About
FAQs about FLAGS
Service Agreement / Remit and Constitution
Scouting History
Ever since Scouting was established by Robert Baden Powell, back in 1907 it has always been the aim for it to be open to everyone, no matter of their class, creed or colour and its in those values that still pins world Scouting together today and Scouting is as diverse as ever.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK in 1967 however in Scouting before or after that time there was no written rule neither specifically barred or allowed homosexuals for being members of The Scout Association.
Modernization
In March 1997 The Scout Association took the decision to clarify the issue and write into its Policy, Organization and Rules that no member may receive less favourable treatment on the basis of their sexuality.
Also during the 1990s Scouting needed modernization and a fresh look, and the fact that the shortage of adults in Scouting was causing a problem, Scouting was no longer seen as cool. The Scout Association launched a programme review to retain the core values that Scouting stands for but produce a modern, new and exciting movement for today’s young people and as we stand today this worked and our numbers are increasing at the fastest rate for 23 years but we still need much needed adults in Scouting.
LGBT support in Scouting
The creation of a LGBT support function has been discussed in Scouting for a long time in various capacities and on line Scouting forums, in February 2008 a new group on Facebook was founded called Fellowship of Lesbian and Gay Scouts was created, at the time it was uncertain where it might lead. The numbers of members on he group increased quite dramatically and it wasn’t long before it was aired on the group to form a National Fellowship.
It was clear on the Facebook group that people were activly searching for a LGBT Scouting support group, it was also clear from comments and surveys in preparation for becoming a National Fellowship that people wanted a bit more reassurance to know that It’s ok to be gay and be a Scout, and perhaps some people thought that they were, like the BBC Little Britain comedy, ‘The only gay in Scouting’.
There were other people in the group that weren’t in Scouting at all but were too frightened or worried about being gay and being in Scouting, but there were also others that were happy about being Gay and being in Scouting and had in fact come out to their Scouting colleagues but, as a good Scout should be, wanted to help others by simply being a member of the group.
Adult recruitment and retention
It was quickly identified that there was an issue with being Gay and being in Scouting and that some people were not comfortable with that fact, this was affecting their Scouting and perhaps not being able to enjoy Scouting as well as they could.
In 2009 Scouting has 30,000 young people aged between six and 25 waiting to join. Despite The Scout Association opening up almost 13,000 places, thanks to the 2,600 new adult volunteers, the 2009 waiting list has actually risen to more than 33,000.
With the fact that Flags knows that there are some adults waiting to join and the fact of the need for more volunteers in Scouting FLAGS won its bid to become a National Fellowship and was established in 24th February 2009.
FLAGS
The Fellowship for Lesbians and Gays in Scouting was born and its aims in the first few years are to provide active support in adult recruitment and retention, we will act as a gateway for gay people to join Scouting so that they can join their respective local area and work in a much needed role of their choice, FLAGS will attend Pride events to also recruit new members and point people to much needed sources for support both internally and externally to Scouting, we will also provide some social activities for our members so they don’t feel that they are ‘the only gay in Scouting’.
A simple idea
The objectives of FLAGS is simple, we want people to know that It’s ok to be Gay and be in Scouting we want people to then join Scouting in their local areas and contribute to Scouting without fear and continue that very important role.
The future
There are lots of other plans and ideas FLAGS has, these include establishing a support base for LGBT issues, attending external training for LGBT issues, networking with other LGBT organizations, providing more local based support and attending other events such as Jamborees but it will always be about facilitating people into local roles.
