The Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO) is an association that provides support to individuals who are students at colleges and universities in the United Kingdom. It caters to Scouts, Guides, and those who have not been affiliated with a Scout or Guide Association. SSAGO is particularly focused on individuals interested in the aims, objectives, and methods of both The Scout Association and Girlguiding, UK.
Numerous universities host Scout and Guide Clubs affiliated with their respective Student Unions. Although, union affiliation is optional for a club to be part of SSAGO, many choose to do so. In cases where a university or college lacks a dedicated club, students have the option to become Individual or "Indie" members of SSAGO.
The activities of these clubs typically include organising weekend and evening events throughout the term, as well as longer events during university holidays. SSAGO sponsors a termly Rally, open to all Club and Indie members, organised by a different club each term. Additionally, an annual formal event known as a Ball is hosted.
The Oxford University Scout and Guide Group stands as the oldest known example of a Scout and Guide Club in the United Kingdom. Upon completing their university education, many SSAGO members opt to join the Scout and Guide Graduate Association (SAGGA).
History Informal Scout and Guide Clubs existed as early as 1915 when the first generation of Scouts grew out of the Scouting age yet wanted to keep some sense of fraternity. Some early organisations at colleges were known as Baden-Powell Guilds and Saint George Guilds. A world equivalent to this exists today in the International Scout and Guide Fellowship, or ISGF. Some of the first clubs were set up in university towns, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, and London. Inter-club activities were run intermittently until 1927. By 1920, Rover Scouts had been set up for people over 18 but many people were also part of Scout and Guide clubs. University clubs banded together to form an Inter-Varsity organisation while College-based clubs formed a similar setup. It was not until 1947 that inter-club meetings started again, and even then only for the Varsity clubs (those from universities, rather than colleges). Only two colleges (Loughborough and North Staffordshire) were admitted to Varsity. No other colleges were admitted, partially because of snobbery in the old red-brick establishments. The Federation of Scout and Guide Clubs in Training Colleges was set up in 1956 for colleges, and a year later it formed the Intercollegiate organisation. In 1967, the Intercollegiate and Inter-Varsity merged to form SSAGO due to the dwindling number of colleges as many became universities.
SSAGO was 40 in 2007, to celebrate this event a special emblem was designed and the Summer Rally was replaced with a Reunion Event held near Lincoln in July. While this event was run as a Rally there were some noticeable differences; there were fireworks on Friday night, all members old, and new, and SAGGA (who themselves are celebrating their 50th Anniversary) were invited to attend along with visits from prestigious guests such as Liz Burnley the current Chief Guide.
United Kingdom Scout and Guide Clubs and Rovers Crews were responsible for establishing an international Student Scout and Guide event called the Witan, named after the Anglo-Saxon gathering of the wise called a Witan. The first two such events were organised by the Oxford University Scout and Guide Group at Gilwell Park in 1959 and 1961.History of OUSGG, 1955 – 1963List of Witans
Rally Rally is a national camp, held once every term where SSAGO clubs around the UK meet up to socialize and participate in a weekend of activities. The size of a rally can vary from around 100 to over 250 people. The three rallies are held each year in February, June, and November and, as they are hosted by different clubs each time, they offer an opportunity for participants to visit new places. The host club for each rally is chosen at the previous year's national SSAGO AGM.
