Survivors of child sexual abuse during their time with the Scout Association are accusing the charity of a “systemic failure” to effectively protect children.
They are calling on the charity to put in place improvements to its safeguarding to ensure more children do not become victims of abuse.
A safeguarding review was carried out by the Association in 2015 following an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.
However, one victim, Sheanna Patelmaster says little has changed since then.
“The Scouts rely on safeguarding concerns being reported up through their volunteer network, but the fundamental flaw is that local leaders are often each other’s close friends and family,” she said.
“When faced with a disclosure, that puts them in a difficult position. I believe this creates a systemic failure in their safeguarding system which puts children at risk."
Sheanna was sexually assaulted and raped by her Scout Leader at the age of 14, however her alleged abuser died before a decision could be made by the police and Crown Prosecution Service could charge him.
Another survivor Lucy Pincott, who was sexually assaulted by a scout leader when she was 13 and reported her case in 2016, called for an overhaul of safeguarding.
“The Scouts approach to trickle-down safeguarding training gets weaker at every level and relies on relatively untrained individuals to pass it on,” she said.
“This is not an acceptable model, the Scouts must introduce quality face-to-face safeguarding training in order to keep children safe.”
An anonymous volunteer at the charity has also called into question its commitment to safeguarding.
He recalled a meeting with head office representatives in 2020, which he alleges volunteers were told not to record. At the meeting he claims it was suggested that the financial impact of abuse claims could threaten the charity’s stability.
“There was a reference to the financial burden of historic abuse claims on the financial stability of the Scouts,” he said.
“Reference was made to the Boy Scouts of America – which attributed going bust to the financial burden of such claims.”
The abuse survivors’ and volunteer’s claims have been made as part of a campaign called Yours In Scouting, which has seen them link up with campaign group the Good Law Project. A website has been set up to gather evidence of abuse and to call for improvements to safeguarding at the charity.
They are urging other survivors to come forward and for Scouts and Girlguiding to be “subject to an inspection regime similar to that of Ofsted inspections for educational institutions”.
They also want to see a paid safeguarding lead position based in each county the Associaton operates in to monitor “the conduct of volunteers”.
Sheanna and Lucy are launching Yours in Scouting (@safeinscouting) today to demand that the Scout Association improves its safeguards against child abuse.
— Good Law Project (@GoodLawProject) June 13, 2023
📽️ Watch them share their stories and hear more about their campaign in this video: https://t.co/vVEOkVyhlZ pic.twitter.com/u0TAWDGmHr
According to the Good Law Project Lucy and Sheanna have launched the campaign as they “fear that child abuse in the Scouts is widespread, despite the Scouts’ claim that their problems are all in the past”.
Good Law Project director Jo Maugham added: “We want to lend our strength to those who need it in their fight for accountability. We are proud to work with Yours in Scouting.
“One of the main demands by the campaign is for the Scouts to create a paid safeguarding position in every county, to ensure child abuse claims are professionally managed.”
Meanwhile, a BBC investigation has found that £6m had been paid out to people in the last ten years to people who were abused in the Scouts over the last decade.
Scouts Association reaction
“In the UK almost half a million young people enjoy Scouts every week and nothing is more important than their safety,” said a Scouts Association spokesperson.
“Any form of abuse is abhorrent and we are deeply sorry for anyone who has suffered because of the actions of abusers.
“We have robust safeguarding policies, training and procedures in place. These are now reviewed every other year by the NSPCC, following three in-depth, independent reviews since 2007.
“Our procedures and training change as a result of these reviews. We exclude anyone who is proven to not follow our processes. We are continuously learning, we will always be open to challenge and that’s fundamental to what we do.”
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