Hillwalking Permit Scheme

The adventurous activity permit scheme is designed to show that all those leading adventurous activities for young people within Scouting have the skills, experience and personal suitability to do so. Everyone who leads an adventurous activity, such as Hillwalking, within Scouting is required to hold an activity permit for that activity. Details of which activities are classed as adventurous can be found in POR.

Although managed locally, the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme is a national scheme, so once gained; a permit may allow you to run that activity in any District or County.

Permits are now applied for via the membership system following the process outlined in “Guidance for Applicants”

If you are additionally applying for a Supervisory Permit, further information could be required. More information about supervisor status.

Once your application has accepted by the unit a formal assessment of your technical competence e.g. navigational skills, party management and Scouting rules will then be carried out. The Assessor will then make their recommendation on the membership system and your granting commissioner will finalise the permit based upon the assessor’s recommendation, a CRB check and your ‘Personal Suitability’.

If granted, your permit lasts for up to five years and may be restricted from just one area of hills to region/country wide. Normally, first time applicants permits do not include the “Supervisor” or ‘Wild Camping’ status. However, if suitable experience is shown, either through external qualification / walking log / personal knowledge of the applicant (e.g. through attendance at County events), these may be recommended.

For renewal of permits, three months before the expiry date, follow the procedure above. Subject to your logbook showing relevant continued activity, unless you require a higher level authorisation, a further assessment may not be required.

Weather conditions & Summer/Winter Permits

When applying for your permit you will have to decide what season you want on your permit. The seasonal definitions are Summer or Winter.

• “Winter refers to when winter conditions, including snow and ice prevail or are forecast. This cannot be defined by a portion of the year. Snow / ice cover is not the only defining feature. Severe cold, high winds and shortened daylight hours should also be considered”.
• “Summer means any condition not covered under winter”.

When summer conditions become winter conditions is very subjective. The following notes are to help leaders decide.

The definitions above are the same as the Mountain Training England (MTE) Summer Award definitions. MTE also say “a light covering of snow or morning frost on the ground should not necessarily prevent a group from exploring the hills. These conditions can occur any time from October to April. Award holders should have the necessary skills to make appropriate judgments regarding the underfoot conditions and act accordingly.”

It is expected that Winter Permits will normally only be required by leaders primarily wanting to take young people into the higher mountains of the UK (excluding S.W.England and S.Wales) where the skills and equipment to cope with the special hazards of winter conditions as defined by the Winter Mountain Leader Training Syllabus are likely to be encountered:

1. Loose and verglassed rock.

2. Snow bridges above streams and boulder fields.

3. Cornices

4. Avalanche prone slopes.

5. Strong winds.

Permit holders will have to risk assess the conditions, taking into account the weather forecast, to determine if they have the appropriate permit and the group are sufficiently experienced and equipped for the walk they are undertaking and know when to turn back.

Using the restrictions available the assessors can tailor the permit to your needs providing you have relevant logged experience and can demonstrate that you have the skills during the technical assessment.

Funding

If you decide to further your walking skills by undertaking a nationally recognised course of training and/or assessment (e.g. Hill and Moorland Leader, Mountain Leader or Winter Mountain Leader), you may be able to secure some funding locally and/or from The Scout Association.