My child is asking to join the scouts and I’m in two minds.

[Dagda]

My child is very keen to join our local scouts group. I’ve read a lot about the many abuse issues within the scouts and I’m feeling a bit conflicted. If I did let her join what kind of questions can I ask to assure myself that they take child safeguarding seriously?

I'm a leader in the scouts, squirrels 4-6 yo and if you were looking to start at my scouts I would happily talk you through our leaders and set up for any camps etc if you were concerned. To give you information specific to you section.
I would approach the scouts group and ask what they have set up in place to ensure safety of all and see how well they settle your apprehensions.

I’d be encouraging her towards Girl Guides now they have clarified their (forced) position on females meaning biology. I would be cautious about how they are defining female in Scouts.

mine was a scout she is now 18 and just left and can honestly say she had the best experience every 3 years they do a massive festival like reading festival but just for scouts , guides and explorers and its basically like reading with music , activities and games . my daughter would happily go again

@FirmGoldJoker i did let her join the scouts and she has enjoyed it so much. I’m also very happy with their approach to safeguarding. It’s been a terrific experience for her.

Really glad to hear that OP!

Glad you were reassured and that she has had / is having such a great time.

As with all groups there are good Scout groups and bad Scout groups and good Guide groups and bad Guide groups. Good groups all do a similar rage of activities and tend to be large. Poor groups often have leaders who complain about the programme and things not being as good as in the old days.

Sometimes it really depends on the leaders and their interests as to whether a unit suits a specific child. Some can be very sporty or focused on hiking others may have a different mix. All are good but in different ways.

Why not give it a try? Ask around and see what sort of things they focus on.

I'm a Guide leader. Safeguarding in both organisations is on paper very strict. But again depends on local teams and how many 'in my dayers'.

My DC's all went to scouts and it was so good for them - having to be independent (packing their own kit for camp, cooking, clearing up after themselves) doing adventure activities - hiking, sailing, climbing, night hikes. Their leaders were excellent and they had been scouts and their own children were in the troop (and were treated the same as any other child).
Winter camp can be worrying (snow, ice or pouring rain) but as soon as they got home it was cancelled we go next year.

And btw on a camp the only thing that comes back clean and dry is their wash kit. You can lead a scout to water but you can't make them wash.

Do it. Its fantastic

I think it’s sad we live in such a paranoid anxious world where everyone and their dog is a potential abuser. Of course they exist in the world but they’re vanishingly rare, most people are decent. I sent my DS to Beavers without a second thought, he started as soon as he turned 6 and he’s about to turn 8 so he’ll be moving to Cubs. It’s fantastic for him, really good old fashioned screen free fun.