{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFS120800 Published February 2026 replacing October 2024\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis page provides a general overview to the Nights Away Permit Scheme. It should be read in conjunction with \u003Ca href=\u0022/por/\u0022 title=\u0022POR Rule Book\u0022\u003EPolicy, Organisation and Rules (POR)\u003C/a\u003E of The Scout Association. More detailed information can be found in the following separate webpages for \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/applicants-guide/\u0022 title=\u0022Applicants\u0027 Guide\u0022\u003EApplicants guide\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/assessors-guide/\u0022 title=\u0022Assessors Guide\u0022\u003ENights Away Assessors guide\u003C/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/lead-volunteer-and-approvers-guide/\u0022 title=\u0022Commissioners\u0027 Guide\u0022\u003ELead Volunteers and Approvers guide\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EBefore beginning your Nights Away process, please check with your Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Assessor or Approver to confirm the correct procedure that you should follow.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EDistricts are in the process of moving all approvals of Nights Away to within the new digital membership system. As a result, your County/District may implement this process right away or choose to wait until closer to the transition date (deadline to be determined). At the District\u0027s discretion, you can still use the existing systems (downloadable nights away notification form or local digital solution).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EFor more information about the changes, please visit the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/\u0022\u003EVolunteer Experience\u003C/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;webpages.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ListContainerWrapper SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022 data-ccp-parastyle=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022 data-ccp-parastyle-defn=\u0022{\u0026quot;ObjectId\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;9254744b-bf00-4458-aef5-3f541b551812|4\u0026quot;,\u0026quot;ClassId\u0026quot;:1073872969,\u0026quot;Properties\u0026quot;:[469777841,\u0026quot;Arial\u0026quot;,469777844,\u0026quot;Arial\u0026quot;,469769226,\u0026quot;Arial\u0026quot;,335559705,\u0026quot;1033\u0026quot;,335559740,\u0026quot;280\u0026quot;,201341983,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;,335559739,\u0026quot;120\u0026quot;,469777842,\u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;,469777843,\u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;,469775450,\u0026quot;ScoutSubHead\u0026quot;,201340122,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;,134233614,\u0026quot;true\u0026quot;,469778129,\u0026quot;ScoutSubHead\u0026quot;,335572020,\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;,134224900,\u0026quot;true\u0026quot;,268442635,\u0026quot;22\u0026quot;,335559738,\u0026quot;120\u0026quot;,335559682,\u0026quot;9\u0026quot;,335559683,\u0026quot;0\u0026quot;,469775498,\u0026quot;Normal\u0026quot;,469778324,\u0026quot;Normal\u0026quot;,469777804,\u0026quot;\u0026quot;,469777803,\u0026quot;left\u0026quot;,469777815,\u0026quot;multilevel\u0026quot;,469769242,\u0026quot;65533,0\u0026quot;,335559685,\u0026quot;0\u0026quot;,335559731,\u0026quot;0\u0026quot;,536884268,\u0026quot;{9254744b-bf00-4458-aef5-3f541b551812}{4}\u0026quot;]}\u0022\u003EIntroduction\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022 data-ccp-parastyle=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003EThis page provides a general overview to the Nights Away Permit Scheme. It should be read in conjunction with\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/por/2-key-policies/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022Hyperlink SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022 data-ccp-charstyle=\u0022Hyperlink\u0022\u003EPolicy, Organisation and Rules (POR)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW66641769 BCX8\u0022 data-ccp-parastyle=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003E of The Scout Association. More detailed information for applicants, Nights Away Assessors and for Lead Volunteers can be found on separate pages.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThe Nights Away Permit Scheme\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Nights Away Permit Scheme promotes quality residential and camping experiences. It shows that all those leading nights away events for young people within Scouts have the skills, experience and personal suitability to take young people away safely. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIt\u0027s designed so that it can be tailored to be as flexible as possible, while at the same time providing a robust checking process for volunteers leading nights away events.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E The permit should be seen as an enabling device to show a volunteers competence and to provide reassurance to parents of the young people. While at the same time, it should also be encouraging to volunteers to acquire and improve the skills required to provide residential experiences. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPermits are only available to volunteers of The Scout Association and cease to be valid if membership ends.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat\u0027s the Nights Away Permit Scheme?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEveryone who leads a nights away event for young people within Scouts is required to hold a Nights Away Permit for the type of event they\u0027re running.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough managed locally, the Nights Away Permit Scheme is a national scheme, so once gained, a permit will allow you to run a nights away event in any District or County.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow the Scheme works\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/p0tfcmap/na-diagram.png","width":664,"height":422,"altText":"A diagram showing how to apply for a Nights Away permit.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWho grants the permit?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe person who grants your permit will be your responsible Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver In most circumstances, this will be at District Lead Volunteer (DLV) if you\u0027ve a Group or District role and your County if you\u0027ve a County role.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver can only grant a permit to the level of the recommendation of the Nights Away Assessor. The Nights Away Assessor will provide a recommendation after an assessment based on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk//media/nvqchtii/ac120900-nights-away-may-2025.docx\u0022 title=\u0022AC120900 Assessment Checklist for a Nights Away Permit November 2024\u0022\u003ENights Away Assessment Checklist.