The one bit of paper we couldn't eliminate - but we've made it bulletproof.
(Pun very much intended.)
We'd love to make everything 100% digital. Really, we would. But when it comes to shooting activities, UK law has other ideas.
The Scout Association's Policy, Organisation and Rules states that "Parents should be supplied with detailed information on the nature of the activity when permission is sought." and that "Parental permission must be received for all members aged under 18 who are taking part in shooting activities."
While digital signatures are gaining acceptance in many areas, the combination of the Firearms Act 1968 and Scouting's duty of care means that a physical, signed permission form remains the gold standard for shooting activities.
Under UK law and Scout regulations, "shooting" includes:
It does not include paintballing, laser tag, or toy guns - those can stay digital!
Just because it needs to be paper doesn't mean it needs to be painful. Scout Event Registration brings digital intelligence to a physical process.
Each participant gets their own unique, QR-coded shooting permission form sent directly to their parent or guardian via email. No more photocopying generic forms or wondering whose signature belongs to whom.
When a young person is registered for an event with shooting activities, their parent/guardian automatically receives a personalised permission form via email - pre-filled with the participant's details, event information, and the specific shooting activities planned.
The parent prints the form, signs it (confirming their child isn't prohibited under the Firearms Act), and returns it - either physically or as a scanned/photographed copy uploaded to the system.
On the day, leaders simply scan the QR code on the form. The system instantly confirms: Is this form valid? Is it for this event? Is it for this young person? Is it in date? 100% accuracy, zero ambiguity.
Forms can be checked and re-verified at any point during the event. Lost the paper? No problem - the digital record persists. The QR code links back to the verified consent in the system.
Here's where it gets really clever. Our integrated wristband system doesn't just identify participants - it shows their permissions at a glance.
Participants with valid shooting permission get a icon printed directly on their wristband. Range officers can see at a glance who's cleared to participate - no fumbling for paperwork, no holding up the queue.
No shooting icon? No shooting. It's that simple. The wristband becomes a visible, tamper-evident record of parental consent.
The permission form (and resulting wristband indicator) confirms:
We've designed this feature in close alignment with Scouting's requirements and UK law.
The Act sets out who may possess and use firearms, including air weapons. Certain individuals are prohibited from possessing firearms, and parents must confirm their child is not subject to these prohibitions.
POR requires that parents receive "detailed information on the nature of the activity when permission is sought" and that permission forms include: location, date, participant name, type of shooting activity, and parent/guardian signature.
Every form is tracked from generation to verification:
If anyone ever asks "did we have permission for this young person to shoot?", you'll have a complete, timestamped answer in seconds.
Our shooting permission system is just one of many features designed to take the hassle out of event management. Get in touch to see it in action.
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