Deep Sea Scouts

Deep Sea Scout Fellowship
Owner	The Scout Association
Country	United Kingdom
Founded	1991
Website http://www.scoutsinships.org.uk/index.htm
Scouting portal

The Deep Sea Scouts were an organisation enabling young people serving on British ships to participate in Scouting activities. It was formed in 1928, and was replaced by the Deep Sea Scout Fellowship in the 1990s as numbers dwindled.

As Scouting matured, along with its initial members, demands were made for additions to the organisation which would enable a continuing participation within the Movement.

One such addition were the Deep Sea Scouts, which came to be in 1928.

Aims and purpose

As Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, noted in a letter to the fledgling group, "Damn rules! I want a jolly brotherhood through which I can get in touch with pals of my own or other ships or at ports of call — especially those pals who have the same Scouty ideas as I have ...".^{[citation needed]} This was the purpose of the Deep Sea Scouts.

The original aims of the Deep Sea Scouts were:

• To enable Scouts afloat to get in touch with their brother/sister Scouts in ports throughout the world.
• To afford them the opportunity for continuing their Scouting activities in their sea-going profession.
• To provide an opportunity to hike and camp as Scouts, when on leave at home or abroad.
• To be of service to all, as the opportunity offers, particularly by instructing Cubs or Scouts, when in ports of call.

Eligibility for membership

Any member of The Scout Association was eligible for membership of the Deep Sea Scouts if they were serving in any of the following organisations:

• Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve
• Merchant Navy
• Royal Marines
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Deep Sea Fishermen
• Deep Sea Rigs
• Deep Sea Yacht Crews
• Sail Training Ships

Fellowship

Due to the decrease in shipping and the reductions in the Royal Navy, the numbers of Deep Sea Scouts fell quite dramatically, and it was decided that the organisation be replaced by a Scouting Fellowship.

The Deep Sea Scout Fellowship was started in 1991, and currently has 200 members.

The Fellowship maintains the same aims and entry requirements of its predecessor, but it also allows direct relatives of eligible members to join as long as they are active within the Scout Association, too.

See also

Sea Scouts

Notes

References