Chapter 6 The Structure of the Headquarters of The Association The Council and committees of , membership, national leadership and support.

Chapter Contents Sub-Committees of the Board of Trustees The Other National Groups The Patron National Leadership The President Headquarters The Council of The Scout Association The Country Scout Councils of Northern , and Membership of the Council Companies and Trusts Associated with The Board of Trustees of The Scout The Scout Association Association UK Membership of the Board of Trustees Rule 6.1 National The Executive Committee Units Membership of the Executive Committee

The Royal Charter • Chief Scout; The Scout Association exists by authority of a • Treasurer; Royal Charter, granted by King in • Deputy Chief Scout 1912 and supplemented by further Charters granted by King George VI and • Chief Executive; Queen Elizabeth II. • International Commissioner; These Charters give authority to the Bye Laws • Chairmen of National Boards; of the Association, which are approved by Her • Chief Commissioners of , Majesty's Privy Council. Scotland, Wales and ; The Bye Laws, in turn, authorise the making of • National Commissioners; rules for the regulation of the Association's • Chief Commissioners of Overseas affairs, and thereby give authority for the Rules Branches; printed in Policy, Organisation and Rules. • County Commissioners. The Patron Nominated Members Her Majesty The Queen is the Patron of The Each Scout County and each Overseas Scout Association. Branch may nominate members to the Council. The President Each County or Overseas Branch may have His Royal Highness The Duke of is the one Nominated Member for every 10,000 President of The Scout Association. Members or part thereof declared by the County or Branch at the time of the annual The Council of The Scout Association census taken prior to the nomination. The Scout Association is governed by a Council of between 300 and 500 members as A Nominated Member serves for three years determined by the Royal Charter of 1912 and unless another is nominated in the the Supplemental Royal Charters of 1949, 1959, member's place. 1967 and 1991. Salaried officials employed by County Scout The Council appoints the Chief Scout, who Councils may be nominated, but persons in becomes the Chairman of the Council. the full-time employment of Headquarters are not eligible for nomination. Membership of the Council Nominated Youth Representative The Council consists of: Each Scout County may nominate one youth Ex-officio members representative to the Council. • President;

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The Nominated Youth Representative must Elected Youth Members be a Member or Associate Member of the Three youth Members or Associate Association in the nominating County. Members of the Association elected by the On nomination the representative must have Council at an Annual General Meeting of the passed his 18th birthday but not reached his Council 24th birthday at the date of the annual Appointed Members census. The Chairman of the Board, the Treasurer A Nominated Youth Representative serves and up to three other persons who need not for three years unless another representative is nominated in the be, at the time of their nomination, Members representative's place or the representative or Associate Members of the Association, has reached his 25th birthday at the time of provided always that those so nominated the County Annual General Meeting. accept to become at least Associate Salaried officials employed by County Scout Members on their appointment by the Councils may be nominated, but persons in Council at an Annual General Meeting. the full-time employment of Headquarters Appointed Members are appointed for a are not eligible for nomination. period of three years. Elected Members Right of Attendance The Council may include up to sixty other persons of whom not more than three may The Chief Scout and any Deputy Chief be full-time employees of The Scout Scouts [if they are not Trustees], Chief Association. Commissioners [including the International Commissioner], the UK Commissioners for These Members are elected by the Council Programme and Adult Support, Regional at the Annual General Meeting of the Commissioners, County Commissioners and Council. County Chairmen have the right of Elected Members serve for three years. attendance without vote at meetings of the Trustee Board and may put forward matters The Board of Trustees of The Scout for discussion on giving fourteen days' notice Association to the Secretary of the Board. The Board of Trustees exists to manage the business of the Association in accordance with The Executive Committee the Bye Laws of the Association. The Executive Committee exists to carry out the management oversight of the business of the It is the body, which makes the Policy and Rules Association as authorised by the Board of of the Association as published in Policy, Trustees and to initiate and facilitate discussion Organisation and Rules and in the various of policy by the Board of Trustees within the handbooks and other official literature of the overall policy decided by the Board. Association. Membership of the Executive Committee Membership of the Board of Trustees The Executive Committee consists of: The Board of Trustees consists of: Ex officio members Ex-officio members • Chairman of the Board of Trustees; • Chief Scout or Deputy Chief Scout (but • UK Chief Commissioner not both); and • Treasurer; • Chief Executive. • Chief Executive; Elected members • Chairmen of the three main sub- Nine Members or Associate Members of the Committees; Association (one each from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and three from Non voting members northern England and three from southern • Senior Management Team; England) elected at an Annual General Meeting of the Council. Right of attendance • Members of the Board of Trustees.

