Race Equity

Our vision for race equity 

Ethnic diversity in Scouts doesn’t reflect the UK population and for some members from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, negative experiences have led them to feel Scouts isn’t a place for them.

It’s time to change that. It’s time for every one of us, as Scouts, to live by our promise, law and values by becoming a place that’s inclusive of all races and ethnic backgrounds, so that everyone can be themselves and thrive.

Our journey so far

Our plan was created with the help of over 1,300 members who took part in our race equity review and consultation, as well as our project board and external race equity expert.

So far, we have successfully: 

• Established a Race Equity Co-creation Group made up of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic volunteers, members and parents
• Created a dashboard tool, enabling HQ leaders and County Commissioners to easily view and compare data of local Scouts demographics with the local ONS census data, to show how Scouting is performing locally and nationally
• Researched how we attract and welcome more diverse HQ volunteer roles
• Shared practical examples of race equity in action
• Looked into the barriers that underrepresented communities may face when accessing Scouts
• Reviewed how we attract and welcome volunteers in our UK HQ appointments process

What's happening now?

• We're overhauling the HQ appointment process to change how we attract & recruit UK HQ volunteers, with the aim of increasing representation of leaders from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who are under-represented at the moment
• We're updating and developing our volunteer and staff learning, including how to challenge bias and discriminatory behaviour
• We're looking into new approaches to making local Scouting attractive to under-represented communities

What's next?

• We'll review how we respond to and learn from EDI complaints, to keep to our zero tolerance approach to discrimination
• We'll implement the learning and research to support our next steps in achieving Race Equity

Our aim is that by 2025…

• Volunteers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds will be at the heart of Scouts’ race equity work, sharing their expertise to shape its priorities and direction.
• Volunteers and staff will have the ability to challenge biased and discriminatory behaviour, and everyone will be confident that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated anywhere in our movement.
• Young people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds will see more senior volunteers who look like them and represent them, and whose leadership will support us to become a more modern, inclusive movement reflective of today’s society.
• More young people and adults from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are not yet in Scouting, will start to see Scouts as a place where they can be themselves and thrive.