Programme and structure

Although the organisational structure of Scout Network focuses on Districts, Counties still have an important role to play. For example, Counties can continue to develop projects for Members of all District Scout Networks across the County to participate in. This may be particularly helpful for larger projects e.g. County wide community action projects, international expeditions etc.

As well as projects, a County Programme Team Leader/Member can play an important role in meeting regularly with District Scout Network Commissioners and discussing how to grow and develop the provision. 

A UK Scout Network will be established and be the membership point for Scout Network members not associating themselves with a District. 

Countries should have a Country level Scout Network Commissioner, who'll ensure a quality Scout Network operates within the Country, and line manage any Programme Coordinators at Country level if applicable.

The District Scout Network will have a Link Agreement with the totality of the Explorer Scout provision in the District. You can find out more on the Scout Network Link Agreements webpage.
 

It's a rule that every District will have a District Scout Network and that all those involved in Scouting, aged 18-25, will be members. The rationale for moving Scout Network to Districts is to ensure that the links between the Explorer Scout provision in the District and the District Scout Network improve.

However, it's been recognised from the outset of discussions regarding the future structure of the Scout Network that flexibility would be required for situations where a District may find it challenging to operate a District Scout Network for some local reason. The issue of a District's geography may not be a sufficient reason for an exception to be made, as it's widely anticipated that District Scout Networks may not necessarily meet all together in one place on a regular basis, but are more likely to gather in Project Teams. In circumstances where an exception is considered necessary, and subject to agreement by the relevant Lead Volunteer (or in some cases, their nominee), a time-limited exception may be granted.

Applying for an Exception 

A District cannot decide on its own to not have a District Scout Network. The District Lead Volunteer, together with the District Scout Network Team Leader (if appointed), and having consulted with all those aged 18-25 in the District, must make an application to have an exception considered. Any application for an exception needs to outline the steps a District will take to work towards making a District Scout Network viable in the future.

The request for an exception has to come from the District. Any level above the District cannot impose an exception on a District.

Step 1 

The reason for an exception is generated at District with an indication of the measures that will be taken to work towards making a District Scout Network viable in the future.

This would involve: District Lead Volunteer, District Scout Network Team Leader, District Youth Lead, Members aged 18-25.

Step 2 

The Exception Application is reviewed by the County Lead Volunteer (England/Northern Ireland), Area/Region Lead Volunteer (Wales) or Regional Lead Volunteer (Scotland).

This would involve: County Lead Volunteer (or equivalent), Relevant County Programme Team Member/s, other District Lead Volunteers.

Step 3 

If the Exception Application is considered appropriate by the County Lead Volunteer (England/Northern Ireland), Area Lead Volunteer (Wales) or Regional Lead Volunteer (Scotland) it will be passed to the Regional Lead Volunteer (England), Chief Lead Volunteer for Northern Ireland (or nominee), Chief Lead Volunteer for Wales (or nominee) or Chief Lead Volunteer for Scotland (nominee) for decision.

This would involve: Regional Lead Volunteer (for England), Chief Lead Volunteer for Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland (or their nominees) and Deputy UK Lead Volunteer for Programme (14-25).

How it will work in practice 

An Exception Application form will be available on the UK Scout Network website, along with guidance on the Exception Application process. 

Alternatives to District Scout Networks 

After discussion and agreement by the various parties concerned, exceptions could lead to the time-limited establishment of:

County (England/Northern Ireland), Area (Wales), Region (Scotland) Scout Networks

This could be where all Districts in a County, Area or Region have made an Exception Application and had it approved.

Cross District Scout Networks 

This could be where more than one but not all Districts in a County, Area or Region have made an Exception Application and had it approved. This would also involve agreement between the Districts concerned as to which one would have primacy for the appointment of a District Scout Network Team Leader serving the provision across multiple Districts. 

International Scouting is a very broad term and can involve everything from going on an expedition to another country to learning about cultures and traditions in your weekly programme.

Check out all the guidance on International Scouts and events.

A Scout Network Member involved in Programme activities from this Programme Area should:

• Take practical action in the service of others that will enable members to:
• Create positive social change that is of benefit to a wider community.
• Develops the individual in taking action.
• Build strong links and appreciation for difference between Scouts and between others in the Community.

