POR
Scouting’s Policy Organisation and Rules (POR) provides support and guidance to help us all run Scouting.
Scouts uses Safe Scouting cards to focus all related information into one place and cards that can be obtained for free to carry and hand out.
Safeguarding
All Safeguarding concerns MUST be reported directly to Scouts UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
The welfare of children and young people is our priority and everyone has a duty to report safeguarding concerns. This applies to all concerns, no matter how insignificant they might seem or when they happened or whether they happened inside or outside of Scouts. You can report by:
- Phoning 020 8433 7164 (9am – 5pm weekdays)
- Phoning 0345 300 1818 (out-of-hours)
- Emailing safeguarding@scouts.org.uk
- Using the Safeguarding Reporting Form
If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm call 999 or 112 and ask for the police. You can also call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or email them at help@nspcc.org.uk for additional support. Tell the UK HQ Safeguarding Team you have done this.
If you have a personal relationship or family connection with anyone involved in the report, you will be asked to step back from the situation and inform the Scouts HQ Safeguarding team.
Diversity and Inclusion
Scouts is committed to encouraging and promoting diversity and inclusion in our workplace and services to members. This reflects our values of respect, belief, care, cooperation and integrity, where everyone should be treated with dignity at all time. Scouts will take every possible step to tackle all forms of discrimination, inequality, and unfair treatment, whether it’s intentional or unintentional, direct or indirect.
Current equality legislation and associated codes of practice to be taken into account include (but aren’t limited to):
- Equality Act 2010
- Employment Rights Act 1996
- Part-Time Workers Regulations 2000
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Equal Pay Act 1970
- Employment Equal Treatment Framework Directive 2000 (as amended).
- Gender Recognition Act 2004
Additional Needs
Scouts is about actively involving everyone and we make any adjustments to make that possible.
All Groups and Section Leaders should actively assess Parents/Guardians when a young person joins whether they require reasonable adjustments and what these might be. This should be done with mindful conversations with parents and information from consent forms.
If Leaders need support regarding Additional Needs, Reasonable adjustments or any other Diversity and Inclusion enquiries, they should contact Jeanette – Programme Team Lead.
Data Protection
The Scout Association’s commitment to protecting privacy and data forms a key policy for Scouting. This policy underpins both this Data Protection Policy and other associated policies used by The Scout Association, local Scouting and its membership.
Leeds Templars has its own GDPR Risk Registers and Legitimate Interest assessments. We only collect minimal data, inform you who has access to your data and do not share your data with any third parties.
Data Retention
Personal data retention is governed by current Data Protection legislation. These data must be kept accurate, up to date and retained for no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which they were obtained.
Where appropriate the data subject should be informed every 2 years of the consent or legitimate interest being used to process their data with an option to update this preference.
Any data collected for the purposes of joining requests for young people are kept until the young person’s 18th Birthday, until they have a place in Scouting or if you inform us you know longer wish to have a place in Scouting at Leeds Templars (whichever comes first).
Emergencies
If you have an accident or emergency situation at Scouts please do follow the steps in the Purple card – Safe Scouting and what to do in an emergency.
For more information visit the emergencies and reporting section of our website.
Out of hours contact: In an emergency situation where you need to speak to the on duty Critical Incident Manager, Safeguarding Officer or Media Officer please call 0345 300 1818 (local rate) or 020 8433 7100 where an out of hours service will triage you to the correct person.
Scouting and Alcohol
The Green card sets out our policy on alcohol for all adults involved in Scouting. As an adult in Scouts you are a role model for young people.
When adults are responsible for young people, they must not drink alcohol.
If there is alcohol at Scouting events, Young People should never be able to see an adult drinking it – Adults must only drink in a separate area from where young people might be.
Young people must be informed of who is responsible for them and who to talk to that hasn’t consumed alcohol. Consider using a Necker on/off system to indicate who is responsible for young people at events.
Consider running alcohol-free events.
Hardtimes Policy and Cost of Living
The increases in cost of living will have a direct impact on Scouts. We want Scouts to continue to grow and deliver skills for life for more young people, even during this uncertain time. This is when our young people and the people they live with need us most.
Finances should never be a barrier for a young person to take part in Scouts. Scout Groups should have a policy in place that enable anyone from any socio-economic background to take part in Scouting and Scouting events. Grants and funding opportunities are available to help – Contact the Support team or DC for more info.
Scouts Complaints Policies
In line with its values, The Scouts recognises its responsibility to deal fairly, constructively and consistently with expressions of concern or dissatisfaction from members and nonmembers, including parents and carers on behalf of themselves or their children.
As Scouts we’re guided by the values of integrity, respect, care, belief and co-operation.
When applying this policy, these values should be at the forefront of every interaction and decision that’s made, and all involved should be regularly reminded of them.
Volunteer Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policies and Procedures
Scouts has a duty to provide a positive environment for everyone involved. Bullying and harassment can be detrimental to individuals and may happen without the individual or others recognising the behaviour. It’s also important to acknowledge that, for various reasons, recipients of bullying and harassment may not wish or be able to report their concerns. Bullying or harassment can take many forms; it can occur between two individuals or may involve groups. It may be persistent or an isolated incident. It can also occur in person, written or electronic communications, including social media or by phone.
Bullying and Harassment is a suspendable offence under Gross Misconduct and after formal review following investigation may lead to role termination. (POR 16.4.2.3)
Whistleblowing
Every volunteer has the right to raise genuine concerns without fear of punishment or legal consequences.
It’s about reporting things we feel are very wrong to prevent very serious situations getting any worse. By reporting these very serious things, action can be taken to prevent further harm. It means changes can be made that can benefit and protect everyone.
Leeds Templars Privacy Policy
We are dedicated to keeping Young People safe online and minimising data collection. Go to our dedicated Privacy Policy page to see our up to date policy.
Leeds Templars Cookie Policy
We do not collect use tracking cookies for the purposes of site data collection. Any cookies used are kept to a minimum and are used for essential site service. You can change your personal cookies usage at any time. Some services such as forms and maps may not work as intended without cookies.
Go to our dedicated Cookie Policy page to see our up to date policy and all cookies used.
