Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber


Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
The Scout Association in Yorkshire and the Humber is part of the Scout Association North East Region, as is the Scout Association in Scouting in North East England. The Scout Association North East Region is the only one that covers two official regions of England. There are also four student Scouting associations based at universities in the region, which are affiliated with the Student Scout and Guide Organisation.

The Scout Association Counties

The Scout Association in Yorkshire and the Humber is administered through five Scout Counties: Central Yorkshire Scout County, Humberside Scout County, North Yorkshire Scout County, South Yorkshire Scout County and West Yorkshire Scout County.

Central Yorkshire Scout County

Central Yorkshire provides Scouting opportunities for young people and adults in the metropolitan boroughs of Leeds and Wakefield and the surrounding area.
The County is currently divided into eight Scout Districts:
  • This district covers the eastern area of Leeds, including Garforth, Kippax, Allerton Bywater and surrounding villages.
  • Shire Oak
The Central Yorkshire Scout Council administers the award programme for the Yorkshire Challenge, a progressive Scouting award first introduced in 2006. The Yorkshire Challenge is open to all Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Network Scouts, and Leaders across the United Kingdom.
To earn the bronze award, participants must spend four nights under canvas or in a bivouac in four different months of the year, along with completing several additional activities. The silver award requires eight nights in eight different months, while the gold award requires twelve nights in twelve different months.

County Expeditions

The County organises international expeditions, enabling a number of Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members to undertake adventurous activities in other countries.

Humberside Scout County

Scouting in Humberside covers the former non-metropolitan county of Humberside. The headquarters of Humberside Scouts is at Raywell Park Activity Centre.
There are 8 Districts within the Humberside County:
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The Districts within Humberside were changed as part of the restructuring in 2011/2012. During this time Boothferry and Haltemprice were merged into Blacktoft Beacon. On 30 May 2012, the three Hull Districts: East Hull, North Hull and West Hull merged to make one District named City of Hull.

North Yorkshire Scout County

North Yorkshire Scout County covers the county of North Yorkshire and is geographically the largest of the 4 Yorkshire scouting counties.
The 1st Helmsley scout group was established in 1909, within the first two years of the initiation of the scouting movement. North Yorkshire Scouts celebrated the centenary of scouting in 2007 by joining the Bilton Conservation Group to plant 2000 trees donated by the Woodland Trust.
In 2024, the county were to host the at Duncombe Park in Helmsley.
The County is currently divided into 12 Scout Districts:
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There is an active Scout Network in the county.
As of 2022, there are 6 Squirrel Dreys being run in the county.
The current County Commissioner, Max Butler, was appointed in March 2022.

South Yorkshire Scout County

Scouting in South Yorkshire includes Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.
The County is divided into 7 Scout Districts:
  • Sheffield Hallam
  • Sheffield Sheaf
  • Sheffield Norfolk
  • Sheffield Don
  • Barnsley
  • Rotherham
  • Doncaster Danum
Sheffield Hallam is the largest District in the County with over 30 Scout Groups. Sheffield Hallam was formed when Sheffield Porter and Sheffield Rivelin merged in 2007.
The Doncaster Danum District has a Scout Band.
The Scout and Guide Shop is a combined Scout and Guide Shop in Sheffield with a full e-commerce website. There is also a Scout Shop in Doncaster with online access.

West Yorkshire Scout County

West Yorkshire covers the metropolitan districts of Bradford, Kirklees, and Calderdale. The Scout county of West Yorkshire does not cover the whole of the West Yorkshire metropolitan county. Because the West Yorkshire area is densely populated the boroughs of Leeds and Wakefield have a separate Scout County called Central Yorkshire.
The Scout county's office is located within the Jubilee Centre at the Bradley Wood Campsite on the outskirts of Brighouse.
West Yorkshire Scouts celebrated a successful centenary year of 2007.
West Yorkshire is subdivided into 14 Scout Districts:
  • Aire Valley
  • Bradford North
  • Bradford South
  • Brighouse
  • Halifax
  • Heavy Woollen
  • Holme Valley
  • Huddersfield North
  • Huddersfield South East
  • Huddersfield South West
  • Keighley
  • Pennine Calder
  • Spen Valley
  • Wharfedale
West Yorkshire has two Scout Bands - Revolution Show Corps and .
The County has a number of campsites and activity centres. The county also operates a Water Activities Centre - Green Withens Watersports Centre at Green Withens reservoir, near Ripponden. Wharfedale District operates Reva Scouts Water Activity Centre, near Hawksworth.
The current County Commissioner, Tobias Hammond, was appointed in May 2025.

