Welcome to Sheffield Scout Archives

Using material from the Archives, this website illustrates the development and history of Scouting in the City of Sheffield, from 1909, when boys formed Patrols in various parts of the City right through to the mid-1990s when the City Association was discontinued and Sheffield Districts were absorbed into the County.

Scouting in Sheffield was unique in the the fact that normally the structure is that Groups are part of Districts which, in turn, are part of Counties. In Sheffield, however, Groups were part of Divisions which were part of what was originally the Sheffield Local Association of Boy Scouts (SLABS). SLABS had its own District Commissioner and administrative organisation. Later SLABS was replaced by Sheffield Boy Scouts City Association - with its own City Commissioner and six Districts. As the Associations developed, they gained properties, a retail shop and a Trustee company. All this resulted in significant, detailed records of Scouting in Sheffield.

Due to lack of space and resources, the Archives cannot be presented as a physical museum. Instead, please use this website to visit them. The History of Scouting in Sheffield through the years can be explored, details of the 300+ Groups that have at some time existed in the City are listed along with Awards presented, Competition Winners, and Commissioners. The Archives also contain a large Photograph Collection and Book Library. Use the menus at the top of the page to find out much more.
It is also possible to Search the Website and the Library.

The Archive Team is small and the Archives are large. If you have Scouting connections with Sheffield and would like to assist please contact us. Whilst not essential, previous experience of administration or IT would be wonderful.

Do you have material that you want to donate to the Archives?