The Scottish Council | |||
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Owner | The Scout Association | ||
Headquarters | Fordell Firs, Fife | ||
Country | Scotland | ||
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Scouting in Scotland is largely represented by The Scottish Council of The Scout Association, a registered Scottish charity that is affiliated to the Scout Association of the United Kingdom. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association also has a presence in Scotland.
There are five student associations at various universities in Scotland, each of which is affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO): University of Aberdeen Guides and Scouts,Heriot-Watt University SSAGO,University of St Andrews Scout and Guide Club,University of Stirling SSAGO and University of Strathclyde Guides and Scouts.
The 1st Glasgow Scout Group has a claim to be the first Scout Troop, as it holds a registration certificate dated 26 January 1908. No other Scout troop has documentation that pre-dates this.
The 24th Glasgow Scout Group's published history has it forming January 1908, although this is not currently recognised by The Scout Association. The 3rd Glasgow (Waverley) Scout Group are also listed as one of the first Groups to have started in 1908.
Oral tradition (at least as of 1976) was that the 12th Glasgow (1st Lenzie) troop was the first troop outside central Glasgow. The story told by leaders in the mid-70's was that the 12th Glasgow was the second formed but had to take the number 12th as the first 11 numbers were reserved for city troops. The group's own website gives a starting date of May 1908.
It is acknowledged by Scout Headquarters in Gillwell that many Groups were meeting as early as 1907 although registration did not begin until 1908. The 10th Craigalmond Scout Group in Edinburgh (formerly 10th Midlothian and 10th Haymarket) was, for example, meeting in late 1907 and there are a number of other Groups still existing to this day who formed immediately following reports of the camp on Brownsea Island. Until 1919 registration was undertaken by local associations and not centrally.