Safe Scouting
Keeping everyone safe, supported and ready for adventure.
At Chapelford Scouts, the safety and wellbeing of our young people, volunteers and everyone involved in our activities is our highest priority.
Scouting is all about adventure, trying new things and learning by doing. But for those adventures to happen, everyone needs to understand their responsibilities and know how to keep themselves and others safe.
Scouts UK provides a range of Safe Scouting Cards containing important guidance, policies and procedures. These cards are essential reference tools for everyone involved in delivering Scouting.
Our Safe Scouting Cards
When you join Chapelford Scouts as a volunteer, you’ll be issued with the relevant Safe Scouting Cards as part of your welcome and induction. We’ll also revisit and redistribute these periodically throughout the year to help keep the information fresh and ensure everyone has access to the latest guidance.
We expect all our volunteers to familiarise themselves with the cards relevant to their role and refer to them whenever needed.
🟨 YELLOW CARD – Adult Safeguarding
Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults
The Yellow Card sets out the behaviour and responsibilities expected of every adult in Scouting. It explains how we protect children and young people, maintain appropriate boundaries, create safe environments and respond to safeguarding concerns.
Every adult volunteer must understand and follow the Yellow Card.
🟪 PURPLE CARD – Emergency Procedures
Safe Scouting and What to Do in an Emergency
The Purple Card explains what to do if an accident, incident or emergency occurs during a Scout activity.
It provides practical guidance on assessing danger, administering first aid, raising the alarm, keeping everyone safe and reporting incidents.
All volunteers should familiarise themselves with the Purple Card so they know what to do if something goes wrong.
🟧 ORANGE CARD – Young Leaders
Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Young Leaders
The Orange Card is specifically for Young Leaders. It explains the behaviour, responsibilities and safeguarding expectations that apply when young people support activities in our younger sections.
Young Leaders should understand and follow the guidance in the Orange Card, with support from the adult volunteers they work alongside.
🟩 GREEN CARD – Scouting and Alcohol
Scouting and Alcohol
The Green Card explains Scouts’ policy on alcohol and the expectations placed on adults involved in Scouting.
It is important that volunteers understand the rules around alcohol, particularly when attending camps, residential experiences, events and other Scout activities.
Safety Checklist Cards
Alongside the coloured Safe Scouting Cards, Scouts also provides role-specific Safety Checklist Cards to help volunteers understand their responsibilities.
These include guidance for:
- Section Volunteers and Team Members – planning and delivering safe, inclusive activities.
- Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders – overseeing teams and ensuring safety responsibilities are met.
- Trustees – understanding their responsibilities for safety and governance.
These checklists are useful practical reminders and should be referred to when planning, delivering and reviewing activities.
View the Safety Checklist Cards
What if you have a concern or something goes wrong?
If you have a safeguarding concern, you must report it directly to the Scouts UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team as soon as possible, and always within 24 hours. Do not assume that telling another volunteer or a Group Lead Volunteer is sufficient.
If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm, call 999 or 112 and ask for the police, then inform the Safeguarding Team.
For accidents, incidents and near misses, follow the Purple Card and the relevant Scouts reporting procedures.
You can find the official reporting guidance here:
Everyone has a part to play
Safe Scouting isn’t just the responsibility of our Group Lead Volunteer or Section Leaders. It’s something every adult volunteer and Young Leader must take seriously.
By understanding the guidance, looking out for one another and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right, we help make Chapelford Scouts a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.
Great adventures start with keeping everyone safe.