As with any organisation, there is a bewildering array of acronyms and abbreviations.
| ABSL | Assistant Beaver Scout Leader | Assists the Beaver Scout Leader (BSL) run the Beavers section |
| ACC | Assistant County Commissioner | Has a specific responsibility within a District, for example training or Cubs |
| ACSL | Assistant Cub Scout Leader | Assists the Cub Scout Leader (CSL) run the Cubs section |
| ADC | Assistant District Commissioner | Has a specific responsibility within a District, for example training or Cubs |
| AESL | Assistant Explorer Scout Leader | Assists the Explorer Scout Leader (ESL) run the Explorer group |
| AGM | Annual General Meeting | Held once a year to formalise the running of the Scout group |
| ASL | Assistant Scout Leader | Assists the Scout Leader (SL) run the Scouts section |
| BP | Baden-Powell | Robert Baden Powell, later Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell, who founded the Scout Association in 1907 |
| BP | Be Prepared | The Scout motto. A Scout is always ready for anything that life throws at them |
| BSL | Beaver Scout Leader | In charge of the Beavers section, assisted by ABSLs |
| CC | County Commissioner | Responsible for all the Districts and the Groups that make them up within a county. Scout counties do not always follow national county boundaries. For example, London is made up of six Scout counties. |
| Chief Scout | Figure head of the UK Scout Association. Currently Bear Grylls who attends Scouting events across the country and promotes Scouting to new audiences. | |
| CRB | Criminal Records Bureau | Predecessor to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). |
| CSL | Cub Scout Leader | In charge of the Cubs section, assisted by ACSLs |
| DBS | Disclosure and Barring Service | Criminal background check for suitability of a leader to work with children, formerly called Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). All adult members of the Scout Association have to complete a DBS check. |
| DC | District Commissioner | Responsible for the groups within a District such as Southwark District |
| ESL | Explorer Scout Leader | In charge of an Explorer Group, assisted by AESLs |
| Executive | Committe made up of leaders, helpers and parents to oversee the running of the Scout group | |
| Gilwell | Gilwell Park, home of the UK Scout Association and gifted to the UK Scout Association by Baden-Powell. Located in Chingford, North East of London. | |
| GSL | Group Scout Leader | In charge of, and responsible for, all sections within a Scout Group |
| Motto | See “Scout Motto” | |
| NAN | Nights Away Notification | Form to be filled in notifying the District Commissioner (DC) that a group of children are to go on a Scout camp. |
| NAP | Nights Away Permit | Earned by a leader on completion of additional training and assessment. Qualifies them to be in charge of a camp |
| POR | Policy, Organisation and Rules | The governing rule book for the UK Scout Association |
| Scout Motto | Be Prepared. A Scout is ready for anything life will throw at them | |
| SL | Scout Leader | In charge of the Scouts section, assisted by ASLs |
| Wood Badge | Presented to a leader that has completed their Scout training |