Trustee Board

The Group Trustee Board

 

The Group Trustee Board is a team of volunteers who collectively serve as the charity trustees for the Scout Group. Their core purpose is to ensure the Group is run safely and legally, focusing on strategy, performance, and assurance (governance). The work of the Trustee Board enables other volunteers (like Section Leaders and the Group Lead Volunteer) to focus on delivering a high-quality programme that gives young people skills for life.

The Trustee Board is collectively responsible for the governance of the Scout Group charity. This includes ensuring the Group:

  • Manages money well, including developing a budget and a reserves policy, and ensuring sufficient funds are available to meet the planned work of each section.
  • Follows all legal requirements and The Scout Association’s Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR), including key policies such as Safety, Safeguarding, Data Protection, and Inclusion.
  • Looks after buildings, insurance, and property, which involves maintaining records of ownership, ensuring proper insurance cover is in place, and making sure buildings and equipment are working well.
  • Manages risks by developing and maintaining a risk register and putting appropriate mitigations in place.
  • Prepares and approves the Trustees' Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for presentation and approval at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

 

Composition of the Trustee Board

 

The Trustee Board is typically composed of between 5 and 12 members to ensure effective governance and is built around three types of Trustee:

 

Ex-Officio Trustee

 

An Ex-Officio Trustee holds their place automatically due to their primary Scouting role:

  • The Group Lead Volunteer (GLV) (This role is the successor to the Group Scout Leader or GSL).

 

Appointed Trustees

 

These Trustees are formally appointed by the Group Scout Council at the AGM, following an open selection process led by the Group Chair:

  • The Chair
  • The Treasurer
  • Other Appointed Trustees (who previously might have been called elected members)

 

Co-opted Trustees

 

  • These members are appointed by the Trustee Board between AGMs to bring specific skills or knowledge (e.g., legal, financial, or property expertise) to the board for a fixed term.

The membership structure ensures the Board has the necessary skills, diversity, and capacity to meet its statutory duties as charity trustees. All Trustees are equal in their responsibility for the charity’s governance, with the primary focus on assurance rather than day-to-day operational tasks.