Did you know……

Adults in Scouting are from all walks of life. Yet the one thing they share is the enjoyment of helping young people reach their potential. You may not be aware of the following facts:

   
• none of our Leaders are paid – they are all volunteers. 
• The majority of our Leaders have full time jobs and a family.
• 44% of our Leaders are female.
• Leaders get involved because they want to have fun and make new friends themselves.
• Leaders don’t have to be ‘superheroes’ who know everything. They are given training on the job and learn new skills as they go along. The one thing that unites our Leaders is the energy and enthusiasm they have for giving young people the adventure of Scouting
• Whilst all our volunteers are passionate about what they do, many help out on a flexible basis due to other commitments. Some may help out once a week or fortnight whereas others help once a term or at summer camp.    
• 27% of volunteers help out in Scouting as they are a parent of a current Member. Many were not Scouts when they were young but have learnt new skills and made new friends through Scouting.
• Not all volunteers have to wear uniform.
• Many of our adult volunteers say they are more confident in their everyday lives as a result of their involvement with Scouting.
• Not all adults who volunteer for Scouting work with young people. There are a variety of other jobs that need to be done such as gardening and general DIY, organising events, doing the accounts and writing press releases. This means that adult Leaders who do work directly with young people do not have to spend all their time doing paperwork.
• All our Leaders are covered by a comprehensive insurance policy while taking part in Scouting.
• New Leaders in Scouting go through a criminal records check to ensure they are fit to work with young people.

Everyone has something to give

You may feel that you have no skills to offer Scouting – but everyone has something to give. Doing things such as making squash and organising games means the Leader has more time to spend with the young people. Do you have any hobbies and interests that you could share? For example, are you a qualified First Aider who could run an interactive session or do you have an interest in nature and could take a Group on a fun walk through the local woods? If you don’t have time in the evenings when Groups meet could you use your work skills to help out a few hours a month to suit you? Are you a gardener, an accountant or work in Public Relations for example or could you take a Group to your place of work such as a police station or garden centre?

What you can get out of volunteering

Volunteering in Scouting is fun and rewarding. You will have the chance to learn new skills, rediscover adventure, make new friends, spend more time with your child if they are a Scout and give something back to your community.
Safeguarding the welfare of our youth members
The Scout Association takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of the children and young people in its care.
The Scout Association is committed to:

• Taking into account in all its considerations and activities the interests and well-being of young people
• Respecting the rights, wishes and feelings of the young people with whom it is working
• Taking all reasonable practicable steps to protect them from physical, sexual and emotional harm
• promoting the welfare of young people within a relationship of trust

The Scout Association believes that safeguarding and protecting the welfare of all the young people we work with is the responsibility of everyone.
The Association’s ‘Young People First’ code of good practice is published in the form of a pocket size yellow card that all adults are asked to keep with them. This contains information about how to report concerns or allegations of abuse and also a code of behaviour that all adults are required to follow.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Children and young people have the right to protection from all forms of violence – physical or mental. (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child)
The Scout Association is committed to ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the prevention of all forms of bullying among Members.
It is the responsibility of all adults in Scouting to help develop a caring and supportive atmosphere, where bullying in any form is unacceptable. To this end, all Scouting activities should have rigorous anti-bullying strategies in place.?

Contacts for parents

Should you have any concerns regarding the welfare or protection of Scout members, you should contact the local Scout District Commissioner. Alternatively please call the Scout Information Centre 0845 300 1818 and say that you wish to discuss a child protection issue.