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Ending of roles and membership - young persons aged under 18 (including Young Leaders)

3.8.1.1 Ending of a Young Leader role
If a Young Leader ends their role (or their role is ended), then this does not end any other membership of Explorers, unless otherwise advised by the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team.

3.8.1.2 Ending of membership
Scouts is a membership organisation and therefore has the right to end membership. On the rare occasions when ending of membership is necessary, the appropriate mandatory process described in POR 3.8 must be followed in order to ensure appropriate and fair decisions are made, and that such decisions are not taken lightly.

3.8.1.3 Involvement of statutory authorities
If a statutory authority is involved, advice must be sought from that body through the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team. 

3.8.1.4 Ending membership for members aged under 18
Youth membership ends when a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub, Scout or Explorer (including a Young Leader) leaves their Group or Explorer (or Young Leader) Unit and does not transfer to another section. 

3.8.1.5 Locally initiated ending of membership of a person aged under 18
Whether following a period of suspension or not, if it is considered that ending the membership of a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub, Scout or Explorer may be appropriate, this process of consultation must be followed: 

  1. the District Lead Volunteer, in consultation with the relevant Group Lead Volunteer or District 14-24 Team Leader, and the County Lead Volunteer, believes that ending the membership of a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub, Scout or Explorer (including Young Leaders) is likely to be the only available option.
  2. If the ending follows a period of suspension then, as part of this ‘ending’ process, there must also be consultation with the original suspending authority and approver to ensure that the reasons for the suspension are appropriately factored into the ‘ending’ decision.
  3. If the young person is from a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout section in a Sponsored Group, the Sponsoring Authority must also be consulted.  
    If the young person is from an Explorer Unit that is partnered with a Sponsored Group, the Sponsoring Authority must also be consulted.
  4. Where there are safeguarding concerns raised from any of the above process elements, these must be reported to the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team in line with POR 2a.7.

3.8.1.6 UK Headquarters-initiated ending of the membership of a young person aged under 18

  1. At the end of a period of youth suspension, UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team may recommend ending the young person’s membership.
    If the ending follows a period of suspension then, as part of this ‘ending’ process, there must also be consultation with the original suspending authority and approver to ensure that the reasons for the suspension are appropriately factored into the ‘ending’ decision.
    The UK Headquarters Executive Director of Operations must ensure that processes and oversight are defined and implemented to ensure consistency, including resolving any disagreements. 
  2. At least one of the following conditions must be met before the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team can initiate ending of a role or membership:
    1. a statutory agency has confirmed that the young person has committed a serious criminal offence which presents a significant risk of harm to a person connected with Scouts
    2. a statutory agency advises that the young person should not remain a member of Scouts due to the risk of harm they present
    3. Scouts’ UK Head of Safeguarding believes that, due to information held, the young person poses a significant risk of harm to Scouts. This will include a case where the criminal record check (Scouts PVG disclosure) is unsatisfactory for a young leader or young helper in Scotland – in this case the authority to end a role or membership rests with the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team. 
  3. Before ending the membership of a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout from youth membership, the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team must discuss the case with the Group Lead Volunteer and (if applicable) the Sponsoring Authority. 
    Before ending the membership of an Explorer (including a Young Leader) from youth membership, the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team must discuss the case with the District 14-24 Team Leader. In the case of a Young Leader, the District 14-24 Team Leader must ensure that the Group Lead Volunteer and (if applicable) the Sponsoring Authority are also advised.

3.8.1.7 Ending of youth membership by The Scout Association’s Board of Trustees

  1. Notwithstanding any other means provided by these rules, youth membership may be ended by resolution of the Board of Trustees of The Scout Association. 
  2. The Board is not required to state its reasons for making such a decision.