South Ribble Scouts – Social Media Policy
Purpose
Social media is a powerful communication, engagement, and celebration tool within South Ribble Scouts. This policy sets out clear expectations for volunteers, young people, and supporters when using social media for or in association with South Ribble Scouts. It supports a safe, positive, and inclusive online environment in line with Scouts UK guidance and our commitment to safeguarding.
Scope
This policy applies to all volunteers, adult members, and young leaders who post content on behalf of South Ribble Scouts or represent us in any online space — including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, YouTube, and other platforms.
Guiding Principles
- Follow The Scout Values: Everything we share should reflect the values of integrity, respect, care, belief, and cooperation.
- Stay Safe, Stay Respectful: Treat people with respect and kindness, and follow our safeguarding responsibilities online as you would face-to-face.
- Keep it Appropriate: Language, images, and videos must be appropriate for all audiences and uphold the good name of Scouts.
- Be Consistent: Use the South Ribble Scouts tone of voice – friendly, inclusive, positive – and follow brand guidelines for logos, colours, and fonts where applicable.
- Check Before Posting: Pause and think before you post – always check spelling, grammar, tone, and accuracy.
- Verify Information: Do not assume all material is accurate; take reasonable steps to fact-check before posting.
- Non-Political: Scouts is not a political organisation. We may express views on policy but do not endorse parties or encourage voting decisions.
Key Expectations
- Do not share photos or videos of young people without the appropriate media permissions, in line with our local data and consent processes.
- Never share personal contact details or young people’s locations.
- Avoid sharing sensitive or private information.
- Do not engage in or respond to online arguments, trolling, or negative comments in the name of Scouts.
- Use official accounts for all public-facing communications; avoid using personal accounts to represent the organisation.
- All content should be inclusive and celebrate the diversity of Scouting in South Ribble.
- Scout Groups and Sections should not create separate public-facing social media accounts without District approval. All platforms must have at least two adult admins and be monitored regularly.
- Admins should monitor comments on public posts and remove any that include offensive language, personal information, or breaches of safeguarding.
Managing Local Group and Section Social Media Accounts
- The District Communications Lead oversees South Ribble Scouts’ social media presence. Group Lead Volunteers (GLVs) approve and manage social media accounts within their groups.
- All public-facing accounts must have at least two adult administrators with full access to security and oversight.
- Content creators (e.g. leaders or youth reps) may be given limited roles such as “editor” or “moderator” where appropriate.
- New social media channels should not be created without prior discussion and approval to ensure clarity of messaging and brand consistency.
- South Ribble Scouts does not support the creation of unofficial or duplicate pages, which can dilute communications and create confusion.
Safeguarding Online
South Ribble Scouts follows the Scouts UK Yellow Card safeguarding code of conduct. This includes:
- Adults must not engage in one-to-one communication with young people via personal social media or messaging apps.
- Use group messaging features (e.g. WhatsApp groups) only where necessary, and always include at least one other adult.
- Any concerns or breaches must be reported immediately via our safeguarding process.
- In the event of a safeguarding issue or reputational concern posted online, do not engage publicly. Report it to the District Commissioner and Safeguarding Team immediately and follow guidance before responding.
Youth Involvement in Social Media
Young people may contribute to social media content (e.g. photos, captions, blogs) under adult supervision and in line with the Yellow Card and our media consent process. This encourages youth voice while maintaining safe boundaries.
Consent Management
- Ensure all media permissions are regularly updated and stored securely. If in doubt, don’t post.
Training & Induction
- All volunteers responsible for social media should complete basic training on this policy and the Yellow Card as part of their induction.
- Volunteers should also understand the brand’s tone of voice and receive support to use brand assets appropriately.
Crisis Management & Escalation
- In case of a social media crisis (e.g. negative press, viral complaint), contact the District Commissioner and Communications Lead immediately. Avoid public responses until advised, and gather screenshots and links as evidence.
- Scouts UK has a social media policy and procedures to manage incidents that arise on their social media channels. These include:
- Reporting: All staff and volunteers are responsible for reporting complaints or comments that could escalate into a crisis.
- Record Keeping: A record of actions and communications, including details of others who may have witnessed the incident, should be kept.
- Media Contact: The Duty Media Officer should direct All news media enquiries. Support must be sought before speaking to the media.
- No Admissions: Do not make any admissions of liability.
- Don’t Handle Alone: Do not try to handle incidents on your own – seek support.
- Social Media Team: Responsible for amending or deleting content.
- Announcements: All social announcements must be developed with the Communications, Media, and Social Media teams and approved by the Executive Director for Marketing and Fundraising.
- AI Content: Must adhere to brand guidelines and be approved by the Creative Lead.
- Refer to the Scouts UK Serious Incident Reporting process immediately for serious incidents or safeguarding concerns.
Accountability and Oversight
- The District Communications Lead or a designated Group Lead must approve and monitor social media accounts.
- Admins must ensure all content aligns with Scout’s policies and the Yellow Card.
- Misuse of social media may result in actions that are in accordance with our volunteer code of conduct and safeguarding procedures.
Top Tips for Safe and Positive Engagement
- Think before you post – would you be happy for this to be shared with parents, employers or the local press?
- Use social media to celebrate achievements, share information, and strengthen community links.
- Keep passwords secure and regularly updated.
Annual Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the District Communications Lead and updated in line with national Scouts UK guidance.
Useful Links
For any questions or concerns about this policy or its application, please contact: hello@southribblescouts.org.uk
