This week we are focusing on our culture within SCOUTS South Africa of keeping members Safe from Harm. For us, safeguarding is not just about policies, it is about the choices we make. It’s about making sure that our children, youth and adults are safe, happy and are set up to thrive. Enabling environments where young people can grow starts with how we behave, how we treat others, and how we respond when something is not right.
A safe environment begins with self-awareness and accountability. Guided by the policies outlined in our Safe from harm framework, including our Member Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy, every member, be it a youth or adult, has a role to play in shaping a respectful and inclusive space. This means we all need to govern our own behaviour and make sure that we treat everyone with dignity and respect, and that we are mindful of our words, actions, and attitudes. This also means that we need to ensure we include everyone in our activities and value the differences and opinions our peers bring to our Groups and activities. And lastly, we need to remember that younger members look up to older peers, to their Sixers, Patrol Leaders, and adult leaders. Therefore, it is important to always lead by example.
When talking about governing our behaviour, we also need to mention that bullying has no place in Scouting. Whether it is physical, verbal, or online, it goes against the values we stand for and the safe spaces we aim to create. By being kind, respectful and inclusive, and patiently supporting those who may need a little more support, we create the Scouting environments we all want and need. So, if you see or hear of any bullying within your Group, do not stay quiet. Support the person affected by listening and supporting them and report it to an adult leader. You can find the reporting procedures on our Safe from Harm framework HERE.
If you are keen to run an anti-bullying programme within your Group, you can find World Scouting’s anti bullying toolkit HERE.
When we take responsibility for our own behaviour, we actively build a culture where everyone feels safe and valued. Safeguarding starts with us.