4. Carrying out the annual County moderation of the activity permit scheme

Moderation of the activity permit scheme is a key part of the process, both to ensure that our young people are as safe as is practicable when taking part in adventurous activities and to be able to show that our internal permit scheme is robust and well managed. You have the key role in moderating the activity permit scheme within your County. This starts with carrying out the annual moderation. This needs to be done by the end of January each year, but you can start it whenever you like to ensure it is done on time based on your personal circumstances.

There is a simple tick box form to use in carrying out this moderation. You can find support for this in Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme – Moderation which includes notes and guidance on each of the standards within the moderation form.

Where any minimum standards are not met you will need to identify an action plan to address this and ensure it will be met. Where any good practice standard is not met you are also encouraged to identify an action plan to aim towards this standard. There is space next to each standard on the moderation form to note the headlines of any action plan, and space at the back of the form for the full action plan. If you need any help and support in putting together these action plans then please contact UKHQ. Someone from UKHQ will be able to work with you to help put an action plan together.

Once your moderation and action plan has been completed, before the end of January, you will need to get it agreed by your County Commissioner. They will be agreeing that it is an accurate representation of the activity permit scheme within the County. You will then need to work with your Commissioner to ensure that the action plans are assigned to suitable people / added to the County work plan and that these are carried out in a timely manner. This could include you carrying out any actions that are assigned to you.

Each year the UKHQ will collect a sample of completed moderations. This is to allow the Scout Association to identify any trends and document the management and moderation of the permit scheme, it is not an extra check on the selected Counties. If your County has been selected for sampling you will be contacted in early February and just need to send your completed moderation form to the UKHQ by the end of February.