Contact us

Tools to help you run your Trustee Board

Please note – this section of the web site is currently being updated. Some items may still refer to executive committees

Trustee Boards are an important part of scouting – but can sometimes be overlooked. 

The Group Trustee Board acts in the groups best interests, acting with reasonable care and skill to take steps to be confident that:

The scout group is:

 - well managed
 - carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
 - complying with the charity’s governing document and the law
 - managing the charity’s resources responsibly
 

It is accountable to the group scout council, which is made-up of all the people involved in scouting in the group: leaders, supporters, parents, administrators, patrol leaders, and a few others.

executive icon

Our trustee board toolkit will help you define the role of your group trustee board and its members.

There's lots of practical reference material on the different responsibilities of the board and downloadable and editable tools, templates and guidance, including help to recruit, welcome and induct members
of your trustee board. 

The toolkit covers:

  • the purpose and role of the group trustee board

  • the key responsibilities of the boards’ officers 

  • good governance & policy, organisation & rules

  • recruiting and supporting trustee board members

  • accounting and bank accounts

  • a rough guide to insurance

  • model constitution

  • claiming gift aid

  • creating a group assets register

  • successful annual general meetings (AGMs)

  • pro-active committee meetings

  • active sub-committees

  • supporting young people of your board

  • risk registers

  • Policies and processes 

Take a look at...

  • The role of the trustee board

    Our group executive committee members can often be the invisible volunteers in scouting. But, this said, they are trustees and are responsible for the management and governance of scouting within your scout group.

    Read more

  • Tips for kick-starting an effective executive

    Every scout group has charitable status in its own right, regardless of being registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. members of the group trustee board are charity trustees.

    Read more

  • What does the trustee board do?

    The trustee board members are charity trustees and are totally responsible to the group scout council for the effective management of the scout group. They address all aspects of good stewardship and it is a role not to be taken on lightly.

    Read more

  • Risk register

    Risk is an everyday part of charitable activity and managing it effectively is essential if the members of your trustee board are to achieve their key objectives and safeguard your group’s funds and assets.

    Read more

  • Trustee board officers and members

    Every trustee board needs a chair, treasurer and secretary to operate effectively. below you will find lots of helpful information and support material for each of these important roles.  

    Read more

  • Sub-Committees

    Sub-committees can be set-up for a wide range of purposes. They can be formed and dissolved as and when they are deemed necessary by the trustee board. Sub-committee members do not need to be on the trustee board but they could be.

    Read more

  • Good charity governance

    Good governance is fundamental to a charity’s success. It enables and supports a charity’s compliance with the law and relevant regulations. It also promotes a culture in which everything works towards fulfilling the charity’s vision.

    Read more

  • Group constitution

    A constitution is a set of rules and procedures that guides how your group's executive and wider governance works. It sets out how things happen and how they work.

    Read more

  • Policy, Organisation & Rules

    Policy, Organisation and Rules (referred to as POR), defines the structure of Scouting in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and provides information about its management and training.

    Read more

  • Group equipment (assets) register

    Your group invests a lot of effort and money in providing quality scouting to young people, so it’s important to know what equipment (assets), you have so that you can protect your investments and plan for the future.

    Read more

The templates available have been taken from a wide range of sources and can be used to create your own policies and tools. Please be sure that the wording, any financial details, any links to other websites are appropriate for your group. These templates are to give you a guide on how to write your own governance documents.  We will be updating this resource section as appropriate/necessary.