To help you keep track of the changes, we’ll list them here by the date that we make the change:

June 17th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table page to reinforce the requirement to follow the home and host COVID restrictions when moving between jurisdictions.

June 16th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for England, giving notice of changes to nights away activities from Monday 21st June.

June 14th 2021

  • We’re aware of tonight’s announcement from Government on the next stage of easing restrictions. Over the coming days, we’ll work with the National Youth Agency (NYA) to discover if this has any impact on delivering face-to-face Scouting in England. It is anticipated that there will be an easing in restrictions related to nights away activities, increasing the group sizes, with this coming into affect from 21st June 2021. Once changes are confirmed we will communicate them directly and update these pages. 

June 11th 2021

June 5th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for Scotland, moving Great Western, South East and South Western Districts to Yellow.

May 31st 2021

May 27th 2021

May 24th 2021

May 18th 2021

May 17th 2021

May 14th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for Scotland, clarifying what is permitted with the next anticipated move to Yellow on 17th May. Note there are two exceptions who will remain in Amber.
  • Update to the readiness level table for Wales, clarifying what is permitted with the next anticipated update within Yellow on 17th May.

May 13th 2021

May 6th 2021

May 4th 2021

May 3rd 2021

April 26th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for Scotland, updates to the rules regarding trips and visits and the numbers permitted for activities.
  • Update to the readiness level table for Wales, updates to the rules regarding trips and visits and the numbers permitted for Scout Network activities. Advance warning of a move to Yellow on 3rd May.

April 19th 2021

April 16th 2021

April 12th 2021

April 8th 2021

April 6th 2021

  • Following the government announcement confirming the move in England to step 2 of the COVID roadmap we are working with the National Youth Agency to confirm what this means for the youth sector and the Scouts, we will update the readiness level table and communicate this to volunteers as soon as we have more information.

April 1st 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for Northern Ireland, moving to Yellow.
  • Bank of resources have been created to enable leaders to create an action plan to respond to COVID-19

Assess your Group, District or County’s situation and create an action plan to respond to COVID-19 by reading the pages on creating an action plan.

Use the action plan template while working through the below pages:

March 30th 2021

March 29th 2021

March 27th 2021

March 25th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table page with reminders of the requirements for risk assessments before restarting, checking the current requirements for social distancing and face coverings and an update for England to clarify adult numbers.
  • Restart FAQs replaced with an information hub and first aid FAQs move to the first aid training FAQs page. The main Getting Back Together Safely page has been updated to remove the resources which are now available in the information hub.

March 23rd 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for England, following updates to NYA guidance ahead of a move to Amber on 29th March. Updates include changes to maximum group sizes, trips and visits.
  • Communications to line managers in England only to explain the updates outlined above. 
  • Update to the Planning a safe and enjoyable programme guidance to provide more support for trips and visits when they are permitted within a jurisdiction and to reflect changes in group sizes.

March 22nd 2021

March 18th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for England, clarifying what is permitted with the next anticipated move to Amber indoors.

March 16th 2021

  • Communications to members in Wales to explain the timescales for returning to Amber following the recent Welsh government announcements.
  • Update to the readiness level table for Wales, showing what will be allowed when Wales move to Amber (expected 27th March 2021).
  • Update to the readiness level table for England and Scotland, clarifying what is permitted within Amber, specifically relating to activities away from the meeting place, hikes etc.

March 12th 2021

March 11th 2021

  • Communications to members in Scotland to explain the timescales for returning to Amber following the recent government announcements.
  • Update to the readiness level table for Scotland, showing what will be allowed when Scotland move to Amber (expected 12th March 2021).

March 5th 2021

March 2nd 2021

March 1st 2021

  • Update to the planning a safe and enjoyable programme guidance and the adapting activities guidance to respond to seasonal variations in activities, updates regarding supervision of multiple groups using a single location and the sharing and clearing of equipment.
  • Update to Nights Away and International guidance to clarify the earliest expected dates for these activities to take place.
  • Update to the COVID DofE guidance in response to changes from the DofE regarding the Certificate of Achievement.
  • Communications to line managers (1st March) and all members (2nd March) in England only to explain the timescales for returning to Amber following the recent government announcements, check back for full details.

