1. Purpose
1.1 This policy sets out how 3rd Winchester (The Worthies) Scout Group ("the Group") manages its waiting list and offers places in its sections.
2. Sections
2.1 The Group runs the following sections:
Squirrels (ages 4 to 6)
Beavers (ages 6 to 8)
Cubs (ages 8 to 10½)
Scouts (ages 10½ to 14)
2.2 Explorer Scouts (ages 14 to 18) are managed by Winchester District and are not covered by this policy.
3. Joining the waiting list
3.1 Young people may be added to the waiting list at any age by completing the Group's joining form.
3.2 Parents and carers are responsible for keeping their contact details up to date. The Group cannot be held responsible for a missed offer where details are out of date.
4. Eligibility
4.1 All sections are open to all young people in accordance with The Scout Association's policies, without discrimination on the grounds of ability, sex, gender, religion or belief, ethnicity or social background.
4.2 Where a young person has additional needs, the Group will endeavour to welcome and support them equally with other applicants. Admission will be at the discretion of the Group Lead Volunteer, who will discuss with the relevant Section Team Leader how, and in exceptional cases whether, the Group can meet the young person's needs safely. Admission may be subject to a trial period.
5. Age limits
5.1 A place in a section will not normally be offered to a young person who is within six months of the age for moving on to the next section. They will instead be considered for a place in the next section when one becomes available.
6. Priority places
6.1 A place will be offered where possible, including by temporarily increasing the size of a section provided this does not reduce safety or activity standards for existing members, where:
a) a parent or carer is, or is about to become, a volunteer in one of the Group's section teams, or with an Explorer Unit that has a partnership agreement with the Group;
b) a parent or carer is, or is about to become a member of the Trustee Board; or
c) the young person has recently moved to Kings Worthy, Headbourne Worthy or Itchen Valley, is already a member of another Scout Group, and their parents or carers will continue to support the Group as they supported their previous Group.
7. Order of offers
7.1 Where the number of young people in a section is below its agreed maximum, and is expected to remain so beyond the start of the next term, places will be offered to young people on the waiting list in the following order:
a) those with a sibling who is a member of the Group;
b) those living in Kings Worthy, Headbourne Worthy or Itchen Valley;
c) those who have been on the waiting list longest.
8. Offers of places
8.1 Offers will be made using the contact details held on the waiting list. If no response is received within 7 days, the place may be offered to the next young person on the waiting list.
9. Decisions
9.1 The Group Lead Volunteer's decision on the offering of places and admissions is final.
10. Personal data
10.1 Personal data provided for the waiting list is processed in accordance with the Group's Website Privacy Notice and Group Data Protection Policy.