Be Prepared for Sex?
They are renowned for always being prepared, but new Scout Association guidelines will see leaders ensuring teenage members are not only informed about slip knots and camp fires, but about sexual health too as REBECCA GOUGH reports.
[ad#msgp-posts]The Scout Association plays a key role in helping youngsters develop confidence and self esteem, but is perhaps best known for its focus on bracing outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and fishing.
And now it is to arm its teenage members with practical advice about sex, even handing out condoms.
The move follows requests from leaders for association guidance on how to deal with members seeking advice about sex.
In a document called Promoting Good Health Sexual Health within Scouting, which issued the advice, it said: “Adults in scouting have a trusted role in the lives of young people and this makes them a potential source of confidential information and advice.”
Mike Clemo, Norfolk county development worker, works with Norfolk Explorers Scouts, between 14 and 18-years-old, said primarily the guidelines are about helping leaders to know which organisation or professional to direct a scout to.
“With regards to sexual health, this is nothing new,” he said. “Baden Powell mentioned it back in 1908 when scouting first came about.
“At the end of the day we do get asked those questions sometimes. Some want to talk, some don’t, but if they do we need to be able to inform them in the best way we possible can.
“We’re responsible for those young people when they’re in our care and it’s about giving them safe advice.”
New guidance, geared mainly to 14 to 18-year-olds, advises leaders to discuss contraception and encourage resisting of peer pressure to have sex.
Scout groups can also organise trips to sexual health clinics and give details of other helpful agencies. Suggested activities for older scout groups include discussions about different religious beliefs regarding sex, and “how to say no” role-plays.
The new guidance says scout leaders can even give out condoms but “only if they believe the young person is very likely to begin or continue having intercourse with or without contraception”.
Contraception can only be offered if without it “their physical or mental health are likely to suffer”.
A visit to, or by, a sexual health clinic may help to “break illusions of what these services are and improve the uptake of advice”.
The policy itself was highlighted to county, area regional and district commissioners in September at a special meeting, which was then followed up in a story in the October/November issue of Scouting Magazine.
The document originally issued said it aimed to “clarify the role of adults in scouting with regard to information about sexual health and young people and to provide guidance, support and information to adults who may be approached by young people.”
It went on: “Leaders in the scout section will need to consider when activities and advice should be included in their programme to ensure young people have the knowledge to make safe and informed decisions.”
Mr Clemo said: “I don’t think there’s really any major change in the guidelines. This is a youth organisation that is aware of the reality.
“I think it’s very important and I think it’s absolutely right the scout association provide the information to stay safe.
“A lot of what the association does is about building confidence and if they can say they’ve got a problem, whatever that is, then that goes some way towards solving the problem.”
There are about 400,000 scouts in Britain, the majority of them boys, but girls do make up about 15pc of the membership.
The Scouting Association, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, says the main aim is for leaders to encourage young people “to resist pressure to have early sex”.
The average age for British youngsters to start sexual activity is 16, and Britain has the highest teenage birth rate in western Europe.
Dr Karla Bee, who helped draft the guidelines, said: “At a time when 10 percent of sexually active teenagers are estimated to have a sexually transmitted infection and 50pc of teenagers say they do not use contraception, it is absolutely right that The Scout Association gives its young people the information they need.”
Source: Evening News 24
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