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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

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Swimming

9.13.9.1 ALL swimming

When in water that is, for the individual taking part, above waist height (or knee height in moving water) when standing, leaders must follow the rules on swimming except where:

  1. taking part in scuba diving or snorkelling
  2. it is a river crossing during hillwalking under the leadership of someone holding a hillwalking permit
  3. it is underground during caving or mine exploration under the leadership of someone holding a caving or mine exploration permit

9.13.9.2 When members of the movement take part in swimming in Class C waters including swimming pools:

  1. there must be one responsible person in overall control who must meet the requirements of any written operating procedures
  2. this person must carry out a risk assessment for the location and activity
  3. If there are written operating procedures, this person must meet their requirements

9.13.9.3 If there are no written operating procedures, this person must ensure that there are enough people to provide the safety cover identified in the risk assessment and that the safety cover meets the requirements in Swimming (FS120620).

9.13.9.4 When members take part in swimming in open waters of Class B1 or higher, there must be one responsible person in overall control who must:

  1. meet the requirements of any written operating procedure
  2. carry out a risk assessment for the location and activity
  3. follow the direction of the lifeguard on duty
  4. ensure appropriate safety cover is present where no attendant lifeguard is provided.

The safety cover provided when there is no attendant lifeguard must conform to one of these two conditions:

  1. Hold the relevant elements of the RLSS National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) see Swimming (FS120620), (or an equivalent or higher qualification), and work within the remit of their award:
    • Sea (beaches etc): NWSMP level 1, level 2 (beach) and level 3.
    • Flat inland water (lakes, lochs etc): NWSMP level 1, level 2 (flat water) and level 3
    • Moving inland water (rivers etc): NWSMP level 1, level 2 (river) and level 3
  2. Hold a water activity permit (leadership or supervisory), operate within the remit of their permit (class of waters, group size etc) and meet the requirements for providing safety cover for swimming activities within Swimming (FS120620).