Crisis In Number Of Volunteers Revealed

Fears of being falsely accused of harming children is the major factor preventing Scots from volunteering, and while 69% of adults consider working with children, only 5% actually do, a report claims today.

Concerns over the culture of litigation is also a factor when it comes to working or volunteering with young people, a survey by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) found. In the poll carried out for the commissioner, 48% of adults said concern about being falsely accused of harming young people is the number one obstacle to becoming a volunteer.

The same fear also makes them less likely to help when they see a young person in danger or distress, according to the research.

Women are almost twice as likely to have contact with children and young people, either as a volunteer or through work. Men reported being afraid of being falsely accused of being a paedophile.

The 65-page Adults’ Attitudes towards contact with Children and Young People report is the first confirmation in Scotland of well-publicised concerns over the growing bureaucratic burden involved in becoming a volunteer working with young people.

These have led to claims that more and more Scots are discouraged from becoming involved in providing children with activities outside of school and that this is contributing to growing levels of obesity among young people.

Recent studies showed Scotland’s obesity levels are second only to the US and that only one in 250 girls and one in 20 boys aged 11 are getting the recommended minimum one hour’s exercise a day.

The government yesterday warned the epidemic of obesity could bankrupt the National Health Service.

Over the past few years, and in particular following the tragic events in Dunblane in 1996, the rules and regulations governing youth organisations have become more compli-cated. Adults who are new to volunteering are now subjected to intense scrutiny, including Disclosure Scotland checks set up in 2002, which provide the criminal history of an individual to potential employers and organisations, including the voluntary sector.

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, hopes the report will spark a national debate.

She said: “Young people consistently tell us they want safe and fun things to do and that anti-social behaviour is a result of a shortage of opportunities for social behaviour’. The activities they want to take part in need adults to volunteer and support them, and this report shows exactly why that isn’t happening.”

Ms Marshall urged the Scottish Government to consider supporting a “one-stop shop” service to advise and encourage adults who want to volunteer with young people and “address rumour and misinformation about what is and isn’t allowed” on organising “everything from a school disco to a gorge walk”.

Judith Gillespie, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, one of the largest parent bodies, welcomed the report.

She said: “The whole industry of disclosure and checking is driving volunteers away. We need to have something that is more proportionate which looks properly at the real risk to children, not the hypothetical risk.” George Thomson, chief executive of Volunteer Development Scotland, said: “We must have the conviction and courage to overcome the challenges and find ways to take up the offer of voluntary help from adults in a way that benefits everyone.”

Girlguiding Scotland has a waiting list of over 4000 girls it cannot reach because it does not have enough volunteers. The Scouts and Boys’ Brigade have similar problems.

The SCCYP survey of almost 1100 Scots was carried out earlier this year across the country. Following the poll, about 50 people took part in further discussions as part of focus groups.