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Introducing Personal Permits  [Announcement]
 We all recognise that adventurous activities are a key part of Scouting. Equally though it is important that these potentially hazardous activities are managed and run in a way that minimises risks and ensures they are as safe as possible for those taking part. It is to help manage this process that we have the adventurous activity permit scheme. This allows those with the relevant skills and experience to gain a permit to lead (or supervise) these activities for others. However, to make it easier for competently skilled young people to take part in these activities it is now possible for the first time for young people to get personal activity permits.
What are personal activity permits?
Personal permits allow the holder to take part in the specified activity without the need for there to be someone present who holds a leadership or supervisory permit. This means that if a group of more Explorers all held, for example, a personal kayaking permit, they could all go kayaking together (subject to the normal guidelines that would be followed when going kayaking).
How do you get a personal activity permit?
The process for gaining a personal permit is exactly the same as for gaining a leadership or supervisory permit. Any applicant will need to be seen by a County Assessor who will check their technical competence. There are specific assessment checklists available to be assessed against for each personal permit focussing on the skills required, but without any leadership elements. Each applicant will also need to be checked for their knowledge of the Scout Association Rules for their activity and their personal suitability before the District Commissioner grants the permit.
What is the difference between personal and leadership permits?
The main difference between personal and leadership permits is that a personal permit does not allow you to lead the activity for anyone else. So while someone holding a leadership permit can take a group of novices, or more experienced young people without permits, and introduce them to an activity, a personal permit holder can only take part in the activity with others holding personal permits. Personal permits are not here to replace leadership permits for under 18s (there is still no minimum age for leadership permits), merely to allow those with the technical skills but not yet the leadership skills to participate in the activity for themselves.
What are the benefits of personal activity permits?
Personal permits are designed to allow competent young people easier access to activities within Scouting. This could particularly be the case where you have Explorers or Scouts with skills in a specific activity, but for whatever reason there is no one within their leadership team with the knowledge and skills to be able to offer the activity to them. It is expected to be particularly useful for expeditioning, whether by foot, boat or other means, so for example a group of Explorers on an expedition for their Queen's Scout Award could all gain personal permits (if they have the skills required) rather than needing a Leader with a supervisory permit to remotely supervise them throughout.
Can personal permits be restricted?
Just like any leadership or supervisory permit, any personal activity permit can be personalised to the skills and abilities of the applicant through the use of restrictions. This could be through restricting them to certain areas, specific stretches of water, certain weather conditions, specific routes or any number of other personalisations based on their skills and requirements.
Can adults get personal activity permits?
There is no benefit to an adult gaining a personal permit. This is because it doesn't allow them to lead an activity for anyone else without a permit, and due to the Rules for adult groups in adventurous activities there is no requirement for them to hold a permit or be led by a permit holder when taking part in adventurous activities themselves.
What are the timescales for the introduction of personal activity permits?
Personal permits are available from today. They are being launched to the Movement on ScoutBase UK and through an article in the Explorer supplement of the April/May Scouting magazine. There is no implementation period planned as nothing new is required due to this following the existing activity permit scheme systems. All information will be available through the activity permit page on ScoutBase UK at www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/assessment/permit.htm. Specific details for each activity, including the relevant assessment checklists, can be found in the A-Z of Activities at www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/factfile.php.
Contact Mark Glendinning (029 2031 6123)
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Posted: 4th Apr 2009, 4:45 pm
Updated: 4th Apr 2009, 4:56 pm
This page has been visited 238 times. |
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