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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

We have a fund to help support members in financial hardship to take part in UK Contingent events such as the World Scout Jamboree, World Scout Moot and Roverway. It is available for adults and young people who will otherwise struggle with costs.

Inclusion Fund for World Scouting Events

The Inclusion Fund for World Scouting Events supports those young people and adults who are in significant financial hardship with the costs of attending UK Contingent events. These grants are focused on those most in need, and so relatively few grants will be awarded. We anticipate that due to high demand, not all applicants to the fund will be successful. Meeting the criteria and providing the evidence below will be a minimum requirement for applications.

For adult volunteers who meet at least one of the financial hardship categories you will also need to explain how the event/trip will be negatively impacted for the young people by the inability of this adult to attend. Adult volunteers are considered to be any member taking on a role as CST/CMT, Unit Leaders and IST members; members aged over 18 who are attending as participants will be considered young people. No more than 10% of grant awards will be made to adult volunteers.

Our aim is to support those who are in most financial need attend; so if we are oversubscribed we will also take into account the number of financial hardship criteria that apply to the applicant and the support provided by the Region/County/District to raise funds.

Young people and adults applying to the fund must meet at least one of the criteria for financial hardship.

Evidence that can help you make the best judgement of ‘financial hardship’ would be if a family is in receipt of/eligible for one of the following:

  • Total household income level below £23,000 in London or below £20,000 outside London
  • Young carer (recognised by relevant authorities)
  • Looked after child (in care)
  • Free school meals* or pupil premium funding
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related employment and support allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and annual income does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
  • Working tax credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Disability Living Allowance (related to the young person or parent)
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

*Free school meals are provided to all pupils in the lower years of primary schools in England and Wales, so the other indicators are more valid in these circumstances.

In addition to their online application form applicants will be required to provide evidence of:

  • Approval from the Unit Leader/CST
  • Support from local Scouting for the trip (this might be financial support, fundraising events or gifts in kind such as equipment)
  • Fundraising targets/events that an individual is required to attain / attend
  • Funding limits and conditions
  • Applicants can receive funding up to 50% of the UK Contingent fee (local additions to the fee will not be covered).
  • Applications cannot subsidise a whole unit, and can only be awarded to those participants who have been named on the application form and for whom evidence has been submitted.
  • Payment is made in the form of discounts to your fee to HQ for attendance at the event.
  • No more than 10% of grant awards will be made to adult volunteers (CST/CMT, Unit Leaders and IST members).
  • The level of reserves held by the County/District where a unit is based will be considered as part of the grant award process.