Equal Opportunities Policy

Inclusion and Diversity

Scouts is an inclusive, values based movement and membership is open to all those who share our fundamental values.

Scouts is an inclusive, values based movement. Membership is open to all those who share our fundamental values. The Equal Opportunities Policy outlines what we do to ensure the movement is open and accessible; and that people are treated equally and with respect. This policy is reflective of the ethos of Scouts, expressed by our fundamental values (integrity, care, co-operation, respect and belief) and our commitment to delivering Scouts for all. By removing any real or perceived barriers to participation, we can ensure that even more young people can enjoy the adventure of Scouts and that Scouts will be as diverse as the communities in which we live.

Young People

The Scout Association is part of a worldwide educational youth movement. The values, which underpin and inspire its work are embodied in the Scout Promise and Law and in the Purpose of the Association.

Within this framework, the Association is committed to equality of opportunity for all young people.

Accordingly:

1. The Scout Association is committed to extending Scouting, its Purpose and Method to young people in all parts of society.

2. No young person should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage harassment or discrimination by reason of:

   • Class or socio-economic status

   • ethnic or national origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race

   • gender (including gender reassignment)

   • marital or civil partnership status

   • sexual orientation

   • disability

   • political belief

   • pregnancy and maternity

   • religion, belief or faith (including the absence of religion, belief or faith)

   • sex

   • age

All Members of the Movement should seek to practise equality, especially in promoting equal access to Scouting for all young people. The Scout Association opposes all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. All Scout Groups, as independent charities, have a duty to comply with relevant equalities legislation. All volunteers should make reasonable adjustments where possible to support all young people with disabilities to access Scouting.

Reasonable Adjustments
Reasonable adjustments means actions to enable young people with disabilities to access scouting and scouting activities, as far as reasonably possible, to the same level as young people without disabilities. This should involve working in partnership with parents/carers, to identify needs and support strategies.

Reasonable steps should also be taken to identify any young people with disabilities in the Section/Group.(see Rule 3.12(b) for further guidance around reasonable adjustments).

Further information about equalities legislation and scouting is available via the members area of the website.

Note: Membership of the youth sections of the Association is open to young people (subject to place availability), of all genders and of the appropriate ages.

Leaders and other volunteers

To carry out its work the Association seeks to appoint effective and appropriate Leaders, of all backgrounds and all areas of the community and to involve other volunteers in supporting roles, all of whom are required to accept fully the responsibilities of their commitment.

The overriding considerations in making all appointments in Scouting shall be the safety and security of young people, and their continued development in accordance with the Purpose and Values of the Association.

Accordingly, all those whom the Movement accepts as volunteers must be appropriate persons to undertake the duties of the particular position to which they have been appointed (including, if relevant, meeting the requirements of the Sponsoring Authority) and, where appropriate, the responsibilities of membership.

In recruitment and appointments processes, volunteers should make clear that roles are open to people of all genders, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds and encourage a diverse range of applicants to apply, particularly those currently under-represented on the team.

It may, in limited circumstances, be appropriate to consider the gender or protected characteristics of a potential appointee. This is only the case where there is a genuine occupational requirement, for example, in order to ensure that a support team on a trip includes adult volunteers of different genders.

The ability of all appointees and volunteers to understand and implement Scouts’ safeguarding policies and procedures, as set out in Rule 2, is an essential requirement.

Within these constraints, and those imposed by the need to ensure:

• the safety and security of young people

• the continued development of young people, and

• equal opportunities for all

no person volunteering their services should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage, harassment or discrimination by reason of:

• age

• class or socio-economic status

• ethnic or national origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race

• gender (including gender reassignment)

• marital or civil partnership status

• sexual orientation

• disability

• political belief

• pregnancy

• religion, belief or faith (including the absence of religion, belief or faith)

• sex