Introduction
We all do risk assessments or safety checks every day, such as when we cross the road. We choose an appropriate place to cross, look both ways and make a decision about whether it’s safe to cross.
We know that young people learn by doing. Activities encourage the development of young people and they can feel a huge sense of achievement in completing them. We want to provide EXCITEMENT, but not DANGER. ADVENTURE, but not HAZARD.
Assessing risk starts in the early stages of activity planning and goes on throughout the activity, until all participants go home at the end of the activity. Embedding risk assessment within the planning process allows us to deliver safe, enjoyable and exciting programmes for young people.
Who is responsible for risk assessment?
The simple answer is everyone has a part to play in assessing and managing risk. All adults have a role to play in keeping Scouts a safe place for our members and achieve this by working together and cooperating. Make sure that everyone understands the role they play and also that young people understand how they can help keep Scouts safe for themselves and others.
The Scouts provide safety training for all adults which includes support in undertaking risk assessment. This is also reinforced in other more specialist and role specific training.
Line managers are responsible for ensuring that adults have the appropriate training for their role, whilst leaders are responsible for ensuring that young people have appropriate training or instruction to help with their understanding of risk. Adults are also responsible for ensuring that they identify their own learning needs and if they require more support or assistance to flag this with others who can help.
