Organisation Safe from Harm requirements on the Data Portal

Updated 29 May 2025 00:40

Safe from Harm requirements

Providing a safe and inclusive environment in Scouting for all children, young people, and adults is one of the Scout Movement’s highest priorities, and is a membership requirement for all National Scout Organizations (NSOs). This membership requirement was approved by the 2021 World Scout Conference to include in the WOSM Constitution Article V.5.e.

Safe from Harm Self-Assessment

To help NSOs comply with this requirement, all NSOs are required to complete the Safe from Harm Self-Assessment through the digital tool (you can find more information on how to use the digital tool through this support article) or by taking the Safe from Harm WOSM Assessment. This submission follows a triennial cycle.

The self-assessment enables NSOs to:

Review and evaluate their safeguarding structures, policies, and procedures
Assess educational and training programmes related to safeguarding and child protection
Identify areas of improvement and action points for strengthening safeguarding measures

As part of this process, NSOs are required to submit their National Safe from Harm Policy, National Safeguarding Reporting Procedure and appoint a National Safe from Harm Coordinator as part of their annual reporting to WOSM through the Data Portal.

The Safe from Harm widget on the Data Portal is a space to bring together important aspects of these Safe from Harm membership requirements that have been identified as needed by all organisations to help meet the minimum standard expected to ensure a safe environment for all in Scouting.

More information on the Safe from Harm membership requirements and conducting a self-assessment can be accessed through resources on the Safe from Harm service page.

Managing Safe from Harm obligations of your NSO

All organisations are required to appoint a Safe from Harm coordinator (with name and contact details of the appointed person) and key Safe from Harm documents as part of their annual reporting to WOSM.

These documents are essential to demonstrate your NSO’s commitment to providing a safe environment for all.

Appointing Safe from Harm Coordinator

The Safe from Harm contact person is to be added or updated through the Directory by appointing someone with the standard appointment title of “Safe from Harm”. This contact person will then be shown on the Safe from Harm widget on the Data Portal along with their email address for quick reference.

It is important to ensure that the Safe from Harm coordinator has an email address associated to their appointment so that they can be contacted whenever necessary.

Key Safe from Harm Documents uploaded

The two documents, the National Safe from Harm Policy and the Safeguarding Reporting Procedures, must be uploaded on the Data Portal. These documents are required as part of the annual reporting to WOSM, so organisations need to ensure that the files uploaded on their profile are up to date.

National Safe from Harm Policy

The National Safe from Harm Policy covers child and youth safeguarding for the organsiation. The standards set as part of the Safe from Harm assessment criteria outlines that the policy should address different types of harm and abuse, including emotional, physical, sexual, and neglect; considers diversity and inclusion issues and any special needs of children and young people in the NSO; is consistent with national legal frameworks; applies to all levels of the NSO (local, regional, and national); is approved by relevant governance bodies; aligns with the World Safe from Harm Policy; and is regularly reviewed. Learn more here.

National Safeguarding Reporting Procedure

The national safeguarding reporting procedures are to cover the safeguarding of children, youth and adults within the organsiation. The standards set as part of the Safe from Harm assessment criteria outlines that the procedures should outline how to report and respond to safeguarding concerns, breaches of the code of conduct, or potential cases of abuse; outline the measures and actions to take following a safeguarding report; contain guidelines on how to collect and record information from all parties involved in a safeguarding concern or potential case of abuse; have been approved by relevant governance bodies; are compliant with national legal frameworks in which the NSO operates; are aligned with the World Safe from Harm Policy; and are regularly reviewed. Learn more here.

Language and file size limit

It is preferable to submit your NSO’s documents in one of the WOSM languages. However, documents produced in a local language of your NSO will also be accepted. The upload limit on the Data Portal is 10MB to ensure that we do not overload our system. An error message will appear at the bottom of the screen to remind you of the file size limit. If your file is too large, please consider compressing it. If you continue to face challenges, please use the Help Chatbot or contact reporting@scout.org for support.

Safe from Harm Self-Assessment date

Organisations are to enter the date of their last Safe from Harm Self-Assessment for record purposes on their Data Portal profile. This should be the date that the Safe from Harm Self-Assessment was completed and submitted to WOSM. More details about the self-assessment and its submission can be accessed on the Safe from Harm service page.