\u003C/a\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow long is a permit valid for?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA permit is time limited up to a maximum of five years at which point it expires. A permit is only valid if recorded on the membership system.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you wish to continue leading nights away events for young people, you\u0027ll need to apply for a new permit. However, if the new permit\u0027s to exactly the same level as the old permit and you\u0027ve been running residential events, there may be no need for a practical assessment. That decision is up to the Nights Away Assessor.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EDo I need to attend a module 16 or module 38 learning modules?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are no \u003Cspan\u003Eprior conditions\u003C/span\u003E to gaining a permit, so there\u0027s no requirement to have attended a Module 16 (Introduction to Residential Experiences) or Module 38 (Skills for Residential Experiences) learning module.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Nights Away Permit Scheme is different to these modules, so there\u0027s no requirement to gain a Nights Away Permit to complete your accreditation.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EValidating modules 16 and 38 doesn\u0027t automatically grant you a Nights Away Permit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, gaining a permit is one way of validating modules 16 and 38, and it\u0027s the best way to gain the skills and knowledge needed for a Nights Away Permit where learning is required.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EThe four areas assessed to gain a permit\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe four areas assessed to gain a permit are:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. Technical Competence. \u003C/strong\u003EThis is assessed by the Nights Away Assessor (NAA) and looks at the eight core skill areas required to run a nights away event. It\u0027s usually assessed through a practical assessment of running an event.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. Scout Association Rules. \u003C/strong\u003EThis can be assessed by either a Nights Away Assessor or the responsible Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver. It looks at whether the Applicant is aware of the Rules and guidance for running nights away events within Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3.\u00A0Safety and Safeguarding.\u003C/strong\u003E This\u0027ll be carried out by the responsible Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver and ensures that the necessary criminal record checks have been carried out and the appropriate safety and safeguarding learning has taken place.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E4. Personal Suitability. \u003C/strong\u003EThis is carried out by the responsible Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver, often in conjunction with a Group Lead Volunteer or similar, to check the applicant is suitable (in terms of attitude) to be leading nights away events for young people.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEvent Passports\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo encourage young people led residential events, such as patrol camps or Explorer Scout expeditions, a Nights Away Permit holder can grant a nights away passport to someone under 18 years old. This\u0027ll be done after a check on the young person\u0027s knowledge and ability to lead the event by the permit holder.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027ll allow the young person to lead a residential event for members of their own section and will last for a single event. The permit holder can only issue a Passport to the level of their own permit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPassports can\u0027t be used if adults, without permits, are present for the duration (or a significant part) of the residential event.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPassports can\u0027t be used to take members of a younger section away, such as an Explorer Scout Young Leader taking a Patrol of Scouts away.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFind out more about \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/the-nights-away-event-passport-guidance/\u0022\u003EEvent Passports\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENights Away Notification and Approval\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce an applicant has been granted a permit, they can start running nights away events.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach time they run a night away event, they need to notify their relevant Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Approver before the event takes place to gain approval for the event to go ahead.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is done through either passing the information in the Nights Away Notification (NAN) form to the District Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Approver, or by, through a local digital solution or on the membership system.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERead further guidance on completing a digital NAN on the\u00A0\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-notification/\u0022 title=\u0022Nights Away Notification\u0022\u003ENAN guidance page\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf one permit is being used for more than one group, the responsibility lies with the Permit holder to inform the appropriate Lead Volunteer for each group.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPermit renewal\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAll permits have an expiry date, which is a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue. After this the permit ceases to be valid.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERenewal of a permit is conducted in the same way as initial application except the method of assessment which is likely to differ.\u00A0The permit holder will need apply for a new permit through the membership system and find a Nights Away Assessor.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Nights Away Assessor will then decide on the most appropriate method of assessment. A practical assessment is unlikely to be required, but the Nights Away Assessor may wish to meet the applicant.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlternatively, they may simply consider the experience and issue a recommendation to the Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver on the log book supplied.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Promo","cta":"Read the FAQs","body":"","link":{"name":"Nights away FAQs","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-faqs/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#002f6c","title":"Nights away FAQs","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"This page provides a general overview to the Nights Away Permit Scheme. 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