stretched too thin.
What they actually do leans outdoors: New Forest adventures come up specifically, alongside the badge-and-skills side of Scouting that's been the backbone of the movement for a century. Life skills and safety training are part of it too, not just campfires and knots, and every leader has first aid and safeguarding training that gets refreshed every three years.
There's still a promise, which might surprise anyone picturing this as old fashioned and fixed. The wording flexes depending on your beliefs and whether the UK is home to you, so it's not a one-size version everyone has to mean the same way.
Money is the one bit that needs a plain answer, and to their credit they give one. Every section asks for a contribution that covers building upkeep, insurance, national Scouts membership, leader training and running the activities, and some outings cost extra on top. There's a hardship fund for families who need it, which is worth knowing before you assume Scouts isn't an option.
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 to 25, with a separate section for every age group
- Six sections run in parallel, from Squirrels at 4 up to Scout Network at 25
- Some activities, like bigger outings, cost extra beyond the standard contribution
- A hardship fund exists for families who need help with fees
- Outdoor adventures in the New Forest are part of the programme, not just indoor meetings
Plan your visit
What age can my child join?
Squirrel Scouts start at 4, then it runs through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Scout Network up to age 25. Each section has its own age-matched programme.
How much does it cost?
Every section asks for a contribution towards building costs, insurance, membership and leader training, with some activities charged separately on top. There's a hardship fund if money is tight.
Is it safe, and what training do leaders have?
Leaders complete first aid and safeguarding training that gets refreshed every three years. Young people are also taught safety skills themselves, and there are NSPCC posters up in the hall.
Do you still do the Scout promise?
Yes, though the wording changes depending on your age, beliefs and whether you call the UK home, so it fits the person making it rather than being fixed for everyone.
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