Scottish Scout Groups / Districts / Regions
Application for Charitable Status
with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
Since the introduction of regulation through The Charities and Trustee
Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the establishment of the Office of the
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) a Scout body in Scotland may only refer to
itself as a charity if it is registered with OSCR and has its own Scottish Charity
Number. This differs from the position in other parts of the UK.
Certain benefits may not apply to Scout bodies that are not registered
charities, e.g.
 a Scout body in Scotland must be registered as a charity in its own
right if it wishes to benefit from Gift Aid.
 A Scout Group / District / Region that owns property (e.g. a hall or
campsite) may find that entitlement to mandatory & discretionary Local
Authority rating relief does not apply if it does not have its own OSCR
registration number.
Following discussions between Scottish Scout Headquarters (SHQ) and the
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), approval has been given by
OSCR to an option to standardise the process for new applications for
charitable status by Scout bodies in Scotland.
To avail of this straightforward process a Scout body wishing to register as a
charity must
(a) agree to adopt POR (with Scottish Variations) as its governing
document (constitution);
(b) provide OSCR with a signed minute of the meeting agreeing to this
course of action using the template provided by SHQ, and
(c) complete the OSCR Application Form using the text provided in the
guidance given below. (NB: simply cut and paste the answers into the
OSCR form)
No copy of POR need be sent with your application. OSCR may contact SHQ
to confirm the status of the applicant body.
Additional useful information can be found in the Trustees and Office Bearers
area of the SHQ Scouts-Scotland website
Further information and guidance on duties of Trustees is available on the
OSCR website
MINUTE OF MEETING
of the Executive Committee of the ……………………………………………..
Scout Group / District / Region (name)
held on …………………………………………. (date)
held at ………………………………………… (place)
Present (print names)
……………………………………………. Chairman
……………………………………………. Secretary
…………………………………………….. Treasurer
……………………………………………… (acting) Group Scout Leader /
District / Regional Commissioner
It was unanimously agreed to adopt Policy Organisation and Rules (with Scottish
Variations) of The Scout Association as the Governing Document of the Group /
District / Region with immediate effect.
It was also noted that the Group / District / Region will continue to provide the
Scouting Programme in accordance with POR, and any amendments issued from time
to time.
DECLARATION
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of
the (name)………………….………..………………..……… Group/District/Region
held on (date) …….…………………………………………..
at (place)………………………………………………………………………………
it was unanimously agreed to adopt Policy Organisation and Rules (with Scottish
Variations ) of The Scout Association as the governing document of the said
……………………………………………………... .Scout Group / District / Region
Signed …………………………………………… Chairman/Trustee
Signed……………………………………………. Secretary/Trustee
Signed ……………………………………………. Treasurer/Trustee
Signed……………………………………………
(acting) Group Scout Leader /
District / Regional Commissioner
Guidance for Scout bodies in Scotland on completing the OSCR
Application Form for Charitable Status
1a
Insert name e.g. 1st XYZ Scout Group; XYZ District Scout Council, etc.
1b
N/A
1c
In most cases insert N/A. If in doubt contact SHQ for advice
2a
Insert the name and contact details of the member of the Executive Committee to
whom correspondence will be sent
2b
In most cases insert N/A. Otherwise, provide a justifiable reason why the chosen
member’s name and address should not be published on the register
3.
Insert your own Group etc website address if you have one.
4.
Tick box ‘2’ (i.e. Unicorporated association)
5.
Insert the following:
We have adopted the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of The Scout
Association, with Scottish Variations applying, as the Group / District / Region
(delete as appropriate) constitution. A signed copy of the minute of the meeting
relevant to this adoption is attached.
Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal
development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
Our principle purposes are:
(b) the advancement of education
(f) the advancement of citizenship
6a
Scouting provides a progressive non-formal education programme for young
people aged generally from 6 to 25. The programme has a core framework based
around 6 personal development areas:
Body – Health and fitness
Mind – Practical skills and creativity
Faith and Beliefs – Personal faith, learning about and developing an
understanding of other faiths and Scouting values
Relationships – Personal and Group
Community – People and service, locally and internationally
Surroundings – Natural and built environments, sustained development
6b
The programme is delivered with guidance and support of adult volunteers, who
are required to meet adult membership commitments to training
6c
Scouting supports the development of young people through a programme that
delivers the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence; contributes to the
well-being of our community through promoting active citizenship; and contributes
to the development of community capacity through its volunteer training
programmes
6d
The Method of achieving the purpose of Scouting is by providing an enjoyable
and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and
Law and guided by adult leadership.
7a
In most cases insert N/A
For Groups / Districts / Regions with employees or individuals receiving an
honorarium, provide brief details and insert the following: No employee is
permitted to be a trustee of the Group/District/Region
7b
Membership provides entitlement to wear Scout uniform as appropriate and to
wear programme and training badges and awards. It also confers membership of
the Worldwide Scout Movement.
8a
Membership of programme sections is open to young people aged 6 to 25. Adult
membership is open to adults aged 18+who must agree to operate in accordance
with the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of The Scout Association.
8b
Members pay an annual membership subscription to contribute to costs of
services from District, Region and Headquarters.
Groups may additionally insert the following:
A weekly/monthly/quarterly subscription of £X also contributes to the costs of
general programme activities
8c
There is no formal concessionary scheme, but best endeavours are used through
fundraising, grant applications, etc. to ensure in a discrete manner that finance is
not a barrier to participation for any individual.
8d
There is an annual membership subscription of c. £25 per member payable for
Headquarters, District and Region services
8e
N/A
8f
Through Membership and Associate Membership, Scouting is open to all.
9
Groups – normally ‘c’
Districts / Regions – normally ‘b’ and / or ‘c’
Where there are employees in a pension scheme also tick ‘a’.
10
11
Tick ‘a’ – Children or young people
Groups – normally ‘a’
Districts – normally ‘b’ or ‘c’
Regions – tick ‘c’
12a Leave blank
12b Leave blank
12c
Leave blank
12d The Scottish Council The Scout Association SC 017511
13.
Insert date of the end of your financial year – it is most common to have 31st
March as the year-end date
14.
At Checklist write the word ‘Scouts’ beside the boxes for ‘constitution’ and
‘business plan’.
Make sure to include the signed Minute and Declaration from the appropriate
Executive Committee meetings, which confirm POR with Scottish Variations as
the governing document.
Trustee Declaration Forms can be found here
Don’t forget to complete and sign the last pages of the form Q14