{"number":"","url":"/por/introduction-to-policy-organisation-and-rules/","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EIntro.1. World Scouting\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.1.1. Origins\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ERobert Baden-Powell\u0027s vision led to the founding of Scouts, a global movement that is active throughout the United Kingdom and in many other countries. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts is a member organisation of the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scout.org/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022WOSM\u0022\u003EWorld Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)\u003C/a\u003E.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EIntro.2. Purpose of Scouts\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.2.1. Mission and impact\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe purpose of Scouts is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.2.2. Programme and sections\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThrough participation in a programme based on the Scout method, both young people and adults develop valuable life skills. This programme is primarily delivered within sections: \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESquirrel Dreys\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBeaver Colonies\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECub Packs\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EScout Troops\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EExplorer Units\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EScout Networks\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.2.3. Teams in support of programme delivery\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdults working within Groups, Districts and Counties (noting that Northern Ireland has no Counties), as well as in Country Headquarters and UK Headquarters, support the delivery and quality of programmes in each section.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EIntro.3. Scouting programme\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.3.1. Programme delivery\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIn every section, the Scouting programme is delivered by a volunteer Section Team, working in partnership with young people. This enables young people to:\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eparticipate in fun indoor and outdoor activities\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Elearn by doing\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eengage in spiritual reflection\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Etake on responsibilities\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey make choices, undertake new and challenging activities, and live by the Scout Promise.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.3.2. Organisational structure\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/strong\u003ETo support the delivery of programme, Scouts has a clear organisational structure: \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESections belong to Groups, which are part of Districts, which in turn form Counties (note: Northern Ireland has no Counties).\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThese local structures operate within broader regional and national frameworks, together they comprise the Federation of charities that together form the Scouts.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEach Group, District, and County (again, noting Northern Ireland\u2019s different structure) operates as a separate charity (even if not a charity in law) with its own Trustee Board, operating collectively within the Federation governed by our \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk/media/6477/royal-charter-approved-by-her-majesty-the-queen-12-february-2020.pdf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Royal Charter\u0022\u003ERoyal Charter\u003C/a\u003E.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EIntro.4. About Policy, Organisation and Rules\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.4.1. Purpose of POR\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe primary purpose of POR is to describe how Scouts is structured, organised, led, managed and governed. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.4.2. Supporting safe delivery of programme and growth of Scouts\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile POR sets out many Rules, it cannot cover every situation. Much relies on the judgement of responsible individuals at all levels. Everyone involved is expected to act in ways that support the safe delivery of the programme and the development and growth of Scouts.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.4.3. Scope of POR\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPOR applies across all parts of The Scout Association including:\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ethe United Kingdom\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ethe Channel Islands\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ethe Isle of Man\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBritish Scouting Overseas\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ethe Overseas Territories.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome parts of POR are not yet fully followed within each of the five Overseas Territories. Each of the five Overseas Territories is working towards full compliance with POR, through a plan agreed with each of the Overseas Territories.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.4.4. Terminology used in POR\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea. Definitions Chapter:\u003C/strong\u003E \u003Cbr\u003ECertain key words and phrases have specific meanings in POR. These specific meanings are clearly defined in the Definitions Chapter of POR. The download (PDF) versions of POR have these key words and phrases highlighted throughout the text of POR.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eb. Scouts:\u003C/strong\u003E \u003Cbr\u003EThe term Scouts has two distinct meanings.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eit refers to the entire Federation (for example \u201Cmy child has joined Scouts\u201D applies to a young person joining any section from Squirrels to Explorers)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eit refers specifically to the Scout section, whose members meet in a Troop.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn POR, the meaning of Scouts is usually clear from the context.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ec. County:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0\u003Cbr\u003EThe term \u003Cem\u003ECounty\u003C/em\u003E is used throughout POR for simplicity, but its meaning varies by location. Depending on the context, the term \u003Cem\u003ECounty\u003C/em\u003E in POR should be read as:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EArea: in Wales and British Scouting Overseas\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBailiwick: for Guernsey \u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETerritory: each of the five Overseas Territories\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECounty: in England, noting that the Isle of Wight is an English County\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIsland: for Jersey and for the Isle of Man\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ERegion: in Scotland (see the definition of Region for more detail)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are no Counties in Northern Ireland. The role of County in Northern Ireland is fulfilled by the Northern Ireland Country team. Variations in POR for Northern Ireland are indicated by \u003Csup\u003E[NI]\u003C/sup\u003E.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe notation \u003Csup\u003E[NI]\u003C/sup\u003E is used throughout POR and indicates that a specific point or rule either does not apply or has been amended in Northern Ireland. If clarification is needed, Northern Ireland volunteers and staff should consult their Regional Lead Volunteer or a member of the Scouts NI Country team. However, the principles of all POR policies and rules apply fully in Northern Ireland.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ed) Charity:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts is a Federation of charities. In POR we often refer to this simply as the Federation. The lead charity in the Federation is The Scout Association. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMost, but not all, organisations within the Federation are charities in law. \u00A0There are two routes to being a charity in law:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFederation members who are registered with the relevant regulator (see POR 5a.1.1.2)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAll excepted charities in England and Wales (see POR 5a.1.2.2).\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFederation members that are not charities in law can occur anywhere but most commonly occur in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, BSO, Isle of Man, Jersey, each of the five Overseas Territories and Scotland.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntro.4.5.\u00A0POR structure\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea. 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Policies:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPolicies are authoritative statements of principle that govern the work of Scouts. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAll policies of The Scout Association which apply to all Scout units must be included in POR \u2013 including at least the policy statement and the associated responsibilities. This ensures clarity, consistency, and accessibility throughout the organisation.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELocal policies may be developed by specific Scout units (including UK and Country Headquarters) but these must not conflict with POR, which contains the only official movement-wide Policies. They must be accessible to all members of the Scout unit.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe definition of Policy in the POR Definitions Chapter includes an outline of a transition direction of travel to have all Policies consistently described in POR.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ec. Rules:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA Rule is a specific guideline, instruction, or principle that tells members (and, in some cases, non-members) what they must or should do in a given situation.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAll official rules that apply across the Federation must be recorded in POR. This supports consistency of programme delivery and management across the organisation.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELocal rules are not permitted. Local procedures may be used to support operation of Scouts, provided they do not conflict with the rules (and the mandatory procedures) set out in POR, which is the sole source of official rules for Scouts.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ed. Mandatory procedures or processes:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col style=\u0022list-style-type: lower-alpha;\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIn addition to rules, POR also describes mandatory procedures and mandatory processes. These are not rules but do describe procedures or processes that must be followed in a specific way to ensure fairness and consistency \u2013 for example to suspend a person from membership.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAll mandatory processes and mandatory procedures must be recorded in POR\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ee. Local decisions:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPOR delegates authority to Counties (\u003Csup\u003E[NI]\u003C/sup\u003E Country), Districts, and Groups where appropriate, enabling local decision-making. Local decisions and procedures must not conflict with POR.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ef. Legal compliance:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAs part of complying with POR, members of Scouts are expected to comply with the law of the land. \u202FPOR does not override legal obligations.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eg. Information:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPOR also provides factual and contextual information which does not require specific action but supports understanding.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eh. 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