All about badges

Our badges and awards are part of what makes us Scouts. And Scouts love earning them!

Animal lover – check. Book worm – check. Photographer – check. Footballer – check. Daredevil – check. You name it, we’ve got a badge for it – over 200 of them actually. Scouts work together on badges at their weekly meetings, away at camps and events or at home. Badges are easy to earn and you don’t need anyone special to sign them off.

There’s never any pressure to do badges. Scouts can do as many or as few as they like. But for those up for a challenge, there are loads of exciting badges to aim for, such as the Chief Scout’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards – these are the highest awards that Beavers, Cubs and Scouts can earn. And for those going even further, the Queen’s Scout Award is the top achievement for young people in Scouts.

Find a badge

What badge do you want to do? You can do badges at home, as well as at Scouts.

Beavers

Cubs

Scouts

Explorers

Network

Where do badges go?

It’s easy to find out where all your hard-earned badges go, just have a look at the photos below:

Beavers uniform and badge placement

What do Beavers wear?

Beaver uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats, hoodies, navy blue trousers or shorts, if you’d like to.

Why is uniform important?

Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means you can run around and get messy without ruining your other clothes. It makes you feel part of a team. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out. And it gives you a place to show off all the brilliant badges you earn.

Where can I buy it?

Uniform can either be bought from our online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. If you’re stuck, ask adult volunteers to tell you more about what to buy and where to buy it. If cost is an issue, they will be more than happy to help.

Here’s where to sew on those badges…

1. N/A
2. Group name tape
3. N/A
4. District Badge
5. County Badge
6. Group badge (if not warn on scarf)
7. Leadership stripe
8. Union Flag
9. Gallantry/ Meritorious Conduct awards
10. Chief Scout’s Award
11. Challenge Awards
12. N/A
13. Occasional Badge
14. Joining in Awards
15. Membership Awards
16. Activity Badges and Staged Activity Badges
17. Group Badge (if worn on scarf)

Cubs uniform and badge placement

What do Cubs wear?

Cub uniform consists of a green sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats, hoodies, navy blue trousers or shorts.

Why is uniform important?

Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone feel part of the Pack. It also gives you a place to show off all the badges you earn.

Where to buy your uniform

Uniform can either be bought from our online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, adult volunteers can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.

Here’s where to sew your badges…

1. N/A
2. Group name tape
3. District badge
4. County badge
5. Group badge (if not warn on scarf)
6. Leadership stripe
7. Union Flag
8. Gallantry/ Meritorious Conduct Awards
9. Chief Scout’s Award
10. Challenge Awards
11. N/A
12. Occasional Badges
13. Moving On Award
14. Joining In Awards
15. Membership Award
16. Activity and Staged Activity Badges
17. Group badge (if worn on scarf)

Scouts uniform and badge placement

What do Scouts wear?

Scouts wear a uniform during their weekly meetings and sometimes on trips away, depending on where they’re going and what they’re doing. Usually, this consists of a teal green shirt or blouse with their badges sewn on, which they pair with a scarf, known as a necker. Exact uniforms will vary slightly if your Troop is part of the Air Scouts or Sea Scouts. 

Alongside their shirts, Scouts might wear the accompanying blue uniform trousers or skirt, or they might save their uniform bottoms to wear for special occasions like awards ceremonies and public events – choosing to wear something more casual with their shirt during the week.   Optional accessories such as hats, hoodies, are also available.

Where can I buy my uniform?

Uniform can either be bought from our online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, or could use a little help with uniform costs, fear not. Your Scout leader can chat to you about options. The most important thing when you first arrive is wearing something that you feel natural and comfortable in.

Here’s where to sew on those badges

1. N/A
2. Group name tape
3. N/A
4. District Badge
5. County/ Area/ Region Badge
6. Group badge (if not warn on scarf)
7. Patrol Badge
8. Leadership stripe
9. Union Flag
10. Group Name tape
11. Chief Scout’s Award
12. Challenge Awards
13. N/A
14. Occasional Badges
15. Moving On Award
16. Joining In Awards
17. Membership Award
18. Activity and Staged Activity Badges
19. Group badge (if worn on scarf)

Explorer uniform and badge placement

What do Explorers wear?

Once they’ve had time to settle in to the group, Explorers get their own set of uniform to wear during meetings and on trips away. Usually, this consists of a beige shirt or blouse with their badges sewn on, which they pair with their Unit scarf – if they’re an independent Unit – or Group scarf, if their Unit is merged with a Scout Troop. This will vary slightly if your Explorer Unit is part of the Air Scouts or Sea Scouts. See below for uniform diagrams.

Alongside their shirts, Explorers might wear the accompanying blue uniform trousers or skirt, or they might save their uniform bottoms to wear for special occasions like awards ceremonies and public events – choosing to wear something more casual with their shirt during the week.   Optional accessories such as hats, hoodies, are also available.

Where can I buy my uniform?

Uniform can either be bought from our online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, or could use a little help with uniform costs, fear not. Your Explorer leader can chat to you about options. The most important thing when you first arrive is wearing something that you feel natural and comfortable in.

Where to sew those badges…

Network Uniform and badge placement

Where to sew those badges

1. N/A
2. Network name tape
3. N/A
4. District Badge
5. County Badge
6. Local Network badge (if not warn on scarf)
7. Union Flag
8. Network Flag
9. Young Leader Service Award
10. Gallantry/ Meritorious Conduct Award
11. Chief Scout’s Award or Queen’s Scout Award (the highest gained should be worn)
12. N/A
13. Occasional Badges
14. Moving on Award
15. Membership Award
16. Scouts of the World Award
17. Explorer Belt Award
18. First Aid and Saving of Life
19. Local Network Badge (if worn on scarf)