Royal Navy Recognised Sea Scouts
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There are 101 Sea Scout Groups in the United Kingdom and one group in Gibraltar who are affiliated to the Royal Navy in order to foster a close relationship between the Royal Navy and Young people in the Scout Association by making naval facilities and equipment accessible[1]. It is seen as a mark of great honour by the Groups holding RN Recognition.
History
Sea Scouting in the U.K. began in 1908, one year after the establishment of Scouting itself. During World War I Sea Scouts performed duties as coastal lookouts and messengers and, in recognition of these deeds, were formally recognised by the Admiralty Board in 1919, this allowed them access to Naval equipment and facilities whilst still remaining independent of any Naval control.
During World War II the scheme was converted so that Sea Scout groups who show themselves able to reach certain levels of proficiency could apply for stores and grants to help train young men in basic seamanship before entering military service. The scheme has been running since then, overseen by Second Sea Lord / Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and regulated by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Scout Association.
Although there are some 425-450 Sea Scout groups throughout the U.K., the MoD recognises a maximum of 101. In order to remain in the scheme groups must maintain high standards. Any Sea Scout group can apply for recognition subject to certain criteria laid down in the MOA[2].
Unlike the Sea Cadet Corps, Sea Scouts are not financially supported by the MoD, apart from an annual capitation grant to the Scout Association. The driving force behind groups applying for and remaining in the Royal Naval recognition scheme is the kudos and associated pride.
Privileges
There are a number of privileges afforded to Groups that make it into the top 100, including:
- Leaders, Explorers, Scouts and Cubs wear Royal Navy Recognition Badge.
- Group wears defaced Red Ensign and flies Admiralty Pennant.
- Eligible to attend Big Four Events:
- Summer Camp, HMS BRISTOL, Portsmouth.
- Soccer Sixes, HMS BRISTOL, Portsmouth.
- Swimming Gala, HMS RALEIGH, Plymouth.
- Explorer Camp, HMS BRISTOL, Portsmouth.
- Eligible to utilise HMS BRISTOL's facilities and RN Sailing Centre Assets.
- Visit Portsmouth Heritage area attractions at heavily discounted rates.
- Annual payment to the Scout Association (Admiralty Fund) based on a per capita payment for each Scout and Explorer Scout plus an allowance for certain badges as detailed in the Memorandum of Agreement.
- Eligible to apply for grants from Scout Association for purchase of equipment and boats.
- On joining an initial Stores outfit is issued.
Inspection
Groups are inspected every 18 months by the RN Staff Officer (Sea Scouts), a Lieutenant Commander who works for Flag Officer Sea Training. This is a formal inspection, usually alternating between water-borne and land based, where the Groups can show off their skills and worthiness to be recognised by the RN.
Recognised Groups
| RN Number | Group | Website |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 4th Gillingham (Rainham) Sea Scouts | http://www.btinternet.com/~fourthgill.seascouts/ |
| 02 | 3rd Portchester Sea Scouts | http://www.thirdportchesterscouts.org/ |
| 03 | 1st Oulton Broad Sea Scouts | http://1stoultonbroadseascouts.org/ |
| 04 | 13th Ipswich Sea Scouts | http://www.13thipswich.co.uk/ |
| 05 | 4th Epping Forest South Sea Scouts | http://www.bancroftsseascouts.org/ |
| 06 | Newbold-on-Stour Sea Scouts | |
| 07 | Guernsey Sea Scouts | |
| 08 | 3rd Wallsall Sea Scouts | http://www.killock.co.uk/ |
| 09 | 2nd Cowes Sea Scouts | http://www.isleofwight-scouts.org.uk/Groups/WestWight/Cowes/Overview.aspx |
| 10 | 1st Batchworth Sea Scouts | http://www.batchworth.org/ |
| 11 | 1st Lytham St Annes Sea Scouts | http://www.1stlsa.co.uk/ |
| 12 | 15th Macclesfield Sea Scouts | |
| 13 | 2nd Walthamstow Sea Scouts | |
| 14 | 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts | http://2wk.org.uk/ |
| 15 | 2nd Reading Sea Scouts | |
| 16 | 36th Epping Forest (South) Sea Scouts | http://www.36efsscouts.org.uk/ |
| 17 | 18th Inverness Sea Scouts | http://www.invernessseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 18 | 4th Dovercourt Sea Scouts | |
