{"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EHow we operate\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Scout Association exists by authority of a Royal Charter granted by King George V in 1912 and supplemented by further charters granted by King George VI and HM Queen Elizabeth II. These charters give authority to the byelaws of The Scout Association, which are approved by His Majesty\u2019s Privy Council.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe byelaws, in turn, authorise the making of rules for the regulation of The Scout Association\u2019s affairs. The rules are laid out in The Scout Association\u2019s Policy, Organisation and Rules.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis report and financial statements cover the activities directly controlled by The Scout Association \u2013 charity numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SCO38437 (Scotland). This includes its five wholly owned subsidiary companies \u2013 Scout Shops Limited, Scout Insurance Services Limited, Scout Services Limited, Scout Products Limited and World Scout Shop Limited (see note 12 to the financial statements for further information on these companies).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe activities of the Scout Councils of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales together with Scout Counties, Areas, Regions (Scotland), Districts and Groups aren\u2019t reflected in this report and accounts. These bodies are autonomous charities affiliated to The Scout Association, which together form the Scout movement in the United Kingdom.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EThe Board of Trustees\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThroughout the year, The Scout Association has diligently adhered to all relevant laws and regulations, ensuring full compliance with the Charity Commission\u2019s guidance on public benefit. The Board of Trustees has taken proactive measures to maintain transparency and accountability in all our operations. We\u2019ve implemented robust governance practices and regularly reviewed our policies to align with legal requirements. Our commitment to ethical standards and regulatory compliance underscores our dedication to serving the community effectively and responsibly.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board has 20 members:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E12 members nominated and elected by the Council of The Scout Association at the AGM: 9 elected members and 3 elected youth members.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E5 members appointed by the Council at the AGM on the recommendation of the Board: the Chair of the Board, the Treasurer and up to 3 others.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E3 Ex-Officio Members: the Chief Executive, UK Chief Volunteer and the UK Youth Lead.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe give an induction for all new Trustees. All Trustees take part in training and development opportunities throughout the year.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024\u201325, Trustees took part in training and development sessions focused on one or more areas related to The Scout Association\u2019s business, including safeguarding and safety.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board\u2019s responsibility includes policy making and overseeing risk management. It delegates the day-to-day management of The Scout Association to the Chief Executive and UK Chief Volunteer, who work with the UK Leadership Team, the UK Youth Lead and their team, and the Executive Leadership Team who manage our employed staff.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board delegates certain functions to six committees that report to it (Strategy and Delivery, Finance, People and Culture, Nominations and Governance, Safeguarding, and Safety). The Board appoints Trustees to serve on these committees annually, with the committee chairs having a three-year term, subject to performance and their continuation as a Trustee. The Board met formally 10 times during 2024\u201325. In that period, the Board also met on several other occasions to receive briefings on important issues, when necessary.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EPolicies and rules\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt The Scout Association, we\u2019ve a comprehensive set of policies and rules applicable to the movement. These policies and rules are regularly reviewed by senior volunteers, senior management, and staff employed across the UK.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re committed to giving young people and adult volunteers the best possible experience in Scouts. To help us achieve this, we follow several key policies, so we can make sure Scouts grows \u003Cstrong\u003Ein a way that\u2019s safe, accessible, and free from discrimination\u003C/strong\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur key policies include:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDuty of Candour\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEqual Opportunities Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPrivacy and Data Protection Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EReligious Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESafeguarding Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESafety Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EVetting Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EYouth Member Anti-Bullying Policy\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ERisk management\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board of Trustees is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing the risks of The Scout Association and its subsidiaries. The Board of Trustees and its committees operate a comprehensive risk management process to make sure appropriate steps are taken to manage and mitigate governance, external, operational (including safety and safeguarding), legal/regulatory and financial risks. Scouts\u2019 activities require risk identification and reasonable mitigation to make sure our charitable objectives are achieved.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe process involves the identification and grouping of the risks The Scout Association faces, both directly and indirectly, through the activities of the movement more generally. This includes evaluating the risks in terms of their potential impact and likelihood to occur, as well as considering The Scout Association\u2019s appetite for those risks, and identifying how they can be mitigated and managed.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EResponsibility for risk management is assigned to members of the Executive Leadership Team, UK Leadership Team (senior volunteers) and Chairs of the Board\u2019s reporting committees, as well as the Boards of its subsidiaries.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board reviews its major risks throughout the year. The safety and safeguarding of young people involved in Scouts are our highest priorities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOther major risks to our organisation include:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPublic trust \u2013 reputational damage due to public perception, historical issues, and external factors.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGrowth\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EData security, specifically an information security breach.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDigital delivery and adoption.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEquity, diversity and inclusion.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EManagement and oversight of our federated structure.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMaking sure we have the right working culture.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFinancial loss or failure of investments and assets.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ERisk Appetite\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Board reviews the risk appetite of each corporate level risk annually to determine the individual tolerance level, what happens when thresholds are breached, and the appropriate and immediate remedial action to bring any issue back within risk tolerance levels. While accepting that risk in Scouts\u2019 activities can never be entirely eliminated, we\u2019re committed to making sure activities are planned and undertaken to the highest levels of quality and safety.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGiven the nature of the activities undertaken, we seek to continuously minimise the potential for serious harm to be caused to young people and members to the greatest extent feasible. Where incidents or near misses do occur, we\u2019re committed to learn from such events and develop our approaches through continuous improvement supported by our Duty of Candour.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, The Scout Association has a high appetite for opportunities for membership growth and would be comfortable taking more risk in this area.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"prev":{"link":"/about-us/our-impacts-and-reports/scouts-annual-report-2024-25/our-members/","title":"Our members"},"next":{"link":"/about-us/our-impacts-and-reports/scouts-annual-report-2024-25/governance-structure-and-board-membership-1-april-2024-to-31-march-2025/","title":"Governance structure and Board membership \u2013 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025"},"allParts":[{"link":"/about-us/our-impacts-and-reports/scouts-annual-report-2024-25/refocusing-our-priorities/","title":"Refocusing our 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