OK. This is what I've found so far.
The Guiding Manual is the main policy document and the rules by which Guiding units operate. The Safety and safeguarding policy says -
This is the health and safety policy of Girlguiding UK.
Girlguiding UK?s policies and related statements provide a structure in which guiding can take place safely, consistently and in accordance with legislation. Policies must be followed by Girlguiding UK?s members and by recognised volunteers involved in delivering or supporting guiding. These policy statements are supported by further information and resources to ensure that our members put the policies into practice.
Policy statement
It is the policy of Girlguiding UK to make every effort to safeguard its members from physical, sexual and emotional harm while participating in guiding activities. The Association takes all reasonable steps to ensure that, through relevant procedures and training, children, young people and adults taking part in guiding activities do so in a safe environment.
Under Safeguarding the membership, the Manual says -
All Leaders, instructors and other adults, whether female or male, have an obligation to avoid creating distressing situations. The trust required between Leader or instructor and participant is fundamental to the learning process and therefore should not be jeopardised. For this reason those working with girls and young women must follow these guidelines.
Other adults present
Leaders, instructors and other supporters should avoid situations where they are alone with a girl or young woman. Ideally, the third person present should be a female adult who knows the girl or young woman. This precaution protects all parties by removing the feeling of threat from an insecure participant, and by providing a witness if an accusation of improper behaviour is made.
The General rules and advice for all activities say -
ALL ACTIVITIES
When planning and undertaking activities that require a change to the normal meeting place, eg a visit to the local park, sports field, theatre or ice rink, the Guider must consider:
- whether the activity is appropriate to the age and ability of each participant.
- whether the location, conditions and time of day are appropriate.
- whether all the participants are wearing clothing appropriate for the activity and weather.
- how to minimise damage to the environment.
- On the day, the Guider must have:
- a basic first aid kit.
- parental permission for all participants if relevant.
- a list of contact phone numbers with her at all times, or in an easily accessible place, eg a first aid box. The list should include:
- home contact.
- home Commissioner or nominee.
- Commonwealth Headquarters (020 7834 6242 during office hours 9.00 am to 5.00 pm) or Scottish Headquarters
- County, Country or Region PRA.
- participants? next of kin.
- host.
- emergency services in area where the activity is taking place.
Parents or guardians of Rainbow Guides, Brownie Guides and Guides, as well as the District Commissioner, should be informed of plans. The individual needs of all participants ? medical, dietary, faith and cultural ? must be taken into account.
If the activity is not being organised within guiding, but is instead being provided by an outside organisation, whether on a commercial or purely voluntary basis, some basic precautions should be taken before any contract or other agreement is signed.
Check that the provider:
* is already known to guiding as a responsible organiser of the activity.
* is a member of the appropriate activity organisation.
* has given evidence of insurance cover.
* has carried out appropriate recruitment procedures for child protection and has a child protection policy.
It may also be worth searching the parents' pages of the Guiding website - as it's late I'm just skimming.
Incidentally, I was told when I was training that our responsibility for the Brownies (sorry I said earlier I was a Guide leader, that was a slip of the keyboard - I meant to say Guider) ends when the meeting ends and it is the parent's responsibility to ensure the Brownie gets home safely. In other words, if parents turn up half an hour late - it does happen more often than I'd like - we are entitled to leave the Brownie in the hall and go home. But, however tempting it may be when you have plans for the rest of the evening, I have never known of any Guider who has actually done it and we all dutifully sit in the hall while our dinner combusts/grows cold/our babies go to bed without a goodnight kiss from mummy/our evening class starts without us.
Please let us know what happens next.