Sub-Committees of the Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees delegates certain powers to five sub-Committees:

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• The Finance sub-Committee; The appointment of a Chief Commissioner may • The General Purposes sub-Committee; be renewed for a second period not exceeding five years. • The Operations sub-Committee; and Chief Commissioners are Ex-officio Members of • The Headquarters Appointments sub- the Council of The Scout Association. Committee. Regional Commissioners (England) SV • Risk Assurance Committee Regional Commissioners (England) are The membership and terms of reference of appointed by the Chief Commissioner (England) these sub-Committees is determined by the with the approval of the Headquarters Board of Trustees. Appointments Committee. . Two or more members of the Board of Trustees The appointment of a Regional Commissioner must serve on each. remains valid until the fifth anniversary of the Other persons may become members of the date of the appointment. sub-Committee provided that the majority of the The appointment of Regional Commissioners is members of any sub-Committee are members of subject to formal review by the Chief the Council of the Association. Commissioner (England) Chairmen of sub-Committees are elected The appointment of a Regional Commissioner annually by the Board of Trustees. may be renewed for a second period not exceeding five years. Other National Groups Regional Commissioners are Ex-officio The sub-Committees are advised by national members of all County Scout Councils in their groups appointed from time to time with the region and have Right of Attendance at all approval of the Board of Trustees. County Executive Committees in their region. The membership and terms of reference of each Regional Commissioners (England) are treated board or group is determined by the Board of as National Commissioners for the purposes of Trustees. the Bye Laws. National Leadership Chief Scout The Chief Scout is appointed by the Council of The Scout Association according to the terms laid down by the Council. UK Chief Commissioner A UK Chief Commissioner may be appointed by the Association. The UK Chief Commissioner is treated as a Deputy Chief Scout for the purposes of the Bye Laws. Treasurer The Treasurer is appointed by the Council of The Scout Association according to the terms laid down by the Council. Chief Commissioners Chief Commissioners are appointed by UK Chief Commissioner with the approval of the Headquarters Appointments Committee. The appointment of a Chief Commissioner remains valid until the fifth anniversary of the date of the appointment. The appointment of Chief Commissioners is subject to formal review by the UK Chief Commissioner.

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United Kingdom Commissioners • letter - Scout Information Centre, The Scout UK Commissioners are appointed by UK Chief Association, , , Commissioner with the approval of the , E4 7QW. Headquarters Appointments Committee to undertake special responsibilities, such as the leadership and support of the Sections. www.scouts.org.uk is the official website of the Association and provides regular news updates, The appointment of a UK Commissioner general information on , material for remains valid until the fifth anniversary of the young people, Scouting magazine on-line and date of appointment. access to the Membership Services system. The appointment of a UK Commissioner may be renewed for a second period not exceeding five years. The Country Scout Councils of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales The appointment of UK Commissioners is These Scout Councils exist to advise their subject to a formal review by the UK Chief respective Chief Commissioners in all matters Commissioner. relating to the exercise of the Commissioner's UK Commissioners are treated as National discretionary powers as specified by Commissioners for the purposes of the Bye Headquarters, and to perform such Laws. administrative and executive duties as may be delegated to them by Headquarters, which may Headquarters include management of their financial affairs. The Board of Trustees of The Scout Association Headquarters makes and approves constitutions maintains a Headquarters staff with a for Country Scout Councils in order to facilitate departmental structure as required for the the performance of delegated duties. implementation of its policy and to provide services and materials necessary for the proper Northern Ireland Under the Scout Constitution conduct and development of Scouting. (This for Northern Ireland the affairs of The Scout includes Regional Development Managers and Association are under the charge of The Officers who are appointed by Headquarters and Northern Ireland Scout Council, with a assigned to work in support of the development Committee for the management of its business. of Scouting in Counties and Districts in Under the authority of Headquarters, Northern England.) Ireland Headquarters is the body responsible for matters of programme, training and Chief Executive administration in Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive is appointed by the Board Northern Ireland has separate legal and of Trustees. The Chief Executive is responsible educational systems and its own system of local for the co-ordination of all the work of the staff of government. Headquarters, for the implementation of the policy of the Board of Trustees and for such Certain Rules concerning trusteeship, property special tasks as may be requested by the and charitable status therefore do not apply in Committee. Northern Ireland without modification. SV The Chief Executive is an Ex-officio Member of Scotland Under the Scout Constitution for the Council of the Association and of the Board Scotland, the affairs of The Scout Association of Trustees. are under the charge of The Scottish Council of The Scout Association, with a committee for the Board Secretary management of its business. Under the authority The Board of Trustees appoints a Secretary to of Headquarters, Scottish Headquarters is the carry out the duties required of such a person by body responsible for matters of programme, the Bye Laws. training and administration in Scotland. SCOUTING Magazine is the national magazine Scotland has separate legal and educational of The Scout Association and provides practical systems and its own system of local resources, information and support for those government. involved in Scouting. Certain Rules concerning trusteeship, property The Scout Information Centre provides and charitable status therefore do not apply in information and resources to the Movement. It Scotland without modification. can be contacted as follows: • tel - 0845 300 1818 (local rates apply) • fax - 020 8433 7103 • email - [email protected]

