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Scout's Honour?

Scout Association urged to overhaul safeguarding policy after Β£6m paid to abuse victims in the last ten years.

Nearly half a million young people in the UK are members of the Scout Association. The organisation employs 143,000 adult volunteers and leads the way in nurturing a love of the outdoors and providing practical skills which will allow members to make a positive contribution to society. But not everyone has been enriched by the experience. File on 4 has learned that in the last ten years the Scout Association has paid out Β£6m to scouts who were abused. Reporter Hayley Hassall hears from some female abuse survivors who say they were ignored when they reported abuse. The Scout Movement says it is "deeply sorry" for anyone who has suffered abuse. Now there are calls for the organsiation to overhaul its safeguarding policy. John Cameron, the former director of ChildLine and head of child protection operations at the NSPCC, tells File on 4 that voluntary organisations would benefit from an independent body overseeing safeguarding practices.

Reporter: Hayley Hassall
Producer: Paul Grant
Researcher: Shona Elliott
Technical Producer: Kelly Young
Digital Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith
Journalism Assistant: Tim Fernley
Editor: Carl Johnston

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37 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Jun 2023 17:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 13 Jun 2023 20:00
  • Sun 18 Jun 2023 17:00

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