Policy, Organisation and Rules

This POR 4a.1 outlines the principles underpinning our organisation and structures. It provides essential context for understanding how our teams operate and deliver our mission.

4a.1.1 Our fundamentals

4a.1.1.1 Our fundamentals 
The Scouts’ fundamentals are set out in POR Chapter 1.

4a.1.2 We operate in teams

4a.1.2.1 Team-based operation 

1. Our volunteers operate in teams. Each team has a defined purpose and a set of tasks to achieve, as outlined in its team description. 
2. Each team consists of Team Leaders and Team Members. The Team Leader of each Leadership Team is called the Lead Volunteer. 
3. Members of a team must work together to fulfil the team’s purpose and team description.
4. Responsibility for tasks lies with the team. Team Leaders are accountable for ensuring the team achieves its purpose, while the team’s members agree amongst themselves how their tasks will be achieved.  
5. Each team member must understand their team’s purpose and their own individual contribution to it. 

4a.1.2.2 Sub-teams 
Where appropriate, any team except a Section Team may establish sub-teams. A sub-team must have a clear purpose, and their creation must be agreed by the Group, District or County Leadership Team as appropriate (see POR 4c.1.2, 4c.2.3 and 4c.3.2 respectively).

4a.1.3 Programme delivery is at the core

4a.1.3.1 Core purpose
We deliver skills for life to young people and we do that through the delivery of an inspiring programme enjoyed by and accessible to all young people (POR 4b.5).

Delivery of safe, fun, enjoyable and high-quality programme is therefore at the core of what we do. 

4a.1.3.2 Role of section teams 
Section Teams are responsible for coordinating and delivering an inspiring programme to young people. 

4a.1.3.3 Role of all other teams 
All other teams must ensure that their focus is supporting Section Teams to deliver the programme. This support may be direct or indirect and is described in the team’s team description. 

4a.1.4 Governance and Trustee Boards

4a.1.4.1 We are a Federation 
Each Group, District and County must operate as if they are a charity in law. This applies whether or not the Group, District or County is registered with a charity regulator (POR 5a.1.1.2) or (in England or Wales) is an excepted charity (POR 5a.1.2.2). 

4a.1.4.2 Role of the Trustee Board
Every member organisation of the Federation must have a Trustee Board to provide charity governance.  

Governance of a Group, a District or a County is described in POR Chapter 5b.

4a.2.1 Structure and Teams

4a.2.1.1 Purpose of our organisation 
Scouts in the United Kingdom and certain overseas locations is organised in sections, Groups, Districts, Counties and Country Headquarters. These entities of Scouts provide:  

1. support
2. channels for communication
3. opportunities for youth members and adult members to make decisions and take responsibility
4. functional units through which the design and delivery of the youth programme can be best achieved

4a.2.1.2 Purpose of each local Scout unit 
The purpose of each of the local Scout units is shown below:

The organisation of Country Headquarters and UK Headquarters is described in POR Chapter 6.

4a.2.1.3 Leadership and Team Roles
Each Group, District and County is led by Lead Volunteer(s) who have overall authority for their Scout unit and are the Team Leader(s) for the relevant Leadership Team. 

The roles within each team are listed in the Teams Table (POR 16.11.1).   

Each team has a Team Leader who is responsible for ensuring that the team achieves its purpose and outcomes. A Team Leader role may be held jointly by more than one volunteer. 

4a.2.1.4 Group composition
A Group must have at least one section: a Squirrel Drey, a Beaver Colony, a Cub Pack or a Scout Troop.  

A Group may have more than one of any section (for example two Beaver Colonies).  

Each section in the Group is managed by a Section Team.

Some Groups may be Special Groups (POR 4c.1.8).

A Group may partner with one or more Explorer Units (POR 4c.1.3).

4a.2.1.5 District composition
A District comprises several Groups, one or more Explorer Units (including at least one Young Leaders’ Unit), and one Scout Network.

Explorer Units, the Young Leader Unit and the Scout Network are a part of the District 14- 24 provision and are operationally managed by the District 14-24 Team.  

There may be several Explorer Units in the District, An Explorer Unit may be partnered with specific Group(s) (POR 4c.1.3).

4a.2.1.6 County composition
A County usually comprises several Districts.  

Some Counties do not have Districts. In these cases, the County must take on the responsibilities of the District, including those of the District 14-24 Team (for Explorer and Scout Network provision), and of the District Trustee Board.