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Policy, Organisation and Rules

Scout’s Policy Organisation and Rules (POR) provides support and guidance to help us all run Scouts.

POR Amendments March 2024 Update

Introduction

Some clarifying changes to the wording, plus inclusion of the fact that TSA is a member of WOSM.

Definitions

New definitions for:

  • AGM
  • Area
  • Charity Governance
  • The Scouts’ Website
  • Young Leader

Updated definitions for: 

  • British Scouting Overseas
  • Conflict of interest
  • County
  • District 
  • Gross misconduct
  • Group
  • Growth & Communities Team (formerly Regional Support Team)
  • Harassment
  • Personal enquiry
  • Quorum
  • Region
  • Regulated activity
  • Section
  • Structure
  • Unsupervised access

1 – Our fundamentals

There are no changes to Chapter 1

2 – Key policies

Minor changes to reflect recent style guide updates.  Some clarified wording related to the Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

3 – Membership

Minor changes to reflect recent style guide updates

Minor updates to reflect recent questions asked of the Support Centre (see 3.3.2.4, 3.6.2.3, 3.8.1.4)

Clarification that rules for suspension or dismissal of Explorers includes the suspension or dismissal of Young Leaders. 

4 – Local organisation of sections, Groups, Districts, Counties

There are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 4.  

To clarify a number of questions relating to Ratios received by the Support Centre, a new rule 4.4.1.7 has been added to address occasions when there is nobody on the Section Leadership Team with a full appointment.

To clarify a number of questions received by the Support Centre concerning Joint Scout and Guide Groups (4.9.4), a new 4.9.4.2 has been added.  The rules in 4.9.4 are renumbered but otherwise unchanged.

5 – Local Scouting governance and finance – Groups, Districts, Counties

Chapter 5 contains changes required to reflect the change to the membership and appointment requirements of Scout Councils and Trustee Boards.

5.3.1.6, 5.3.1.7 and 5.3.1.8 have been added to reflect the transition arrangements for current ex officio Trustees who will no longer be ex officio members of the Trustee Board.

In sections 5.4, 5.5. 5.6, new details have been added concerning the conduct of Group, District and County Scout Council meetings in 5.4.8, 5.5.8 and 5.6.8 respectively.

A key change in this chapter is that the model constitution (previously covering all Scout charities as section 5.4 in the July edition of POR) has been replaced by sections 5.4, 5.5. 5.6 for Group, District, County model constitutions respectively. 

This follows feedback from users of the April 2023 and July 2023 editions of POR.  

Section 5.7 (previously section 5.5) is now renamed as Finance and commercial matters.

Based on feedback received on the previous version, some other small improvements and clarifications have been made. 

6 – UK HQ structure

There are no rule changes but there are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 6.  

7 – Emergency procedures

There are no rule changes but there are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 7.  

8 - Insurance

A description of the Scouts’ Trustee Indemnity insurance has been added.

There are a few additional minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 8.  

9 - Activities

There are no rule changes but there are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 9.   

10 – Uniform, badges and emblems

There are no rule changes but there are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 10.

The linked ‘positioning on uniforms’ diagrams (10.36) have been updated. 

11 – Awards and recognition of service

11.2.6  The Commissioner’s Commendation Award is renamed as the Commendation Award,

Additionally, there are a few changes to improve and clarify wording in Chapter 11.

12 – Flags and ceremonial

There are a minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 12.

13 – Trusteeship, property and equipment

13.1.2.2  Words added to clarify ‘excepted charities’ in England and Wales.

13.3.4   Rewording to reflect the Trustee Board changes introduced from April 2023.

There are a minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 13.

14 – Other matters

There are no changes to Chapter 14. 

15 – Resolving concerns

There are no changes to Chapter 15.

16 – Adult roles

There are a few minor changes to improve wording in Chapter 16.  

The changes to Chapter 16 primarily relate to improved wording of mutually agreed restrictions, suspensions and role ending to reflect questions recently asked of the Support Centre.

Roles Table

There are no changes to the Roles Table. 

Safeguarding and vetting decision guidance

Small improvements at the request of the Safeguarding Committee to clarify wording based on feedback received from users. 

Download POR March 2024 Update