Lesson 2: Understanding the Young People First Safeguarding Card Code of Conduct (Yellow Card)

The Yellow Card sets out a code of conduct that all adults in the Scouts must follow. It’s a practical way of sharing the Safeguarding Policy, with all the information in one handy place.

Now that we’re in a digital age, leaders need to understand how to keep online communication safe.

All online communication between adults and young people follows strict guidelines - that way we don’t place anyone at risk of harm. There must be no individual online communication between an adult and a young person. All online communication should be within a group, age appropriate and with more than one adult involved.

Make everyone (that’s young people, parents and carers, Young Leaders and other helpers) aware of our safeguarding arrangements and share the Yellow Card. Parents and young people need to know what to expect from adults in Scouting and so that they understand how to challenge if they are not happy. A Yellow Card poster is available which should be on display at Scout premises and meeting places. If your meeting place doesn’t belong to Scouts, then put up the Yellow Card poster each time you meet.

Where there are concerns that an adult has not followed the Yellow Card, or where there are welfare concerns about a young person report it to the Safeguarding Team. They’ll take any necessary action and liaise with the line manager.

It takes a lot of courage for a young person to open up about harm they may be experiencing; they deserve to be listened to and taken seriously.

If any adult is unable to understand or uphold the Yellow Card, they won’t be able to hold an adult appointment.

Read the Yellow Card in full.

Other cards that give important safeguarding guidance are: