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Please note that in the policies of the United Kingdom
Scouting Association (UKSA) when it talks about a 'Young Person,' it is referring to someone participating in a youth program and when it talks about an an 'Adult,' it is referring to someone who is supporting a youth
program. The distinction needs to be kept in mind, as it is possible in the many UKSA programs for a Young Person to be older than an 'Adult' and for an individual to be
Equal Opportunities Policy: Guidelines with reference to Young People RELIGIOUS BELIEF 1. Policy No young person should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage by reason of, his or her religious belief. 2. Scouting Principles The Aim of The Scout Association is to promote the development of young people so that they can achieve their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials. A belief in the spiritual aspect of human beings and a belief in a spiritual power greater than any human being is fundamental to World Scouting. This belief is demonstrated by young people when they make their Promise. As Scouting, both in the United Kingdom and world-wide, is open to followers of all faiths the wording of the Promise takes into account the different religious obligations of the Association's Members. Therefore, a young person can promise to do his or her duty 'to God' (suitable for most faiths, including Christians, Jews and Sikhs), 'to my Dharma' (Hindu and Buddhist) or 'to Allah' (Orthodox Muslim). To enable young people to grow into independent adults the Scout Method encourages young people to question what they have been taught. Scouts and Venture Scouts who question God's existence, their own spirituality or the structures and beliefs of any or all religions are simply searching for spiritual understanding. This notion of a search for enlightenment is compatible with belief in most of the world's faiths. It is unacceptable to refuse Membership, or question a young person's suitability to continue to participate fully in a Section, if they express doubts about the meaning of the Promise. As a multi-faith organisation, Scout Leaders and other Volunteers need to consider the religious observances practised by all Members of their Section, Group or District. The planning and the delivery of the programme should take into account the prayer and worship, dietary requirements and behavioural rules as practised by all those participating in the programme. 3. Restrictions to youth Membership on the basis of religious belief It is not acceptable to deny entry to, or persuade a young person to leave, the Movement because of his or her religious beliefs. However, the Religious Policy of the Association prohibits Membership to anyone who denies the spiritual side of human beings or the existence of a spiritual power greater than any human being. It may also be acceptable to ask a young person to leave the Movement if:
The Scout Association permits places of worship, schools and other community based organisations to sponsor Scout Groups and some limit their Membership to young people associated with the Sponsoring Authority. These Groups are an important part of Scouting, and complement other local Groups who offer Membership to all local young people, whether they are associated with places of worship, schools and other local organisations or not. 4. Problems for Commissioners a. All the Groups in a District are sponsored by or associated with one faith, therefore a young person of a different faith is denied access to Scouting. In such case, Commissioners should first ensure that there is not a suitable Group - either an existing multi-faith Group or a Group which is willing to become a multi-faith Group. If there is not a suitable Group, then Commissioners could approach the young person s community to sponsor a new Group or encourage the District to develop an unsponsored multi-faith Group. b. A Leader does not allow young people with different beliefs or practices to himself or herself to join the Section. Commissioners should first provide training and discussion sessions for Leaders to enable them to run a multi-faith Section. Commissioners can also help the Group to recruit new Leaders from other faiths not currently represented. c. A Leader is seriously concerned about a religious practice that a young person has shown an interest in, either because it appears to be a cult or because of the effect it is having on that young person's life. Leaders should talk the situation through with a colleague and get advice from the Scouting Values Department at Headquarters. The Leader should discuss his or her informed concerns with the young person and his or her family. d. Religious leaders associated with a Group (usually as a Sponsoring Authority) complain that a decision made by the Scout Leaders, or the way the Leaders run the Group, are not acceptable. This situation can be avoided by ensuring that a Sponsoring Authority is clearly briefed on the Policy and Rules of the Association before an agreement is made, and kept up to date on any changes. However, where this situation does occur, Commissioners should first determine the issue which forms the basis of the complaint. They can then mediate a discussion on that issue, and that issue alone, with both the Sponsoring Authority and the Leaders. e. Leaders fail to recognise the diversity of faith and religious practices of Members in their programme. This could be shown by closing every meeting by saying the Lord's Prayer or always using a standard camp menu which does not have Kosher, vegetarian or Halal options. Solutions must be based on discussion with the Leadership with additional training on the Association's policy on spiritual development and the multi-faith nature of the Movement. Commissioners should also help Leaders find alternatives, for example different ways to close a meeting, multicultural recipes. 5. References and Resources Further information 1. Further information on religious belief is available from the Scouting Values Department and the National Chaplaincy Team at Gilwell Park, or from your County Chaplaincy Team. 2. Advice about acceptable and unacceptable faiths and cults is offered by the Scout Values Department at Headquarters. 3. Information on local faith communities is usually available in local libraries and places of worship. The Inter-faith Directory gives contact information on local associations or branches of national organisations who will give information on specific faiths. Your Local Education Authority, and the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), will also be able to tell you how religious education is taught in your local schools. 4. Alternative wording of the Promise for different faiths is given in Rule 1.4 in Policy, Organisation and Rules. Resources 1. Fact sheets on Scouting and faith communities, currently Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Rastafari, are available from the Scout Information Centre or from the Scouting Values Department. 2. The SHAP Working Party on World Religions in Education publishes an annual calendar of festivals which will list the appropriate dates for a particular year. The calendar is available from the SHAP Working Party, c/o National Societies RE Centre, 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU. Tel. 020 7932 1194. 3. The Equal Opportunities Policy Case Studies includes examples of religious beliefs held by young people in Scouting. The Pack is available from the Scout Information Centre. 4. God are You still in There looks at spiritual development within Scouting. The pack is available from Scottish Headquarters.
