safeguarding

[bill]

So YLs need Module A for safeguarding purposes- fair enough. But what,
if anything, should we do about our PLs? Or older scouts who decide to
"help at cubs".

The latter is less interesting, as I spose there'll always be a leader
present and in charge. But the PL thing DOES concern me. I remember as
a PL myself (at the time of the Crimean War) being told by one of my
scouts at camp that his "uncle" <<did things>> to him when he came to
stay with his mum. It all seemed weird to me, and I don't recall what
happened.

BUT: I think this sort of discussion could well occur in the right
circumstances, and I wonder what we ought to be saying to our PLs.

[Shaun Joynson]

Whoa there pardner!

I think you might be taking the old 'child protection' thing a bit too
far there!

So, what you are saying is that a 13 year old PL might be 'seen' as a
'threat' to an 8 year old Cub Scout.

Well, there might be about 1 or 2 in about a million and a half who
might be that way inclined, but for the most part, PL's are very
protective of younger kids.

Many years ago - and I think it was John Sweet (Oh dear, I mentioned a
traditional old Scouter, sorry, here's a pound for the swear box),
John Sweet once said in one of his columns in Scouting that when a PL
gets to a certain age, they get a bit 'mumsy' if you know what I
mean.

They get very protective of the youngsters they look after - and the
very last thing on their minds is anything sinister.

Now, as a teacher in special needs, I have actually seen such cases
where the older lad has sinister designs on the younger lads, but such
cases are as rare as winning lottery tickets.

I am quite sure that those gimlet-eyed monsters who make up the
'Professional Perverts of the Child Abuse Industry' will give you all
sorts of 'advice'. After all, that is what they are paid huge
salaries to do, so they have to justify their inflated wages.

However, my advice (which is totally free) is have a quiet word with
your PL's. Strongly suggest to them that they run the games rather
than take part in them. That way, when there is a 'bundle' in the
middle of the hall, they don't have to worry where there hands are
going. Suggest to them that if Cubsy Wubsy's mum offers them a tenner
for a bit of baby sitting on a Saturday night, that they plead they
are away with the Scouts on camp and cannot help. In other words,
suggest they keep a certain amount of distance between themselves and
the Cubs, which should do the trick.

Remind them too, to mind their P's and Q's when around the Cubs.
Effing and blinding about this and that is fine when you are in a
patrol tent with all your mates on a weekend camp and Skip's snoring
away in the distance, but please - not in front of the Cubs!

In other words, use your loaf!

Forget all these 'courses' and 'POR' - a bit of common sense, thats
all thats needed in such situations!

I've never yet met a patrol leader, male or female who has not got the
gist of what I have had to say on this point.

[Gooders]

"Shaun Joynson" wrote in message news:82225faf-c081-4202-a4b7-***@y31g2000vbt.googlegroups.com...

Whoa there pardner!

I think you might be taking the old 'child protection' thing a bit too
far there!

So, what you are saying is that a 13 year old PL might be 'seen' as a
'threat' to an 8 year old Cub Scout.

SNIP

Sorry Shaun, I think that you have misinterpreted Bill's mail.

I think he is suggesting that some guidance should perhaps be provided to
PLs on how to handle/react to a situation similar to the one he described.

Stephen

[bill]

Post by Shaun Joynson
Whoa there pardner!
I think you might be taking the old 'child protection' thing a bit too
far there!
So, what you are saying is that a 13 year old PL might be 'seen' as a
'threat' to an 8 year old Cub Scout.
SNIP
Sorry Shaun, I think that you have misinterpreted Bill's mail.
I think he is suggesting that some guidance should perhaps be provided to
PLs on how to handle/react to a situation similar to the one he described.
Stephen

Exactly- do we give guidance? Where do I stand if a PL tells me one of
his/her kids has a problem, but the kids has sworn the PL to secrecy?

I know I need to tell anyone disclosing to me before he/she starts
that I'll have to involve others.
Doesn't anyone think PLs need to be warned- eg to keep confidences
away from other kids (probably obvious)- but warned how to deal...?

We do this as part of module A, but for YLs there WILL always been a
leader around. There's not at a patrol camp.

And no I don't have interest in kids as a danger to cubs etc.

Bill

[Ewan Scott]

Post by bill
Exactly- do we give guidance? Where do I stand if a PL tells me one of
his/her kids has a problem, but the kids has sworn the PL to secrecy?
I know I need to tell anyone disclosing to me before he/she starts
that I'll have to involve others.
Doesn't anyone think PLs need to be warned- eg to keep confidences
away from other kids (probably obvious)- but warned how to deal...?
We do this as part of module A, but for YLs there WILL always been a
leader around. There's not at a patrol camp.

I think we used to call this, growing up. Kids do share secrets, they talk
to each other and they keep secrets from adults and quite frankly, there is
little that you can do about it.

Once you start delving into secrets between kids you are treading on very
thin ice.

But when we are talking about a younger kid talking to a Scout about, say,
an abuse problem, I think that you have hit on a difficulty in Child
Protection. You have not been told, you, if you have guidance in place, and
the PLs adhere to it, then you are getting the story second hand. Since a
child is always to be believed in these cases, you have to act - effectively
on a rumour. It becomes a he said, that he said, that this happened.

All this might do is flag up a possible concern. How far do we take this?

Ewan Scott