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County Teams and their members

4c.3.1 County teams

4c.3.1.1 County team structure 
A County consists of a Leadership Team, a Programme Team, a Volunteering Development Team, a Support Team and a Trustee Board (POR 5b.3.3) ([NI] For County read Country in POR 4c.3.).

4c.3.1.2 Counties with no Districts 
Some Counties have no Districts. In this case: 

  1. A County 14-24 Team must exist, with the responsibilities described in POR 4c.2.4.
  2. The County Trustee Board must take on the responsibilities of the District Trustee Board in respect of Explorer and Network provision in the County, see POR Chapter 5b. 
  3. The County constitution is affected, see POR Chapter 5c. 

4c.3.2 County Leadership Team

4c.3.2.1 Purpose 
The County Leadership Team leads and inspires volunteers to give young people great experiences and skills for life. They make sure their County teams are organised, have enough volunteers, and can deliver a great programme.

4c.3.2.2 Membership 
County Leadership Team membership:

  1. Team members are: 
    • the County Lead Volunteer(s) 
    • the County Youth Lead(s)  
    • the District Lead Volunteers of each of the Districts of the County  
      (in Counties with no Districts, the Lead Volunteers of each of the Groups in the County) 
    • the Team Leaders of each of the County’s Programme Team, Volunteering Development Team and Support Team 
    • in Counties with no Districts, the Team Leader of the 14-24 Team. 
    • the Sub-team Leaders of any appointed sub-teams of the County Leadership Team 
    • Other Leadership Team Members appointed by the Lead Volunteer of the County 
  2. the County Lead Volunteer is the Team Leader of the County Leadership Team. In the case of a joint appointment (two or more volunteers) as County Lead Volunteer, they should agree between them how best to exercise team leadership of the County Leadership Team. 

4c.3.2.3 Responsibilities 
The County Leadership Team must complete the tasks described in the team description. [NI] In Northern Ireland Districts are supported by Regional Lead Volunteers and the Scouts NI Country team who will undertake tasks below as applicable.

  1. Making sure that the teams across the County are working effectively, make young people and volunteers feel welcome and included, are inclusive and reflect the demographics of their local area, and have the resources, skills and enthusiasm to deliver the Scouts’ strategy.
  2. Making sure that volunteers across the County’s teams fulfil their safety and safeguarding responsibilities, helpers are briefed on safety and safeguarding, and make sure volunteers embrace Our Volunteering Culture.
  3. Helping with recruitment for County Chairs, County Team Leaders, County Youth Lead and District Lead Volunteer roles, and supporting the County Youth Lead to work with County teams so their work can be shaped by young people.
  4. Providing leadership and inspiration to volunteers (and, if relevant, staff members)  
  5. Ensuring that the County’s teams are fully developed, organised and focussed on supporting programme delivery.  
  6. Generating, agreeing and maintaining a vision for the development of Scouts across the whole of the County  
  7. Ensuring Data Protection compliance in the County – including the Leadership Team responsibilities listed at POR 2a.3.2.2 and including all County Teams and sub-teams
  8. Have in place provisions to respond to data breaches, data protection complaints and subject rights requests. 

Read the complete County Leadership Team description on scouts.org.uk. The same web page also includes a Team Description for a County (without Districts) Leadership Team.

4c.3.2.4 Sub-teams 
The County Leadership Team must agree the appointment of any sub-teams to each of the teams in the County (Programme, Volunteering Development, and Support) of one or more sub-teams responsible for specific tasks. The County Leadership Team should not normally need to appoint its own sub-teams.

4c.3.3 County 14-24 Team

4c.3.3.1 Purpose 
In a County that has no Districts, there must also be a 14-24 Team which is set up to fulfil the remit normally required of a District 14.24 Team, see POR 4c.2.4.

Read the complete 14-24 Team description on scouts.org.uk.  

Where a County 14-24 Team has been created, the 14-24 Team Leader is an ex officio member of the County Leadership Team. 

4c.3.3.2 Restriction 
If the County has Districts, there must not be a 14-24 Team. 

4c.3.4 County Programme Team

4c.3.4.1 Purpose 
The County Programme Team oversees and supports the delivery of quality programmes for young people. This includes promoting and supporting Top Awards, and supporting Section programmes when activities are best done at County scale.

