Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts in Newcastle

Scouting and Girlguiding give children something that is hard to find anywhere else: a regular night out with friends, badges to work towards, camps and days away, and a quiet boost in confidence that parents notice long before the children do. Newcastle city centre itself has very few resident families and no units meeting in the shopping streets, but the city's groups are only a short bus ride away, with a cluster of long-running groups in Fenham and newer ones in the east end.

This guide explains how the two organisations are structured, how to find a place, and where some of the nearest groups meet. If you live further north, Gosforth, Jesmond and Heaton each have plenty of groups of their own, covered on our sister sites gosforth.org, jesmond.live and heaton.live.

Two organisations, two ways to join

Girlguiding and Scouts are separate charities with their own sections, uniforms and joining processes. Girlguiding is for girls and young women; Scouts has been open to everyone since 2007. Some families sign children up to both, and that is perfectly normal.

Both rely entirely on volunteer leaders, so places are limited and popular sections often run waiting lists. The single best piece of advice is to register early, well before your child reaches the starting age.

Girlguiding: Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers

Girlguiding runs four sections by age:

• Rainbows: ages 4 to 7. Games, crafts, songs and making friends.
• Brownies: ages 7 to 10. Badges, challenges, trips and first sleepovers.
• Guides: ages 10 to 14. Camps, bigger adventures and more say in the programme.
• Rangers: ages 14 to 18. Largely run by the members themselves, with volunteering, travel and qualifications.

Most units do not advertise their meeting times publicly. Instead, you register through the Girlguiding website, enter your postcode, and choose up to three units from a map of those near you. A leader from the unit then gets in touch, usually within about three weeks, to explain meeting times, costs and whether there is a waiting list. If there is a space, your daughter is normally invited along to try a meeting first.

When a unit is full, your daughter goes on its waiting list. Girls already in Guiding (moving up a section or transferring from another area) get priority, so it is worth choosing more than one unit if you can.

80th Newcastle Brownies, Fenham

One of the nearest Girlguiding units to the centre with a publicly listed meeting place is the 80th Newcastle Brownies, who meet on Monday evenings during term time at Holy Cross Church on Whittington Grove in Fenham. As with all units, you join through the Girlguiding registration form rather than by turning up on the night: search your postcode and pick the unit by name.

Best for: Best for: families in Fenham and the inner west looking for a Brownie unit with a fixed, easy-to-find church venue.

Scouts: Squirrels to Explorers

Scouts runs five sections for young people:

• Squirrels: ages 4 to 6. The newest section, built around play and simple outdoor skills.
• Beavers: ages 6 to 8. Crafts, games, nature and first nights away.
• Cubs: ages 8 to 10½. Camps, hikes and a wide range of activity badges.
• Scouts: ages 10½ to 14. Bigger expeditions, climbing, water activities and leadership.
• Explorers: ages 14 to 18. Run in district units, often alongside the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

To find a group, use the postcode search on the Scouts join page, which lists nearby groups and their sections, or the group finder on the City of Newcastle Scouts district website. The district covers the whole of the city council area, with around twenty groups. Each group manages its own joining list, and places usually go to children moving up from the section below first, then to new members.

82nd Newcastle Scout Group, Fenham

The 82nd Newcastle meets at St James' and St Basil's Church on Fenham Hall Drive, the striking 1930s church built in memory of Sir James Knott's sons. The group runs Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, with most sections meeting on Friday evenings in term time. Check current nights on the group's Scouts listing before you enquire.

Best for: Best for: west end families wanting every section from age 4 to 14 under one roof.

Silver Lonnen Scout Hut, Fenham

The district's Silver Lonnen Scout Hut is a dedicated Scout building in Fenham that hosts several local groups and sections through the week. The 49th Newcastle, another long-established Fenham group, also meets nearby, so the area is one of the better served in the city.

Best for: Best for: children in Fenham, Cowgate and Arthur's Hill, where several groups meet within a short walk.

East end groups

East of the centre, Byker Scout Group was founded in 2017 to bring Scouting back to Byker and the surrounding streets, and the 93rd Newcastle meets in Walkergate. Neither publishes its meeting details in a way we could confirm, so the postcode search is the way in: it will show the group's sections and let you send a joining enquiry.

Best for: Best for: families in Byker, Ouseburn and Walker who want a group close to home.

Costs, uniform and what to expect

Both organisations keep costs deliberately low. Expect a modest termly or annual subscription covering membership, hall hire and insurance, plus a uniform top that is often available second-hand from the group. Camps and trips are paid for separately. Most groups quietly help families who would otherwise struggle, so do ask. Meetings typically last an hour to ninety minutes, once a week in term time.

Volunteering: the quickest way to more places

Almost every waiting list in Newcastle exists because of a shortage of adults, not a lack of children or halls. You do not need experience to help, and both organisations provide training and flexible roles, from a weekly helper to occasional support with camps or paperwork. Many parents who start as helpers find it as rewarding as their children do, and an extra leader can mean a whole new section opening.

For more term-time ideas, see our guides to after-school clubs in Newcastle city centre and family activities in Newcastle city centre.

Run a Rainbow unit, Cub pack or Scout troop near the centre and want to be included? Get in touch.