To protect your child, the Scout Association has a long tradition of carrying out background checks on leaders and adult helpers. This pre-dates the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) process now commonly used by schools and other organisations. In fact, the CRB database was first based on the work done by the Scout Association. The Scout Association’s focus on child protection should be re-assuring to you as a parent/carer.

As Scouting is totally based on volunteers and parents/carers, we ask as many parents/carers as possible to complete the CRB forms. Although it is not a condition of your child being a member of the group, we make a request to all parents/carers.

Many parents/carers have been CRB checked and all parents/carers of new members will be provided with CRB forms on day one.

Unfortunately, CRB checks can’t be transferred from one organisation to another. Therefore you will have to be checked again for the purposes of scouting, even if you have been cleared to work with children at a school or other organisation.