Finance Score: -3
Governance Score: 2
Support Score: 15
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Fundraising costs high: -3
  • 12+ Trustees: -1
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Large volunteer base +5
  • Award winner
  • Overall weighted support: +10
Overall GiG Score: 14 ?

THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION

SCOUTING ACTIVELY ENGAGES AND SUPPORTS YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • This charity has been very successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
  • The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
  • This charity is a recent Award Winner
  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • The Board appears to be dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • One or more trustees receive benefits from the charity
  • Why are there 20 trustees whereas the Charities Commission recommends a maximum of 12?

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appeared to be in excess of CC guidelines at the latest year end but spending has been increasing rapidly
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending
  • Fundraising costs are high relative to funds raised

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/24£53,726£60,201£-6,475£9,648£82,487£75,91515.1485116,486
31/03/23£36,287£37,004£-717£9,651£86,643£80,59826.1427113,085
31/03/22£30,013£30,275£-262£6,988£88,288£82,12832.6313139,528
31/03/21£27,148£26,526£622£4,349£85,439£80,06336.2332141,659
31/03/20?£53,542£54,848£-1,306£8,868£39,194£34,0557.5376156,762
31/03/18£34,103£33,762£341£6,024£39,655£34,65312.33240
31/03/17£32,681£33,838£-1,157£531£39,359£34,62112.33140
31/03/16£43,385£45,522£-2,137£8,526£41,555£37,2519.83270
31/03/15*£29,993£30,510£-517£7,049£43,916£38,221153150
31/03/14*£28,754£27,099£1,655£6,572£48,928£44,10919.53110
31/03/13£26,615£26,197£418£6,617£46,608£43,08519.72760
31/03/12£35,156£31,660£3,496£6,841£45,109£41,78615.82600
31/03/11£23,566£23,622£-56£5,428£45,852£42,31921.52510
31/03/10£23,999£23,065£934£5,206£39,066£35,14618.32410
31/03/09£24,087£23,380£707£5,417£36,541£32,30616.62340
31/03/08£49,688£40,521£9,167£6,330£43,434£37,191112400
31/03/07£21,831£18,701£3,130£2,282£30,244£20,197132180
31/03/06£24,944£26,033£-1,089n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£18,156£17,942£215n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£16,667£17,342£-675n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 25.3%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 16.1%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 8%
Highest pay band: £140,000-£150,000
Liabilities/Assets: 13%
Liabilities/Income: 23%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 92%
Reserves/Spending: 15.1 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 4 months
Quick Ratio: 2.2
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 61 years

www.scouts.org.uk

governance@scouts.org.uk

0208 433 7182

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies House
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Amateur Sport
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
GiG Classification
  • Social youth organisations
How it operates
  • Acts as an umbrella or resource body
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People

Who supports them? ?

