Safety & Safeguarding
Our commitment to safety and adventure
Scouting offers fun, challenge and adventure to young people all over the UK. We know that young people thrive in safe surroundings. We are therefore committed to ensuring that Scouting is both enjoyable and safe for everyone who takes part.
As a parent or carer, you will have questions about how we achieve this and we hope to provide the answers on this page. If you still have questions, please contact the Group Lead Volunteer or the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 or email info.centre@scouts.org.uk.
Assessing Risks
Assessing risk to reduce or remove it, is at the heart of safe Scouting and is present in everything we do. All adult volunteers are trained to assess and minimise risks. Accidents and near misses are recorded and regularly reviewed by the Board of Trustees.
Does the Scout Association have a Safety Policy?
Yes. As an organisation that provides exciting activities to young people, we take safety very seriously. If you are concerned about the safety of any Scouting activity and would like to know more about the safety arrangements in place, you should speak to the Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout Team Leads.
How does Scouting appoint people who work with young people?
All those who help to run our activities are volunteers who give their time freely to help young people enjoy Scouting.
Volunteers are interviewed locally and are asked to provide references. Everyone working with young people in Scouting is required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If you are asked to help with activities, you may be asked to complete this process too.
Is there a written code of behaviour?
We have a clear code of behaviour (sometimes called the ‘Yellow Card’) which is given to all adults working in Scouting, regardless of their role. This is also included in the training that volunteers receive. This gives advice about how young people should be treated and what we expect. We expect everyone to follow it. If you volunteer to help with an activity, you’ll be given one too.
If you would like to see a copy of the code of behaviour for adults visit www.scouts.org.uk/safeguarding
How is Scouting managed locally?
The Scout Group has a Group Lead Volunteer. This person is responsible for leading the Scout Group; they act as the ‘manager’ for the volunteers in the Group.
The Group Lead Volunteer is responsible to the District Commissioner (DC). This is the volunteer manager responsible for a geographical area – in our case Bognor Regis Area within West Sussex. The District Commissioner can be contacted via dc@bognorscouts.org
Do volunteers receive training?

Wood Beads – used to show a volunteer has completed their Wood Badge Training
YES – all volunteers in Scouting have training which covers a wide range of topics including how to plan activities and games, safety and risk management and inclusion.
ALL volunteers will have up-to-date training covering Safety, Safeguarding, GDPR, First Aid, and log 6 hours of ongoing learning a year, to keep knowledge up to date.
Specialist training is provided for those taking young people away on residential events such as camps and sleepovers.
Volunteers who have gone on to complete all their adult training, will have a Wood Badge to show they are fully trained.
What are the arrangements for outings or camps?
All volunteers taking young people on outings or camps will give you notice via Online Scout Manager as an event, asking for your permission (the sign up button) and provide you with a way of contacting the group whilst they are away. Normally unless otherwise stated will be the event lead volunteer.
We will never ask to take individual young people away on their own or without another adult being present. ALL residential activities (camps and sleepovers) will have at least two adults present, unless the young people involved are Scouts, participating in an expedition or event where adults are not expected to attend at all. We will tell you if there is to be no adult presence at an activity.
Scouting and Alcohol
2nd Bognor choose to operate on a ‘dry’ camp system, which means no alcohol will be present on overnight residentials and during normal meetings
Alcohol may be present at Fundraising or Family Social Events but will be advertised clearly when these events happen and who will be responsible for the Young People present.
If adult volunteers are responsible for Young People at these events, they will NOT be drinking either.
No young people under the age of 18 can consume alcohol while on Scouting activities.
Running Adventurous Activities
From time to time, we will offer what is considered ‘adventurous activities’, for every instance of these events we will either be able to deliver the activity using specially trained volunteers or professionals hired in.
Any volunteer delivering an adventurous activity such as Climbing, Air Rifle Shooting, Archery ect. will hold the relevant Permit for running the activity in line with National and Scout Association requirements.