What we do and who we work with to ensure the safety and safeguarding of children and young people at Scouts
Keeping children and young people safe is our number one priority. Here are some of the ways we do this:
- Volunteers have a criminal records check as part of safer recruitment.
- Volunteers must undertake written risk assessments for all activities within Scouts.
- Adult members take mandatory safety and safeguarding learning every three years.
- All adults must follow our Safeguarding Code of Conduct (Yellow Card) and Safeguarding Policy.
- All safeguarding concerns are reported to our UK HQ Safeguarding Team, who are trained to manage concerns and work with the police and other authorities.
How to report a safeguarding concern
All safeguarding concerns must be reported to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team as soon as possible and always within 24 hours. To make a report, you can:
- use Scout UK’s Online Safeguarding Reporting Form
- speak to one of Scout UK’s Safeguarding Team on 0208 433 7164.
- email safeguarding@scouts.org.uk.
- use the downloadable safeguarding reporting form.
You can also report anonymously using:
the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line.
our Whistleblowing Policy with this online form.
The first night away from home. The first hike. The first trip abroad.
All of these moments are great for developing young people’s confidence, but we know how daunting it can be for the one packing their overnight bag and waving them off at the gates. And we know it doesn’t necessarily get easier as they grow.
Young people thrive in secure surroundings, at home and away. Wherever we go, we’re serious about keeping them safe.
As a parent or carer, you’re bound to have questions about how we do this. Read on to find out more.
About Scout Volunteers, appointments and Training
All our volunteers give their time freely to help young people thrive. Some volunteers lead their group week in and week out. Others call in occasionally to share a specific skill, or provide an extra pair of hands – whether they’re abseiling down mountains, helping a group of eight year olds build a robot, or expertly remembering how everyone takes their tea.
All of our leaders are interviewed locally and asked to provide references. They undergo the mandatory training they need to be the best they can be, including basic first aid and child protection. Special training is provided for those taking young people away on residential events like camps and sleepovers.
We also have strict rules in place to ensure that everyone who works with young people either regularly, on a night away activity, or unsupervised has to be vetted and hold a satisfactory criminal records check.
The Yellow card and Code for volunteer behaviour
As Scouts, we have a clear code of behaviour we expect everyone to abide by, known as the ‘Yellow Card’. This code is shared with all adults who interact with young people – regardless of their role – and is included in the training leaders receive.
If you volunteer to help out with an activity, you’ll be given your own yellow card to keep on hand and refer back to. Check out a digital copy of the Yellow Card. You can also view our safety policies – which relate to how our leaders run adventurous activities responsibly – in chapter two of POR.
Our Safegaurding and Safety Policies
Safeguarding and Safety are two of our key policies that anyone involved in Scouts must work to. You can see the full policies in our Policy, Organisation and Rules section:
How Scouts is managed locally
Each Scout Group consists of different ‘sections’ – which may include a
- Squirrel Drey (for 4-6 year olds),
- Beaver Colony (for 6-8 year olds),
- Cub Pack (for 8-10 ½ year olds),
- Scout Troop (for 10 ½-14 year olds),
- Explorer Unit (for 14-18 year olds) and
- Scout Network (for 18-25 year olds).
A Group Lead Volunteer (GLV) (formerly known as Group Scout Leader (GSL)), is responsible for overseeing and supporting volunteers in each section and manages the Scout Group.
In Explorer Scout Units, a District Explorer Scout Commissioner (DESC) takes on this role.
Both Group Scout Leaders and District Explorer Scout Commissioners are responsible to a District Lead Volunteer (DLV) (formerly known as District Commissioner (DC)). Where a group does not have a GLV, Leaders report directly to the DLV.
The DLV is the volunteer manager responsible for a wider geographical area. The DLV in Bradford North is Wendy Flatters.
If you’d like to contact your GLV, DESC or DLV then ask your local leader for their contact details or speak to the National Scout Information Centre on 0345 300 1818. Alternatively, contact us: Info@bradfordnorthscouts.org.uk
Raising concerns or comments on activities
If you’re unhappy with anything relating to your child’s time in Scouts, you should raise it immediately with your local leaders, no matter how trivial it may seem.
If you’d rather speak to someone else, contact the Scout Support Centre.
Arrangements for outings or camps
All leaders taking young people away will give you notice, ask for your permission and provide you with a way of contacting the group while they’re away.
All residential activities (such as camps and sleepovers) are required to have at least two adults present, unless the young people involved are participating in an expedition or event where adults are not expected to attend at all. We’ll always tell you if there is to be no adult presence for a particular activity, and we’ll never ask to take individual young people away on their own.
No young people under the age of 18 are allowed to consume alcohol while they’re taking part in Scout activities.
Communicating the importance of staying safe to my children
The world is constantly changing. Technology is constantly evolving. Society puts pressure on young people to experience new things, but that can also make them feel vulnerable and unsure about the world around them.
Our STAY SAFE leaflets contain information for young people about how to stay safe online and in the real world, and gives them all the age-specific information they need to report anything that makes them feel worried, scared or upset.
- Stay Safe (Beavers, aged 6-8)
- Stay Safe (Cubs, aged 8 to 10 ½)
- Stay Safe (Scouts, aged 10 ½ to 14)
- Stay Safe (Explorers, aged 14 to 18)
We’ve also put together some videos on safeguarding for Beavers and Cubs, and for Scouts and Explorers.
What Parents and Carers should be aware of
The NSPCC advises parents and carers to be wary of:
- Activities where parents are discouraged from staying to watch or becoming involved.
- Activities or behaviour that encourage rough play, sexual innuendo or humiliating punishments.
- Individuals who take charge and operate independently of organisational guidelines.
- Individuals who show favouritism or personally reward specific children.
- Encouragement of inappropriate physical contact.
- Poor communication and lack of parental involvement, leaving you feeling uneasy.
- Children who drop out or stop going for no apparent reason.
- Invitations for children to spend time alone with staff or volunteers (or even to visit their home).
We agree wholeheartedly with the NSPCC and would not expect any of this behaviour to occur in Scouts.
As always, if you have any concerns, please raise them immediately with your child’s leaders, or – if you’d rather speak to someone else – contact the Scout Support Centre on 0345 300 1818.
Guidance to share with young People
The world is constantly changing and there’s always new ways to communicate with friends, explore the world and get connected. Society puts pressure on young people to experience new things, but that can make them feel vulnerable and unsure about the world around them.
Discover the list of organisations and resources which you can share with young people >
All you need to know about safety and safeguarding
Safety at Scouts
We continuously assess our policies to keep Scouts as safe as possible. This includes implementing changes based on reviews of our risk assessment process.
Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults
As Scouts, we’ve a clear code of behaviour we expect everyone to abide by, known as the ‘Yellow Card’. This code is shared with all adults who interact with young people, regardless of their role, and it’s included in the learning volunteers receive.
Raising a concern
If you need to raise a concern please read our guidance on ensuring a concern is approached using the most appropriate policy.
Reporting non-recent abuse
If you need to raise a concern please read our guidance on ensuring a concern is approached using the most appropriate policy.
Scouts safeguarding cases in the media
Taking safety of young people seriously online and in the media, take a look at our response.
Our safeguarding action plan
We are continually improving what we are doing to keep young people safe, learning from external experts and what we hear from survivors.
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