How your membership fees are spent

The UK HQ membership fees help us provide you with a wide range of support through our dedicated teams of HQ volunteers and staff. 

We're committed to making sure you have what you need to run quality Scouting for young people, safely, week in, week out.  

From reassuring safeguarding advice, insurance, support with creating places for more young people to join, our services include:

Delivering the programme

• The design and development of our youth programme across the six sections including activity badge/award reviews and updates.
• Online activity finder and programme planner.
• Support for international events and trips.
• Direct support through events and engagement with local Programme Leads.

Growing Scouts

• Direct support in England to open new sections.
• Direct support for the roll-out of Squirrel Scouts across the UK via the cohort model.
• Search processes to appoint new County Lead Volunteers.
• Support for growth and development planning in Counties and Districts to create places for more young people to join, including those who are currently underrepresented in our membership.
• Induction sessions to support new lead volunteers in Counties/Area/Regions (Scotland), Districts and Groups.
• Support for the recruitment and retention of volunteers, including face-to-face and online workshops.
• Resources, templates and best practice in recruiting new volunteers, young people and establishing Scouting in new communities.

Keeping everyone safe

• Criminal Record checking service.
• Insurance for all members.
• Reassuring safeguarding and safety advice from the HQ Safe Scouting Department.
• 24/7 critical incident initial management and ongoing support.
• Volunteer learning, including safety and safeguarding e-learning modules.

Funding Scouting

• Grants to enable programme delivery, participation and training within Scouting.
• Support to lobby government on key policies affecting young people and Scouting.

Additional volunteer services and support

• Scouts Support Centre.
• Legal services (including servicing The Scout Association Trust Corporation).
• Our National Awards to recognise quality and length of service of our volunteers, as well as meritorious conduct by young people and adults.
• National media profile to boost perception and support inclusive growth.
• Targeted member communications highlighting key information and our available services.
• Development of Scouts.org.uk.
• Scout Brand Centre to provide quick and easy to use templates and resources for promoting Scouting locally.
• Development of new digital tools to support volunteers as part of our Volunteer Experience transformation.
• Our national archives and heritage service​, as well as support for local archives.
• Support for resolving escalated and complex complaints.
• Our membership of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

Membership fees account for the majority of the net income into UK Headquarters. We work hard to generate further income from fundraising, corporate partnerships, Scout Store, Scout Adventures and our Scout insurance provider, Unity, which help keep membership fees down. 
 
You, our volunteers, are our most precious resource. Thank you for everything you do.