FAQ
General Camp
If you've had an account before, you will need to dust it off and log into the SSAGO website, and on your dashboard update your club to Scout and Guide Graduate Association. If you've forgotten the email or password in your old age please make use of the "forgot password" button and try a few potential emails. If you're still stuck please get in touch with the team by email altrally@ssago.org and we can help locating your old account.
If you're totally new you will need to create an account to book, you can do so by clicking here to get started. It may take some time for your account to be approved.
Once you have done, log in to your account and you will be able to register your interest for attending, and sign up when bookings open.
Currently our team is made up of Tom Webster, Ellie Meakin, Anthoney Gathercole and Harriet Bell.
No. Alternative Rally will be a significantly smaller event designed to be somewhere between a SSAGO Rally and the style of events SAGGA runs. Unlike a rally we'll be relying on everyone to get involved with camp jobs and you'll have both the flexibility to decide (and even organise) activities.
SAGGA has mascots however they are not stealable at the event. Please feel free to bring your mascot and show them off at the event.
No. Alternative Rally is open to anyone who wants to attend and have fun, whether or not you're currently or previously a member of any organisation.
Of course! There's no requirement to have been part of SSAGO, Scouting or Guiding before to attend.
The aim of the event is to introduce people to SAGGA and as such there'll be lots of opportunity to chat and get to know everyone, including current SAGGA members and also those who are interested in joining.
How do we contact you?
By email on Altrally@ssago.org . You can also find us on the SAGGA Discord and Facebook pages. You can post questions there or DMs on these platforms.
Yes, for the Saturday evening we invite you to dress as... camp! Whether that's the theme of this camp, very camp or just ready to camp, we want you to have fun with it!
We are very flexible on arrival times.
We are advising people should arrive between 7-9pm on Friday 29th and depart between 2-4pm on Sunday 1st.
We understand with work commitments, travel distance and train times this may not be possible for everyone and you may have to arrive later on Friday or depart earlier on Sunday. If that's the case please let us know during booking when you expect to arrive depart and we'll aim to have lifts available (if required) and keep you some food. Please note if you are arriving early on Friday we may not be able to collect you until closer to 7pm once our drivers start to arrive.
Yes, please let us know what times you're planning to be there so we can work out an appropriate cost and what meals you'd like.
Yes. Please get in touch as we can offer a slight reduction in camp fees. Unfortunately we won't be able to offer lifts to off-site accomodation so you will be responsible for sorting travel to/from site each day.
There is no current requirement to hold a DBS or PVG check to attend the event as there are no under 18s present. As part of the booking we will ask you to provide scout or guide membership numbers (if you have them) so these can be verified. Scouting, Guiding and SSAGO event members who are suspended from Scouting, Guiding or SSAGO will be unable to attend in line with their suspension conditions.
The ticket price includes:
- Camping for two nights in your own (or someone else's) tent.
- Friday Dinner, Desert and Cheeseboard. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Desert and Cheeseboard Saturday. Breakfast and Lunch Saturday. Lunches on both days can either be eaten on site or taken away.
- Squash, teas, coffees along with special soft drinks during Saturday dinner.
- Use of an indoor hall, covered outdoor picnic area and a mess tent area for socializing.
- Campfires
- Activities Friday evening and Sunday morning.
- Lifts to and from the station Friday evening and Sunday.
- A badge.
Costs not included are:
- Indoor bunked accommodation (subject to demand and additional cost)
- Transport to activities Saturday and any additional costs for those activities.
- Extra badges and other merchandise.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Getting yourself to Melton Mowbray.
As a SAGGA camp we will be expecting people to muck in and help where required. This includes chopping food, washing up, giving lifts, general tidying, fetching wood, restocking toilet rolls, starting fires and singing around them where appropriate, etc. All these things get done much faster with everyone helping and as a small organizing team we won't be able to do everything. If you see a job that you think needs doing and you're able to do it please do and if you're not sure how ask us or anyone else.
We will likely also need some help setting up and striking camp, so if you don't mind being early or staying late please do.
Yes, cheese! Unlike a rally we don't have many variable costs, the majority of your money is going towards the campsite (which is fixed whenever you book) and food which we'll buy the day before. However lots of our team have exciting summer plans and some aspects of the plan need to be in place before jetting off! As such so we have a rough idea of numbers before summer we'll be having an early booking phase which costs exactly the same, but everyone who books early will be entered into a draw to win their choice of a pork pie, a big piece of cheese or a t shirt. So book early!
Guests
Yes. Please get them to book their own ticket. If that isn't possible drop us an email and we will be able to set them up an account.
Definitely, the more the merrier!
We are not currently aware of any demand to bring under 18s and due to the additional safeguarding rules and regulations needed it is not currently part of our plans to allow under 18s on-site. If this is something that would impact your attendance please get in touch with the team as soon as possible so we can discuss arrangements if this is something you require.
