There are 101 Sea Scout

Sea Scouts (The Scout Association)

Sea Scouts were first formed in the United Kingdom in 1909 as a branch of The Scout Association, and have been a feature of the Scouting programme ever since....

 Groups in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and one group in Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...

 who are affiliated to the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 in order to foster a close relationship between the Royal Navy and Young people in the Scout Association

The Scout Association

The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...

 by making naval facilities and equipment accessible. It is seen as a mark of great honour by the Groups holding RN Recognition.

History

Sea Scouting in the U.K. began in 1908, one year after the establishment of Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 itself. During World War I Sea Scouts performed duties as coastal lookouts and messengers and, in recognition of these deeds, were formally recognised by the Admiralty Board in 1919, this allowed them access to Naval equipment and facilities whilst still remaining independent of any Naval control.

During World War II the scheme was converted so that Sea Scout groups who show themselves able to reach certain levels of proficiency could apply for stores and grants to help train young men in basic seamanship before entering military service. The scheme has been running since then, overseen by Second Sea Lord / Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and regulated by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Scout Association.

Although there are some 425-450 Sea Scout groups throughout the U.K., the MoD recognises a maximum of 101. In order to remain in the scheme groups must maintain high standards. Any Sea Scout group can apply for recognition subject to certain criteria laid down in the MOA.

Unlike the Sea Cadet Corps

Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)

The Sea Cadet Corps is a UK national youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Navy and open to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old. The SCC is the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers...

, Sea Scouts are not financially supported by the MoD, apart from an annual capitation grant to the Scout Association. The driving force behind groups applying for and remaining in the Royal Naval recognition scheme is the kudos and associated pride.

Privileges

There are a number of privileges afforded to Groups that make it into the top 101, including:

• Leaders, Explorers, Scouts and Cubs wear Royal Navy Recognition Badge.
• Group wears defaced Red Ensign
  Red Ensign
  The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
  
   and flies Admiralty Pennant
  Pennon
  A pennon was one of the principal three varieties of flags carried during the Middle Ages . Pennoncells and streamers or pendants are considered as minor varieties of this style of flag. The pennon is a flag resembling the guidon in shape, but only half the size...
  
  .
• Eligible to attend Big Four Events:
  • Summer Camp, HMS BRISTOL
    HMS Bristol (D23)
    HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
    
    , Portsmouth.
  • Soccer Sixes, HMS BRISTOL
    HMS Bristol (D23)
    HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
    
    , Portsmouth.
  • Swimming Gala, HMS RALEIGH
    HMS Raleigh (shore establishment)
    HMS Raleigh is the modern-day basic training facility of the Royal Navy at Torpoint, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is spread over several square miles, and has damage control simulators and fire-fighting training facilities...
    
    , Plymouth.
  • Explorer Camp, HMS BRISTOL
    HMS Bristol (D23)
    HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
    
    , Portsmouth.
• Eligible to utilise HMS BRISTOL's
  HMS Bristol (D23)
  HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
  
   facilities and RN Sailing Centre Assets.
• Visit Portsmouth Heritage area attractions at heavily discounted rates.
• Annual payment to the Scout Association (Admiralty Fund) based on a per capita payment for each Scout and Explorer Scout plus an allowance for certain badges as detailed in the Memorandum of Agreement.
• Eligible to apply for grants from Scout Association for purchase of equipment and boats.
• On joining an initial Stores outfit is issued.

Inspection

Groups are inspected every 18 months by the RN Staff Officer (Sea Scouts), a Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...

who works for Flag Officer Sea Training. This is a formal inspection, usually alternating between water-borne and land based, where the Groups can show off their skills and worthiness to be recognised by the RN.

