Safety
Safety Policy
The Scouts sets out to deliver everyday adventure and develop skills for life in a growing movement of adult volunteers and young people aged 5-25, in the UK and internationally.
The Scouts recognises that life is not risk-free, and in its turn Scouting is not risk-free. As Scouts, we believe that our members benefit most from our activities when we manage these risks to wellbeing to be as low as is reasonably practicable. Identifying and proportionately managing risk is a skill for life that we wish to kindle, develop and enhance in all of our members.
All those involved in Scouting must, so far as is reasonably practicable and to the extent of their role, ability and understanding;
- Properly assess the risk of every activity undertaken in Scouting. This assessment should be suitable and sufficient for the activity being undertaken, and follows that activities with higher risk should require more in-depth assessment.
- Provide and receive clear instructions and information, and adequate training, to ensure members are competent to undertake their task
- Prevent accidents and cases of ill health by managing the health and safety risks in Scouting
- Maintain safe and healthy conditions, provide and maintain plant, equipment and machinery, and ensure safe storage/use of substances
- Review risk assessments as often as necessary when circumstances and conditions change.
- Never be afraid to change or stop an activity if risk increases.
Safety Information
Safe Scouting Cards
There are a number of cards that support safety across all activities in Scouting, they are listed below with a button bar linking to all the cards on the National Scouts website.
- Yellow Card – Young People First
The Scouts code of practice (also known as the Yellow card) sets out guidance for all adults in Scouts - Purple Card – Safe Scouting and what to do in an emergency
The Purple card provides support for safe Scouting and guidance in the procedures for dealing with an emergency. - Orange Card – Young People First
The Orange card is a code of practice for young people. It’s the policy of The Scout Association to safeguard the welfare of all members by protecting them from neglect and from physical, sexual and emotional harm. - Green Card – Scouting and alcohol
The Green card sets out our policy on alcohol for all adults involved in Scouting - White Cards – Staying Safe Checklists
The Safety Checklist is for Executive Committees, Leaders and Managers. Safety Checklist is a pocket checklist aimed to help all adults working with young people to fulfil their role and responsibilities in managing and supporting safety in Scouting.
Adult to Young People ratios
Details of how many adults are required for activities that take place indoors, outdoor activities held away from the usual meeting place and on nights away experiences (led by Nights Away Permit Holder) are different for each section.
Details of the requirements can be found at this link – https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/adult-to-young-people-ratios/
For all meetings and activities, leaders should assess the risk and arrange for sufficient adults (aged 18 or over) to ensure a safe environment for the operation of the section. This risk assessment may mean that more adults are needed than the minimum ratios above indicate.
It is possible for young people to hold a Nights Away Event Passport, which allows them to run a nights away event for their peers, without adults present, in which case the ratios will not apply.