Awards received
  • Charity Times 2022 Awards Charity of the Year, Income >10m
Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
Pears Foundation£1,981,119
DCMS£471,087
Garfield Weston Foundation£100,000
National Lottery Community Fund£81,454
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Forever Manchester - Camping Equipment Upgrade/Replacement
£1,000 21/12/2023
Costs covering 3 tents for camping trips for scout group.
Forever Manchester - Running Christmas Scout Activities
£1,000 17/11/2023
Venue hire for 5 sessions for a Scout group supporting young people aged 4-18 in personal development.
National Lottery Community Fund - 2nd Bude and Jacobstow Scout Group - New Hut
£9,889 22/09/2023
This funding will be used towards a new scout hut which will provide meeting facilities for people of all ages in the rural and coastal communities in Cornwall. The project aims to provide safe meeting facilities for scout groups and local ....more
Community Foundation for Calderdale - Expedition Equipment
£2,000 08/08/2023
Grant to 35th All Saint's Scout Group
Essex Community Foundation - Odyssey ESU and DofE scheme replacement equipment
£3,000 04/04/2023
to purchase equipment for a scout group to support their camping trips and their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, in Warley
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - 12th Didcot Scouts
£1,100 24/03/2023
5
All 3 groups (Beavers, Cubs & Scout) will be offered a 1 or 2 night away camping.
Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland - Grant to Barrasford Scout Group
£1,000 26/01/2023
Purchasing additional camping equipment to increase camp attendance opportunities
Community Foundation for Calderdale - Youth Leadership and Skill Building Project
£9,925 02/12/2022
Grant to 8th/26th Calder Valley Scouts
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 3rd Netherfield Scout Group
£2,186 22/10/2022
We wish to give children the opportunity to have fun, make new friends and learn valuable skills for life by offering subsidised activities and trips while also providing the equipment they need.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 14th Itchen South Scout Group
£1,703 22/10/2022
We would like to replace our damaged and worn-out hall flooring to improve the meeting place for all users.
DCMS - The Scout Association - Uniformed Youth New Groups Fund
£471,087 17/10/2022
The aims of the grant are to open new uniformed youth groups in areas of disadvantage where no existing groups exist, improve the wellbeing of young people and help them to develop skills for life and work, and to support Uniformed Youth ....more
Forever Manchester - Camping
£1,000 28/09/2022
Purchase of Troop Tents
Cornwall Community Foundation - New Scout Hut
£4,450 23/09/2022
The Scout Group offers 'skills for life' to children aged 5 to 14, fostering personal development and empowerment. Through indoor and outdoor activities, spiritual reflection, and responsibility, they fulfill their Scout Promise. Serving a deprived ....more
Community Foundation for Calderdale - World Scout Jamboree
£1,100 01/08/2022
Grant to 35th All Saint's Scout Group
National Lottery Community Fund - Woodhouse Eaves Scout and Youth Community Hall
£10,000 13/05/2022
The funding will be used to build a scout hut which will become a community used hall. The project aims to create an accessible space for people to come together expand local services and deliver social activities.
Community Foundation for Calderdale - Let's Walk
£5,000 11/04/2022
We plan to offer hill & moorland leader training to 6 adult scout volunteer leaders ( 4 male, 2 female). The training will take place at the national outdoor centre, Plas y Brenin in Snowdonia. Participants will learn how to lead groups safely ....more
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Additional Outside Lighting Project
£800 17/12/2021
We aim to develop skills for life in young people and help them to develop transferrable skills such as teamwork, inclusion, critical thinking and leadership through fun activities. We aim to provide a safe environment for young people to express ....more
Forever Manchester - Camping
£972 26/08/2021
Scout group consisting of Explorers, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers units, requesting camping equipment.
Cumbria Community Foundation - Eden Together
£3,319 14/07/2021
Eden Together
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Post Covid Supporting Young People
£2,021 12/05/2021
To enable the group to be up and running and have funds available following Covid. Will also help to reinstate the funds having been used for covid preparation.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Scouts Association
£100,000 29/03/2021
Nations funding, for distribution alongside the England only Pears DCMS Community Match Challenge grant
Pears Foundation - Grant to Scouts Association
£665,954 22/03/2021
Volunteer Recruitment and On-Boarding: Delivery Phase
Somerset Community Foundation - COVID19 Replacing lost income and maintaining membership fees
£2,000 19/03/2021
Grant to 1st Taunton (Wilton) Scout Group
National Lottery Community Fund - Covid Response Muslim Scout Foundation BAME Youth Support
£52,565 03/03/2021
12
The funding will be used to continue to support 88 England based Scout groups to survive and respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Some of these groups are newly formed and therefore at risk of closure due to the current challenges for face-to-face work ....more
Department of Health - Scouts
£30,000 14/12/2020
We are currently supporting the team with its plans for expanding Mass Testing in schools. As part of this we have been building relationships with partners we intend to work with in the development and roll-out of interactive, animated learning ....more
Pears Foundation - Grant to Scouts Association
£164,537 02/11/2020
6
Volunteer Recruitment and On-Boarding: Discovery Phase
Pears Foundation - Grant to Scouts Association
£1,050,628 29/10/2020
17
DCMS Community Match Challenge grant
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to 3rd Canvey Island Scout Group
£3,500 03/09/2020
to support the cost of replacing the roof on the scout hut and also to help with meeting the group’s capitation costs following cessation of activities as a result of the COVID19 crisis.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Major Grants award - COVID19 response
£100,000 03/07/2020
Scouts Early Years' Social Action Programme
National Lottery Community Fund - Out and About Youth Education Programme
£9,000 19/12/2019
11
The funding will be used to deliver an outdoor educational programme for children from deprived backgrounds, including camping, residential and day trips to improve confidence, self-esteem and aspirations.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Walkham Valley Scout Group
£3,871 15/11/2019
We want to improve our indoor activity facility, with the provision of a projector, screen, flip chart board, and laptop.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 2nd Wollaston Scout Group
£2,849 15/11/2019
We want to subsidise our next international adventure so that it’s accessible to as many of our group as possible.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Scout Association, 1st Eccleshall Scout Group
£3,013 15/11/2019
We want to fund internal improvements to our Scout HQ building, including a disabled toilet and a larger kitchen area.
Two Ridings Community Foundation - summer camp and electronics
£3,000 19/03/2019
Funding for a week long summer camp activities e.g. archery, canoeing, indoor skydiving and to purchase laptops for use at the camp and for future use.
Essex Community Foundation - Repairs to Building