Recognised Groups

RN Number	Group	Website
01	4th Gillingham (Rainham) Sea Scouts	http://www.lemonparty.com
02	3rd Portchester Sea Scouts	http://www.thirdportchesterscouts.org/
03	1st Oulton Broad Sea Scouts	http://1stoultonbroadseascouts.org/
04	13th Ipswich Sea Scouts	http://www.13thipswich.co.uk/
05	4th Epping Forest South Sea Scouts	http://www.bancroftsseascouts.org/
06	Newbold-on-Stour Sea Scouts
07	Guernsey Sea Scouts
08	3rd Wallsall Sea Scouts	http://www.killock.co.uk/
09	2nd Cowes Sea Scouts	http://www.isleofwight-scouts.org.uk/Groups/WestWight/Cowes/Overview.aspx
10	1st Batchworth Sea Scouts	http://www.batchworth.org/
11	1st Lytham St Annes Sea Scouts	http://www.1stlsa.co.uk/
12	15th Macclesfield Sea Scouts
13	5th Barry Sea Scouts	http://www.5thbarryseascouts.org.uk/
14	2nd Warwick Sea Scouts	http://2wk.org.uk/
15	2nd Reading Sea Scouts
16	36th Epping Forest (South) Sea Scouts	http://www.36efsscouts.org.uk/
17	18th Inverness Sea Scouts	http://www.invernessseascouts.org.uk/
18	4th Dovercourt Sea Scouts
19	1st West Bay Sea Scouts
20	4th/6th Leigh-on-Sea Sea Scouts	http://www.4th6thleigh.org/
21	8th Faversham Sea Scouts
22	4th New Forest East (Hythe)
23	3rd/5th Lancing Sea Scouts	http://www.3rd5thlancingseascouts.org.uk/
24	1st Hertford Sea Scouts	http://www.hertfordscoutsappeal.org.uk/
25	25th Southampton Sea Scouts	http://www.25th-southampton.org.uk/
26	8th Norwich Sea Scouts	http://8thnorwich.org.uk/
27	64th Birkenhead Sea Scouts	http://www.64thseascouts.org.uk/
28	2nd Abingdon Sea Scout Group	http://www.2absg.org.uk/
29	6th Torbay Britannia Sea Scouts	http://www.6thTorbayBritannia.org.uk
30	Leander (Kingston) Sea Scouts	http://www.leanderseascouts.co.uk/
31	14th Tonbridge Sea Scouts	http://14thtonbridge.org/default.aspx
32	3rd South Shields Sea Scouts
33	3rd Shoreham Sea Scouts
34	9th Stafford Sea Scouts	http://www.staffordseascouts.org.uk/
35	3rd Frodsham Sea Scouts	http://www.cheshire-scouts.org.uk/index.php?option=com_uhp2&task=viewpage&Itemid=9999999&user_id=1422
36	1st Kings Norton Sea Scouts
37	6th Shoreham Sea Scouts
38	11th Torbay Sea Scouts	http://www.11thtorbay.co.uk/
39	4th Streatham Sea Scouts	http://the4thstreatham.net16.net/
40	3rd Bingley Sea Scouts
41	1st Tyne Sea Scouts	http://1sttyneseascouts.co.uk/#
42	10th Christchurch Sea Scouts
43	1st Corsham Sea Scouts	http://www.corshamscouts.org.uk/
44	4th Heswall Sea Scouts
45	1st Lilliput Sea Scouts	http://home.btconnect.com/lilliputseascouts/
46	2nd Beeston Sea Scouts	http://www.2ndbeeston.org.uk/
47	35th Bournemouth Sea Scouts
48	1st Southbourne Sea Scouts
49	4th Allerton Sea Scouts
50	Holy Trinity (Margate) Sea Scouts	http://www.rn50.org.uk/
51	1st Felpham Sea Scouts
52	17th Colchester Sea Scouts
53	6th Itchen Sea Scouts
54	12th Halifax Sea Scouts
55	1st St Peter in Thanet	http://www.1ststpetersseascouts.co.uk/
56	Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts	http://www.pandhseascouts.org.uk/
57	1st Clifton Sea Scouts
58	1st/10th Sutton Coldfield Sea Scout
59	8th Worthing Sea Scouts	http://www.8thworthing.org.uk/
60	4th Thames Ditton (Ajax) Sea Scouts	http://www.ajax.org.uk/
61	2nd Durrington Sea Scouts	http://www.2nddurrington.org.uk/
62	9th New Forest South (Lymington) Sea Scouts
63	1st Watchet Sea Scouts
64	19th Exeter Sea Scouts
65	1st Bungay Sea Scouts
66	21st Sunderland Sea Scouts
67	6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts	http://www.6thramsgate.org.uk
68	1st Blofield & Brundall Sea Scouts	http://www.1stblofieldandbrundall.org.uk/
69	1st Luton Sea Scouts
70	11th Norwich Sea Scouts
71	1st Thorpe St Andrew Sea Scouts	http://www.firstthorpescouts.org.uk
72	19th Tynemouth Sea Scouts	http://www.19tynemouthseascouts.org.uk/
73	3rd Chalkwell Bay Sea Scouts	http://www.3rdcb.org.uk/
74	1st Molesey (Jaguar) Sea Scouts	http://www.jaguarseascouts.org.uk/
75	Knowle Sea Scout Group	http://www.knowleseascouts.org.uk/
76	2nd Deal Sea Scouts
77	1st Cleethorpes Sea Scouts
78	30th Norwich Sea Scouts
79	1st Cogenhoe Sea Scouts
80	27th High Wycombe Sea Scouts
81	Dartford Cambria Sea Scouts
82	5th Gosport Sea Scouts	http://www.5thgosportseascouts.org.uk/
83	1st Reading Sea Scouts
84	3rd Poole Sea Scouts	http://www.3rdpoole.co.uk/
85	17th Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts
86	1st Rhu Sea Scouts
87	1st Barry Sea Scouts
88	1st Warsash Sea Scout Group
89	9th Itchen Sea Scouts
90	29th Glasgow Sea Scouts	http://www.29thglasgow.org.uk/
91	6th Newark Sea Scouts
92	2nd Fareham Sea Scouts
93	5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts
94	15th Long Eaton Sea Scouts
95	1st Cuddington Sea Scouts	http://www.warspite.org.uk/
96	4th Pinner Sea Scouts
97	6th Barry Sea Scouts
98	2nd Fareham sea Scouts
99	4th New Forest North Sea Scouts	http://www.elingseascouts.org.uk/
100	6th Falmouth Sea Scouts	http://www.6thfalmouth.org.uk/
101	5th Gibraltar Sea Scouts	http://gibseascouts.terapad.com/