Safety Alert and Learning Notices

Last updated: June 2026

Overview 

When something goes wrong, or nearly goes wrong, anywhere in our movement or beyond, the most important thing we can do is learn from it together.

Safety Alerts and Learning Notices help us do exactly that. They turn an experience into shared understanding, so everyone can stay safe and continue to enjoy what they do. Alongside our safety case studies, they support local reflection, helping every volunteer feel confident, included, and able to play their part.

These notices are here to support you, not to catch you out. They are part of building a culture where people feel safe speaking up, sharing openly, and learning together. By doing this, we create an environment where everyone feels they belong and can help keep each other safe.

How to use this page

We recommend that you:

• Check this page regularly, especially before planning a new or higher-risk activity
• Treat the most recent notices as part of your normal planning and preparation

Older notices remain available for reference, but always check whether a more recent notice has updated or replaced by guidance.

Current notices

What is a Safety Alert and Learning Notice

A Safety Alert and Learning Notice is a single, official communication from the UK Headquarters Safety Team to volunteer teams.

Each notice brings together two key elements in one place:

• The alert: any actions you need to take, particularly when they are immediate or time-bound
• The learning: what happened, why it matters, and what others can take from it

Combining these elements gives you the full picture in one place. You won’t miss important actions or the understanding behind them, helping you feel informed, prepared, and supported.

Notices may be issued in response to:

• Incidents or near misses within Scouts
• Emerging patterns or risks identified through reporting
• External information, such as manufacturer recalls, safety concerns, or learning from other organisations or sectors

This means that even if something hasn’t happened in your team, or in Scouts at all, you can still benefit from early, shared learning.

Not every notice will require action; many are intended to support learning. When action is needed, it will always be clearly highlighted, so you know exactly what to do without having to search elsewhere.

Why do we issue them?

We rely on volunteers telling us what happens, not just serious incidents, but near misses too. Near misses are often the best warning we get, showing where someone could have been hurt, so we can act early. Every report helps us spot risks and stop the same thing from happening again elsewhere.

We share what we learn through Safety Alerts and Learning Notices, so you know both what to do and why it matters.

We also learn from beyond Scouts. When there's a broader safety concern, such as a government or regulatory safety notice, a product recall, or a lesson from another organisation, we pass it on so everyone benefits, rather than waiting to be caught out.

Put simply: keeping people safe is something we do together. By sharing what we know, we help create the safe, confident environments where young people and volunteers can take on adventure and thrive.ve.

What to do when you receive one

Every notice follows four simple steps:

• Read it: Notices are designed to be quick and clear. Take a few minutes to understand what’s happened and why it matters.
• Act on it: Check the alert first. If action is required, take it by the stated deadline. If not, use the notice to deepen your understanding.
• Share it: Pass it on to those running relevant activities, volunteers, helpers, and anyone involved. Learning works best when everyone feels included and informed.
• Record it: If action was required, keep a simple note that your team has read and responded. Then formally record this as your operational and trustee board meetings. This helps build confidence, for you and others, that the right steps were taken.