The Charity Commission for England and Wales has issued a Regulatory Advice and Guidance note to Trustees within The Scout Association as the organisation completes the commitments made following the Prevention of Future Deaths Report.

This advice has been shared with all Scout Trustees at Group, District and County/Area/Region level across the UK’s federated Scout structure.

The note outlines the actions Trustees must take to ensure safety and safeguarding commitments are properly implemented, and to confirm that local Scout charities are following the required policies and procedures that keep everyone involved in Scouting safe.

What Trustees Need to Do

All Trustee Boards are asked to take the following steps:

  • Read the Regulatory Advice note carefully.
  • Review the relevant guidance on Trustee duties, decision-making, safeguarding and reporting serious incidentsreferenced in the advice.
  • Add the Regulatory Advice note to the agenda of your next Trustee Board meeting.
  • At that meeting, discuss the advice together and confirm that your Group, District or County/Area/Region has the appropriate controls, procedures and structures in place to keep everyone safe.
  • Record the discussion in your meeting minutes and retain a copy of the advice note with your charity’s records.

County/Area/Region Chairs will be asked to confirm that all local Trustee Boards have read, discussed and minuted the advice by 30 April.

Support for Trustees

If your Trustee Board needs support while reviewing the guidance, several options are available:

  • Your County/Area/Region Lead Volunteer and Chair can help answer questions.
  • Additional information on Trustee roles, responsibilities and learning is available on the Scouts website.
  • The Local Governance Support Team runs regular webinars for Trustees throughout the year.
  • Guidance and advice are also available from the Charity Commission and other relevant charity regulators depending on where your Trustee Board is based.

Further information can also be found in the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR):

  • Chapter 5a – Charity obligations, legislation and regulators
  • Chapter 5b – Local governance in Scouts

A Message to Trustees

It is unusual for all Trustees within the Scouts federated structure to be contacted in this way. The guidance highlights the important role Trustees play in ensuring safety, good governance and accountability within Scouting.

Thank you to all Trustees for taking the time to review this advice and for continuing to support safe, well-run Scouting in our District.