F.A.O. All Group Scout Leaders, District Explorer's Commissioner For Onward Transmission To All Leaders.
For The Information of the District Commissioner & All ADC's

With reference to the above, Neil Parr and I took over as District Nights Away advisers for Liverpool North last year. Neil has previously done this role in Walton on the hill and I did the role in Fairfield. Part of this role involves issuing Nights Away permits to leaders to enable them to take children away on either Residential Experiences or a Camp.

If you do not hold a permit, you are not allowed to run a Nights Away Experience. This applies to expired permits as well.

With this in mind and a number of updates in 2007 to the Permit Scheme, as a District we need to ensure that all Leaders who wish to run a Nights away experience have a current permit. In view of this, the following procedure is to be adopted:-

Current Nights Away Permit Holders

1. Can all GSL's check with the Leaders who have permits check to see if they are Valid. Most of the Fairfield expiry dates are either 2013 or 2014. Walton on the Hill permits are around the same time.
2. If a permit has expired or is due to expire in the next few months, can they be asked to complete the attached Nights Away Permit application form. This form can be filled in on a computer, saved and forwarded to myself by email. Once the form has been completed, if it can be saved in the following format:- "nights away app(group number) then name of applicant". If no one has access to email, the application form can be printed off, filled in and sent to me or if I am at the Leaders meeting I will be available to issue permits there. The leader will need to enclose their previous / expired nights away permit.
3. Once I receive the application form, I will inform the DC that the permit can be re issued. Please allow upto

We will not issue a permit without a Nights Away Application form being completed so that we have a fully auditable system in place.

New Nights Away Applications To Obtain A Permit For The First Time.

1. Leader completes Nights Away application Form. This form can be filled in on a computer, saved and forwarded to myself by email. Once the form has been completed, if it can be saved in the following format:- "nights away app(group number) then name of applicant". If no one has access to email, the application form can be printed off, filled in and sent to me.
2. We will then review the application and then look at arranging a meeting to assess any Leaders in line with the assessment process. This could be a meeting going through the assessment guide looking at the three stages or possibly visiting a camp etc.
3. Once assessed, they will either be issued with a permit or given an action plan with what is required to obtain a permit.

If any Leaders have assisted in the planning and running of a camp and have paperwork to support this, if this can be collated to assist with the Assessment Process.

I would look at a Leader assisting with the planning, organising and running of a camp with Leaders and then another camp where they plan, organise and run a camp themselves but with a current Nights Away Permit holder using their permit to allow a camp to go ahead.

A Nights Away permit is not the same as Module 16 - the Nights Away Module or Module 38 Nights Away Skills. You do not have to have done this module to obtain a nights away permit but if this is done does not automatically mean you get a Nights Away Permit. Gaining a Nights Away permit is one way of validating module 16 and 38.

Most Leaders will only require Indoor and Campsite. Very few leaders will require Greenfield as this involves camping on sites with no toilet facilities and chemical ones would be used along with not having a mains water supply. This would essentially be camping on a field on a farm. Re Light weight camping, most leaders would gain this if they have campsite and this would cover them doing lightweight camping below 500 metres ( Terrain Zero) which most leaders can do with the DC authority. Anything over 500 metres, you would need walking authorisation.

Please be aware that the Fast track process which was used previously when the permit scheme started can no longer be used and all Leaders need to be assessed in line with the criteria.

There are a number of Fact Sheets available which can be obtained from the Information Centre at Gilwell or from the Scoutbase Website. The relevant fact sheet numbers are as follows:-
FS120800 Nights Away Permit Scheme
FS120801 Nights Away Permit Scheme - Applicants Guide
FS120802 Nights Away Permit Scheme - Assessment Guide
AC120990 Assessment Checklist For Nights Away Permit.

Attached are the Nights Away Application Form.

Nights Away Notification Form

Below is the nights away notifcation form which must be completed prior to the camp. This form must be forwarded to the relevant ADC, the DC and also the GSL of the relevant Group
If any Leaders have any queries, they can either email us or ring us and we will answer these.

The contact details are as follows:-

Stephen Parry.    Email :- stephen.parry@liverpoolnorthdistrict.org.uk
Neil Parr.            Email :- neil.parr@liverpoolnorthdistrict.org.uk

Please be aware, if any Leader runs a Nights away experience with either No Permit or an Expired permit or Fails to Inform the DC re a nights way experience, this may lead them to having their permit withdrawn or not obtain one. If any incidents occur, this may lead to the Scout Association not supporting the leader.

Thanks
Steve Parry                                                       Neil Parr
District Nights Away Adviser                               District Nights Away Adviser
GSL                                                                 ASL
17th Fairfield                                                     14th WOTH

Nights Away Notifcation form	Nights Away Application form	Nights Away Application contd

This site was last updated on 27 August, 2011