Our County Membership fee

Our County membership fee is set each year by the County Board of Trustees and is calculated based on the number of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers submitted on the county census return. Adult volunteers and Network members do not pay the UKHQ or County membership fee.

In September 2024 the County membership fee was set at £16 for all members under 18. Following a budget review at the county trustee meeting in March 2024 the fee was reduce to £10 per young person. 

This welcome reduction of the fee comes from our membership numbers growing along with recent grants the County has been awarded and diligent management of our current funds. We always aim to make the best use of the annual funds we have available and make conscious decisions to keep scouting affordable. We know that this reduction is welcomed by our groups and units. 

Image

About the membership fee 

The county membership fee is paid annually by our groups and units to contribute to the operating costs of managing and providing organisation management and development, programme, and volunteer support to our adult members across the county. This includes all the areas mandated in POR and the additional services the county provides to support and help volunteer managers and leaders at all levels. All members have paid an annual membership fee at national and county level every year since 1965.

Groups and units make their own decisions on how they want to collect and pay their membership fees. Most youth members make donations to their Scout Groups or Explorer Scout Units to attend scouting activities and events and the amount is calculated from the cost of running scouting locally, inclusive of the UKHQ, District and County membership fees. In some areas, local scouting operates a strong fundraising programme to help raise money to cover the costs of running scouting and all membership fees in order to keep their members feed to a minimum.

What our County membership helps to pay for

Approximately two thirds of the County’s income come from the County’s annual membership fee. The other sources of funds required to meet our costs come from fundraising activities such as grant applications. The County Trustees are working on developing a strategy to reduce the reliance on membership fees while still being able to increase services for members by diversifying the sources of income.

How your membership fee is used 

Our membership fees help us provide our members and volunteers with a wide range of opportunities, services, and support.

We're committed to making sure you have what you need to support young people, week in, week out. From volunteer services and activity opportunities and advice, through to support with growing scouting in our community’s and proactive district support, our services include: