Advice for running a knife skills session with your Scout section

Carry out a full risk assessment before starting any practical knife skills activity. Use the guidance on risk assessment to help you.

• Familiarise yourself with the current law and safety aspects of using and carrying a knife in case you are questioned on it. Do some extra research at the gov.uk website.
• Spend time on discussing knife law and safety aspects with your Scouts before beginning any practical aspects.
• Ensure Scouts are not carrying tools or knives on their person and make sure any tools used during a session are collected up at the end and stored safely.
• Have a suitable, safe storage to demonstrate this point and increase understanding.
• Contact parents in advance to let them know that you will be doing a session on knife safety and safe knife use for survival skills. They may have objections so have some other activities in mind for Scouts to do.
• Practice your own knife skills before beginning any practical sessions with your section. Only when you are confident that you can explain and demonstrate knife skills to your Scouts should you run a session.
• Work in small manageable groups of perhaps 3 or 4 scouts to one volunteer. With younger ages this may need to be as low as one to one and the activity dependent on their ability.
• Ensure there is adequate space around each person during a knife skills session and that loose clothing or hair is tied back.
• Start with a small knife such as a Swiss Army Knife and complete small tasks such as using the small blade. Build up to a larger blade as you become more confident and dexterous.
• Work on these activities over the course of a few weeks, you do not want to rush knife skills.
• Make sure there is a first aid kit and first aider on hand. Practice treatment and dressing of cuts before beginning a practical exercise.
• Plan another activity for those Scouts whose parents do not want them to take part in practical activities using knives or for Scouts who may not be ready for this type of activity. Perhaps work on other aspects of the survival skills badge.
• This same session could be used with adults too as part of their development into more experienced volunteers.