We are currently in discussions with the campsite regarding this. We expect well behaved dogs will be permitted in the camping areas only, which will include some social space. Dogs will not be permitted in the kitchen or indoor areas. A dog free camping area will also be available.
Campsite
We are very flexible on arrival times.
We are advising people should arrive between 7-9pm on Friday 29th and depart between 2-4pm on Sunday 1st.
We understand with work commitments, travel distance and train times this may not be possible for everyone and you may have to arrive later on Friday or depart earlier on Sunday. If that's the case please let us know during booking when you expect to arrive depart and we'll aim to have lifts available (if required) and keep you some food. Please note if you are arriving early on Friday we may not be able to collect you until closer to 7pm once our drivers start to arrive.
No. We have not paid for exclusive use of the site however we are currently the only users and have booked the main building. We are prepared that there may be other young people using the site and expect attendees to be respectful and follow the Scouting yellow and green cards and Guiding's A Safe Space rules at all times and especially in the presence of young people.
Yes, please let us know what times you're planning to be there so we can work out an appropriate cost and what meals you'd like.
Yes. Please get in touch as we can offer a slight reduction in camp fees. Unfortunately we won't be able to offer lifts to off-site accomodation so you will be responsible for sorting travel to/from site each day.
We will have a duty first aider at all times who will hold first response (or higher). There will also be a designated tent which can be used as an escape if people are feeling overwhelmed.
We're able to put in any reasonable adjustments required for people to attend the event, please get in touch with our team to discuss. We understand the format of this event is very different to rally and other camps so what is required and what adjustments we can make are likely to be different.
Unlike a rally we are working with a significantly smaller team with no fixed roles. Please feel free to reach out to any of us individually or together to discuss.
We expect that Alternative Rally will have a significantly more relaxed atmosphere than a SSAGO event and we will have a variety of social spaces on offer, each which will naturally have a different atmosphere and volume.
We also have a designated "first aid" tent for use as a private space to respond to mental and physical emergencies.
No, however all spaces we will be using have an alternate step free route.
Currently we have not booked any indoor accommodation. The site does have some available but this comes at additional cost to our booking. If there is enough demand to cover these costs we can book it. The main facilities consist of 16 bunk beds all in one large room, thus there are 32 potential indoor bunk spaces. Please note that as one large room it is likely to be noisy and it is adjoined to the main indoor area where people will be socialising and cooking will be taking place (we'll try not to set off a fire alarm). We will be asking people to reduce noise in this area between 11pm and 6am with an outdoor shelter, a social tent or the campfire available for late night shenanigans.
With significant demand there is also another hall which can be slept in, however there's very little price difference from the bunked building.
Pretty much the same as our dry weather plans. We have an indoor kitchen and adjoining dining room which will be the primary space we are using. This building has a covered picnic area too. We plan to set up another mess tent style space which can be used for activities, general socialising and can have more noise during the night. There will also be some cover available around the campfire.
Depending on the number of bookings and weather forecast the site has an additional hall which we can book for further indoor space if required.
Activities and Programme
On Saturday activities will be significantly less formal than a rally and are mostly up to participants to self organise. We will poll people during booking to find out what you'd be interested in and do some initial matchmaking. We expect most activities will not be pre-booked and people will turn up and pay on the day where required. We encourage people to discuss their ideas on the SAGGA
Discord and find others to make a group with. Many people will have cars available and we have a growing list of activity suggestions on our website.
We are not including costs for any of these in the ticket price and drivers may want to split petrol and parking costs with passengers. If they don't they might appreciate a drink when they get back to site! The site is also within half an hour walk of Melton Mowbray if you fancy a leisurely stroll instead of taking the car.
We are looking to put on two quick activities which require pre-booking and if you have an idea that requires advanced numbers please let us know so we can include it in the booking process.
We have organized some activities on Friday night and Sunday morning which are optional and included in the camp costs.
Yes. Activities are self organized on Saturday so you can arrange to do them with whomever. For everything else we will naturally sort into smaller groups, we're not allocated quiz teams or other activity groups. If there's someone you want to be with then this can be accommodated when groups form.
We won't be allocating indoor accomodation. If you want a fixed bunk mate when you arrive please put stuff on both beds. We expect there will be many spare bunks so there'll be lots of choice available.
Several members will have brought their own personal games. If there's a game you'd like to play ask around and suggest a game. There's no allocated time for games so people are welcome to play at any time, although we will expect games to tidied away during breakfast and dinner.
We will update when things change however as a smaller event to a rally our timings are significantly less fixed and will adapt throughout the weekend. The timetable is designed so people are able to plan arriving, departing and their activities Saturday.
Of course, you're welcome to come and go as you please. We'd appreciate if when leaving the site you could make others aware you're heading off.
We do have activity plans during these times however you don't have to take part. Please let us know if you are fully departing site and won't be returning.
