Safety
Safety remains our top priority, and throughout 2025, we’re committed to making Scouting even safer for all members. A key part of this is learning—helping volunteers feel confident in delivering activities safely and responding to incidents. That’s why we’ve launched a new, improved Safety learning course, which all volunteers must complete.
Why This Learning Is Essential
Our previous safety learning needed improvements, as highlighted in the Prevention of Future Deaths report. The new course is comprehensive, easier to apply, and was developed with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). It covers:
- Our safety policy and its importance
- Volunteer safety responsibilities
- Risk assessment and management
- Incident response and reporting
The course includes practical scenarios to help volunteers apply these principles effectively.
Who Needs to Complete It and When
Most volunteers must complete the learning, with specific deadlines based on their expiry date:
- Expiry date updated to 14 July 2025 – Those whose learning was due after this date now have until then to complete it.
- Unchanged expiry dates – Those due before 14 July 2025 must still complete it by their original date.
- Overdue learning – Must be completed immediately.
- New volunteers or role changers – Must finish the course within 30 days.
- Holding roles – No immediate requirement but must complete learning when moving into full roles.
- Completed learners – Those who finished the course since November 2024 will have their next renewal set three years from completion.
Volunteers must complete the training before their expiry date to remain compliant— failure to do so could result in suspension.
How to Access the Learning
Volunteers can access the training via My Learning on scouts.org.uk. Once signed in, click ‘Start Learning’ to begin.
First Response
First Response learning needs to be undertaken by adult volunteers in the following roles:
- Group Lead Volunteers
- Section Team Members (including those who were previously Sectional Assistants)
- Section Team Leaders
- 14-24 Team Leaders
New volunteers in these roles must undertake First Response within one year and previous Sectional Assistants who are now Team Members, must complete First Response within the next two years.
There are three main ways to complete First Response:
- Attend a f2f First Response Course (usually 9.30am to 4.30pm) – we have a range of courses available during qtr. 1 – you can register here South East Scotland Scouts Training Team Events – 12 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
- Undertake First Response via the Blended Model where you do some online learning (3 hours), attend an online confirmation session (2.5 hours), and then attend a f2f practical session (30 mins). Details of the Blended model can be found here Delivery methods | Scouts and you can register for the online learning here First Response e-learning 2025
- Undertake an External First Response Course e.g. FAW or BASP) and or present your Professional Qualifications as evidence as having the appropriate First Response Skills. You will need to send your course certificate or details of your professional qualifications to firstresponse@sesscouts.org.uk. A Regional First Response Trainer will validate your learning/experience and confirm whether it meets Scouting requirements or whether you need to do some additional learning e.g. Child CPR.
For more details, visit the South East Scotland Scouts website or contact Fiona Elliot. Learning Lead, Fiona.elliot@sesscouts.org.uk
