Lesson 4: Finding out where your role fits within Scouts and what support is available to you
Contents
- Introduction to the workbook and assessment
- Lesson 1: Understanding the basics of Scouts’ volunteer training scheme
- Lesson 2: Learning about the movement’s history
- Lesson 3: Exploring the fundamentals of Scouts, and how to bring them to life
- Lesson 4: Finding out where your role fits within Scouts and what support is available to you
- Lesson 5: Understanding the Equal Opportunities policy and ways to support inclusivity in Scouts
- Assessment
Lesson 4: Finding out where your role fits within Scouts and what support is available to you
Across the UK, we’re proud to be a single family of Scouts.
But to make sure everyone gets the support they need, we’re arranged in different Groups and Units across our regions and nations. A volunteer manager looks after each Group or Unit to help the volunteers make sure our young people gain those skills for life.
Our structure
Section
Sections are Beaver Colonies, Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Explorer Units and Scout Networks and are where Scouts happens for young people.
Scout Group
Beaver, Cub and Scout sections are all part of a Scout Group. Some Groups are larger or smaller, depending on several factors like location, or available facilities. One group could contain one or two Beaver Scout Colonies, one or two Cub Scout Packs and a single Scout Troop. Another may consist only of one section.
Scout District
A number of Groups in a certain locality make up what’s known as a Scout District. Explorer Scout Units and Scout Networks are also part of the Scout District.
Scout County/Area/Region (Scotland)
In England, a number of Districts make up a County (also known as an Area in Wales, and a Region in Scotland).
All Groups, Districts, Counties/Areas/Regions (Scotland) are governed by Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR), which offers the framework for all Scouts to operate within.
Executive Committees
Did you know: each Group, District and County has a constitution, many of which use what’s called ‘the model constitution’ in POR. This outlines the membership and role of the Council and Executive Committee.
But what is the Executive Committee? In many parts of the UK, it makes sure the managers of all the different Groups, Districts and Counties meet their responsibilities. An Executive Committee is made up of Trustees who have legal obligations to uphold in the running of a charity. You’ll find out more about them in a moment.
There are different charity regulations (and different charity regulators) in England, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as in each of the countries in which British Scouts Overseas operates.
For example, in some parts of the UK the members of the Executive Committee may not be Trustees e.g. Scotland (if not registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Register (OSCR)) but all should act like Trustees.
Regional variations
There are a few geographical differences in the Scouts structure depending on where you are in the UK. It’s important you’re aware of them and understand the differences, wherever it is you’re based.
- In England and Northern Ireland there are Scout Groups, Districts, Counties and Regions.
- English Regions are made up of a number of Counties and Welsh Regions are made up of a number of Areas.
- In Wales, Scout Counties are known as Areas.
- British Scouting Overseas is known as an Area, not a County.
- In Guernsey, it’s a Bailiwick and not a County – and there are no Scout Districts.
- Jersey and the Isle of Man are Islands not Counties and also don’t have any Scout Districts.
- Scotland doesn't have any Counties, but Scottish Regions instead. Within a Scottish Region, there are several Districts, and within a District, several groups.
- There may also be other Counties and Areas that don’t have any Scout Districts.
Volunteer roles
Week by week, thousands of volunteers show up at Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer meetings to empower our young people to learn new skills, make new friends and stand on their own two feet – with no two weeks the same.
Volunteering is, above all, flexible. The best idea is to share out leadership roles among a team of volunteers – this means more free time for each volunteer, who can then offer to take more of a lead as and when it suits their lifestyle.
Group Scout Leaders and Commissioners at the different levels support other adult volunteers so they stay inspired to provide quality Scout sessions for our young people. Whether you’re after practical help recruiting other volunteers, or just want a good old chat, these are the people to help.
At Scouts, we focus on six areas of leadership and management:
1. Providing direction
2. Working with people
3. Achieving results
4. Enabling change
5. Using resources
6. Managing your time and personal skills
Remember, our approach to volunteering is flexible. The role of Commissioner (like with most roles) can be shared. By working together like this, each individual is able to bring their particular skills to the table and ‘own’ a role they feel best suited to.
There are lots of other people who support Scouts in many different ways. You could be a member of a Scout Active Support Unit, in a role that supports all things administration, or offer your expertise in any of the many adventurous activities Scouts provide.
Scout Active Support Units are there to support all manner of things – from specialists in activities such as climbing, through to supporting the training of volunteers and helping out with big events.
Each group, District and County/Area has to operate as a charity – that means they must have an Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee act collectively as charity trustees, and always in the best interests of its members. Their responsibilities include:
- Comply with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of Scouts
- Protect and maintain any property and equipment owned by and/or used by the charity
- Manage the charity’s finances
- Provide insurance for people, property and equipment
- Provide sufficient resources for scouting to operate. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult support, and fundraising activities
- Promote and support the development of the Scouts in the local area
- Manage and implement the Safety Policy locally
- Make sure that a positive image of the Scouts exists in the local community
- Appoint and manage the operation of any sub-committees, including appointing Chairs to lead the subcommittees
- Make sure that young people are meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels within the charity
- The opening, closure and amalgamation of Sections in the group as necessary (similar requirement for District and County).
There are different charity regulations (and different charity regulators) in England, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as in each of the countries in which British Scouts Overseas operates.
For example, in some parts of the UK the members of the Executive Committee may not be Trustees e.g. Scotland (if not registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Register (OSCR)) but all should act like Trustees.
Youth
As part of the Explorer Scout section (14–18 year olds) there’s the Young Leaders Scheme – a youth volunteer training programme. It supports young people to volunteer alongside adult leaders in either the Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop. The idea is that they’ll become a part of the sectional leadership team and bring fresh ideas to the table, as well as acting as positive role models for the young people in the section.
For the budding decision-makers and future leaders, young people aged 18 plus can take on the role of a District or County/Area Youth Commissioner.
They’re not there to deliver all Youth Shaped Scouts activities themselves; that’s a collective responsibility for all of our members. Instead, their job is to help put Youth Shaped Scouts principles in practice.
Meanwhile in Scotland, there are Assistant District Commissioners for Youth Involvement and District Youth Commissioners have different responsibilities. There are also Youth Advisory Groups at different levels for particular events or initiatives.
Your role
You should now, hopefully, have a better idea of where you fit, both with the role you hold and in the bigger picture.
Getting the support you need
Look around and you should find a lot of people you can turn to for support, guidance and information.
These include:
Your first port of call when you need help and support; your go-to person for advice; the person checking in to make sure you’re comfortable in your role – this is your line manager.
Your formal line manager will likely be the Group Scout Leader, District Commissioner or County Commissioner – it just depends on your role.
If you’re a trustee, your line manager will be the Chair of whichever Executive Committee that you’re a member of.
Often, people in similar roles to yours can offer the best advice and support. Many Groups, Districts and Counties organise regular meetings and events to give these adults a chance to meet and chat.
Don’t forget about the wealth of resources you can find on our website.
It not only contains plenty of information to help you in your role, it’s also filled with ideas and activities to include in your section meetings. There’s lot on awards and recognition (both for our young people and adults) and importantly, our rules and policies.
POR contains all of the rules and policies that everyone in Scouts need to follow. It includes information on our structure, activities, awards and how to deal with difficult situations. Click to read POR.
Click to read the Scottish variations of POR.
The Scouts Support Centre is there to help with any burning questions. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll let you know you who to speak to, or where to go online. You can ask questions online through a live chat, by email or telephone – whichever works for you.
Download the PDF
The Essential Information workbook is available download and print.
Download the Essential Information workbook