We’re delighted that your young person wants to join Chorlton Scouts.

We are an exceptionally popular scout group with over 450 members and over 300 more young people waiting to join. Admittance to the group is based on the criteria below and not simply based on when someone joined the list as not everyone is waiting for the same thing, We typically admit approximately 60 new members each year spread over 3 intakes (January and Easter and September) as we have very high retention rates the majority of places come available in Squirrel scouts (our youngest section) – Places in the older sections do come available, but much less frequently. To stand the best chance of securing a place we highly recommend you join the waiting list between the child’s 2nd and 3rd Birthdays, any later than this will drastically reduce the chances of securing a place.

When we are able to offer a place, we will contact you with an offer letter.

Please refrain from contacting us asking for an update on waiting times as we are unable to accurately predict this and with so many waiting for places, replying to these emails is a lengthy task for our volunteers.

Waiting list Policy at Chorlton Scout Group

When joining the waiting list for Chorlton Scouts the following criteria will determine the order in which places are allocated. This policy was agreed by the Group Trustee Board on 10th September 2019 and updated on 15th July 2022.

1. Existing Members moving up will receive top priority for spaces at Chorlton and Northenden Scout Group – consequently no places will be offered to non members until members moving up have been allocated their places. This may mean for example we do not recruit new Beavers in a particular intake because all of the places have gone to squirrel scouts moving up to Beavers.
2. Children of Volunteers – Children of Regular volunteers, or those who agree to become regular volunteers will receive the next highest priority for spaces at Chorlton & Northenden Scout Group. New Volunteers must have completed their DBS check and e-learning prior to an offer being made to their child.
3. Transfers from out of Area – Existing members of the Scout Association from outside of the Manchester South District who move into the Area and wish to continue Scouting.
4. Siblings of our Existing Members.
5. Age – our programmes are designed to run for 2 years (squirrels to cubs) and 4 years (scouts and explorers) – priority will be given to younger prospective members who join the list at a similar time as older ones who would have less time in the section (and thus be unable to complete the programme) – E.g. a 6 year old who joined the waiting list at a similar time to a 7 year old will take priority for a place in Beavers as they would have longer in the section and be able to complete the programme.
6. Date of Joining the list – This is our lowest priority when offering place and will be relevant only to members who are of the correct joining age e.g. an illegible 3 year old who has been on the list since birth will not take priority over an eligible 6 year old who has been on the list 2 months. Month of joining is relevant, day is not e.g. someone who joins the list on the 1st of the month doesn’t automatically get higher priority than someone who joins on the 25th unless they meet one of the other 5 criteria.

When places are allocated they will be to which ever section has vacancies at that time. Parents who decline a place on a particular evening will be placed on a waiting list for their chosen evening, this could mean a significantly longer waiting time.

Places will not be held empty to allow for friends to join at the same time – e.g. if 2 friends want to join but only 1 space is available CNSG will not hold the vacant space until a 2nd becomes available.

Less than 6 months before upper age limit

To be eligible for any place the prospective member must be at least 6 months from the upper age limit of the section. E.g. places in beavers would not be offered to those older than 7 years an 6months. In these situations the place would be offered to the next eligible prospective member and the elder child would be placed on the waiting list for the older section e.g for the example above this would be CUBS.

Catchment Area

Places at Chorlton Scout Group will only be offered to those with addresses within out catchment area. Our catchment area can be viewed HERE.

Our Northenden sections do not currently have a catchment area

Moving up

The decision for a young person to move from one section to another should be a joint decision between the Section Leader and the Parent, in the event of disagreement. The Group Lead Volunteer’s decision is final.

Admissions

CNSG reserves the right to admit only at certain times of the year e.g. at the beginning of school terms.

Removal from the list

Records will be deleted from our system on request by the parent/guardian of the young person concerned. In the event that a young person is not given a place within 3 years from joining the wait list, CNSG reserve the right to delete the record.

Forfeiture of Places

A place will be considered forfeit if it is not accepted within the required notice period of it (usually 5 working days) being offered, Or if after a joining a member fails to attend for 4 consecutive weeks with no contact. CNSG is exceptionally popular, those who take up places are expected to use them, should attendance fall below 75% the Lead volunteer reserves the right to withdraw a place. If attendance in any given term falls below 50% without discussion or mitigating circumstances a place will be automatically forfeit.