First reported 7 Feb 2020•Latest report 22 Feb 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of The Scouts Association's central oversight and accountability arrangements for health and safety or safeguarding execution by its federated local charities, including inadequate visibility of local practice, unclear allocation of accountability and insufficient central assurance or support.
Not included
Excludes generic governance, leadership or accountability deficiencies not specifically tied to The Scouts Association's oversight of local health and safety or safeguarding execution.
Excludes failures confined to an individual Scout group or local charity where no deficiency in The Scouts Association's central oversight is identified.
Excludes deficiencies in centrally generated training or POR requirements where the reported unsafe condition is not the failure of central oversight of local implementation.
Excludes unrelated school, care-home, housing or other organisational oversight processes.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
3
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2020–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
10
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
The Scout Association2
Children's Commissioner for Wales1
Department for Education1
Health and Safety Executive1
Office of the Children's Commissioner1
The Charity Commission1
Unity Insurance Services1
Welsh Government1
Registered charity2
Charity regulator1
Company1
Devolved government1
Ministerial department1
Statutory commissioner1
Workplace safety regulator1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised2
Failure of central oversight of local safety execution
Insufficient safety-team resources and local reach
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.8
Action
Continue examining TSA’s safeguarding and governance concerns, including assessing corrective work and requesting supporting information.
Stated by The Charity CommissionStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Ensure TSA and its affiliated charities understand which safety improvements the Commission considers essential.
Stated by The Charity CommissionStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Build and operate a permanent internal Audit and Assurance team to audit local charities, monitor compliance and report nationally.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Introduce a movement-wide assurance framework for local safety compliance monitoring and auditing.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Increase safety, adventurous-activities and training staffing capacity, including recruiting new safety roles and agreeing a permanent structure.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Review and improve support, training, communication and accountability for County and District leadership and Trustees.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Continue assessing the case and practicalities for further regulation of out-of-school settings.
Stated by Department for EducationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Commission an external strategic safety partnership to review safety practices and provide third-party assurance.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The Department cannot comment on the Scout Association’s internal structure, workings, or implementation of internal policies and procedures.
Stated by Department for EducationOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The Scout Association and the Charity Commission are expected to address matters concerning internal operations and charity trustees’ legal duties, respectively.
Stated by Department for EducationRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Failure of the Scout Association to oversee health and safety execution at ground level
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Introduce and circulate the Safety Advisor role to support safety-policy implementation and compliance locally.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 February 2020.
Action
Agree six new safety staff posts, including a Head of Safety, National Headquarters Safety Manager and four Compliance Officers.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2020.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The federated structure, central policies, local oversight, training, database and monitoring provide appropriate safety oversight despite organisational distance from local groups.
Stated by The Scout AssociationExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
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Includes failures of The Scouts Association's central oversight and accountability arrangements for health and safety or safeguarding execution by its federated local charities, including inadequate visibility of local practice, unclear allocation of accountability and insufficient central assurance or support.
