Appointment of members

3.4.1.1 Young persons in Groups (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts)

1. The authority to admit anyone to membership of a Group rests with the Group Lead Volunteer, in line with The Scout Association’s policies.  
   For sponsored Groups, this decision must also comply with the recruitment policy (if any) defined in the sponsorship agreement. 
2. For Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, the Group Lead Volunteer may delegate to the relevant Section Team the responsibility for admitting young people to membership. 
   Decisions on admittance of members must be made in accordance with The Scout Association’s policies even if responsibility is delegated. 
3. There may be situations where a section lacks the capacity or resources to meet a young person’s needs or make the necessary reasonable adjustments.  
   In these cases, the Group Lead Volunteer must work with the parents to find or create an alternative provision.

3.4.1.2 Young persons in Explorers, including Young Leaders

1. The authority to admit anyone to membership of an Explorer Unit (including a Young Leader Unit) rests with the District 14-24 Team Leader, in accordance with The Scout Association’s policies.
2. The District 14-24 Team Leader may delegate to the Section Team of the relevant Explorer (or Young Leader) Unit the responsibility for admitting young people to membership.  
3. In Scotland, the District 14-24 Team Leader (or their delegate) is responsible for ensuring that a Young Leader’s criminal record check (Scouts’ PVG disclosure) is completed before they start, or continue, carrying out their Young Leader role from their 16th birthday.
   To enable this, the Scottish Young Leader must be added to the membership system. For Young Leaders in Scotland who wish to begin their role from their 16th birthday, this can be carried out from age 15 years and 8 months.
   The criminal record check (Scouts’ PVG disclosure) must be fully completed before the Scottish Young Leader:
   
   1. starts their regulated role
      OR
   2. continues in a regulated role if they were already volunteering as a Young Leader prior to their 16th birthday.
4. In the case of a partnership agreement with a sponsored Group, membership must also comply with the recruitment policy (if any) defined in the Group’s sponsorship agreement.
5. Explorers (including Young Leaders) must leave the Explorer (or Young Leader) Unit at their 18th birthday. At this point they may do one of:
   1. join the Scout Network
   2. take on an adult role (see the POR Chapter 16 Teams Table)
   3. join the Scout Network and also take on an adult role
   4. leave Scouts.

3.4.1.3 Scout Network

1. The authority to admit anyone to membership of a District Scout Network rests with the District 14-24 Team Leader, in accordance with The Scout Association’s policies. 
2. Scout Network membership ceases when the individual reaches their 25th birthday.
3. At their 25th birthday, the Scout Network member may only retain their membership of Scouts by having an adult role in Scouts.
   There is no flexibility on the upper age of the 25th birthday for any youth member.

3.4.1.4 Adult members
The decision to add adults or roles to the membership system is made by the Group Lead Volunteer, District Lead Volunteer or County Lead Volunteer respectively for Groups, Districts and Counties in accordance with The Scout Association’s policies and the volunteer joining journey process in POR Chapter 16.