Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
The Scout Association in Yorkshire and the Humber is part of the Scout Association North East Region, as is the Scout Association in Scouting in North East England. The Scout Association North East Region is the only one that covers two official regions of England.[1]
There are also four student Scouting associations at various universities in the region, which are affiliated with the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO). These are Students of Hull Association of Guides and Scouts at the University of Hull; Leeds University Union Scouts And Guides covering the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University andLeeds College of Music, Sheffield Students in Guides and Scouts covering the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.[2] and Scouts And Girl Guides York at the University of York.[3]
Yorkshire and the Humber is proud to have scout groups that date back the very start of scouting in the UK.
The Scout Association in Yorkshire and the Humber is administered through five Scout Counties, Central Yorkshire Scout County, Humberside Scout County, North Yorkshire Scout County, South Yorkshire Scout County and West Yorkshire Scout County.
The County is currently divided into eight Scout Districts:
The County organises international expeditions, enabling a number of Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members to undertake adventurous activities in other countries.
The next County Expedition is in 2008, where they will be visiting Kenya. The Expedition will consist of mountaineering on Mount Kenya, trekking by camel back, and a community project. There will also be a safari through a game reserve.
Scouting in Humberside covers the former non-metropolitan county of Humberside. The headquarters of Humberside Scouts is at Raywell Park Activity Centre.[8]
There are 8 Districts within the Humberside County:
The Districts within Humberside were changed as part of the restructuring in 2011/2012. During this time Boothferry and Haltemprice were merged into Blacktoft Beacon. On 30 May 2012, the three Hull Districts: East Hull, North Hull and West Hull merged to make one District named City of Hull.
North Yorkshire Scout County covers the county of North Yorkshire and is geographically the largest of the 4 Yorkshire scouting counties.[9]
North Yorkshire Scouts celebrated the Centenary of scouting in 2007 by joining the Bilton Conservation Group to plant 2000 trees donated by the Woodland Trust.[10]
In 2024, the county will be hosting the Larkin International Jamboree at Duncombe Park in Helmsley.[11]
The County is currently divided into 12 Scout Districts:[12]
There is an active Scout Network in the county.[13]
As of 2022, there are 6 Squirrel Dreys being run in the county.[14]
The current County Commissioner, Max Butler, was appointed in March 2022.
Scouting in South Yorkshire includes Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.[15]
The County is divided into 7 Scout Districts:[16] -
Sheffield Hallam is the largest District in the County with over 30 Scout Groups. Sheffield Hallam was formed when Sheffield Porter and Sheffield Rivelin merged in 2007.
The Doncaster Danum District has a Scout Band.
The Scout and Guide Shop (previously SGS Outdoors) is a combined Scout and Guide Shop in Sheffield with a full e-commerce website.[24] There is also a Scout Shop in Doncaster with online access.[25]
West Yorkshire covers the metropolitan districts of Bradford, Kirklees, and Calderdale. The Scout county of West Yorkshire does not cover the whole of the West Yorkshire metropolitan county. Because the West Yorkshire area is densely populated the boroughs of Leeds and Wakefield have their own Scout County called Central Yorkshire.[26]
The Scout county's office is located within the Jubilee Centre at the Bradley Wood Campsite on the outskirts of Brighouse.[27]
The county also operates a Water Activities Centre - Green Withens Watersports Centre at Green Withens reservoir near Ripponden.
West Yorkshire Scouts celebrated a successful centenary year of 2007.[28]
West Yorkshire is subdivided into 14 Scout Districts:
West Yorkshire has two Scout Bands - Revolution Show Corps (based in Queensbury) and Spen Valley Scout and Guide Band (based in Cleckheaton).
The County has a number of campsites and activity centres.[41]
The current County Commissioner, Ian Womersley, was appointed in May 2020.
The Aldwark Water Activity Centre is owned and maintained by Central Yorkshire Scout Association County. The centre is located on the River Ure, 8 miles upstream from the city of York.[42]
The centre has one large camping field, as well as a converted mill which consists of a number of dormitories. The centre has kayaks and boats for sailing, and runs training courses to gain qualifications in these activities.
The Bramhope Scout Campsite is situated just outside of the village of Bramhope, approximately 8 miles north-north-west of Leeds. The site covers NaNacres of woodland and fields, offering various camping pitches for any sized camp up to a District camp.[43]
As well as the camping pitches, there are a number of buildings on the site offering accommodation and indoor training facilities. The site offers archery, air rifles, pedal karting, climbing, abseiling, and pioneering, amongst other activities. There are also facilities located near to the site which enable sailing, kayaking and swimming.
Hunters Greave Scout Activity Centre in Newlay, near Bramley, is operated by Shire Oak District. There is space for 100 campers.[44]
The Wike 'back-to-basics' campsite is operated by North Leeds District Scout Council.[45]
There are four camp sites:-
Hesley Wood is used for Wood Badge and other Adult Leader Training.
Bradley Wood is the West Yorkshire Scout Association County Campsite, near Brighouse on the border of Kirklees and Calderdale.[27] There are several others run by Scout Districts or Groups.[48]
Blackhills Scout Campsite is run by the Districts of Bradford North and Bradford South.[49]
Fanwood Activity Centre is run and managed by the Scouts and Guides of Spen Valley District, and is based in Gomersal near Bradford.
Sconce camp site, near Shipley, is operated by Aire Valley District.[50]
North Yorkshire Scouts, and its districts, have five campsites and activity centres:[51]
The county also has a water sports centre located at Ellerton-on-Swale near Catterick
Madge Hill Campsite, east of Pateley Bridge, is located within North Yorkshire but maintained by a team from West Leeds District. The site was presented to Farsley District Scouts in 1930 by the Hainsworth family. The site has a bunkhouse and space for camping.[52]