Our volunteer joining journey...

Getting involved might feel like a big step, but we want to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible. At Scouts, we learn by doing, and this means that from the very beginning you will be able to try out some tasks with the support of the other members of your team.

We are passionate about giving you a warm welcome and providing you with all the information you need when you need it. Your team will support you through your entire journey as a volunteer. They’ll let you know exactly what happens next and answer any questions you have.

If you haven’t already you will soon meet your welcome buddy who’s job it is to make sure you are given a warm welcome and support you through your welcome journey. They will answer any questions you might have, show you around, introduce you to other volunteers and help you get started. They are your main support, guiding you through your welcome.

Criminal record check (DBS)
The welfare and safety of our young people is our paramount concern and our overriding consideration when making adult appointments and that is why we need to be satisfied that everyone who is helping to provide scouting activities is a ‘fit and proper’ person’ to work with children and young people.

As a movement, we are committed to meeting the NSPCC guidelines around safer recruitment. This framework helps us to minimize the risk of appointing someone unsuitable and helps us make sure that new volunteers are ‘safe’ to work with our young people. To ensure a fair and consistent process we do this through disclosure (DBS) checks, references, welcome chats, and learning.

Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks (known as DBS checks), are an important part of our adult joining journey and our approach to safeguarding our members. 

It is the policy of the Scouts that adults (18 years and over), who want to help scouting are not permitted to undertake unsupervised responsibilities until the appropriate enquiries have been made. 

This means any adult who:

1. is taking on a formal adult appointment to help run or support scouting 
2. will be assisting with, and be present overnight at, an overnight activity
3. may be helping once a week (or on four occasions in a thirty-day period), or more frequently 
4. Could have unsupervised access to young people
5. will be involved with the handling or management of money and/or personal data

Getting the right level of DBS check for scouting
There are five types of enhanced DBS checks. Scouting has a legal obligation to ensure only people with the appropriate check are permitted to engage in certain duties. Often a DBS check from another organisation will be of the wrong level for scouting and therefore DBS checks are not transferrable, this is why we ask you to complete a new DBS application with us.

A satisfactory criminal record (DBS) check must be completed within 30 days of starting in your new role.

We use a mobile friendly self-service criminal record check process through Atlantic Data. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Scout Association does not accept DBS checks from other organisations. This is because the nature of the information that may be disclosed on an enhanced scout DBS criminal record check may differ from that provided to another organisation.

We seek to be open and accessible to all. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent an individual from volunteering. This will, however, depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of their offences.

All convictions, including those that are spent will show on a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Some criminal convictions, disciplinary proceedings or behaviour may disqualify adults from certain roles in scouting, specifically any convictions or disciplinary proceedings which involve the harming of children, young people or vulnerable adults in any way.

Satisfactory completion of an internal check 
This is a check of internal records held by our UK Headquarters. It’s an automated process, making it really quick.

References
Part of our robust, active safeguarding practices to ensure all young people feel secure and protected in Scouts is references. As part of this we need to obtain two references from people you know so we can keep young people safe and check all new volunteers are right for Scouts. 

Trustee eligibility 
People interested in becoming a trustee are required to satisfactory complete a trustee eligibility check. This is carried out by the trustee board they are joining. The relevant team responsible for providing administration support can carry out this check on behalf of the trustee board. 

The purpose of our volunteering declaration is to confirm that all new volunteers agree to uphold the values, rules, and policies of the Scouts. This declaration includes an acknowledgment of the fundamental principles of Scouting, which focus on the personal development of young people and their positive contributions to society. By signing the declaration, you are showing your commitment to supporting these goals and ensuring that you will operate within our guidelines and mission.

Growing Roots learning is the learning that new volunteers must undertake It comprises of two parts: the learning that all adults must undertake, and the learning that is required for specific roles. There are more details about this in the next section of this guide.

Your welcome conversation provides you with an opportunity meet and chat with a couple of existing volunteers. This friendly chat will last around 30 minutes and gives you the opportunity to find out more about local scouting, talk through our values and volunteer culture, and how we keep young people safe, and ask any question that you have.