The Trustee Board is a team of volunteers who work together, as charity trustees, to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally. At the heart of their role is a focus on strategy, performance and assurance. Effective Trustee Board governance helps our volunteers deliver fantastic programmes that give young people skills for life.
As a District Trustee Board, we work to make sure that we manage our money well, that all areas of the District follow Scouts policies and relevant legislation, look after buildings, insurance and property, manage risks and help the charity to operate well, both today and in the future.
Trustees work together to make sure that we:
Manage money well
- Have enough money for now and in the future. This means having a reserves policy and making sure fundraising takes place, if it’s needed.
- Have a budget in place. Trustees then agree how to manage the budget with other volunteer teams.
Follow Scouts policies and relevant legislation
- Follow POR, key policies (including safety, safeguarding, data protection, and equality, diversity and inclusion), and charity regulations.
- Follow employment law if staff are employed, and act as a responsible employer in line with relevant legislation and Scout values. Make sure effective line management is in place for each staff member, which can be delegated to others.
- Create Trustees Annual Report and Statement of Accounts
- Have Statement of Accounts audited by an appropriate person before the Annual General Meeting. If they’re a registered charity, they’ll need to share it with the charity regulator.
- Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Look after buildings, insurance and property
- Look after records of ownership of property and equipment.
- Have the right insurance for people, buildings, and equipment.
- Make sure buildings and equipment are working well.
Manage risks
- Maintain a risk register and put the right risk mitigations in place.
Help the charity to operate well, today and in the future
- Work with Lead Volunteers to meet their charity aims.
- Champion Our Volunteering Culture, and make sure volunteers are aware of it, reflect on it, commit to it, and apply it in their teams.
In carrying out the above, Trustees also:
- Make sure effective administration is in place to support the work of the Trustee Board.
- Make sure records of Trustee Board meetings are kept, and complete any actions that are agreed.
- Run open selection processes for appointing Trustees.
- Co-opt Trustees onto the Board if they need people with particular skills or knowledge.
- Get expert advice, if needed. This could be on health and safety, managing money, buildings, equipment, or employment.
- Network with other Scouts Trustees to share knowledge and experience.
Sound like the role for you? Contact Will Hazell, District Lead Volunteer, on dlv@gdscouts.org.uk for more info!