Scouting in higher education

There are also four student Scouting associations based at universities in the region which are affiliated with the Student Scout and Guide Organisation. These are:

Campsites

Central Yorkshire

Aldwark Water Activity Centre

The Aldwark Water Activity Centre is owned and maintained by Central Yorkshire Scout County. The centre is located at Aldwark Bridge on the River Ure, 8 miles upstream from the city of York.
The centre has one large camping field, as well as a converted mill which consists of a number of dormitories. The centre has kayaks and boats for sailing, and runs training courses to gain qualifications in these activities.

Bramhope Scout Campsite

The Bramhope Scout Campsite is situated just outside the village of Bramhope, approximately 8 miles north-north-west of Leeds. The site covers of woodland and fields, offering various camping pitches for any sized camp up to a District camp.
As well as the camping pitches, there are a number of buildings on the site offering accommodation and indoor training facilities. The site offers archery, air rifles, pedal karting, climbing, abseiling, and pioneering, amongst other activities. There are also facilities located near to the site which enable sailing, kayaking and swimming.

Calderdrift

Calderdrift campsite is operated by Wakefield District.

Hunters Greave Scout Activity Centre

Hunters Greave Scout Activity Centre in Newlay, near Bramley, is operated by Shire Oak District. There is space for 100 campers.

Wike

The Wike 'back-to-basics' campsite is operated by North Leeds District Scout Council.

Humberside

  • - County Headquarters
  • The site is a safe enclosed space made up of a 3 acre camping field and approx. 21 acres of woodland making it ideal for both large groups and small looking for woodland adventures.
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South Yorkshire

There are four camp sites:-
  • Hesley Wood Scout Activity Centre, Chapeltown, Sheffield.
  • Silverwood Campsite, Great Falls, Silkstone, Barnsley.
  • Squirrel Wood Campsite, Burghwallis, Doncaster.
  • Hundall Campsite, Sheffield Ridgeway.
Hesley Wood is used for Wood Badge and other Adult Leader Training.

West Yorkshire

Bradley Wood is the West Yorkshire Scout Association County Campsite, near Brighouse on the border of Kirklees and Calderdale.
There are several others run by Scout Districts or Groups:
  • Blackhills Scout Campsite is run by the Districts of Bradford North and Bradford South.
  • Curly Hill Campsite and Centre, located in Middleton, near Ilkley, is run by Wharfedale District.
  • is run and managed by the Scouts and Guides of Spen Valley District, and is based in Gomersal near Bradford.
  • Sconce camp site, near Shipley, is operated by Aire Valley District.

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Scout County and its districts, have five campsites and activity centres:
The county also has a water sports centre located at Ellerton-on-Swale near Catterick.
Madge Hill Campsite, east of Pateley Bridge, is located within North Yorkshire but maintained by a team from West Leeds District. The site was presented to Farsley District Scouts in 1930 by the Hainsworth family. The site has a bunkhouse and space for camping.

Gang Shows

Examples of gang shows held in recent years include:
  • Bradford Gang Show
  • 20th Sheffield Gang Show, last held February 2024.
  • Harrogate Gang Show.
  • Keighley Scout Gangshow, restarted in 2008.
  • Meanwood Gang Show
  • Northallerton Gang Show, started in 2005.
  • 1st Riccall Scout Group Gang Show - started in 2009.
  • Todmorden Gang Show, started in 1958 by Philip Suthers.
  • West Yorkshire Gang Show.
  • York Gang Show, started in 1987.