Each rally has a theme chosen by the host club, which is incorporated into the rally through the different activities on offer across the weekend. Often, this includes experiences such as walks or hikes, on-site activities, visits to nearby attractions, or simply an afternoon off with which to explore. In addition, rallies can also include a ceilidh and themed fancy-dress competition.National SSAGO Events
YearEvent Location Host Club Theme/Name Dates Attendance Clubs Attended2015Lancaster Superhero RallyGuys Farm Activity Centre, LancasterLancasterSuperhero–197242015Bangor Disco RallyFelin Bach, BangorBangorDisco–102212015Cardiff Carnival RallyCRAI Activity Park, CardiffCardiffCarnival–240262016Feb-U-RallyWoodhouse Park, BristolSAGUWEWallace and Gromit–213282016Southampton Dino RallyButchers Coppice, BournemouthSouthamptonDinosaur–171302016Space RallyRough Close Scout Campsite and Activity Centre, CoventryIndieSpace–261322017Best of British RallyGlenbrook Outdoor Activity Centre, BamfordSheffieldBest of British–243312017Leeds "Around the World" RallyBradley Wood Scout Campsite, LeedsLeedsAround the World–168252017Plymouth "90s" RallySid Vale Scout Campsite, DevonPlymouth'90s–161232018 Witan in a Weekend Rally Scout Park, LondonThe Young GoatsWitan/Europe–320382018 Cambridge Duck Rally The Jarman Centre, CambridgeCUSAGCDuck–212282018 Lancaster Fantasy Rally Guys Farm Activity Centre, LancasterLancaster SSAGOFantasy–243292019Nottingham Outlaw RallyWalesby Forest, NottinghamSNoGSRobin Hood/Outlaws–271352019Scot RallyLapwing Lodge, GlasgowScotlandScottish–120302019Birmingham Chocolate RallyAlfrey Activity Centre Broadwater, WarwickshireBUSAGChocolate–310382020Roman Rally MMXXBriarlands Activity Centre, BristolBath BUGSRoman–294392020Survival RallyCranham Scout Centre, Gloucestershire*UOBGAS and PLUGS (jointly)Back-to-Basics– /–N/AN/A2020Build-A-RallyVirtual Event*SouthamptonConstruction –151332021Green Rally Yellow RallyVirtual Event*Millennial Millards (Members from several clubs)Green and Yellow/ Milton Keynes –326392021Viking RallyMoor House Adventure Centre, DurhamNUSSAGG and DUSAGG (jointly)Viking –228332022Rally Of GamesOverstone Campsite, NorthamptonIndividual members from different groupsBoardgames17 June 2022 - 19 June 2022196302022Rali Cymru (Wales Rally)CRAI Activity Centre, NewbridgeThe South Welsh Clubs (SUGS, MSAGM Aber SSAGO, USW, SSAGS)Wales18 November 2022 - 20 November 2022297332023CentenaRallyTawd Vale Adventure Centre, OrmskirkLUSSAGOCentenary3 March 2023 – 5 March 2023235262023ReBuild-a-RallyBraggers Wood Campsite and Activity CentreSouthampton SSAGOConstruction (The second attempt)23 June 2023 – 26 June 2023171272023Oktoberfest RallyBlackwell Adventure, BromsgroveBUSAGOktoberfest/German Culture24 November 2023 – 26 November 2023262302024Rally Through TimeSnowball Plantation, YorkSAGGY8 March 2024 – 10 March 2024220272024Sports Day RallyWillesley Scout Campsite, LeicestershireAberystwyth SSAGOSchool Sports Day7 June 2024 – 9 June 2024173262024Leeds of the Rings RallyBramhope Scout Campsite and Activity Centre, LeedsLUUSAGLord of the Rings22 November 2024- 24 November 2024346322025Team Pink RallyTawd Vale Adventure Centre, OrmskirkServing and former members of Team PinkPink things/SSAGO28 February 2025 – 2 March 2025203282025Rally Front to BackSherbrooke Campsite, NottinghamshireSNoGSBack to Front20 June 2025 – 23 June 20252025Space RallyWest Hall CampsiteNUSSAGGSpace21 November 2025 – 23 November 2025249262026Port-A-RallySandy Acres Guide Campsite, ShedfieldPUGSMaritime27th February 2026 - 1st March 20262026Rali Eryri Tŷ Clwyd Guide Campsite, Llanfair TalhaiarnBangor BUGSSnowdonia2026SSAGO and the Quest for the Holy GrailBUSAG/KeeleArthurian legend/Monty Python *Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer 2020 rally (Survival Rally, organised by Plymouth SSAGO) had to be postponed, and later cancelled. Build-A-Rally and Green Rally Yellow Rally were run as virtual events.