Some practical activities for this Programme Area might include:

• Complete their Scouts of the World Award.
• Design and build a garden for a local care home or hospice. Bear in mind those who'll use the garden when building it. If you know a landscape gardener you could ask them for advice.
• During the holiday season, plan and organise a playgroup for the local community, or arrange a set of events/trips for disadvantaged young people. Remember to check the rules laid out by OFSTED as well as the relevant child welfare rules.
• Contact a local charity to offer your Scout Network's services to redecorate/renovate a room in a rest home, children's home or other similar venue.
• During the winter months, offer a snow-clearing service to the elderly and those with special needs, provide a weekly shopping service, or arrange to call on people who don't have many visitors.
• Go carol singing in local care homes, hospices or other community locations.
• At a local event, provide marshals to assist with car parking and crowd control, or offer first aid support from those members of Network that are first aid qualified.
• Visit a local Magistrates Court or Crown Court and see what happens during the proceedings. Discuss whether the legal system discriminates in favour of or against any particular group. Afterwards, you could hold a mock trial or act out a case during an evening.
• Contact an organisation dealing with drug abuse, and obtain information about how drug abuse is dealt with within the local community. You could also approach the local Police Authority who will have a drugs prevention unit.
• Carry out a survey of religions in your local community and compare the different beliefs. Visit the different places of worship, discuss the different teachings and where possible take an active part in the service.
• Represent your Network on the local youth council, County Trustee Board or similar committee where the views of young people are sought.
• Invite a local environmental expert to discuss the meanings of such terms as 'ecology', 'recycling', 'natural environment' and so on. Consider the information and visit local examples of where mankind is affecting the balance of nature.
• Take part in an environmental project; contact the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) for projects in your local areas that the Network may be able to get involved with.
• Find out about the Campaign to Protect Rural England, an organisation that works to protect the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England. Is there a project within your local community that would fit the criteria of the CPRE?
• Make contact with the local Young Farmers' Club to discuss with the Network members the impact of modern farming methods on the environment including the effects of GM crops.
• Design, make and maintain a set of bird boxes at a local beauty spot or Scout campsite.
• Contact the Forestry Commission and carry out some conservation projects under their guidance.
• Contact your local Scout campsite and select a project which would improve the environment of the site and the surroundings.
• Plant your own Network forest.

A Scout Network Member involved in Programme activities from this Programme Area should:

• Engage in adventurous and other activities that will enable members to:
• Develop skills and pursue their interests.
• Develop and use skills to make a difference in their local and Scouting communities.

Some activities for this Programme Area might include:

• Make your own beer or wine. Invite a local expert to provide you with their opinion, or use the home-made wine at your next Network Ball. You could run a trip to a local brewery to find out how it is done on a larger scale.
• Gain a qualification in mountaineering, canoeing or other adventurous activities, and then pass your skills on to other members of the Network or local Explorer Scouts. You could also arrange a weekend away with a Mountain Rescue or Cave Rescue team, then run a fundraising event for them. Your Area or District Programme Team member for activities will be able to inform you if there are any in-house courses.
• Enhance your compass skills with orienteering. Join a local club, take part in an organised event then pass your skills on to other network members or organise an orienteering course for your local County/Area campsite.
• Learn to drive a car or ride a motorcycle. If you're already a driver/rider, improve your skills by taking the advanced driving test, have a go at off-road driving, or take a lesson on a skidpan.
• Work towards a qualification from the Royal Life Saving Society, St John Ambulance or the British Red Cross. Then use these skills at a local swimming pool or help as a first aider at an event.
• Obtain a 'banger' of a car/minibus and with the help of a mechanic, repair the vehicle for road use.
• As a Scout Network, train to take part and compete in a physically challenging event such as the London Marathon or the Original Mountain Marathon in Scotland.
• Learn the rules of water polo and form a Network team against other local Networks, or challenge a local team to a match.
• Organise a Scout Network survival camp, with activities such as shelter-building, campfire cooking or river crossings.
• Have a go at a taster session in sub aqua, waterskiing, hot air ballooning, gliding, kite flying and surfing, land or sea yachting, bob-sleigh or Cresta run, or white water rafting.
• Build a raft and challenge another local Network to a race.
• Design and build an assault course and challenge other networks or Explorer Scout Units to the challenge.
• Have a go at a challenge such as the Three Peaks or walk a long-distance route like Hadrian's Wall.