We are currently in need of volunteers to join our Cubs & Scout Section Leadership Team, and volunteers to join our Trustee Board. Click onto our Volunteer Page to find out more.

Trustee Board

The Trustee Board is a team of volunteers who work together, as charity trustees, to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally. At the heart of their role is a focus on strategy, performance and assurance. Effective Trustee Board governance helps our volunteers deliver fantastic programmes that give young people skills for life. 

The Group Chair will…

  • Lead the Trustee Board.
  • Plan when Trustee Board meetings should take place, and decide what to talk about at each meeting.
  • Lead Trustee Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
  • Liaise with Lead Volunteers.
  • Lead recruitment for new Trustees.
  • Support other Trustees by organising inductions, making reasonable adjustments (where needed), checking in to see how they’re getting on, and carrying out annual reviews.

The Treasurer will…

  • Look after finances, such as making sure Groups / Districts / Counties are collecting all membership fees and making all payments.
  • Share details about income and spend with other Trustees.
  • Make sure Gift Aid is being claimed.
  • Make sure proper accounts are kept and draw up policies on finance and investment.

People like you joining our Trustee Board make sure that we can sustainably deliver a fantastic programme for our young people to develop skills for life – safely, legally, and in line with our charitable purpose. 

What does the Trustee Board do?

All Trustees are equally responsible, but they might decide to split the tasks between them.  

Trustees work together to make sure Groups, Districts, and Counties:  

Manage money well 

  • Have enough money for now and in the future. This means having a reserves policy and making sure fundraising takes place, if it’s needed.
  • Have a budget in place. Trustees then agree how to manage the budget with other volunteer teams.

Follow Scouts policies and relevant legislation 

  • Follow PORkey policies (including safety, safeguarding, data protection, and equality, diversity and inclusion), and charity regulations. 
  • Follow employment law if staff are employed, and act as a responsible employer in line with relevant legislation and Scout values. Make sure effective line management is in place for each staff member, which can be delegated to others. 
  • Create Trustees Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 
  • Have Statement of Accounts audited by an appropriate person before the Annual General Meeting. If they’re a registered charity, they’ll need to share it with the charity regulator. 
  • Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

Look after buildings, insurance and property  

  • Look after records of ownership of property and equipment.   
  • Have the right insurance for people, buildings, and equipment.  
  • Make sure buildings and equipment are working well.  

Manage risks  

  • Maintain a risk register and put the right risk mitigations in place.   

Help the charity to operate well, today and in the future  

  • Work with Lead Volunteers to meet their charity aims. 
  • Champion Our Volunteering Culture, and make sure volunteers are aware of it, reflect on it, commit to it, and apply it in their teams.  

 In carrying out the above, Trustees also:  

  • Make sure records of Trustee Board meetings are kept, and complete any actions that are agreed.  
  • Run open selection processes for appointing Trustees.
  • Co-opt Trustees onto the Board if they need people with particular skills or knowledge.
  • Get expert advice, if needed. This could be on health and safety, managing money, buildings, equipment, or employment.
  • Network with other Scouts Trustees to share knowledge and experience.  

I want to join the team

Complete our simple online enquiry form and one of our Group Leadership Team will be in touch.

Still considering it? No previous experience with young people? No problem. Whether you’d like to help out week-after-week or whenever-you-can, we provide training, learning opportunities and cups of tea – every step of the way. You will be supported at every step of your journey and if you decide that this isn’t right for you, that ok – there are lots of other ways to volunteer.