Have Scouts said anything about Assistant leader 'Baloo' Challenor?

[Doyenne]

Just wondering whether the Scout Association have made any sort of announcement re their assistant leader being charged. They will have been told by the police at the very latest when he was charged so they have had plenty of time to prepare a statement

Timelady yes definitely, unfortunately there was another similar story recently but the initial report to the police came from the scouts as they had their concerns which did turn out to be true :(

I think that's reassuring, Lisa2445. I must admit though, I'd have reservations about any troop that didn't have at least one female volunteer, especially for the younger packs. That's not scare-mongering, just common sense.

Scouts have been asked by me and at least two other scouting parents on this thread alone to explain their position though Seeing. They aren't only responsible to the press.

Though if the press aren't asking for a statement, wtf not?

I think it is misguided and unsafe to assume that having a female leader in place makes an organisation somewhat safer.

I think it is misguided and unsafe to assume that having a female leader in place makes an organisation somewhat safer.
.
It's an extra level of safe-guarding. I told my children that if they ever got lost, they had to go to the nearest 'mum' or 'grandma'.

Never the nearest male

I think it is misguided and unsafe to assume that having a female leader in place makes an organisation somewhat safer.

Experience and statistics show that having a female leader will make organisations safer. This is just a phrasing that basically says 'but women do it too'. In my eyes just as stupid as 'but what about men'.

I will be interested to see those stats . Please could you provide a link.

I resumed my Baloo name and am now one of the biggest kids in the pack

Ugh.

Was it DC or his wife who were prosecuted for animal cruelty?

If it was DC, surely that would have shown up on the DBS. Would that not have been sufficient to bar him working with kids?

DC was. The below is in the public domain

CASES heard at Coventry Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 12, included: David Challenor, 45, of Charterhouse Road, Lower Stoke, was found guilty of failing to provide suitable environments for two corn snakes, a bearded dragon, two cats, three dogs, a hamster, two hedgehogs and two rabbits. He was jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months, with 200 hours' unpaid work, and told to pay an PS80 victim surcharge and PS500 costs.

Both of them, Datun. In 2014, so may have been after the involvement with the scouts etc. We don't know.

www.thefreelibrary.com/In+the+courts-a0357547534

Our safeguarding procedures are not comprehensive and often fail as it is. Yet extremist transactivism wants to dissolve and/or weaken them further. We evidence this here over and over.

Recent important thread with wide-ranging discussion of the systemic failures and failings of child protection & safeguarding frameworks:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a3301266-Safeguarding-girls-and-protecting-women-post-Jimmy-Saville-metoo

This sort of thing should get the Guides to rethink their policy, but sadly, I don't think it will.

May 2018 event at Speaker's House hosted by Maria Miller MP re Girl Guides 'the importance of standing shoulder to shoulder with trans people' (thread includes discussion about Scouts):
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3250175-Girl-Guides-Panel-discussion-at-Speakers-house-woman-male-woman-male-male-male#prettyPhoto

I still don't understand why it's not shoulder to shoulder with disables people or refugees or people with dyslexia, the elderly... Why specifically trans (follow the money...).

Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the disabled, or with refugees, or the elderly will mean campaigning about concrete things things that affect people who often don't have a strong voice themselves, like access to public transport, or adequate support for language integration, or organising dignified social care. If we stand shoulder to shoulder with those shouting 'Transwomen are women', all we have to do is say the mantra, and there you are, standing shoulder to shoulder with well connected men who already get preferential treatment on account of their brave and stunning status.

It will cost you nothing. (Except maybe your self respect on the days when you approach a little more clarity)

I know the UK chief commissioner for scouting through a social activity I’ve been involved in. I think he was the head of safeguarding beforehand so he should have a good handle on this stuff.
I’ve just sent him a message with a link to the DM article and that dog and bear link that suggests DC was working within the organisation at the time of the offence. I’ve told him that a lot of people are very angry at the scouts silence over this, and that it needs to be investigated and people need answers and reassurances.
I’ll let you know if I get a reply.

Ok I’ve just had a reply.
He’s in the middle of work, which I appreciate, but just said we have very robust safeguarding policies, here’s a link yada yada yada.
Not sure how or if I should respond.

'Doesn't work then does it?'. Would be my response.

Thats its not just about tge policies but about people's (in this case, parents) trust in those policies. A statement is needed.

We don't know when he left scouts and if this was voluntary or as a result of their robust safeguarding. Scouts refused to allow Thomas Hamilton (Dunblane Shooting) any involvement despite this being before any of the regular checking. They were the first organisation to keep a list of unacceptable people generated by going through court reports, considerably before it was common to check.

And in response to the suggestion that all groups should have a female volunteer presumably those who agree with that are prepared to volunteer to make it happen.

Well indeed, and quite frankly, anyone who dismisses concerns, having read the disturbing details of that case, gives serious pause for thought.
I’m going to sit on it for a few hours and consider my response. I don’t want to respond in haste because 1, I’m annoyed, and 2, I’d like some guidance and input from others.
This is not a path I’ve ever trodden before, and I know this man personally, so it’s a bit scary to tell you the truth.

Wise not to write back in haste.

TBH, maybe he needs time to reflect and discuss this with others in the organisation too.

And in response to the suggestion that all groups should have a female volunteer presumably those who agree with that are prepared to volunteer to make it happen.

Hahahahahahaha

Would you like to end the Scouts?

Honestly? Cos that's the reality for many troops who are struggling to get enough leaders full stop.

I have volunteered with scouts before until they show more leadership on real safeguarding I would not be prepared to risk my good name in being associated with them by volunteering again.