How to Join Us
Christchurch Scouts – Dorset, England
First things first — we’re Christchurch in Dorset, England 
(not New Zealand, Wales, Norfolk, Epsom, or anywhere else with a similar name!).
We mainly offer Scouting to young people who live in the BH23 postcode area.
Across the District we have eight Groups, including one Air Scout Group. Our Air Scout Group may sometimes accept young people from outside BH23, and occasionally other Groups may make exceptions too — for example, if your child goes to school in BH23 but you live just outside the area. If that sounds like you, please do ask.
If you live outside BH23 and would prefer something closer to home, you can search for your local Scout Group through The Scout Association website.
Our Waiting List – How It Works
We run one waiting list for the whole of Christchurch District, covering all eight of our Groups. That means your child could be offered a place at any of our locations.
When you register, we note:
Which Group is closest to you (as the crow flies) Click here to find your nearest group
Any Group preference you tell us about
Whether your child already has siblings in Scouting
Whether someone in your family volunteers
Our Waiting List Coordinator manages this process carefully and fairly.
When spaces become available, we consider all of the above. Priority is given to:
Families living in BH23
Children of volunteers
Young people with siblings already in Scouting
Offers may come from any of our Groups — not just your preferred one.
Registering Your Child
If you’d like your child to join us, the first step is to register them on our waiting list.
You must complete our online registration form.
(Sending an enquiry through The Scout Association website does not add your child to our list.)You’ll receive a confirmation email explaining:
How we keep your data secure
How to make sure our emails don’t land in spam
How to update your details
How to tell us about any Group preference
If you don’t receive this email, please check your junk/spam folder.
Your child is not on the waiting list unless you receive that confirmation email.
When a place becomes available, you’ll receive an offer by email through our waiting list system — so please keep an eye on your inbox and keep your contact details up to date.
To comply with GDPR, we’ll occasionally email to check you’d still like to remain on the list.
Now you can go here to register your child to be considered for a place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are our Groups?
We have eight locations across the District. Click here to see our locations/groups
How long is the waiting list?
We’ll be honest — it can be long!
We’re delighted that so many families want to join Scouting locally, but waiting times vary depending on the area and age group. The list changes all the time as new families join and others accept places.
The biggest factor that limits how many places we can offer is the number of adult volunteers available.
Can I check if my child is on the list?
Yes — just go back to your confirmation email and follow the link provided there to view your child’s details.
When will my child get a place?
There are lots of moving parts, so we’re afraid we can’t give waiting list positions or time estimates.
We know that can be frustrating, and we truly wish we could offer places to everyone. Increasing our volunteer team is the main way we can create more spaces.
What ages can join? Is this the same as Guiding?
Scouting runs from age 4 up to 25 across different sections.
Scouting and Girlguiding are separate organisations. If your child would like to move from one to the other, they’re very welcome to join our waiting list and follow the normal process.
We’re moving to the area and my child is already in Scouts — can they transfer?
We’ll always do our best to welcome you to Christchurch Scouts.
However, under The Scout Association rules, we’re not obliged to accept transfers from outside BH23. If your preferred section is full, your child may need to join the waiting list.
Before leaving your current Group:
Ask for your child’s badge record if it’s paper-based and pass it on once a place is offered.
If it’s recorded on OSM, contact us using the email in your confirmation message and we’ll arrange for it to be transferred when the time comes.