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AMENDMENT:  amended July 2004 to reflect the changes of age limits.

Young People

The Scout Association is part of a world-wide educational youth movement. The values which underpin and inspire its work are embodied in the Scout Promise and Law and in the Purpose of the Association.

Within this framework, the Association is committed to equality of opportunity for all young people.

Accordingly:

1. The Scout Association is committed to extending Scouting, its Purpose and Method to young people in all parts of society.

2. No young person should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage by reason of:

   • class;

   • ethnic origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race;

   • gender;

   • marital or sexual status;

   • mental or physical ability;

   • political or religious belief.

All Members of the Movement should seek to practise that equality, especially in promoting access to Scouting for young people in all parts of society. The Scout Association opposes all forms of racism.

Note: With reference to gender, Membership of the youth Sections of the Association is open to girls and young women of the appropriate ages subject to a process of local self-determination in each Scout Group as to whether existing single-sex provision should become co-educational.

Leaders and other volunteers

To carry out its work the Association seeks to appoint effective and appropriate Leaders, and to involve other volunteers in supporting roles, all of whom are required to accept fully the responsibilities of their commitment.

The overriding considerations in making all appointments in Scouting shall be the safety and security of young people, and their continued development in accordance with the Purpose of the Association.

Accordingly, all those whom the Movement accepts as volunteers must be 'fit and proper' persons to undertake the duties of the particular position to which they have been appointed (including, if relevant, meeting the requirements of the Sponsoring Authority) and, where appropriate, the responsibilities of Membership.

In making an appointment to a particular leadership or support position it may be appropriate to consider the gender and/or ethnicity of the potential appointee, in particular to ensure appropriate composition of leadership or supporting teams.

The physical and mental ability of a particular potential appointee to fulfil a particular role will always be a relevant factor to consider.

Within these constraints, and those imposed by the need to ensure:

• the safety and security of young people;

• the continued development of young people; and

• equal opportunities for all;

• no person volunteering their services should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage by reason of:

  • age;

  • class;

  • ethnic origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race;

  • gender;

  • marital or sexual status;

  • mental or physical ability;

  • political or religious belief.

Note: Paedophilia is a bar to any involvement in the Scout Movement.

Note: With reference to religious belief, the avowed absence of religious belief is a bar to appointment to a Leadership position.