| 19 | 1st West Bay Sea Scouts | |
| 20 | 4th/6th Leigh-on-Sea Sea Scouts | http://www.4th6thleigh.org/ |
| 21 | 8th Faversham Sea Scouts | |
| 22 | 4th New Forest East (Hythe) | |
| 23 | 3rd/5th Lancing Sea Scouts | http://www.3rd5thlancingseascouts.co.uk/ |
| 24 | 1st Hertford Sea Scouts | http://www.hertfordscoutsappeal.org.uk/ |
| 25 | 25th Southampton Sea Scouts | http://www.25th-southampton.org.uk/ |
| 26 | 8th Norwich Sea Scouts | http://8thnorwich.org.uk/ |
| 27 | 64th Birkenhead Sea Scouts | http://www.64thseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 28 | 2nd Abingdon Sea Scout Group | http://www.2absg.org.uk/ |
| 29 | 6th Torbay Britannia Sea Scouts | http://www.6thTorbayBritannia.org.uk |
| 30 | Leander (Kingston) Sea Scouts | http://www.leanderseascouts.co.uk/ |
| 31 | 14th Tonbridge Sea Scouts | http://14thtonbridge.org/default.aspx |
| 32 | 3rd South Shields Sea Scouts | |
| 34 | 9th Stafford Sea Scouts | http://www.staffordseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 35 | 3rd Frodsham Sea Scouts | http://www.cheshire-scouts.org.uk/index.php?option=com_uhp2&task=viewpage&Itemid=9999999&user_id=1422 |
| 36 | 1st Kings Norton Sea Scouts | |
| 37 | 6th Shoreham Sea Scouts | |
| 38 | 11th Torbay Sea Scouts | http://www.11thtorbay.co.uk/ |
| 39 | 4th Streatham Sea Scouts | http://www.freewebs.com/4thstreathamscouts/ |
| 40 | 3rd Bingley Sea Scouts | |
| 41 | 1st Tyne Sea Scouts | |
| 42 | 10th Christchurch Sea Scouts | |
| 43 | 1st Corsham Sea Scouts | |
| 44 | 4th Heswall Sea Scouts | |
| 45 | 1st Lilliput Sea Scouts | |
| 46 | 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts | http://www.2ndbeeston.org.uk/ |
| 47 | 35th Bournemouth Sea Scouts | |
| 48 | 1st Southbourne Sea Scouts | |
| 49 | 4th Allerton Sea Scouts | |
| 50 | Holy Trinity (Margate) Sea Scouts | http://www.rn50.org.uk/ |
| 51 | 1st Felpham Sea Scouts | |
| 52 | 17th Colchester Sea Scouts | |
| 53 | 6th Itchen Sea Scouts | |
| 54 | 12th Halifax Sea Scouts | |
| 55 | 1st St Peter in Thanet | http://www.1ststpetersseascouts.co.uk/ |
| 56 | 1st Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts | |
| 57 | 1st Clifton Sea Scouts | |
| 58 | 1st/10th Sutton Coldfield Sea Scout | |
| 59 | 8th Worthing Sea Scouts | http://www.8thworthing.org.uk/ |
| 60 | 4th Thames Ditton (Ajax) Sea Scouts | http://www.ajax.org.uk/ |
| 61 | 2nd Durrington Sea Scouts | http://www.2nddurrington.org.uk/ |
| 62 | 9th New Forest South (Lymington) Sea Scouts | |
| 63 | 1st Watchet Sea Scouts | |
| 64 | 19th Exeter Sea Scouts | |
| 65 | 1st Bungay Sea Scouts | |
| 66 | 21st Sunderland Sea Scouts | |
| 67 | 6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts | |
| 68 | 1st Blofield & Brundall Sea Scouts | http://www.1stblofieldandbrundall.org.uk/ |
| 69 | 1st Luton Sea Scouts | |
| 70 | 11th Norwich Sea Scouts | |
| 71 | 1st Thorpe St Andrew Sea Scouts | |
| 72 | 19th Tynemouth Sea Scouts | |
| 73 | 3rd Chalkwell Bay Sea Scouts | http://www.3rdcb.org.uk/ |
| 74 | 1st Molesey (Jaguar) Sea Scouts | http://www.jaguarseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 75 | Knowle Sea Scout Group | http://www.knowleseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 76 | 2nd Deal Sea Scouts | |
| 77 | 1st Cleethorpes Sea Scouts | |
| 78 | 30th Norwich Sea Scouts | |
| 79 | 1st Cogenhoe Sea Scouts | |
| 80 | 27th High Wycombe Sea Scouts | |
| 81 | Dartford Cambria Sea Scouts | |
| 82 | 5th Gosport Sea Scouts | http://www.5thgosportseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 83 | 1st Reading Sea Scouts | |
| 84 | 3rd Poole Sea Scouts | |
| 85 | 17th Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts | |
| 86 | 1st Rhu Sea Scouts | |
| 87 | 1st Barry Sea Scouts | |
| 88 | 1st Southwater Sea Scout Group | |
| 89 | 9th Itchen Sea Scouts | |
| 90 | 29th Glasgow Sea Scouts | http://www.29thglasgow.org.uk/ |
| 91 | 6th Newark Sea Scouts | |
| 92 | 4th Itchen South Sea Scouts | |
| 93 | 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts | |
| 94 | 15th Long Eaton Sea Scouts | |
| 95 | 1st Cuddington Sea Scouts | http://www.warspite.org.uk/ |
| 96 | 4th Pinner Sea Scouts | |
| 97 | 6th Barry Sea Scouts | |
| 98 | 2nd Fareham sea Scouts | |
| 99 | 4th New Forest North Sea Scouts | http://www.elingseascouts.org.uk/ |
| 100 | 6th Falmouth Sea Scouts | |
| 101 | 5th Gibraltar Sea Scouts | http://gibseascouts.terapad.com/ |