Community Sponsorship

The training of Members is the responsibility of the Group Scout Leader and the team of Leaders. It is not for the Sponsoring Authority to say, for example, when a camp may be held or who may attend. This is a training matter for the Scouters alone.

A Sponsored Scout Group may operate a policy of restricted recruitment. This must be defined in the Agreement with the Sponsoring Authority. A Sponsoring Authority such as a place of worship or a school may restrict recruitment to its own members. Similarly, a large business may sponsor a Scout Group with recruitment restricted to the children of its employees. No restrictions on recruitment may be made which contravenes the provisions of any statute or enactment. It must also be noted that membership of a school Sponsored Scout Group must be voluntary.

It's vital that both the Sponsoring Authority and the Scout Group know their responsibilities. These must be agreed and understood by all concerned and written into the Sponsorship Agreements for future reference. The District Commissioner must therefore be satisfied that the Sponsoring Authority is prepared to discharge the following:

To accept the aim, method and policies of The Association as defined in “Policy, Organisation & Rules.”

To encourage the development of Scouting within the Group and to give the fullest possible encouragement and assistance to the Group Scout Leader in carrying out their duties.

The Sponsoring Authority might also be expected to take a lively interest in the Group, giving general support, encouragement and endeavouring to maintain the Group’s continuity. Likewise, the Scout Group should play an integral part in the corporate life and activities of the Sponsoring Authority.

To prepare an agreement with regard to property and equipment to be adhered to by the Sponsoring Authority and the Group and to be recorded annually by the District Secretary.

It's necessary to differentiate between property belonging to the Group and that belonging to the Sponsoring Authority. This information must be recorded in the agreement drawn up by the Group Trustee Board and the Sponsoring Authority. A draft agreement is attached.

It's important to remember that the term ‘property’ includes land, buildings, investments and money. This means that a permanent headquarters built on land which does not belong to the Group, is, in law, the property of the body to which the land belongs. The agreement must also make provision for the disposal of property, equipment and funds in case the Group has to close at some point in the future.

The District Commissioner will also need to establish which, if any, of the following responsibilities the Sponsoring Authority is willing to assume and is equipped to discharge.

To maintain the continuity of leadership and to approve Scouters for appointment subject to the provisions of The Association’s “Policy, Organisation and Rules”.

The future of the Group will depend upon maintaining continuity of Leadership. If the Sponsoring Authority assumes this responsibility, it should select and approve the nomination of Leaders and must sign the Adult Application Form (AA) before it is passed to the District Commissioner and the Appointments sub-Committee for approval.

To provide financial support or to ensure that the Group is able to acquire funds adequate to the fulfilment of its training programme.

There are many examples of the financial support given by Sponsoring Authorities:

• Total [100%] funding of all the Group’s activities.
• A fixed annual grant, the Group raising any funds needed over and above the grant.
• Funding a portion of the Group’s budget. The Group Trustee Board would submit its annual budget to the Sponsoring Authority, which would agree to meet a certain percentage of the budget, which may be fixed or decided annually. The Group would be required to raise the balance.
• A fixed or unfixed amount of money for certain Group activities or specific projects such as the running costs of the meeting place or minibus, or meeting the costs of Leader training.
• Assistance with fundraising events rather than direct finance.

In the case of a religious body, to support the Group Scouters in their responsibilities for spiritual development within the training programme of the Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts.