We now operate a Waiting List which will remain open throughout the year. Places will be offered at the start of the new term in August, and again in January. We do not take new starts at any other time of the year.
Below is our information page for your reference, however the registration form will be made available in mid August.
Limited spaces available for 6-13yrs – Waiting times can be 2 years.
Approximate start date: September 2024
Membership of the 8th Braid Salaam Scout Group is open to Young People from 6 years of age.
Please read our terms and conditions, and fill in the registration form below. Your submission of the form will be treated as your signature and agreement to the terms and conditions set out in our policies below.
Many questions that parents have are detailed in this guide. Please read this thoroughly before contacting us.
Waiting List Review
When you sign up your child to the Waiting List, you will receive an automatic email confirmation that your child has been added to the list – check your Spam / Junk folder for this email.
The Waiting List is only reviewed during the registration phases in August and January, and this is the only time the scout group will contact you regarding a place. If you receive email confirmation that you are on the Waiting List, you do not need to contact us separately.
Parent Information Pack
Assalaamu Alaikum
Thank you for registering your child with our group. Whether it is their first time or they have been with us before, we hope they will achieve their potential and have a great experience during this school year. This pack will provide you with basic information about scouting, our group and our policies. We have also included references for more information and how to contact us.
Scouting
The Scout Movement is a global youth movement with over 31 million members in 216 countries. Muslim scouts represent 40% of Scouts globally. Our group was launched in August 2007, and we are members of the UK Muslim Scout Fellowship which represents the interests and supports the needs of Muslim Scout groups, as well as the wider Muslim community.
We are open to all young people from age 6 of every faith and background. Our programmes cater for the needs of our young people and is shaped by them; delivering adventure and a wide range of activities on a weekly basis.
Purpose, Values and Methods
Our purpose is to help young people achieve their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as Members of their local, national and international communities.
We are guided by these values:
- Integrity: We say what we mean and when we make a promise, we keep it.
- Respect: We listen to others; explore our differences and work to find common ground.
- Care: Scouts are friends to all and think of others before themselves.
- Belief: We believe passionately in improving the lives of young people, giving them opportunities and helping them explore and develop their belief and attitudes.
- Cooperation: Scouting is about teamwork. We believe that when we work together, we achieve more than we can on our own.
Young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the value of Scouting and:
- Enjoy what they are doing and have fun;
- Take part in indoors and outdoors activities;
- Learn by doing and make choices;
- Share in spiritual reflection;
- Undertake new and challenging activities;
- Make and live by their Promise.
The Promise
As a Muslim Scout Group, we pledge allegiance to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and to the country we live in.
I promise to do my best, to do my duty to God and to my country, to help other people and to keep the beaver / cub /scout law.
Sections
We consist of three sections, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, covering the ages 6-14yrs.
Beavers are the youngest Section and are made of colonies. Each colony is made of small groups called lodges.
Age: 6 – 8 years old.
Meet on Friday 6:45 – 8:15pm
Cubs are the next section up and made of packs and each pack is made of sixes.
Age: 8 – 10.5 years old.
Meet on Friday 6:45 – 8:30pm
Scouts are made of troops and each troop is made of several patrols.
Age: 10.5 – 14 years old.
Meet on Friday 6:45 – 8:30pm
Uniform & Badges
Every young person must wear uniform and the group necktie when attending the weekly session, camp or any other scouting event unless advised otherwise.
Beavers wear a turquoise sweatshirt with a necktie and a maroon woggle or one of another colour which identifies their Lodge or team.
Cubs wear a dark green sweatshirt with a necktie and a woggle in the colour of their Six.
Scouts wear a teal green shirt or blouse, navy blue activity trousers or skirt, a group scarf with a woggle, and a Scout belt.
Explorer Scouts wear a beige shirt or blouse with a Unit necktie (or a Group one if there is a partnership agreement), and navy blue activity trousers or skirt with a Scout belt.
The group necktie is royal blue with a white taped edge. Refer to our website for an image of our neckties. You can order the necktie from the scouts shop, online or from us.
