Joint Scout and Guide Units

Both the Scout Association and the Guide Association have their own Trust Corporations which can be used to hold property when it is jointly managed by a Scout and Guide Unit. In this situation the property is held by only one of the Trust Corporations and there is a shared trust deed specifically used for joint arrangements.

This shared trust deed establishes a joint management committee, with broad rules outlined in the deed. Generally, the management committee should be a sub-committee of both the Scout and the Guide Units, made up of three members from each Unit with decisions made by a majority vote.

The joint management committee is not its own charity or separate legal entity but is a committee set up to ensure effective management of the shared property. This committee remains accountable to each of the separate Scout and Guide Unit trustees which they represent. The Scout and Guide Units remain two distinct separate charities despite them jointly holding property.

Alternatively, either the Scout Unit or Guide Unit could own the property outright and licence or lease part of the property to the other Unit. Please discuss with your local solicitor what structure is best for your situation.