To become a member of the Scout Association and our Group your child will be asked to make a promise at an investiture ceremony. After joining we normally allow a period of four to six weeks before the investiture. This gives your child time to find out if he or she enjoys Scouts. However it is your child’s investiture and it will only be carried out when they are ready. Investitures may be delayed so that they may be carried out at a special event e.g. at camp.

At the investiture ceremony your child will be asked to make a promise. The promise that they make will be dependent on the section that they are joining.

Promise

At the investiture ceremony your child will be asked to make a promise. The promise that they make will be dependent on the section that they are joining.  The core Scout Promise for each section can be found on the Beaver, Cub and Scout pages. In the promise your child will undertake to either “love God” or to do their “duty to God” (or their choice of deity).

Alternative versions of the Scout Promise have been available for nearly 50 years and have been used by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and those who live in the UK but are not UK citizens. In addition a new alternative Promise now adds to the suite of alternative versions to ensure we are inclusive to adults who are humanists or have no affirmed faith who wish to volunteer for Scouting, and young people who are humanists or with no affirmed faith who wish to join Scouting.

The existing core Scout Promise, which refers to a ‘Duty to God’, remains intact and Scouting remains fully committed as a Movement that explores faith and religion as a core element of its programme. Whilst we are not attached to any particular religious body all members of the Group are encouraged to attend St Matthias Church for a church service twice a year.  If your child attends another place of worship then we would ask that they attend twice a year in uniform.

Your Section Leader can generally answer any questions that you or your child may have with regard to the promise.