Listening Tool (pilot)
Pilot locations can use our anonymous reporting form, themes from this will help us develop our approach to tackling discrimination.
What is the Listening Tool?
The Listening Tool is an anonymous reporting form you can use to tell us about discrimination you've seen, heard, or experienced at Scouts. This includes unfair treatment related to identity (such as gender, race or relgion) and behaviour that isn't in line with our Scout values. The Listening Tool pilot will run until the end of 2026.
By sharing your experiences, we'll have a better understanding of what’s happening in our movement and what our members may be facing day-to-day. We'll use this to support volunteers in identifying and addressing discrimination to help build a more inclusive Scouts where everyone feels they belong.
The Listening Tool isn't a replacement for our Safeguarding or Complaints processes. If you’d like to make a formal complaint, use our Complaints process. You can report something through the Listening Tool that you've already raised through our Complaint process. All safeguarding concerns must be reported in line with the Yellow Card.
We can't contact you about anything you've reported through the Listening Tool because we won't collect any information that could identify you or someone else. If you need support with something you’ve seen, heard, or experienced at Scouts, speak to a local volunteer, your line manager, a trusted adult, or our Support Centre.
Who can use the Listening Tool?
Anyone in our pilot locations, including volunteers, young people, parents and carers, and members of the public, can use the Listening Tool to report something they've seen, heard, or experienced at Scouts. Young people aged under 13 need support from a trusted adult to make a report.
- Birmingham County
- Cardiff and Vale Area
- East Belfast District
- Greater London North-East County
- Hertfordshire County
- Kent County
- Leicestershire County
- Powys Region
- South-East Scotland Region
At the moment, the Listening Tool is being piloted in nine locations across the UK who we're working with to develop our approach to tackling discrimination. Please only use the Listening Tool if you're in one of our pilot locations. In the future, we may roll out the Listening Tool for all of our members.
If you aren't in one of our pilot locations, please follow our Complaints process to report discrimination, harassment or bullying at Scouts.
All safeguarding concerns should be reported in line with the Yellow Card.
If you have any further questions about the Listening Tool or need support with something you've seen, heard, or experienced at Scouts, please contact our Support Centre.
What can I report through the Listening Tool?
You can report anything where you or someone else (including a group of people or a Scout Group) has experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying at Scouts. You can report something no matter how long ago it happened and you don't need permission from anyone involved.
You can report something even if you’re not sure it was discrimination. You don’t need to prove anything or use the ‘right’ words. All questions in the reporting form are optional, please share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with. If something didn’t feel right, we’d like to know about it.
Reports made through the Listening Tool aren't formal complaints. If you'd like to make a formal complaint, use our Complaints process. All safeguarding concerns must be reported in line with the Yellow Card.
In simple terms, discrimination is treating someone or a group of people unfairly because of their identity (or protected characteristics).
Some forms of discrimination can sometimes be easy to spot, such as using inappropriate language or slurs. Other forms can be harder to notice, such as policies, practices or everyday comments that reflect people’s assumptions, biases or prejudices about a person or group.
I've made a report through the Listening Tool, now what?
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Data and Insights teams will analyse information shared through the Listening Tool to identify themes. We'll use identified themes to create guidance and resources to support members with tackling discrimination and help us build a safer, more inclusive and welcoming Scout culture. Check out some of our existing resources available for volunteers.
We aren’t able to contact you about anonymous reports made through the Listening Tool, but if you’re part of our pilot locations and you're interested in helping us shape our approach to tackling discrimination, let us know.
You can contact our Support Centre with questions about the Listening Tool, our policies and available resources, or to get support with something you've experienced at Scouts.
If it didn't feel right, we'd like to know about it.
Make a report through the Listening ToolSupport with your mental health
Childline is open 24/7 for 1-2-1 counsellor chats and phone calls.
Young Minds have guidance and support for young people and their parents and carers. You can text SHOUT to 85258 to talk to a trained volunteer.
Chasing the Stigma have a Hub of Hope directory for thousands of mental health support services for young people and adults across the UK.
Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) supports young people and adults in Scotland. Check out their support services online and across Scotland.
Mind supports young people and adults in England and Wales. Check out their guidance around looking after your mental health if you've been impacted by racism or if you're part of the LGBTQ+ community.
