Skip to main content

Our local structure

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:

Scout Unit Purpose
Section 
  • plans and delivers an enjoyable and safe programme 
  • the programme must be fully accessible and inclusive so that volunteers and young people are able to, and want to, join.
  • manages the section.  
Group 
  • keeps volunteers working well together and feeling motivated across all sections
  • makes sure that the Group is respected and supported in their local community
  • ensures that sections in the Group have the necessary resources to support their delivery of their programme.
District 14-24 Team 
  • keeps volunteers working well and feeling motivated across the District’s Explorer (including Young Leader) and Scout Network sections
  • making sure that the 14-24 sections are well regarded in their local community
  • ensures that Explorer and Network sections have the necessary resources to support their delivery of programme.
District 
  • leads Scouts across the District
  • delivers their part of the County plan
  • helps volunteers develop
  • improves section programmes
  • enhances sections’ programmes with opportunities that can best be run at District level
  • supports Scouts to run in the best way possible.

There are Counties that have no Districts. In this case, the District’s responsibilities are included in the responsibilities of the County.
County [NI]
  • leads Scouts across the County
  • builds and maintains a County plan
  • helps volunteers develop (focusing on volunteers in County teams, including District Lead Volunteers)
  • enhances sections’ programmes with opportunities that can best be run at County level 
  • supports the running of Scouts.

[NI] In Northern Ireland, Districts are supported by Regional Lead Volunteers and the Scouts NI Country team


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.