A Guide to Trustee Boards for Young People
Can I be a trustee?
Introduction
This guidance is designed to help young people starting their role on Trustee Boards. It should not be seen as a technical guide, but should point you in the right direction when getting started in the role. Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of The Scout Association contains the up-to-date rules of the Scouts.
The Trustee Board is a team of volunteers who work together to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally.
Together, Trustees make sure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR). Their support helps other volunteers run a fantastic programme that gives young people skills for life (and experiences they’ll remember forever).
As a young person in the Scouts, it’s important you can be represented and be engaged in decision-making at all levels.
Can I be a trustee?
All members of Trustee Boards are charity trustees which hold important legal responsibilities and requirements. You cannot be a member of the Trustee Boards 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 members of their local District or County Trustee Board. Where possible, Group, District and County/Area Trustee Boards should have at least two young people (18-25 year-olds).
If you're under 18, you cannot act as a charity trustee. However, you can attend Trustee Board meetings as a guest (with no formal vote).