Equal Opportunities Policy: Guidelines with reference to Adults RELIGIOUS BELIEF 1. Policy All adult Volunteers working in the Movement must be fit and proper persons to undertake the duties of the position to which they have been appointed, and, where appropriate, the responsibilities of Membership. The safety and security of young people, the continued development of young people and equal opportunities for all should also be ensured. Within these constraints, no person volunteering their services should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage by reason of, his or her religious belief. 2. Scouting Principles The Scout Movement is not a religious organisation, but does expect its Members to follow a religious faith and conform to its practices. A belief in the spiritual aspect of human beings and a belief in a spiritual power greater than ourselves is fundamental to Membership of the Scout Movement. Religious observances are part of the regular life of the Scout Group and the wider Movement. As Scouting, both in the United Kingdom and world-wide, is open to followers of all faiths these observances include a range of prayers and worship, dietary requirements and behavioural rules. These principles are clearly stated in the Religious Policy of The Scout Association as laid out in Policy, Organisation and Rules. A Warranted Leader must be both fit and able to carry out the Religious Policy of the Association, in which their role is to:
3. Restrictions to adult Membership on the basis of religious belief While it is not acceptable to deny a volunteer entry to the Movement because of their membership of a faith community, a person would not be suitable as a Leader if he or she:
These requirements are less strict for Helpers and Administrators who are not required to make the Promise. 4. Problems for Commissioners a. A new District Commissioner finds that an existing Leader is professing to be an atheist. Commissioners should first discuss this with the Leader to ascertain the facts, and give the Leader the opportunity to change his or her role if appropriate. b. There is a complaint that the termly District parades are always 'church parades' and that this excludes Group members who are not Christian. Commissioners should encourage multi-faith services at a nondenominational venue or for parades to be held at the places of worship attended by the Scouts in the District in rotation. c. There is a complaint that the Leader of a Section always closes the meeting with The Lord's Prayer, even though there are non-Christian Scouts in the Section. Commissioners should explain why this is inappropriate to the Leader, and provide suggestions of other closing prayers which could be said. Leaders in multi-faith Groups should encourage the Scouts themselves to take it in turns to say appropriate prayers from their own faiths, particularly on holy days and during festivals. d. There is a complaint that regular events, such as football practice , are always held on the weekly holy day of some of the young people in the Group, who as a result cannot attend. Commissioners should ensure that Leaders take the religious commitments of all the young people in their Section into account when planning all aspects of the programme. 5. References and Resources Further information 1. Further information on faiths and religious belief is available from the Scouting Values Department and from the National Chaplaincy Team at Headquarters, or from your County Chaplaincy Team. 2. Advice about acceptable and unacceptable faiths is offered by the Scouting Values Department at Gilwell Park. 3. Information on local faith communities is usually available in local libraries and places of worship. The Inter-faith Directory gives contact information on local associations or branches of national organisations who will give information on specific faiths. Your Local Education Authority, and the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), will also be able to tell you how religious education is taught in your local schools. 4. Alternative wording of the Promise for different faiths is given in Rule 1.4 in Policy, Organisation and Rules. Resources 1. Fact sheets on Scouting and faith communities, currently Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Rastafari, are available from the Scout Information Centre or from the Development Department. 2. The SHAP Working Party on World Religions in Education publishes an annual calendar of festivals which will list the appropriate dates for a particular year. The calendar is available from the SHAP Working Party, c/o National Societies RE Centre, 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU. Tel. 020 7932 1194. 3. The Equal Opportunities Policy Case Studies includes examples of the religious belief of Leaders and other Volunteers in Scouting. The Pack is available from the Scout Information Centre.
UKSA Policy, Organisation, and Rules (Excerpt) Rule 1 Promise and Law Rule 1.4 Scouting is available to all faiths and must therefore take account of the different religious obligations of its Members while upholding the essential spirit of the Promise. In each Promise the phrase 'Duty to God' or, in the case of Beaver Scouts, 'to love God' is suitable for most faiths (including Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs). Hindus may use either the words 'my Dharma' or 'God'. Orthodox Muslims can use the word 'Allah' in place of 'God'. Buddhists should use only the words 'my Dharma'. Where some other form of wording is required for a member of a particular faith or religion advice should be sought from Headquarters. Rule 1.5 Similarly, foreign residents, who may become Members of the Association (see Rule 3.1 (a)), owe allegiance to their own country. To meet these circumstances the phrase 'duty ... to The Queen' should be replaced by the phrase 'duty ... to the country in which I am now living'. Rule 1.6 In the case of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts the decision as to which permitted form of wording should be used in any particular case will be made by the Group Scout Leader in consultation with the parents of the young person concerned. In the case of Venture Scouts, Leaders, Commissioners and other adult Members the decision as to which permitted form of wording should be used in any particular case shall be made by the District Commissioner or County Commissioner as appropriate and the person concerned.
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both a Young Person and an Adult. Conversely, it is therefore possible for an Adult to be younger than a 'Young Person' and
for an individual to be both an Adult and a Young Person.