Scouting encourages young people to undertake a variety of activities in different settings as part of their self-development. There is a balance to be struck in selecting an appropriate level of informed consent / permission to participate. Parents have a right to know what activities their young people are taking part in and where, however there is a cost in terms of administrative burden on both parents and leaders in executing such a system.
Normal Activities / Home Range
Application to join the 1st The Hague Scout Group required each young person’s parent/guardian to complete and submit an Enrolment Form that provides 1st The Hague with the basic information necessary to make contact and process the membership request. That information is stored in Online Scout Manager (OSM), our primary database for information about our youth members (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers) and their parents/guardians contact details. When a young person is admitted to the Group, an OSM invitation will be issued by email so that the parent/guardian can maintain that information directly. Furthermore, they must give generic permission within OSM that covers:
- all activities organised by 1st The Hague Scout Group within the rules and guidelines laid down by the Scouting Association
- and carried out within approximately 20km of Voorschoten (Home-range map). Within this area it is expected that parents will be able to react to, for example, a medical problem and leaders will not have to act as guardian for protracted periods of time
- provided that the activity is published by an email to parents registered email address at least a day prior to the event.
It is incumbent on parents/guardians to keep contact details and other information up to date within OSM and to notify the Section Leader if they wish to withdraw permission for any particular activity.
Section Leaders must ensure that they have a way of accessing the required information during meetings/events – this could be by having a paper copy available or by having a method of accessing the OSM database at any time.
Extraordinary Events
An event specific permission form will be required to be completed for:
- All nights away events.
- Any events taking place outside the area defined above.
- Any events the Section Leader or Group Scout Leader decides requires an event specific permission form.
The event specific permission form may be issued and returned in electronic (preferred) or paper format. The event leader must ensure the completed forms have been received from all participants prior to the event commencing. Section Leaders must ensure that they have a way of accessing the required information during the event – this could be by having a paper copy available or by having a method of accessing the Online Scout Manager database at any time.
Exceptions
A parent has the right to give permission verbally provided the parent is physically present for the duration of the activity.
A parent has the right to withdraw permission verbally provided the parent makes arrangements for the guardianship of the young person for the duration of the activity.
Examples
- The Beavers want to walk to their local park during their normal meeting because the weather is unusually nice. The activity has not been planned/announced in advance. Not allowed due to insufficient notice. If the weather forecast had been noted and the walk announced by email 1 day before no permission form would have been required.
- The Cubs announce a bike skills evening in the car-park at Vlietland a week ahead of the meeting. Allowed as this is a low risk activity within the home range so no permissions form is required.
- The Cubs visit to Sea Life Centre, Scheveningen. As this is a low risk activity within the home range so no permission form required.
- The Scouts visit to Battle of Arnhem Commemoration Event. This is a low risk activity but as it is outside the home range a permission form is required.
- The Scout’s want to do go-karting in Delft. This is a high risk activity but it is within the Scout Association guidelines and within the home range. The Section Leader decides it will require a permission form anyway.
- The Explorers want to go bungee jumping from a crane at a visiting fair in The Hague. This is Not allowed as bungee jumping is one of the few activities banned by the Scouting Association.
- The Explorers want to night hike in Katwijk dunes. This is a medium risk activity within home range so is allowed and no permission form required.