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Wales Scouting in Wales is supported by the Scout () Limited is a Welsh Scout Council. Headquarters in London 'captive' insurance company registered in undertakes for it many of the functions of a Guernsey. Its purpose is to undertake insurance Country Headquarters. Scout Counties in Wales business on behalf of the Scout Movement and are known as Areas. thus, to a certain extent, protect the Movement from premium rates applicable to the general The Overseas Branches of the Association insurance market. The premiums charged can Branches of The Scout Association are be related more directly to the risks involved in established in certain territories overseas, with Scout activities instead of having to follow the local Chief Scouts and Chief Commissioners. open market rates. Their constitutions are granted by Headquarters Scout Insurance Services Limited (trading as and may be withdrawn at its discretion. “Unity”) is a company wholly owned by The Scout Association. Its primary purpose is to Variations to the Rules of the Association may provide insurance support to the Association, to be sanctioned by Headquarters to suit the local the Scout Movement in the and circumstances of an Overseas Branch. to British Groups based abroad. Scout The International Commissioner is responsible Insurance Services Limited is authorised and to the UK Chief Commissioner for the efficiency regulated by the Financial Services Authority. and well-being of Scouting in Overseas Branches and for relations with Scout Girlguiding UK Associations in Commonwealth Countries. The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK, although separate organisations, share a British Groups Abroad common Founder and have similar aims, In a number of countries throughout the world principles and methods. Co-operation between there are British Scout Groups, which are the two organisations is encouraged at all times registered by The Scout Association. and at all levels. These Groups are supported by Headquarters. Rule 6.1 National Scout Active Support Units Companies and Trusts Associated with The Scout Association a. The UK Commissioner for Adult Support may form National Scout Active Support Scout Shops Limited is the service for the Units. supply of , badges, resources and other items for the Association. It is a company b. Applications to form a National Scout Active owned by the Association, with its profits being Support Unit are made to the UK returned to The Scout Association.. Commissioner for Adult Support. The Scout Association Trust Corporation is a c. The purpose of National Scout Active company limited by guarantee formed by The Support Units is to provide active support to Scout Association. Its powers and constitution Scouting at a national level. are stated in its Memorandum and Articles of d. All adult-only support groups linked to Association. Scouting at a national level must be The Scout Association Trust Corporation may registered as National Scout Active Support act as sole trustee for land and investments for Units. The Scout Association and for Scout Councils of e. The UK Commissioner for Adult Support Groups, Districts and Counties in the United may delegate another national appointee to Kingdom, excepting Scotland and Northern act as the responsible Commissioner to Ireland. support the activities and development of a Scout Services Limited is a company formed National Scout Active Support Unit, to agree by The Scout Association for the purpose of and review the service agreement, and to fund raising. It is wholly owned by the maintain effective liaison between Association and the profit from its trading is Headquarters and the National Scout Active covenanted to the Association. Support Unit. f. Each National Scout Active Support Unit is led by a National Scout Active Support Manager who is responsible for ensuring that the Unit meets its service agreement. One or more National Scout Active Support Co-ordinators may be appointed to assist in the running of the Unit. All appointments of

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National Scout Active Support Unit Managers and Co-ordinators will take place through arrangements nominated by the UK Commissioner for Adult Support. g. Subject in all cases to a satisfactory Personal Enquiry (see Rule 3.26), membership of a National Scout Active Support Unit is open to any person aged 18 or over, including: i. those holding other appointments in Scouting, who will be expected to give priority to the duties of these local appointments; ii. Members, who will be expected to give priority to their Scout Network. h. The National Scout Active Support Manager must be a Member of the Association. All members of a National Scout Active Support Unit must be at least Associate Members. They may also become Members by making the . i. A National Scout Active Support Unit is responsible for providing active support in accordance with its service agreement, agreed annually with the UK Commissioner for Adult Support or nominee. j. The following minimum standards are laid down for National Scout Active Support Units: • There must be an appointed National Scout Active Support Manager. • A National Scout Active Support Unit must provide active support to Scouting on a national level, as detailed in the service agreement.

• A National Scout Active Support Unit must comply with the operational procedures agreed with the UK Commissioner for Adult Support or nominee. k. If a National Scout Active Support Unit fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive years, it may be closed by the UK Commissioner for Adult Support (acting together with the International Commissioner/UK Commissioner (Programme) if appropriate), with the approval of the Operations Committee. l. If a National Scout Active Support Unit fails to reach the minimum standard for three years it must be closed.

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