End a role
These rules explain how to close roles and membership, including appeals.
The rules in 16.5 apply only to members aged 18 or over (volunteers or Scout Network members). See Chapter 3 for those aged under 18.
16.5.1 Resignation from a role
16.5.1.1 A role holder may resign from their role at any time by notifying their line manager.
16.5.1.2 The role end date will be agreed and recorded on the membership system.
16.5.1.3 If the role holder’s service has been unsatisfactory, the relevant Commissioner must ensure that the role is ended as unsatisfactory on the membership system. UK Headquarters may seek further information if necessary.
16.5.2 End someone else's role
16.5.2.1 A role must be ended in the following circumstances:
- the relevant Trustee Board passes a resolution to end the role. In these cases, there is no obligation for the Trustee Board to state its reasons.
- the role is in a scout unit or section that has closed
- a formal review under Rule 16.3.3 has led to a decision to end the role
16.5.2.2 If the role holder fails to observe the terms of a suspension under Rule 16.4.2, then the line manager and appointments chair (and for Trustee roles the relevant Trustee Board Chair) may end the role.
16.5.2.3 Acting together, the line manager and Appointments Chair (and, for Trustee roles, the relevant Trustee Board Chair) may end a role if the role holder:
- receives an unsatisfactory outcome from a personal enquiry
- is seen to no longer accept the principles of the movement
- has or is likely to bring the name of the Scouts into disrepute
- has not achieved a full status for their role within five months from the role start date
- has not met the training requirements listed in the roles table
- has not completed the required on-going learning as listed in the Roles Table
16.5.2.4 Discussions around ending roles should happen in a formal review.
16.5.2.5 In cases where the relevant Commissioner and their line manager agree it is required, roles may be ended without a formal review. The role holder must be advised of the reason for action in such cases.
16.5.2.6 Exceptionally, UK Headquarters may end a role after consulting the relevant Commissioner. The UK Chief Commissioner must ensure that processes and oversight are defined and implemented at UK Headquarters to ensure consistency in such cases. This must include a process for resolving disagreements. There may be occasions where events have led to a number of role holders being investigated for one incident. In this case, the focus should be on ensuring consistency of process so that all parties are assessed fairly and consistently. Note that it is the process that must be fair and consistent – the individual outcomes may vary appropriately to reflect the conclusions of the enquiry.
16.5.3 End someone's membership
16.5.3.1 Membership of the Scouts ends when an individual no longer holds any active roles.
16.5.3.2 The relevant Commissioner may end a member’s membership. This has the effect of ending all active roles.
16.5.3.3 The membership of any member of The Scout Association may be ended by resolution of the Board of Trustees of The Scout Association, which will be under no obligation to state its reasons.
16.5.4 Obligations following the ending of a role
These obligations apply to the person whose role is ending.
16.5.4.1 Where a role is ended under Rule 16.5.1 or Rule 16.5.2, then the individual concerned must immediately give all assets and data related to their role to the line manager. This includes, but is not limited to:
- electronic and paper-based membership data for young people and adults
- scouts related financial information and financial assets, including cash, cheque books, bank statements, passwords
- equipment, digital, and physical resources owned by a scout unit
- keys and other security equipment or information
16.5.4.2 Any Trustee responsibilities held through the role finish at the role end date.
16.5.5 Appeal a non-appointment or the ending of a role
16.5.5.1 In this rule, if there is no Appointments Chair in post then the Trustee Board Chair should request the Appointments Chair from a nearby District or County to assume the role, for the purpose of the appeal only.
16.5.5.2 In this rule, if there is no Trustee Board Chair in post then the District Commissioner or County Commissioner as appropriate should request the Chair from a nearby District or County to assume the role, for the purpose of the appeal only.
16.5.5.3 To appeal the non-approval of a role or the ending of role(s), the individual must contact the Appointments Chair within 14 days of being notified of the decision.
16.5.5.4 All appeals must only consider the process carried out and must not consider or review the decision made. In cases where multiple roles have been ended at once, all ended roles must be considered together for a single appeal.
16.5.5.5 The individual, the Appointments Chair, and a member of the appointments advisory committee should meet. In order to avoid any conflict of interest, if the appeal is for non-approval of a role, the member of the appointments advisory committee should not have been involved in the original appointments panel. This meeting is to allow the individual to explain the problem with the process and to try and agree on a resolution. The appointments chair must ensure that all attendees and the relevant Commissioner are provided with the outcome of the meeting in writing.
16.5.5.6 The individual may make a final appeal, if not satisfied after the first step, by contacting the relevant Trustee Board Chair within 14 days of notification of the first step’s outcome.
16.5.5.7 The Trustee Board Chair may decide an investigation is required. If so, up to three Trustees with no previous involvement with the appointment must be asked to conduct the investigation and provide a confidential report to the Trustee Board Chair.
16.5.5.8 Although the report itself is confidential, it is important that any action points recorded in the report are actioned promptly. Where necessary this will require that actions (and the context of the actions) are appropriately shared by the Trustee Board Chair in order to ensure prompt delivery of each action.
16.5.5.9 The Trustee Board Chair’s decision is final and must be provided in writing to the individual and the relevant Commissioner. There is no further right to complain or appeal, through any process.