We will be designating a camp fire area and providing all the materials to start one. If a group of people want a campfire then it will be their responsibility to light and manage it. We expect everyone at the campfire to take a collective responsibility for safety, including ensuring it is left safely at the end of the night.
No. All activities are optional and you can sit out at any point. There is no requirement to go off site on Saturday, although we expect most people will choose leave for some of the day you can choose to catch up on some sleep, do work or other things.
We expect most activities Saturday to be self-organised and there is nothing to prevent a group of people planning an activity based on-site.
The site offers Archery, Climbing and Rifle Shooting, if you would be interested in these please get in touch with us (and not the site directly) as we can advise on prices. We will expect activity groups to split these costs, please also mention if someone in your group holds a scout or guide permit for these activities as this may reduce the costs. The site also has a projector and licence available for film screenings but not live TV, again please contact us if you'd like to use it. There is also the potential to use some of the kitchen space if people fancy a food based activity, however this will require planning around dinner prep.
If you have any other ideas for things you'd like to run on site, however wild and wonderful, please feel free to share and get in touch.
If you've got a game you'd like to bring (and explain the rules for) please do. There'll be lots of opportunities for games big and small throughout the weekend and lots of people keen to play. We will likely have a games table in the main building where people can keep games in the dry. You can also ask on X if other people would be keen to play or check if other people are planning to bring the same game.
Transport
We will be running a car shuttle to/from the station Friday and Sunday, primarily between 7-9pm Friday and 2-4pm Sunday. Shuttles outside these times are possible too however we will be prioritising shuttling volunteers to help with site set up and clear up.
We will provide a phone number to text on Friday when your close to arriving. All drivers should be wearing a neckerchief to identify themselves and the text number can confirm details if required. Shuttles on Sunday will be coordinated in the morning.
Yes, the site has a large car park. We will be using cars for transport to activities on Saturday so if you are driving to site please also consider being a driver to activities, you will be able to split costs of petrol and parking with your passengers if you wish.
We would also encourage you to car pool where possible, even if there's no one near you there might be someone on route or a convenient train station others could get to.
Food
You will be asked to provide your requirements as part of the booking process. How these are accommodated will work differently depending on which meal and your exact requirements. Our catering team all hold food hygiene certificates and have vegan and gluten free requirements among ourselves so we can ensure you'll be well fed!
Breakfast and Friday Dinner - When collecting your food please tell the server your dietary requirements. For specific needs where you are being cooked a special dish you may be asked to tell the kitchen when you arrive so we can start cooking.
Lunch - lunch will work on a DIY basis. We will have a separate area to prevent cross contamination for some allergies.
Saturday Dinner - We will be having a "family style" service consisting of various sharing dishes. Each dish will have an allergen label displayed and we have a large number of vegan and gf dishes planned. For specific requirements we may bring personal plates to supplement the shared dishes.
Don't worry there'll be plenty of alternative too! While we've got several cheese options most of these you add the cheese yourself, so you can pick to go cheese free or add an alternative lacto-free/vegan cheese.
Our evening cheeseboard will contain some of our favourite vegan cheese alternatives, along with enough other snacks to keep non-cheesers happy too.
You don't have to turn up for meals if you don't wish. We expect to have some cold food available at all times if you wake up late. While you can miss Saturday dinner we would strongly advise you plan your activities to come back as it's one not to be missed.
There's no requirement to bring your own cheese unless you have one you particularly want to share (or eat yourself). We will have a selection of local and generic cheese, plus alternatives, provided.
"Since the dawn of time, mankind has struggled to deal with great questions of life: Why am I here? Why do the stars spin in the sky? And most important of all: the great question “what is cheese?” This is a question which has puzzled scientists, theologians and the every-day-man-in-the-street for centuries. The very nature of cheese is hard to pin down. What is cheese made of? Can it be used as a wall-insulation? Is it sentient? Thorough research into the field has answered at least two of these three questions. We now know that cheese is made from a substance known as milk. The source of which remains yet a further mystery to the ears, eyes and nose of science. But which yields the delicious substance known as cheese, when it is churned, fermented and generally treated badly by a bunch of farmers in a shed. We also know that cheese can be used as a wall-insulation albeit a fairly poor insulation and terribly pungent. The final question: “is cheese sentient?” remains unanswerable by the modern brain of science. Experiments have shown that some cheeses are capable of simple mathematical equations, such as adding the numbers one and two, or calculating the value of pi to no more than 200 places. Other cheeses have shown a much less impressive display of intelligence, by responding to fairly banal stimuli of such day time television programmes as the Jeremy Kyle show." from Cheesepedia
Merchandise
Please email us and we'll be able to send items via regular mail, collection by a friend or using SAGGA post.
SAGGA
More info coming soon! Until then, please see the SAGGA website: https://sagga.org.uk/About.
If you experience any issues in the booking process, please contact webmaster@ssago.org.