The Scout Promise & Law Changes – Scouts is open to everyone.
In our Scout Promise, the reference to HM The Queen represented continuity, service to our nation and a commitment to helping others. It also acknowledged the Scout Movement’s close ties with the monarchy for over 100 years.
In keeping with this proud tradition, Scouts’ Board of Trustees have approved that the reference to The Queen in our Promise, now changes to The King. You should now use this Promise in all situations where the Promise is used.
Keep investing volunteers and young people into Scouts throughout this time of national mourning in our usual respectful way, using the new Promise. HM The Queen was a lifelong champion of young people and youth development. We believe it’s fitting that volunteers, young leaders and young people can continue to join our worldwide family of Scouts.
There are variations of the Scout Promise to reflect the range of faiths and beliefs in Scouts.
Scouts is open to everyone; we don’t identify exclusively with one faith.
As an inclusive and values-based movement, we support our members to engage with spirituality in an exciting and meaningful way.
Celebrating and understanding differences, including differences in faiths and beliefs, is an important part of the educational and developmental side of Scouts.
Anyone who shares our fundamental values can be a Scout. Every Scout’s unique, but they find common ground in their shared Scout values and make a commitment to them through the Scout Promise and Law.
It’s important that Scouts is inclusive, so there are variations of the Promise to reflect the range of Scouts’ faiths and beliefs. The different versions of the Promise can be said together at the same time.
The Scout Promise
There are four versions of the Promise appropriate to different age groups (one for Squirrels, one for Beavers, one for Cubs and one for the rest of the sections and adults). Each version is written to be appropriate to the broad level of understanding of each of the age groups within the movement.
There are various word choices in the Promise to cater for different faiths, no faith and foreign nationals living in the UK. The range of options is given in POR Chapter 1.
The Beaver Scout Promise
I promise
Personal development: the Beaver Scout is making the Promise for themselves. By taking responsibility for their actions the Beaver Scout is recognising the underlying principle that young people are responsible for what they become and what they do. Unlike the other Promises, the Beaver Scout Promise uses ‘I promise’ as a statement of intention and the words ‘do my best’ are not included.
to be kind and helpful
Make a positive contribution to society: this statement reflects the way in which the Beaver Scout is expected to act towards others.
and to love Allah/God/my Dharma/our world
Broader development: this indicates that the Beaver Scout thinks and acts more widely than just about themselves either through their faith (if they have one) or in the context of the world (its people and environment) for those of no faith. It uses the word ‘love’ in a way that a young person might understand love for a parent or sibling.
The Cub Scout Promise
I promise that I will do my best
Personal development: the Cub Scout is making the Promise for themselves. Cubs are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions; developing an increasing awareness and ownership for what they become and what they do. The Cub Scout Promise includes an additional requirement to that of the Beaver Scout Promise: to ‘do my best’. At eight to ten years old, a young person should recognise the importance of striving to do their best rather than simply to reach a set standard. This requirement to ‘do my best’ applies to all parts of the Promise that follow and does not mean perfection.
to do my duty to Allah/God/my Dharma/uphold our Scout values
Broader development: this uses the concept of duty to indicate that the Cub Scout thinks and acts more widely than just about themselves either through their faith (if they have one) or in the context of our values for those of no faith.
and to The King
Make a positive contribution to society: ‘The King’ is a reference to the United Kingdom’s constitutional monarchy, where the monarch reigns according to the laws of the nation. With this phrase, the Cub Scout is expected to respect the laws of the land and to set a good example. For people of other nationalities resident in this country, this phrase may be replaced with ‘the country in which I am now living’.
To help other people
Make a positive contribution to society: this refers to the Cub Scout’s responsibility to help others in various ways – from the physical (such as doing the washing up after a meal) to the emotional (such as comforting someone who is upset).
And to keep the Cub Scout Law
Make a positive contribution to society: the Cub Scout Law focuses on helping others (including thinking about the needs of others and doing a good turn).
The Scout, Explorer Scout, Scout Network & Adult Promise
On my honour
Personal development: this separates this Promise from the previous two. It emphasises that keeping the Promise is a reflection of an individual’s character and therefore strengthens the words of the Promise that follow. Keeping the Promise is entirely up to the individual. Muslims can replace this wording with ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful’.
I promise that I will do my best
Personal development: the person is making the Promise for herself or himself. By taking responsibility for his or her actions the person is recognising that individuals are responsible for what they become and what they do. The Promise includes the requirement to ‘do my best’, not necessarily to be perfect. The person is expected to strive to reach his or her potential rather than doing just enough to get by. As with the Cub Scout Promise, the requirement to ‘do my best’ applies to all parts of the Promise that follow.
to do my duty to Allah/God/my Dharma/uphold our Scout values
Broader development: this uses the concept of duty to indicate that the person thinks and acts more widely than just about themselves either through their faith (if they have one) or in the context of our values for those of no faith.
and to The King,
Make a positive contribution to society: ‘The King’ is a reference to the United Kingdom’s constitutional monarchy, where the monarch reigns according to the laws of the nation. With this phrase, the person is expected to respect the laws of the land and to set a good example. For people of other nationalities resident in this country, this phrase may be replaced with ‘the country in which I am now living’.
to help other people
Make a positive contribution to society: this refers to the person’s responsibility to help others in various ways – from the physical (such as helping a person who can’t do something for themselves) to the emotional (such as comforting someone who is upset) – and also to include working towards a fairer world for all.
and to keep the Scout Law
Personal Development and make a positive contribution to society: the Scout Law focuses on more detailed personal ‘rules’. They describe how to really live out the Promise.
The Promise is a simple way to help young people and adults celebrate their shared Scout values. Every Scout promises to stick by these values when they become a member.
It’s important that every member has the chance to think about their Promise, and chat through its meaning, before they make their Promise for the first time during a special ceremony, we call an Investiture.