Ball In addition to the three rallies, there is also an annual ball hosted every year by a chosen SSAGO club. The ball provides an alternative to the camping and outdoors often associated with Scouting and Guiding by offering a formal meal, dancing, and another chance to socialize with other SSAGO members.
Typically balls will be themed, with accommodation available nearby, varying from hotels to scout huts depending on the participants' budget. Balls offer a packed evening program, giving everyone a chance to make new friends, catch up with old ones and have a great night outside of the campsite. Often, the ball will include activities nearby to help participants make a weekend of the event. +YearEventLocationHost ClubTheme/NameDatesAttendanceClubs Attended2015Southampton Ball on a BoatMV Ocean Scene, SouthamptonSouthamptonNautical21 March 2015128182016Leeds Northern Lights BallMarriott Hotel, LeedsLeedsNorthern Lights146232017Bath Masked BallGuildhall, BathBathMasquerade178222018Yule Ball BallThe Bristol Hotel, BristolSAGUWEHarry Potter169272019Aber does ABBA BallMarine Hotel, AberystwythAberystwyth SSAGOABBA135282020 (2021)City of Steel BallKelham Island MuseumSheffield StinGS Sheffield /N/A*N/A*2021WomBallRough Close Campsite, CoventryBUSAGRecycling11 September 2021**87252022Once Upon a BallKeele Hall, StaffordshireVarious MembersFairytale30 April 2022194252023MedieBallCounty Assembly Rooms, LincolnLUGSMediӕval29th April 2023112242024Aber Birthday ballY Consti, AberystwythAberystwyth SSAGOAberSSAGO's 20th Birthday27 April 2024128202025Goose BallColwick Hall, NottinghamSNoGSNottingham Goose Fair12 April 20252026Murder Mystery BallBUSAGMurder mystery *Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City of Steel Ball was postponed from April 2020 to February 2021, with a virtual event being held on the original date, however due to the continued restrictions on social contact within the UK the physical event was ultimately cancelled. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WomBall was postponed from April 2021 to September 2021, with a change from the traditional ball format to a "festival style" event with games and activities on a campsite for an afternoon.
Existing clubs There are currently more than thirty universities with a SSAGO club. There are also at least ten that no longer exist. The Universities with a functioning SSAGO club are: Aberystwyth Student Scout and Guide Organisation (MSAGM Aber SSAGO) Bangor University Guides and Scouts (Bangor BUGS) Bath University Guides and Scouts (Bath BUGS) Birmingham Universities Scouts and Guides (BUSAG) – Also open to students from Aston University, Birmingham City University and University College Birmingham Cambridge University Scout and Guide Club (CUSAGC) – Including Anglia Ruskin University Durham University Scout and Guide Group (DUSAGG) Edge Hill SSAGO (EHUSSAGO) Exeter SSAGO (EUSSAGO) Glasgow SSAGO (GLASSGO) Keele SSAGO Kent SSAGO (KUSAG) Kernow SSAGO (SSAGOK) – University of Exeter and Falmouth University Lancaster SSAGO (LSSAGO) Leeds University Union Scout and Guide Society (LUUSAG) Leicester Students of Leicester Universities Guides & Scouts (SLUGS) Lincoln University Guides and Scouts (LUGS) Liverpool University SSAGO (LUSSAGO) Loughborough Students Union Scout and Guide Club (SCOGUI) – The name comes from the words SCOut and GUIde rather than an acronym of the club's full name Manchester SSAGO (ManSSAGO) Newcastle Universities Student Scout and Guide Group (NUSSAGG) – Membership is open to those studying at Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Newcastle College Nottingham and Nottingham Trent SSAGO – Society of Nottingham Guides and Scouts (SNoGS) Oxford University Scout and Guide Group (OUSGG) Plymouth University Guides and Scouts (PLUGS) Portsmouth University Guides and Scouts (PUGS) Royal Holloway SSAGO (RHULSSAGO) Salford SSAGO (SALSAGO) Scouts and Girl Guides York (SAGGY) Sheffield (StinGS) Southampton SSAGO