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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Royal Navy

Check out how the Royal Navy is supporting our Time on the Water activity programme.

Sharing its knowledge and expertise, the Royal Navy encourages our volunteers to teach skills for life.

To watch in full screen, double click the video

Time on the Water Staged Activity Badges 

You can earn Time on the Water staged badges when you take part in any of these activities:

For Beavers - each session should last about one hour.

For Cubs - an ideal session length goes up to 1-2 hours.

For Scouts and Explorers - sessions should last about 2-3 hours.

Please remember: You must be properly dressed and equipped for your activity and the weather conditions. Your leader will also need to make sure you’re following the activity rules in chapter nine of the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) and the Activity Permit Scheme.

Activities

During our partnership with the Royal Navy, we have created some amazing additional resources which were featured in issues of our Partnerships Magazine, Make Do Share.

  • Build a Paddle Boat: Make a mini paddle boat and watch as kinetic energy powers it along.
  • Be Water Kind: Protect the marine environment from pollution so everyone can enjoy time on the water.
  • Cardboard Canoe: Make a cardboard canoe with this Royal Navy template.
  • Water Clean-up: Keep your local waterways clean for spending time on the water, and for everyone.
  • Build a Vessel: Design an environmentally-friendly vessel that's fit for the future.
  • How Tides Work: Use this model to explore how the Earth’s
    Sun and Moon influence the tides.

Free Paddlesport Instructor courses for adult volunteers

The Royal Navy is offering the opportunity for Scout leaders to go on a free paddlesport instructor course run by Prime Paddling.

New course dates will be released soon, keep checking back for more details.

As well as gaining the Paddlesport Instructor (PSI) qualification, leaders will gain a B1 Canoeing or Kayaking permit, satisfying the Scout requirement in POR.

Paddlesport course requirements

Course attendees must have the following qualifications to be accepted onto the course: 

  • Hold a full British Canoeing Home Nation Association Membership (£35-£45 dependent on age),
  • British Canoeing Home Nation Association Registration Of course Attendance (£45),
  • British Canoeing Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (cost varies usually £60),
  • Personal paddling and rescue competence, this is of the same competence of someone with the BC Paddle Explore Award,
  • Minimum age of 18,
  • All PSI applicants must have the above prerequisites as late notice withdrawals result in other Scout leaders not being able to book.

If you would like to take part and meet the pre-course requirements detailed above, please find out how to get qualified here.

Important Information
  • There are 6 spaces available for each course, so please register your interest in good time.
  • The courses will only run if we are able to fill all 6 spaces per course.
  • By signing up to take part, you give your consent to share your data directly with The Royal Navy and Prime Paddling. Please check their privacy policies for further information.

Free Powerboat Instructor courses for adult volunteers 

The Powerboat Instructor course takes place at HMS Raleigh, Jupiter Point in Cornwall. 

Course attendees must have the following qualifications to be accepted onto the course: 

  • Must have passed the Powerboat Level 2 certificate for a minimum of five seasons’ experience of power boating. (For those who use Powerboats as part of their job this requirement is reduced to one season).
  • Candidates will hold a RYA recognised First Aid certificate.
  • Must be over the minimum age limit of 16.
  • You must also be a member of the RYA.

 Please check back regularly for more information on future courses!

A blue badge with a canooer and the Royal Navy logo

Get your Time on the Water Staged badges

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Funding for Sea Scout groups

The Royal Navy generously support Scouting with grant funding available for RN registered Sea Scout groups to purchase equipment and take part in training.

Learn more about the Scout Grants Committee >

About the Royal Navy

In times of peace and conflict, the Royal Navy is key to Britain’s prosperity and success. The Royal Navy help to stabilise the seas, keeping the maritime trade that’s the lifeblood of the UK economy flowing.

Memorandum of Agreement

The Memorandum of Agreement between The Scouts and The Royal Navy (relating to the Admiralty Fund) outlines the agreement relating to funding allocated to Royal Navy Recognised Sea Scout groups.

Read the Memorandum of Agreement >