£5,495 15/03/2019
3
To replace the flat roof and fire doors of a well used scout and guide hut in Moulsham
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington - Grant to Scout Association
£334,968 08/03/2019
36
The Scouts Early Years Mercers Pilot, improving literacy and communication skills among early years in different communities across London
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to 183rd Sheffield Hillsborough Trinity Scout Group
£1,200 06/03/2019
24
towards a two night trip to an activity centre for a group of children from Sheffield
National Lottery Community Fund - Extension and Improvement of HQ
£8,000 22/02/2019
12
Extension and Improvement of HQ
Pears Foundation - Grant to Scouts Association
£45,000 26/11/2018
36
Muslim Young People in Scouting
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 1st Leeming Scout Group
£8,295 19/11/2018
Help us buy a minibus that can tow our trailer so we can take the young people away on camp when their parents are deployed on operations.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 7th Swindon (Abbey Meads) Scout Group
£4,765 19/11/2018
We would like to buy a mini-bus so that we can give the opportunity to all of our members to attend camps and undertake outdoor adventure.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 8th Hanwell Saxons Scout Group
£4,066 19/11/2018
We would like to buy some tents and gazebos to be able to take the children camping.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 2nd Wollaston Scout Group
£2,790 19/11/2018
We want to buy a trailer to help us when we do camping trips and activities.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 3rd/5th Lancing Sea Scouts
£7,457 19/11/2018
We would like to replace some of our very old sailing equipment to encourage a healthy and active life style for our young people.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Barracuda Explorers
£7,250 19/11/2018
We want to purchase some camp essentials and empower more young people to enrol in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
Sport England - Community Hall
£17,059 13/11/2018
11
Funding under Sport England's Community Asset Fund funding programme for a Capital project titled Community Hall. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries.
DCMS - ALB-Sport England-Community Hall
£18,000 13/11/2018
Funding under Sport England's Community Asset Fund funding programme for a Capital project titled 'Community Hall'. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries. This funding has contributed towards a ....more
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to 183rd Sheffield (Hillsborough Trinity) Scout Group
£970 20/07/2018
24
towards a two-night trip to a woodland activity centre for a group of disadvantaged children from Sheffield
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to 7th Tipton Scout Group
£5,000 10/07/2018
Conserving the Memories of Scouting
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to The Scout Association
£15,800 14/06/2018
Moving Connections: Scouting and Displaced People
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£5,000 16/05/2018
New Scout Hut replacement
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Grant to Studham Kensworth & Whipsnade Scout Group
£3,000 14/05/2018
23
Longrove Scout Hut
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Grant to Studham Kensworth & Whipsnade Scout Group
£3,000 14/05/2018
23
Longrove Scout Hut
National Lottery Community Fund - Our 110th Year Headquarters Refurbishment Project
£6,300 26/03/2018
12
The project will refurbish the scout headquarters, providing improved facilities for young people attending activities each week.
Quartet Community Foundation - Scout Hut Renovation
£10,000 27/02/2018
12
Toward the cost of installing solar panels on this scout hut which enable the group to generate clean energy and provide energy education activities for the scouts. The hut will also be open for use by the wider Shirehampton community.
Pears Foundation - Grant to The Scout Association
£1,323,353 16/01/2018
36
Pears #iwill Fund: Space to Grow Together Project
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 3rd/5th Lancing Sea Scout Group
£6,184 29/11/2017
We need to replace our 30 year old tents in order to continue offering our young people the opportunity to experience going away to camp.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Southwell Scout Group Council
£5,182 04/08/2017
Help us make our Scout HQ a more sustainable building and protect the community from surface water flooding.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to 1st Bridlington Scout Group - The Scout Association
£5,085 04/08/2017
Replacing and upgrading our worn out camping equipment will enable all our young people to enjoy outdoor experiences.
Essex Community Foundation - Cladding of the Exterior of the Scout Hut
£3,000 23/03/2017
2
Provision of PVC cladding to the exterior of the Scout Hut to minimise future maintenance
National Lottery Community Fund - Extension & development of the Scout Hall to provide better access and
£10,000 24/08/2016
12
This project will use the funding to renovate its community building. This will make the hall more versatile for visitors and community groups and improve access for people with disabilities.
Pears Foundation - Grant to The Scout Association
£223,743 15/12/2015
24
Pears Project 2016-18
Sport England - RS Feva drop Off
£10,000 20/08/2015
24
Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'RS Feva drop Off'. This project is a Sailing & Yachting project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries.
The Blagrave Trust - Better Prepared programme
£63,000 01/07/2015
Extending the reach of the Scouts into deprived areas as part of the Better Prepared programme
National Lottery Community Fund - Sir John Lowther Centre to Nyeri
£10,000 13/11/2014
12
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - 31st Sutton Coldfield West Scout Group Building Project.
£10,000 03/04/2014
12
Not Available
Sport England - Purchase 6 single handed racing dinghies - scouts aged 14-16
£10,000 02/10/2013
Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Purchase 6 single handed racing dinghies - scouts aged 14-16'. This project is a Sailing & Yachting project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries.
National Lottery Community Fund - Southwell Scout HQ refurbishment project
£10,000 21/03/2013
12
This charity in Southwell, Nottinghamshire will use the funding to refurbish their scout HQ and modernise their facilities. This will improve their facilities which are currently used by the whole community.
Sport England - Derby Scouts Sailing - Increase Participation
£9,999 08/03/2011
Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Derby Scouts Sailing - Increase Participation'. This project lists its main activity as Sailing & Yachting.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Legal constitution
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Fundraising Regulator
First registered: 09/01/2016, current status: Large charity (levy paid)
Event History
Other Regulators
  • Financial Conduct Authority
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
20 returns made; AR15: 1 days late, AR14: 0 days late,
Recent reorganisation events:
Main office

The Scout Association
Gilwell Park
Chingford
LONDON
E4 7QW

Objectives

TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACHIEVING THEIR FULL PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL POTENTIALS AS INDIVIDUALS, AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS AND AS MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED


Giving is Great