Form'M' Expedition Authorisations and Night Away Permits Advise Note
Form'M' Expedition Authorisations "Nights Away Permits"-Encouraging Best Practice
This information is provided to DC's and "Nights Away Advisors" from the Hampshire Scout's Mountain Team to encourage best practice in Mountaineering activities.
Members of the Association who hold a &Form M - Expeditions" either for Terrain 1 or Terrain 2 do not need to have a Nights Away Permit to undertake such expeditions in addition to their current authorisation. POR Rule: 9.63a & b.
However, to undertake activities in Terrain 0 they do! - POR Rule: 9.63c
All Forms M (Expeditions) issued in Hampshire are based on assessments including a two or three day expedition in a remote area. As a result of this we would urge the following:
- All holders of Form M (Expeditions) should immediately apply for a Nights Away Permit.
- Nights Away Advisors should accept a Form M (Expeditions) as complete evidence of satisfactory assessment against the standards required for lightweight "green field" camping by small groups of Scout/ Explorer age. In the absence of other evidence it would be reasonable to recommend that the resultant Nights Away Permit be restricted with a phrase such as "Lightweight camping only" if the candidate does not offer a portfolio of experience including standing camps and it may also be restricted to higher age groups if the candidate offers no evidence of experience with younger campers.
- District Commissioners are invited to encourage these actions very strongly so that we do not tempt people into poor practice as outlined in the examples below.
| John Dohoo | Peter Croft |
| ACC Activities | County Hillwalking Advisor-Hampshire |
Examples of poor practice which may be encouraged by not issuing a "Nights Away Permit" to a "Form M-Expeditions" holder.
- A Form M Expeditions holder arrives for a weekend in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, late on a Friday night having driven up from Hampshire. However, not being authorised to set up camp at the National Trust campsite in the valley [Terrain 0] so she sets off up the hill with her group in the dark to a remote campsite she is authorised to use!
- A Form M Expeditions holder is out on a three day expedition in the Brecon Beacons and on the second day the weather becomes seriously worse than predicted. However, he decides to stick it out with his group on the hillside as he is not authorised to descent to use the camping barn in the valley as it is terrain 0!
- A Form M Expeditions holder takes his novis bronze D of E group on their first training expedition to a remote campsite on Dartmoor because he is authorised to camp on these sites but not the D of E green fields sites in the New Forest!
