Scouting Survey on Changing Membership Policy

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Currently to be a member of the Scout Association in the UK, you are required to have a faith. This is emphasised by the Scout Promise's 'duty to God.'

Recently the Scout Association has been criticised by the British Humanist Society, who say the Scout Association is discriminating against young people and adults of no faith, by not allowing the option to miss out the duty to God line of the promise.

The Scout Association has said that it does not plan to alter the Promise or change its guidelines allowing those of no faith to join the movement in the UK.

The Scout Association has experience of surveying its membership on a number of issues, with recent online surveys about Scouting Magazine and the next Chief Scout. It has the ability to carry out a survey of members opinions on this matter also.

By signing below, we do not make any statement about our personal opinions on the issue, or our own personal faiths and beliefs.

We the undersigned, as members of the Scout Association (SA), petition the Committee of the Council to ask that they carry out a survey of members of the SA, asking whether they support the status quo, or request a change in the policy rejecting atheists and those of no faith as youth members, leaders and commissioners.

88 Signatures

  • Barry Hewitt
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • AESL
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • Ross Donald
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ESL
    • County/Area
    • City of Edinburgh
  • Colin Simpson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • AESL
    • County/Area
    • Inverleith, Edinburgh
  • Stephen Rainsbury
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ESL
    • County/Area
    • Kent
  • Adam Douglas
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • AESL, Network member
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh, Aberdeen
  • Eilidh Scott
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ASL
    • County/Area
    • Fife (Network)
  • Ewan Scott
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ADC, GSL, ESL
    • County/Area
    • West Yorkshire
  • David J Roy
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • DESA, Longcraig Fellowship
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • Iain Mark Slessor
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ABSL
    • County/Area
    • Aberdeen
  • Ashley Barlow
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • AESL/ Network Member
    • County/Area
    • Midlothian
  • Paul Harris
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ADC(GS)
    • County/Area
    • Essex
  • Jon Atkinson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • DESC
    • County/Area
    • Greater Manchester North
  • William McFarlane
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Networker
    • County/Area
    • Midlothian
  • Aileen Thomson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • DC
    • County/Area
    • Inverlieth Edinburgh
  • Graham Lucas
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Fellowship Member
    • County/Area
    • Essex
  • Roderick Glen
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • GSL
    • County/Area
    • Cambs
  • Margaret Polden
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ADC (BS)
    • County/Area
    • GLNE
  • Cailin Lackie
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Network Member
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • Neil Mackenzie
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ESL
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • dave styles
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ACSL
    • County/Area
    • Kent
  • Richard Sams
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • DESC
    • County/Area
    • GLNE
  • FM
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • SL
    • County/Area
    • Cornwall
  • Fiona Halkerston
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Network member
    • County/Area
    • Fife/Dundee
  • Alison Pollock
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Scottish Scout fellowship
    • County/Area
    • Fife
  • John Moppett
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Member. 2nd Gilwell
    • County/Area
    • GLNE
  • steph halkerston
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ACSL
    • County/Area
    • Fife
  • Pasha Korniyenko
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Explorer Leader
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • Christina Black
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • County Network Leader
    • County/Area
    • Merseyside
  • David Barker
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • SL
    • County/Area
    • Central Yorkshire
  • Ian Stuchbury
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ASL
    • County/Area
    • Aberdeen
  • dougie woodrow
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • sl
    • County/Area
    • perth and kinross
  • Geoff Riddington
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ARC
    • County/Area
    • West of Scotland
  • euan forrest
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • YL
    • County/Area
    • lennox
  • Helen Mayston
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Country Commissioner for Scout Network
    • County/Area
    • Wales
  • Shane Andrews
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • SL
    • County/Area
    • CATVOG
  • Sheila Fenner
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • CSL
    • County/Area
    • Essex
  • Toby Dando
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • esl
    • County/Area
    • essex southend estuary
  • Mike Thompson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ESL
    • County/Area
    • Merseyside
  • Douglas Aitken
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • DESC Renfrew District
    • County/Area
    • Renfrew & Inverclyde
  • Lynda Robinson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • group chairman
    • County/Area
    • Essex
  • beryl morris
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • committee member
    • County/Area
    • South End E ssex
  • Matthew Bather
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • CSL
    • County/Area
    • Wiltshire
  • Ewa Maria Henderson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • BSL
    • County/Area
    • Edinburgh
  • Alan Fyfe
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ESL
    • County/Area
    • City of Edinburgh
  • ken grayson
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • esl
    • County/Area
    • central yorkshire
  • Dawn Sheppard
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • ACSL
    • County/Area
    • Greater London Middlesex West
  • Steve Smith
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • AESL
    • County/Area
    • Avon
  • Keith Crowhurst
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • GSL, ADC Fellowship
    • County/Area
    • South East Essex, Southend Estuary District
  • Trudie Negus
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • Network Member, Fellowship secretary
    • County/Area
    • Central Newcastle
  • Amy
    • Position e.g. CSL, ASL, DESC, DC etc
    • not sure
    • County/Area
    • Essex/southend on sea