4c.3.4.2 Membership 
County Programme Team members are:

  1. the County Programme Team Leader(s)
  2. Sub-Team Leaders of any appointed sub-teams
  3. other County Programme Team Members appointed by the County Programme Team Leader.

4c.3.4.3 Responsibilities 
The County Programme Team must complete the tasks described in the team description. The tasks are grouped under these headings:

  1. Help Sections within the County to improve their programmes
  2. Make sure Sections are set up to deliver quality programmes
  3. Approve County activities and permits (when shared by the Lead
    Volunteer)
  4. Set up activities in the County.

Read the complete County Programme Team description on scouts.org.uk. The same web page also includes a Team Description for a County (without Districts) Programme Team. 

4c.3.4.4 Sub-teams 
A County Programme Team may appoint one or more sub-teams responsible for specific tasks. The relevant County Leadership Team must approve the creation of a sub-team before it is created. Team Leaders of a sub-team are County Programme Team members. 

4c.3.4.5 Shared teams 
A County Leadership Team may decide with a neighbouring County Leadership Team to share a Programme Team. This must be recorded on the membership system as two County Programme Teams – one in each County. Each member of the shared team must have two roles, one in each County. Each County Leadership Team remains jointly responsible for a shared County Programme Team.

4c.3.5 County Volunteering Development Team

4c.3.5.1 Purpose 
The County Volunteering Development Team makes sure all volunteers in their County have a positive and enjoyable volunteering experience. They make it easy for people to join and learn new skills.

4c.3.5.2 Membership 
Members of the County Volunteering Development Team are:

  1. the County Volunteering Development Team Leader(s)
  2. Sub-Team Leaders of any appointed sub-teams
  3. other County Volunteering Development Team Members appointed by the County Volunteering Development Team Leader(s).

4c.3.5.3 Responsibilities 
The County Volunteering Development Team must complete the tasks described in the team description. The tasks are grouped under these headings:

  1. Support all County teams to be aware of, and embrace Our Volunteering Culture
  2. Attract and welcome new volunteers to County teams
  3. Make sure volunteers on County teams are well-supported
  4. Help volunteers on County teams with learning
  5. Recognise volunteers’ achievements.

Read the complete County Volunteering Development Team description on scouts.org.uk. The same web page also includes a Team Description for a County (without Districts) Volunteering Development Team.

4c.3.5.4 Sub-teams 
A County Volunteering Development Team may appoint one or more sub-teams responsible for specific tasks. The creation of a sub-team must have the prior approval of the relevant County Leadership Team. Team Leaders of a sub-team are Volunteering Development Team members.

4c.3.5.5 Shared teams 
A County Leadership Team may decide with a neighbouring County Leadership Team to share a County Volunteering Development Team. This must be recorded on the membership system as two County Volunteering Development teams – one in each County. Each member of the shared team must have two roles, one in each County. Each County Leadership Team remains jointly responsible for a shared County Volunteering Development Team.

4c.3.6 County Support Team

4c.3.6.1 Purpose 
The County Support Team gives tools and resources to help Scouts run smoothly in their County.

4c.3.6.2 Membership 
County Support Team members are:

  1. the County Support Team Leader(s)
  2. Sub-Team Leaders of any appointed sub-teams
  3. other County Support Team Members appointed by the County Support Team Leader.

4c.3.6.3 Responsibilities 
The County Support Team must complete the tasks described in the team description. The tasks are grouped under these headings:

  1. Support Scouts locally by engaging with the community
  2. Support effective processes
  3. Look after property and equipment

Read the complete County Support Team description on scouts.org.uk. The same web page also includes a Team Description for a County (without Districts) Support Team.

4c.3.6.4 Sub-teams 
A County Support Team may appoint one or more sub-teams responsible for specific tasks. The creation of a sub-team must have the prior approval of the relevant County Leadership Team. Team Leaders of a sub-team are County Support Team members. 

4c.3.6.5 Shared teams 
A County Leadership Team may decide with a neighbouring County Leadership Team to share a County Support Team. This must be recorded on the membership system as two County Support teams – one in each County. Each member of the shared team must have two roles, one in each County. Each County Leadership Team remains jointly responsible for a shared County Support Team.