Nights Away Permit

We know that camping and similar residential events are among the most popular activities that we can offer in Scouting. The Nights Away Permit Scheme has been introduced to promote quality nights away experiences for young people. Any adult wishing to take young people under 18 years old away on a camping or residential experience must hold an appropriate Nights Away Permit.

Nights Away Adviser

Each District should have a Nights Away Adviser. They have two key roles:

• Meet with adults and assess them as required against the eight core skills and to help them to gain an appropriate Permit.

• Advise on camping and residential issues and to generally promote nights away opportunities within the District

Practical Assessment

Where an applicant’s knowledge and ability is not known, an assessment is required. This is likely to take place across three stages:

STAGE ONE: During planning of the event

STAGE TWO: During the event itself

STAGE THREE: After the event, at the evaluation session

At each of these stages, the Nights Away Adviser will assess the applicant’s knowledge and ability in the following eight core skills:

1. Planning a nights away event

2. Ensuring the effective administration of an event

3. Preparing and co-ordinating a programme of activities

4. Choosing and preparing the event team

5. Choosing, organising and maintaining the right equipment

6. Ensuring the health, happiness and safety of self and others

7. Organising good catering

8. Making best use of the venue

Recommending a Nights Away Permit

Having met with the applicant then visited for a more detailed assessment, Nights Away Advisers should use form (FS120433) to make a recommendation to their District Commissioner.

Information to Download

• FS120431 - Nights Away Permit Scheme
  An Introduction
• FS120432 - Application for a Nights Away Permit
  Providing information required by an applicant who wishes to hold a Nights Away Permit.
• FS120433 - The Role of the Nights Away Advisor
  Explaining the role of the Nights Away Adviser, together with the skills and training required to do the job.
• FS120434 - The Nights Away Permit Scheme
  Guidelines for District and County/Area Commissioners

Nights Away Notification (Form NAN)

The Nights Away Notification (NAN) form can be downloaded from here in either Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) or Microsoft Word (.DOC) format.

• NAN form (.pdf) - filesize 15K
• NAN form (.doc) - filesize 40K

Further information is available from your Nights Away Adviser, your District Commissioner or from:

Dave Saunders
County Nights Away Adviser

Frequently Asked Questions

Link to Local Camp Site Information

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