First Aid Training for Scout & Guide Groups

Outdoor First Aid and Paediatric First Aid for Scout leaders, Guide leaders and youth organisation volunteers across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire. Flexible scheduling and competitive rates for voluntary groups.

Why Scout & Guide Groups Need First Aid Training

Scout and Guide groups take young people on adventures — camps, hikes, climbing, kayaking, cycle rides, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and international trips. These activities take place away from the safety of a building, often in remote locations where emergency services may take a long time to respond. Adult volunteer leaders are the first — and sometimes only — line of response if a young person is injured or becomes unwell.

The injuries and emergencies faced on Scout and Guide activities are often different to those in a workplace or sports club context. Leaders need to be able to manage a casualty in an outdoor environment, improvise with limited equipment, maintain care over an extended period while awaiting evacuation, and reassure and manage a group of young people at the same time. Outdoor first aid training is specifically designed for this context.

Both the Scout Association and Girlguiding UK have explicit requirements for their adult volunteers regarding first aid qualifications. Compliance is not just about meeting the organisation's standards — it's about ensuring that every young person in your group is as safe as possible. Well-trained leaders give parents and carers confidence, and protect the group and the wider organisation from reputational and legal risk.

Scout Association & Girlguiding Requirements

The Scout Association requires all adult volunteers to complete a first aid module as part of their adult training (Wood Badge). The required standard is a first aid certificate from an approved provider, covering responses to adult and child casualties. For leaders who regularly run camps, expeditions and outdoor activities, a higher level of first aid training — such as Outdoor First Aid — is strongly recommended and may be required by the activity rules for certain permit-holding activities.

Girlguiding UK similarly requires leaders to hold a current first aid qualification and recommends that it is renewed every three years. For residential events and camps, the organisation expects that at least one leader holds a full paediatric or outdoor first aid certificate. Qualification requirements may vary by Guide region, so we recommend checking your specific district's guidance.

Beyond organisational requirements, all youth group leaders are employers (or volunteers acting on behalf of an employer) in the context of health and safety law, meaning the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies to their activities. Adequate first aid provision is a legal requirement, not just a policy recommendation.

Recommended Courses for Scout & Guide Groups

Outdoor First Aid

The ideal qualification for Scout and Guide leaders running camps and expeditions. Covers remote casualty management, improvised splinting, hypothermia, and managing emergencies when ambulance access is delayed.

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Paediatric First Aid

Essential for leaders working with young people, covering child-specific emergencies including choking, seizures, anaphylaxis and unresponsive children alongside standard first aid skills.

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Emergency First Aid at Work

A 1-day qualification that meets the Scout Association and Girlguiding basic first aid requirements. Ideal for new adult volunteers getting started with their training programme.

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Annual Refresher Training

Keep skills current between formal recertification with annual refresher sessions. Particularly important for leaders who don't regularly use their first aid skills at home or work.

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Why Choose Forest Medical Training?

  • Outdoor expertise — trainer Paul Chandler has extensive Search & Rescue experience, making him uniquely qualified to teach outdoor first aid to Scout and Guide leaders
  • Competitive rates for voluntary groups — we recognise the budget constraints of volunteer-run charitable organisations and offer pricing to match
  • Flexible scheduling — evening and weekend delivery to fit around volunteers' work commitments and group meeting schedules
  • Delivery at your scout hut or meeting place — we come to you, removing the need for leaders to travel to a training centre

Frequently Asked Questions

The Scout Association requires all adult volunteers to hold a valid first aid certificate as part of their adult training (Wood Badge). For leaders running camps and expeditions, Outdoor First Aid is particularly valuable and may be required for certain high-category permit activities. Contact us and we can advise on the specific requirements for your role.
Yes. We recognise that Scout and Guide groups are volunteer-run charitable organisations with limited budgets, and we offer competitive rates for youth organisations. Contact us to discuss your group's needs and we will provide a tailored quote that works within your budget.
Absolutely. Our Outdoor First Aid course is specifically designed for those working in outdoor and remote environments — exactly the situations that Scout and Guide leaders face on camps, hikes and expeditions. It covers remote casualty management, improvised treatments and the challenges of providing first aid away from quick ambulance access. Paul's background in Search and Rescue makes this course particularly relevant and practical.

Ready to Train Your Leaders?

Get a free quote for first aid training for your Scout or Guide group. Competitive rates for voluntary organisations across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire.