Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts in Sunderland

Scouts and Girlguiding are two of the longest-running activities for children in Sunderland, and both still meet weekly in church halls, school buildings and Scout huts across the city. They are charities run almost entirely by volunteers, which keeps costs low but means that places depend on how many adults are available to lead each section. This guide explains how both organisations are arranged locally, what the age sections are and how to find a group near you.

How Scouting is organised in Sunderland

Scouting in the city is run by Sunderland District Scouts, which is part of Durham Scouts county. The district headquarters is at Kayll House, 9 Foyle Street, in the city centre, and it also has a district Scout Shop for uniform and badges. The district website, sunderlandscouts.org.uk, lists its groups and has an online form for joining.

Houghton-le-Spring and its surrounding villages are covered by a separate district, Houghton-le-Spring and District Scouts, which has its own website. Families in Washington should use the national Scouts group finder with their postcode to find the nearest group.

Scout age sections

Scouting is open to everyone, and each section has its own night and leaders:

• Squirrels, ages 4 to 6
• Beavers, ages 6 to 8
• Cubs, ages 8 to 10 and a half
• Scouts, ages 10 and a half to 14
• Explorers, ages 14 to 18
• Network, ages 18 to 25

Not every group runs every section, so if your local group has no Squirrels or Explorers, ask the district which nearby group does.

Where Sunderland Scout groups meet

The district lists nine groups. Most are named after the church or area where they started:

• 2nd Herrington meets at its Scout headquarters on Crow Lane, East Herrington.
• 3rd Sunderland (Vaux Own) meets at St Aidan's Church Hall on Ryhope Road.
• 10th Sunderland (St Gabriel's) meets at St Gabriel's Church on St Gabriel's Avenue, and also uses the Marine Activity Centre at North Dock, Roker.
• 21st Sunderland (St Andrew's) meets on Talbot Road.
• 25th Sunderland (Castletown) meets at its Scout hut in Castletown.
• 39th Sunderland (St John's) meets on Ashbrooke Road.
• 55th Sunderland (St Nicholas') is also part of the district; contact the district for its meeting place.
• 86th Sunderland (Tonstall House) meets at St Mary's Parish Centre on Bridge Street in the city centre.
• Sunderland City Community Scout Group is a newer group for the inner city, meeting at Hudson Road Primary School and at Young Asian Voices in Hendon.

Meeting nights vary by section, so use the district's joining form rather than turning up unannounced. Leaders will tell you if there is space or a waiting list.

Camping and adventure

For many children, camping is the highlight of Scouting. Durham Scouts runs Moor House Adventure Centre at Rainton Gate, near Houghton-le-Spring, which is used for camps, activity days and residential weekends.

How Girlguiding is organised

Girlguiding in Sunderland comes under Girlguiding Durham North, which has three divisions covering the area: Sunderland North, Sunderland South, and Washington and Houghton. The county website, girlguidingdurhamnorth.org.uk, has news and contacts, and the county has its own residential Camp House at Spennymoor.

The sections are:

• Rainbows, ages 4 to 7
• Brownies, ages 7 to 10
• Guides, ages 10 to 14
• Rangers, ages 14 to 18

Girlguiding does not publish individual unit addresses. Instead, parents register a child's interest through the Girlguiding website, and the nearest unit with space gets in touch. Units in Sunderland meet in church halls, community centres and schools, usually on a weekday evening.

Waiting lists and volunteering

Both organisations depend on adult volunteers, and the number of leaders is often what limits places. Popular sections such as Beavers, Cubs and Brownies can have waiting lists. The quickest way to move a section forward is often for a parent to help out, whether as a regular leader or on an occasional rota. Both organisations provide training, and roles range from running activities to looking after the accounts or helping at camp. Adult volunteers need a criminal record check, which the organisation arranges.

If you are interested, mention it on the joining form.

What it costs

Each group sets its own subscription to cover hall hire, badges and activities, so costs vary. Uniform is usually needed after a few weeks, and the Sunderland district Scout Shop on Foyle Street stocks it. Camps and trips are charged separately. If cost is a barrier, speak to the leader in confidence, as groups can sometimes help.

More for families

For other weekday and weekend activities, see our guides to after-school clubs in Sunderland and family activities in Sunderland, or browse the families hub.

Run a group and want it mentioned? Get in touch.