Looking at what we wear
We’ve consulted widely with members (over 26,000) on how we feel about what we wear in Scouts. While it’s clear that no big change is needed, we acted on our feedback to make what we wear more inclusive, flexible, practical and affordable. This phase of the work is now complete and thank you for everyone who contributed.
So many of us remember that sense of pride pulling on a Cub jumper or buttoning up our volunteer shirt or blouse for the first time, feeling that we were joining something big and a little bit special.
What we wear is such a fundamental part of who we are. It’s part of our identity as Scouts, and that’s why were we’re committed to remaining a uniformed youth movement. There’s still a huge amount of pride in our uniform. We see that on big days like Remembrance Sunday and St. George’s Day and on state occasions like King Charles III’s Coronation in 2023.
Flexible and practical
But it’s also important to make sure that what we wear is inclusive and relevant (and doesn’t become a barrier to taking part). That’s why we held our review of what we wear. We listened to over 26,000 of young people and volunteers and it was clear that significant change isn’t the biggest priority right now.
However, while wholesale change is not what’s needed, we did hear calls for our uniform to be more flexible, practical and affordable.
To support these aims, based on the research, we’re making changes to our rules, the styling and fit of our uniform and the range of informal wear available.
Some updates to our rules on what we wear
You can find out all about how we’ve updated the rules in chapter 10 of POR on what we wear in Scouts.
In summary:
- We’ve given more options for Scouts age and above to wear to make things more flexible and affordable (find all the details in 10.8. of POR)
- We keep all the items of uniform for all ages, but have made more things optional: nothing is removed or added
- We describe which items are optional, to support flexibility and affordability
- We make clear that uniform shouldn’t be a barrier to taking part
- We’ve set out a purpose of the uniform – for belonging, to be recognisable and to be comfortable
- We’ve made sure we’ve preserved the specific needs for members such as those in Marching Bands, Sea and Air Scouts, and across the Nations.
- We've clarified rules on clothing to be worn at international events
These changes are not radical, but bring the rules up to date to reflect common, current best practice in Scouts.
Better comfort and fit
Responding to feedback, a new version of the shirt worn by Scouts aged 10+ to adult will be available from January 2025. This will be in a new fabric, with a better cut for women, with more comfort and stretch.
On both shirt styles, the updated and the original, we'll go up more sizes - 10XL for men, up to 36 for women - so it doesn't need to be bespoke and can be delivered to members faster.
We’ve also improved the cut of the trousers across all ages; the fabric is better and not as heavy. The new style trousers will be available from January 2025.
We heard strong views about the current long line shirts from our female Muslim members. These are in the process of being redeveloped, in consultation with those who’ll wear them: our female Muslim members. These will be available from January 2025.
Expanding our range of optional informal branded items
After feedback that members wanted more options for informal Scout branded clothing, Scout Store has launched a striking new range of t-shirts and hoodies for young people across the sections, with our familiar colours and distinctive icon prints.
Personalised clothing
Finally, personalisation is becoming ever more popular. Hundreds of Scout Groups are already personalising their informal group clothing, and Scout Store offer a fast efficient service so you can add your group logo on the the icon range and bold range.
We have exciting plans for extending personalisation to Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs clothing. (This will mean that fewer of those Cubs jumpers will get lost at camp).
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Thank you
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the review of what we wear. You’ve helped make these improvements to make sure our uniform and Scout clothing is the best it can be and something we all take pride in.