UK Safety Team Leader
Join our UK Scouts volunteer team
Equal opportunities
Scouts is an equal opportunity recruiter. We're committed to diversity and actively seeking applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, in particular, Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.
About the role
Champion the spirit of safe adventure as our UK Safety Team Leader!
In this pivotal role, you will ensure that every young person, regardless of background or ability, can access world-class Scouting experiences safely and confidently. By acting as a "critical friend" to our safety team, you’ll bridge the gap between national policy and grassroots fun, ensuring our safety culture is inclusive, practical, and empowering for all. Your expertise will directly shape safety improvement programmes and learning reviews, fostering an environment where volunteers feel supported rather than restricted.
This is a unique opportunity to use your leadership skills to protect the movement’s future while developing high-level strategic experience.
We value the diverse perspectives our volunteers bring and offer significant flexibility; this role is designed to fit around your professional and personal life, with travel and tasks coordinated to suit your schedule.
Join us in making the UK’s greatest adventure the safest it can be!
Key tasks
- Champion Safety Culture: Act as a visible advocate for safety across the movement, ensuring it is seen as an enabler of adventure rather than a barrier.
- Advise as a Critical Friend: Provide the National Safety Team with honest, practical insights from a volunteer perspective to ensure new policies work "on the ground."
- Support National Events: Help host safety-themed webinars and lead engaging workshops at major events like the annual Gilwell Reunion.
- Facilitate Learning Reviews: Assist in reviewing past activities and incidents to identify "lessons learned," helping the whole organisation grow stronger and safer.
- Collaborate on Projects: Join working groups to help design and test safety improvement programs, ensuring they are inclusive and easy for all volunteers to follow.
- Assist with Recruitment: Provide a volunteer’s perspective during the interview and selection process for new safety-focused staff and lead volunteers.
- Network Nationally: Travel to meet and support teams across the UK, sharing best practices and building a connected safety community.
- Promote Continuous Learning: Identify opportunities for new training and help deliver sessions that empower volunteers to manage risk with confidence.
- Senior Volunteer Support: Liaise with and offer support/advice to senior volunteers when needed
Person specification
- Scouting Insight: Extensive experience as a volunteer (typically 5+ years) with a deep understanding of how local Groups and Districts operate.
- Safety Mindset: A strong grasp of safety principles, risk assessment, or health and safety practices, ideally gained through Scouting, your professional life, or other volunteer sectors.
- Leadership History: Proven experience in a leadership role where you have managed projects, led teams, or influenced decision-making.
- Event & Training Exposure: Experience contributing to or attending large-scale events (like county or national events, or international camps) and an understanding of the safety challenges they present.
- Openness to Growth: While expert knowledge is valued, a willingness to undertake additional safety training provided by the Scouts is essential.
- Compelling Communicator: The ability to speak confidently in public and facilitate workshops or webinars that make safety engaging rather than dry.
- The "Critical Friend" Approach: Ability to provide constructive, honest feedback to professional teams while remaining supportive of the overall mission.
- Organisational Flair: Strong skills in managing your own time, coordinating with national teams, and meeting project deadlines.
- Discretion and Integrity: Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with the utmost professionalism.
- Digital Literacy: Comfortable using online collaboration tools, joining video calls, and contributing to digital safety resources.
- Passionate Advocate: A genuine drive to improve safety standards while fiercely protecting the "fun and adventure" that defines Scouting.
- Resilient and Grounded: A calm approach to problem-solving and the ability to remain objective during learning reviews or challenging discussions.
- Inclusive and Collaborative: A commitment to ensuring safety practices are accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or physical ability.
- Mobile and Active: A proactive spirit and the ability to travel across the UK to support events and meet volunteers where they are.
This role includes a range of tasks that need a realistic and ongoing time commitment, with flexibility around when those tasks are completed. If you already volunteer with Scouts, please take time to think about how this UK role would fit alongside any other roles you hold, and have a conversation with your current Team Leader before applying.
For some people, taking on a UK role may mean stepping back from, or handing over, another role so they can give each one the attention it deserves and have a positive and rewarding volunteering experience.
UK Safe Scouting Team
Safe Scouting is a relatively new team within the UK Volunteer leadership structure and we are now at an exciting moment to expand the team.
We know that our volunteers care passionately, and work hard to make Scouting a safe place for young people and adults.
The UK Safe Scouting Team work in partnership with the Safety, Safeguarding, and Assurance staff teams to support our volunteers with the best possible materials, guidance, and rules to keep everybody safe.
Our young people tell us that Safety is their number one priority, If you have a passion to support them in enjoying safe activities, in safe places, supported by trusted adults then we would love to hear from you.
Ian Hill (UK Lead Volunteer for Safe Scouting)
Sound good?
Before making an application please ensure that you've read carefully read our vacancy informtion. In order for us to monitor the application of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, we'd be grateful if you'd also complete the Diversity Monitoring questions on the Application Form.
Questions?
If you'd like to discuss this role in more detail, please get in touch with:
Ian Hill (UK Lead Volunteer for Safe Scouting)
Next steps
Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with our team. You can apply for the role yourself by completing the Application Form.
A Search Group has been set up to guide the selection process. They will carefully review all applications and nominations and then invite selected applicants to the next stage, once internal checks are complete.
Interview date: TBC
Apply nowKnow someone who might be a perfect fit?
Use the Nomination form if you know someone that might have the skills and experience that we're looking for.
We'll get in touch with them and invite them to apply for the role.
Nominate someone for this roleLocation:
UK Safe Scouting Team
Closing date:
Fri, June 19, 2026, 9:00 AM