Can a young person be a Trustee?

All members of Trustee Boards are charity trustees which hold important legal responsibilities and requirements. You can't be a trustee if you are disqualified from being a charity trustee by the Charities Acts.

You’ll find the criteria for disqualification to a role with Trustee responsibilities on POR 13.1.

Anybody else can be a charity trustee within the Scouts. All Youth Leads are ex-officio trustees of their local District or County Trustee Boards. Where possible, Group, District and County Trustee Boards should have at least two young people (18-25 year-olds).

You must have a full appointment as a Trustee (this includes as a Youth Lead) before you can vote at, or influence discussion at, a Trustee Board meeting. You can be invited and attend Trustee Board meetings while you have a provisional appointment but may not influence decision making or take part in any voting. This includes ex-officio Trustees.  

A person under the age of 18 cannot act as a charity trustee. However, they can attend Trustee Board meetings as a guest (with no formal vote).