Safeguarding in the Scouts

Adult volunteers who participate in regulated activity require a disclosure check. The Scout Association has reviewed all volunteer roles against the criteria for regulated activity which is defined as:

Teaching, training or instruction of children, carried out by the same person frequently (once a week or more often), or on four or more days in a thirty-day period, or overnight

Or

Day to day management or supervision on a regular basis of a person providing this activity which would be regulated if unsupervised

Some roles fall outside regulated activity and do not require a disclosure check. The remainder meet the requirements of the legislation and will require an appropriate level of disclosure check. Compass helps to automate this process: when an adult volunteer is assigned a role it will know what checks need to be processed. Renewal reminders will also be automated for those roles that require it.

Adult volunteers who work with vulnerable 18-25 year olds in Scouting need a disclosure that is checked against both the adult and child register. This can be arranged on that volunteer’s behalf by contacting vetting@scouts.org.uk.

When a new adult is entered onto Compass the Online PVG process should be followed

Safeguarding downloads

Carry the yellow card with you and make sure you follow its guidance on our safeguarding policy. You can download a copy of the card using the link below. Click on the links below for more resources.

Safeguarding policy
Safety policy
Yellow Card
Safeguarding Training
Safety Training
Stay Safe (Squirrels, aged 4-6)
Stay Safe (Beavers, aged 6-8)
Stay Safe (Cubs, aged 8 to 10 ½)
Beaver and Cub video with subtitles
Stay Safe (Scouts, aged 10 ½ to 14)
Stay Safe (Explorers, aged 14 to 18)
Scout and Explorer video

Useful websites

NSPCC – Support around online safety or bullying

Thinkuknow – Tips for staying safe online

ACT Early – Guidance and information on staying safe online, and preventing radicalisation and extremism

The NSPCC and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), in partnership with age verification platform Yoti, have developed the Report Remove tool to support young people to remove illegal nude images of themselves online.

Safe Scouting

Carry the purple card with you and make sure you follow its guidance in an emergency. You can download one from here.

You can also download copies of the Staying Safe checklists for Leaders, Managers and Trustee Boards:

Safety Checklist for Group Executive Committees
Safety Checklist for Leaders
Safety Checklist for Managers

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment Tools
Risk Assessment Form

Scouting and Alcohol

The green card provides a checklist on our policy on alcohol for all adults in Scouting. You can download one from here.