Keeping children and young people safe

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 Code of Conduct (Yellow Card) and Safeguarding Policy.
• All safeguarding concerns are reported to our HQ Safeguarding Team who are trained to manage concerns and work with the police and other authorities.

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 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.

Reporting past abuse

We appreciate the bravery it takes to consider speaking out about your experience. If you were abused while you were under 18 and in Scouts, we want to know, and we want to offer support.

To report non-recent abuse, you can speak to one of our Safeguarding Team on 0208 433 7164, email safeguarding@scouts.org.uk or you can fill out your details in this form and one of our team will contact you. 

You can also report anonymously using the Whistleblowing Policy with this online form or through the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line.

Reporting can stop the offender abusing other young people, so our Safeguarding Team will report all allegations of non-recent abuse to the police and the local authority.