Waiting List Policy continued

• For a young person to be added to the waiting list, the following details MUST be supplied: full name, date of birth, address and postcode, phone and email contact details of at least one parent/guardian.
• There is a high demand for places within the group. Completing this form DOES NOT guarantee admission to the 1st Kirkham & Wesham Scout Group.
• Young people approaching the Squirrels joining age (4 years) may only be added to the list from age 2.
• If a young person waiting for a particular section does not obtain a place in time to join that section, then they will remain on the list for the next section up. The age ranges for the sections are:
  • Squirrels: 4 to 6 years
  • Beavers: 6 to 8 years
  • Cubs: 8 to 10½ years
  • Scouts: 10½ to 14 years.
• The school that a young person attends is NOT a factor in deciding the priority for allocation of places.
• A young person wishing to transfer from another group to 1st Kirkham is given no special priority.
• Our catchment area is Kirkham, Wesham and close surrounding areas. Please be aware that the other Scout Groups in the area are:
  • 2nd Kirkham
  • 2nd Warton
  • 2nd Freckleton
  • 1st Clifton

These groups may/may not have places available as they operate their own waiting lists. Their contact details can be provided on request. Young people who live in either the Newton or Clifton areas WILL NOT normally be eligible for a place within 1st Kirkham & Wesham Scout Group. They should direct their request for membership of the Scout Association to their local Scout Group. Places at 1st Kirkham and Wesham Scout Group will only be offered to those with addresses within out catchment area which can be viewed above.

• Existing Members moving up will receive top priority for spaces at 1st Kirkham & Wesham – consequently no places will be offered to non members until members moving up have been allocated their places
• If all of these factors have been considered and met, places will be allocated based on the length of time spent on the waiting list.
• Places will not be held empty to allow for friends to join at the same time – e.g. if 2 friends want to join but only 1 space is available 1st Kirkham will not hold the vacant space until a 2nd becomes available.
• A place will be considered forfeit if it is not accepted within 5 working days of the offer, or if after a joining a member fails to attend for 4 consecutive weeks with no contact. 1st K&W is exceptionally popular, those who take up places are expected to use them, should attendance fall below 75% the Lead volunteer reserves the right to withdraw a place.

We feel this represents the best way of keeping waiting list numbers manageable and also ensuring that your child is given the opportunity to participate in Scouting in the local area.