Special Groups exist for Members who are in hospital or have severe disabilities and it is not possible or appropriate for them to be integrated into mainstream Scouting.
In Special Groups the District Commissioner may, on the recommendation of the Assistant County Commissioner or Adviser (Special Needs), authorise operation outside the standard age ranges. It is good practice to ensure that any one grouping does not span more than six years in the 6-14 age range and more than ten years in the 14-25 age range. This permission should be logged on a simple form.
Membership is acquired through making the Promise. The Promise needs to be meaningful for each Member and some flexibility in expressing the Promise may be required.
Members wear the uniform of the appropriate Section to which they belong.
Provision for people aged over 25 with severe learning difficulties is made through the Scout Fellowship.
The Gateway Award, as an alternative to the Duke of Edinburgh Award, may be achieved following the successful completion of the Gateway Award programme. The cloth badge is worn on the upper left arm. Details of the Gateway Award programme are available from the Scout Information Centre.
Further guidance on the formation and operation of Special Groups is available from Headquarters. Guidelines for District Commissioners and sample forms are available from the Scout Information Centre.
