You may be aware that, for a number of months, there has been consultation and discussion regarding our Authorisation Scheme for adventurous activities centred on how we can make it more enabling, to streamline processes but not forget that it must be a robust scheme.

I am now pleased to announce the details of the new scheme.

Summary of changes

In the main, the changes are as follows, but further details are contained in the factsheets available from Scotbase website

• Applicants may apply directly to Approved Assessors for assessments rather than chase around for signatures of approval at this stage.
• Formal training, although recommended, is not compulsory since it is recognised that people can gain skills and experience from a number of sources. Training does not imply competence.
• Introduction of the term Approved Assessor and the requirement that they keep up to date and have the 'soft skills' required to assess effectively.
• Introduction of the term `Permit' to enforce the fact that there is a proper process off assessment, rather than casual authorisations.
• Permits are recorded on the Membership Services Database.
• Need for first aid cover applies to the activity not to the person's Permit.
• Air activities removed from the list of adventurous activities due to external legislation required.
• The granting of a Permit still rests with the responsible Commissioner. We have set out the steps that they should take.
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To enforce commonality of standards for a National scheme and to ensure that applicants and Approved Assessors understand what will be covered, each activity will have an assessment checklist. Consequently, the application of `local rules' will be seen as unhelpful.

Work will be undertaken to publish assessment courses on ScoutBase UK. Hopefully, this will ease the pressure on some Areas/Counties, make those courses being run more viable, and provide applicants with choice. Where your Area/County runs assessments, and has capacity to add a few more people, I recommend that the ScoutBase UK promotion facility is used. Details of how to promote your courses on can be found on the `Activity Training and Assessment' page of ScoutBase UK.

 Implementation

I appreciate that when something new is introduced, some Area/Counties will implement immediately whilst others may wish to take more time. Since this review has been conducted very openly, and at different levels, some Areas/Counties may have already pencilled in preparation for a launch.

Implementation can be immediate, although you will have until September 2007 to do so. The following may be used as a summary checklist for implementation

• Briefing for Assessors and Advisers.
• Briefing for DCs/Leaders.
• Discussion with Training Managers regarding support for Module 25 Assessing Learning (Adventurous Activities). This module is only available as a word document on the Activities pages of ScoutBase UK.
• Any required changes in the administration of the scheme.
• Any required changes to Area/County publications and websites.

Support

• A PowerPoint presentation detailing the background and changes to the scheme is available, which can be tailored to local use. This is available by visiting the 'Activity Training and Assessment' page of ScoutBase UK.
• The Scout Information Centre will, as always, be on hand to take any questions by email or telephone. Call 0845 300 1818 or email info.centre@scout.org.uk.
• Members of the National Activities Team will be happy to come and talk to groups of interested Leaders, Advisers and Assessors about the scheme and answer and questions they may have. If you have an event that you would like someone to attend in this capacity please contact the Activities Office on 020 8433 7157 or activities@scout.org.uk.

Factsheets

We have endeavoured to keep factsheets as short as possible, without cutting substance. All factsheets and checklists will be available on ScoutBase UK when the updates are launched to all on Wednesday 14th December. These five generic factsheets support the scheme:

• FS120100 Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme.
• FS120101 Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme -Applicants' Guide.
• FS120102 Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme - Assessment Guide.
• FS120103 Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme - Commissioners' Guide.
• FS1 20104 Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme - Approved Assessors.

Offering adventurous activities to young people is an important part of what Scouting can provide or facilitate and certainly at an introductory level. Whilst review of the Authorisation Scheme, and introduction of the Permit Scheme, can be seen as a change to the way we regulate, it is also an opportunity to engage more adults - possibly by the use of practical introductory weekends and explaining how they can move towards gaining a Permit.

Yours sincerely

Alex Minajew

National Commissioner for Activities