BSO Lone Scouting

  • Inspiring the future with #SkillsforLife

    Lone Scouting is made up of young people and adult volunteers who live overseas, but are unable to join a BSO Group.

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All the latest news from BSO Lone Scouting

By Theo Lasar • October 22, 2026
Thanks for your interest in becoming the next British Scouting Overseas (BSO) Deputy Youth Lead. This role is focused on empowering young people across our global movement, with a particular focus on driving achievement of Top Awards, empowering youth voices, and translating feedback into structured, practical support across our districts: Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World and Lone Scouts. If you are 18–25 yrs old, bring a genuine commitment to Scouting and possess the curiosity to explore how young people want their ideas represented and implemented, this position offers a direct opportunity to support youth leadership internationally. What is the BSO Deputy Youth Lead? The BSO Deputy Youth Lead works closely with and supports the BSO Youth Lead to ensure young members across all overseas districts are meaningfully involved in decision-making and supported through their Top Award and shaping their scouting experience. In this role, you will maintain consistent contact with volunteer teams across districts, lead data informed research into award completion & membership, facilitate youth forums, and collaborate with District Youth Leads to understand local operational contexts. Through problem solving and building strong relationships, you will help identify structural and practical barriers to Top Awards and work with the according teams to address them. You will help to expand programme adaptability & growth while implementing the "place to belong" & “skills for life” strategies. Your work will help ensure that youth perspectives actively inform organisational decisions, support executive governance, and ensure Section achievements are consistently recognised across BSO and wider Scouting platforms.
By Lynne Armitage • October 19, 2026
Find out what's happening across BSO with our latest Far & Wide Magazine, with information on events and important updates.
By Jenny Nixon • September 17, 2026
Do you love camps, adventures and making things happen? Do you enjoy organising activities and events, or have a skill you’d like to share with others? If you answered yes to any of these, we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking for adults to join the Northern Europe Events Team and help us build a permanent support team for adventurous activities and events across the District. Whether you’re an experienced organiser, have a particular skill to share, or simply enjoy getting stuck in and helping others have great experiences, there could be a role for you. The team will support events such as: 🏕️ District camp 🌍 Jamborees ⛺ Moots 🧭 Other adventurous activities and events You don’t need to currently hold a leader role to get involved. We’re especially keen to hear from adults who would enjoy contributing in a support role, bringing their skills, experience and enthusiasm to help our Young People get the most out of their adventures. Interested in finding out more? Contact Jenny Nixon, Northern Europe Programme Team Leader. jenny.nixon@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk (Know someone who would be perfect for this role? Share this with them!)

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There are many reasons for someone becoming a member of 1st Lone Scout Group. For example:

  • there's no unit for the age group in your local area
  • ·your other commitments, including studies and caring responsibilities, mean you can't attend regular in-person meetings
  • transport to and from meetings is a problem
  • an illness or disability prevents you attending meetings regularly
  • you don't enjoy spending time in large groups.


Belonging to 1st Lone Scout Group means you gets all the benefits of British Scouting and is able to fit it around your own needs and schedule. It's fun, flexible and full of the same great opportunities.


If you cannot commit to regular meetings? Lone Scouting might be the solution for you. (BSO) Lone Scout Group will give you the chance to take part in Scouting when you are not able to take part in regular in-person meetings. Lone Scouting is open to youth members and adults, 


It doesn't matter if there's no specific unit for Scouting in the area you live – you can still take part. If you are already a member, you should speak to your leader or local commissioner to find out what options are available in the Area you are moving to or the Area you already live


If you’re not already a member, let us know, stating that you would like to become a Lone Scout Member. We will then contact you, to let you know what options you have and how to join


Meetings are run every 2 weeks by Experienced Leaders so that you can undertake the normal UK Scouting programme for your section. The leader will help the young member to choose, plan activities, and suggest different ways to carry them out in their own time and during our regular meetings online. Support from home plays an important part in Lone Scouting especially for our younger members.


Where possible, leaders and volunteers will encourage family members to get involved with activities such as completing interest badges.


You will also be signposted to events such as camps, holidays or fun days in the closest district to where you live

For further information please contact Bernie Steadman: bernie.steadman@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk or Debbie Phillips:debbie.phillips@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk