Introduction
Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell held the first experimental camp on Brownsea Island for a small group of boys. He later wrote Scouting for Boys, which quickly grew in popularity and inspired the formation of Scout troops across the UK and around the world. Today we welcome all genders into Scouting and there are 420,000 Scouts in the UK and 60 million worldwide.
Great Barton Scout Group has been helping young people gain skills for life for over fifty years. Officially formed on 1st February 1971, the group was started by a small team of dedicated local volunteers who believed that Scouting could bring friendship, adventure, and opportunity to the young people of the village.
In 1975, through fundraising and community effort, the Group obtained a wooden building originally used during the Second World War and reassembled it on land leased and later purchased from the Borough Council. Our headquarters sit beside the village playing fields, giving us easy access to open space for outdoor games and activities — the heart of what Scouting is all about.
We believe Scouting should be open to all. Our Group welcomes young people and adults of every background and ability, helping them develop confidence, responsibility and respect for others.
Scouting at Great Barton isn’t just about knots and campfires — it’s about friendship, adventure, and discovering what you can achieve when you try something new.
What We Offer
We currently have three active sections, open to both boys and girls:
- Squirrels (ages 4-6) - STARTING JANUARY 2026
- Beaver Scouts (ages 6–8)
- Cub Scouts (ages 8–10½)
- Scouts (ages 10½–14)
Each section runs its own exciting and balanced programme. From fire-lighting, water activities, camping and hiking to crafts, STEM activities, games and visits, our members learn practical skills, teamwork, and self-confidence — while having plenty of fun along the way.
As they progress through the sections, young people can earn badges and awards that recognise their effort and achievement, including the Chief Scout’s Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, and ultimately the prestigious King’s Scout Award — the highest youth award in UK Scouting.
See more on our Sections page.
Our Location
Great Barton Scout HQ ("The hut") is located on the opposite end of the car park to the Great Barton Village Hall. We're just a couple of miles north east of Bury St Edmunds, and the other side of the railway from the Moreton Hall Estate. To find us, travel through Great Barton on the A143. Turn into Elms Close, which is opposite the petrol station, and continue through to the Village Hall car park and on to the green wooden hut at the far end.
Our address is Great Barton Scout HQ, Elms Close, Great Barton, Suffolk, IP31 2NR (Map).
Membership and Costs
Young people are welcome to come along and try us out for a session or two. After a few weeks, once the young person has their uniform and learnt about the promise and law, we will invest them into Scouting and the Group. At this time they will make their promise. Different promises are available for different faiths, or for none - if you have a preference please let the team leader know prior to investiture. After this, your young person will be a member of the worldwide family of Scouting.
Scouting at Great Barton is open to everyone, and we do our best to keep costs as low as possible. There are a few regular costs to be aware of:
- Membership Subs: £45 per term (three terms per year). These subs help cover the cost of national membership fees, badges, equipment, insurance, and the cost of utilities for, and maintenance of the Scout Hut.
- Uniform: Scouting is a uniformed organisation, and this can be purchased from the local Scout shop or online.
- Events and Camps: Most extra activities such as camps, day trips, and special events have an additional cost, which varies depending on the activity. We always provide details in advance and aim to make sure no one misses out due to cost.
If cost is ever a barrier, please speak to one of the leaders in confidence — we can often provide support to ensure every young person can take part fully in Scouting.
Uniform
From the beginning, Scouting has been a uniformed organisation and we expect each young person, where able, to wear uniform at meetings once they are invested. Each section has its own uniform top, and at Great Barton we have a yellow and green neckerchief which stays with the young person as they progress through the group.
In Bury St Edmund's we are fortunate to have our own Scout Shop, which is open on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings during term time. Full details can be found on their website. Buying locally allows the uniform to be tried on, and helps support Scouting in the area. Uniform is also available from the Scouts online store. The Great Barton neckerchief can be purchased directly from the Group at our online store, which also offers Great Barton Scout branded hoodies and polo shirts.
We also have a selection of second hand uniform, especially for the Beavers & Cubs. Please ask if you would like to browse our collection!
At investiture, your young person will receive some badges to put on their uniform, and they will continue to earn and receive badges during their time in Scouting. If sewing isn't your thing, we can sometimes offer a sewing service. Fabric badge glue is also an option, although it is not always as robust as needle and thread! See the Sections page for badge location information.
Safeguarding
At Great Barton Scouts, the safety and welfare of every young person is our highest priority. All adult volunteers are DBS checked and receive training in safeguarding and safety, following the policies of The Scout Association. If you’d like to learn more about how we protect children and young people, or you have any safeguarding concerns, please see the Scouts UK safeguarding guidance: Keeping children and young people safe.
Our Volunteers
The Group is entirely run by volunteers — leaders, helpers, trustees and supporters — who give their time to make Scouting possible. We’re always looking for more people to join the team, whether you can help at meetings, with governance, support fundraising, maintain the building or equipment, or share a skill.
We would love for you to get involved, with a commitment that works for you. For more information see the Scout website, and please get in contact with us.
Our Trustees
The Group Trustee Board is responsible for overseeing the safe and effective running of the Scout Group. They look after the Group’s finances, ensure the property and equipment is safe, ensure compliance with charity law and Scout Association policies "POR", and support the volunteer leadership team. Trustees don’t run youth activities directly but provide the essential governance and guidance that keep the Group sustainable, safe, and ready to offer great Scouting experiences for young people.
Our trustees are currently:
- Group Lead Volunteer: Jonathan Corwin
- Chair: David Cooper
- Treasurer: Ali Denton
- Duncan Ayling
- John Pitcher
- Debbie Corwin
- Andrew Creasy
We are always on the lookout for more trustees, and ideally we would like to have fewer section team members on the board so they can instead focus their time running the youth activities. Please get in touch if you would like to volunteer for this role.
Hut & Equipment Hire
Our hall is available for hire. The hall is about 10m x 7m and can seat 50 people. There is a kitchen with hatch available. Unfortunately we don't currently have step free access and our toilet is not accessible for wheelchair users.
We also have a canvas mess tent and large coleman shelters available for hire. Our mess tent is 7.4x4.3m and can seat 36 people.
Please contact us for details.
Fundraising
We run various fundraising events throughout the year to help raise money to support the group. If you're able to help with this, please contact us.
You can help earn us money whenever you shop online, without it costing you any extra. See our easyfundraising page for more information.
If you're a UK taxpayer, please sign-up for gift aid via OSM as this will allow us to claim just under £34 a year for each young persons membership subs.
We make a small amount of money from sales of our branded clothing, which can be purchased on our shop website.
Purchasing items on the BuyToGive website will also help us earn money.