February 26th 2021

February 22nd 2021

We’re aware of the latest Government announcement ​about reopening schools in England. We’ll work with the National Youth Agency (NYA) to see how this affects face-to-face Scouting. ​If there are any updates, we’ll email members and update the website. 

February 4th 2021

February 1st 2021

January 27th 2021

January 7th 2021

  • Update to the FAQs based on the NYA announcement regarding youth workers and key worker status, as well as in response to questions regarding vulnerable young people.

January 5th 2021

  • Update to the readiness level table for England based on government announcement on 4th Jan and addition of Gibraltar. 

January 4th 2021

December 24th 2020

December 23rd 2020

December 21st 2020

December 20th 2020

  • Updates to the readiness level table for England and Wales where areas have been placed in Tier 4 moving those areas to Red.
  • Updates expected for Scotland and Northern Ireland with effect from 26th December, available from 24th December for information.

December 19th 2020

  • We are aware there are now various different lockdowns coming in across the UK at different times over the coming weeks. We will post a full update soon on what that will means for the delivery of Scouting.

December 17th 2020

December 16th 2020

December 11th 2020

December 2nd 2020

  • England move to Amber.
  • Additional FAQ on what essential activities / tasks for adults means.

November 30th 2020

  • Confirmation of the changes from lockdown to local tier systems in England. Check the readiness level table has been updated in anticipation of the move to Amber on 2 December.

November 26th 2020

  • Following recent announcements regarding the new Tier System for England beginning on 2 December, we’re working with the National Youth Agency (NYA) and Government to understand what this will mean for youth activities and will be in touch directly with members in England about this shortly.
  • Guidance on nights away and international travel available to help members with forward planning into 2021.
  • Programme guidance updated to reflect changes in seasonal activities.

November 20th 2020

  • Following updates to areas in Scotland moving into Tier 4 of the Scottish 5 tier system, updates have been made to the readiness level table moving some locations into Amber.
  • Update to clarify that Beavers and Cubs are permitted to meet indoors in Wales, but they are not included within the 15 people maximum, social distancing of 2m must still be observed.

November 9th 2020

  • Wales returned to Yellow.

November 5th 2020

  • Additional clarification on attendance at Remembrance events in England.
  • Additional guidance for members in Scotland following the introduction of the Scottish 5 tier system, full details on the impact of this can be found in the responding to local restrictions guidance. This includes updates to the guidance on face coverings which can be found in the protecting ourselves and others guidance.
  • England move to Red following recent government announcement of four week lockdown, no face to face activity can take place with young people or adult volunteers. We expect these restrictions to last until 2 December.

November 2nd 2020

  • Northern Ireland returned to Yellow.
  • What to do when something goes wrong and programme guidance updates following NYA guidance updates relating to reporting COVID cases and mixing groups.

October 23rd 2020

  • Wales moved to Red readiness level as a consequence to the local restrictions, this is anticipated until 9 November.

October 19th 2020

  • Northern Ireland moved to Red readiness level as a consequence to the local restrictions, this is anticipated at two weeks only.
  • Counties in England previously in Red moved to Amber, with the exceptions of those in Tier 3 very high areas.

October 16th 2020

October 12th 2020

  • In response to today’s government announcements, we will be making changes to our local readiness levels in the coming days. To keep up to date please check the readiness level for your area. We are working on updating the guidance for responding to local restrictions which will be available soon. If you have any questions please speak with your line manager.

October 8th 2020

  • Northern Ireland move to Yellow readiness level.

October 6th 2020

  • Getting back together safely pages of www.scouts.org.uk changes to make more accessible, documents became web copy and more accessible and searchable. Reduction in volume of information for members.  

September 3rd 2020 

  • Version 2 of the Scout restart framework published to reflect readiness level change to AMBER with the inclusion of indoors (in England), guidance updated to support this change 

September 10th 2020 

  • Scotland move to Yellow, guidance updated to reflect what this allows.  

September 24th 2020 

  • Getting adults back together again – new guidance to support Scout Network and adult meetings, trainings etc, responding to member feedback and changes in government guidance around social activities for adults. 

August 2020 

Minor updates to FAQs and guidance responding to feedback from members.  

June 2020

Scouts restart framework and initial guidance on returning safely is launched.