Uniform is a compulsory aspect of scouting and hence we are implementing a three week period for the child to be in uniform before we issue reminders and eventually to expulsion from the group.
Should you have exceptional circumstances, please get in touch to arrange an exclusion from this requirement.
You can order the uniform online from shop.scouts.org.uk or visit the Guide Shop in Edinburgh at 16 Coates Crescent, EH3 7AH. Badges are a form of achievement for a young person and they will be awarded when their section leader believes they have achieved the requirements for the badge. Each type of badge has its place on the uniform. More information on uniform and badges can be found here: salaamscouts.org.uk/uniform.
Registration
The registration form is available below. We are required to collect basic information about your child, any medical condition they may have and their guardian contact information. When your child has been granted a place, your email will be added to the parents mailing list for more official news about the group and activities. You will be sent details on how to join the Parents Whatsapp group which is used for short announcements such as changes to timing or venue, so it is very important to join when you are sent the link.
Note that we have a legal requirement to delete your child’s record at the end of each year with the exception of their badge achievements. So even if you have already registered your child last year, we need the information again.
In the event where a waiting list is in place, you will be notified during the August/January registration phase of when your child can join.
Fees
The fees this year has been fixed at £85 per child and no joining fee. If joining partway through the term in January, the fee will be reduced to £65. Should you have special circumstances and wish to ask for a reduction or exemption, then please contact the Group Scout Leader directly.
Note that we operate a no refund policy on annual fees, camp fees and excursion fees.
Attendance
We expect a level of commitment from both the child and their parent / guardian, so have set the minimum number of sessions a child must attend in order to continue being a member of the group. The level currently is set to 50% of the total number of sessions available per term. So for example, if there are 14 sessions between September and December, then we expect to see the child attend at least 7 sessions.
In the event where the child fails to make the minimum number of sessions in a term, then we take the decision to drop the child for the remaining year. Fees are non-refundable.
Child attendance will be assessed at the end of each term. If you believe that you have exceptional circumstances, then please contact the leader of your child’s section.
Child Protection, Health and Safety
The Scout Association’s policies, rules, code of behaviour, advice on Child Protection and safety policy are there to ensure our young people stay safe whilst the Programme of activities that we provide is fun, exciting and challenging. Most importantly we must also make sure that all activities undertaken are safe.
All Leaders have been subjected to the Disclosure Scotland scheme. In addition most leaders have passed a basic first aid qualification.
For Beaver and Cubs, we ask parents to come and collect their child at the end of the session. If they have arranged for another parent to pick their child up, the section leader must be notified.
Photographs and videos
Images, videos and audio recording of young people taking part in a wide range of activities are captured and used within the group or district for training, promotion and advertising the Group’s activities, with your permission. The registration form details this further.
Note that photographs taken as part of a Scouting event would comply with The Scout Association’s Child Protection Policy. For more information, please refer to the Scouts association website.
Moving between sections
Young people move to the next section when they reach the age requirements and when their section leader believes they are ready. The Moving On ceremony takes place at the start of the term. If the child reaches the age during a term, they will move at the start of the next term.
Insurance
All young people and adults taking part in Scouting activities are covered by the Scouts Association’s insurance provided by Unity (Scouts Insurance Services).
Events & Trips
In addition to our weekly sessions, events and camps will be organised to offer different types of activities. Announcement of events will be done via the website, email or mobile text. The process requires you to complete a permission slip and pay the fees, if any, by the date set on the event announcement. This is in order to guarantee a space for your child. Payment will be handled via our admin website Online Scout Manager. Please note that payments are non-refundable, however this may be overturned by the GSL’s discretion.
Leaders
Scouting is a volunteer organisation, meaning all of our leaders are giving up their personal time to run the group.
Please treat our leaders with respect. We are here to help.
Abusive behaviour towards leaders will not be tolerated.
Waiting List
Below is the link to the Waiting List. If you are adding more than one child, you will need to complete a fresh copy of the form for each child.