Scout Active Support

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Scout Active Support
Scout Active Support logo 2019.png
Scout Active Support logo
Owner The Scout Association
Age range18+
CountryUnited Kingdom
FoundedJune 1948
Membership13,124 (Jan 2019) [1]
Assistant UK Commissioner for Programme (Scout Active Support)David J Thompson MBE
WikiProject Scouting fleur-de-lis dark.svg  Scouting portal

Scout Active Support is a section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom that provides support to delivering the youth programme of the Scouts. This support is carried out by Scout Active Support Units, which can be based at every level of the association with 35 national units (as of January 2020) [2] and over 1,400 other units at county, district and group levels. [3]

Contents

The section was first formed in 1948 as the B-P Guild of Old Scouts but was known as the Scout Fellowship between 1976 and 2009 [4] when the current name of Scout Active Support was chosen to more accurately reflect the aims of the section as it was changed to make them more proactive and flexible. [5]

The support offered by Scout Active Support Units varies depending on their focus and specialism but generally focuses on either programme delivery to young people, such as through instruction in scout skills, bushcraft, adventurous activities, event delivery and faith exploration or on the development of Scouting through events and administrative help. [6]

History

B-P Guild: 1947-1976

Forty years after the first Scout camp on Brownsea Island in 1907, the International Scout Conference held in France in August 1947 recommended the creation of associations for Old Scouts by each national Scout associations with a target for this to be achieved by the following year when the 40th anniversary of the official start of the movement (as considered at the time) was to be celebrated. [4] Three months later in November, a British Old Scouts Conference was held at Gilwell Park which planned out the creation of the new organisation, with a membership made up of old Scouts at group and district level and distinct and separate from the training sections within the Boy Scouts at the time. [4] The new B-P Guild of Old Scouts was launched in June 1948. [4] [7]

Five years later in October 1953, a review was made of the organisation as the Guild was not as involved with the Boy Scouts Association as originally hoped which led to the guild being split into its own separate organisation with their own constitution, elected council and committee. [4] As part of the split, £1,000 was gifted by the Boy Scouts to the new Guild which was repaid two years later. [4] The Scouts and the new Guild would share each others publications, liaise at all levels, share responsibility for recruiting within the Scouts and their leaders. [4] The Scouts would urge all former Scouts to join the guild and in return each Guild branch would perform services to local Scouts as much as thy were able. [4] It coincided with the creation of the International Scout and Guide Fellowship, of which the Guild was a founder member adopting their badge in June 1957. [4] [8]

The Guild was renamed the B-P Scout Guild in May 1955 as it moved to admit members who had not been Scouts which was achieved in June 1958. [4] At this time, the Guild were also given their own camp site at Gilwell Park, Ferryman field, and built their own chalet on the site which stood from 1961 to 1995. [4] [9]

As they were not a part of the association at the time, the B-P Scout Guild were not subject to any changes as a result of The Chief Scout's Advance Party Report , although a Scout Supporters Association was recommended to be established in every district that would include all adults involved with Scouting in that area and which would include guild members. [10] This recommendation was approved in principle but would require further research. [11] The guild would re-join the newly renamed Scout Association in April 1971. [12]

Scout Fellowship: 1976-2009

In May 1974 the role of the B-P Scout Guild was examined as part of a wider report into the future of adult support in Scouting. [4] [13] This resulted in the creation of the Scout Fellowship in October 1976 which replaced the Guild, service teams and other supporting organisations with a new district level grouping. [4] [13] As Fellowship began to grow it brought in other elements of the movement such as the Deep Sea Scouts in April 1991. [4]

As part of a wider review of the entire Scout movement in the late 1990s a number of changes to the Scout Fellowship occurred in 1999. A 1998 National Conference led to the development of a new plan and a motto for the group: 'providing active support' which was solidified the following year when the Scout Fellowship was made a full part of The Scout Association and integrated under the auspices of Adult Support. [4] This move meant that the Fellowship, now a part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, is no longer a member of the International Scout and Guide Fellowship. [4] It gained a new sectional logo along with the wider Scout rebranding of 2002. [4]

Scout Active Support: 2009-present

In September 2009 the Scout Fellowship was renamed as 'Scout Active Support', following a three year review that revealed some aspects of Scout Fellowship were working while other aspects were more confused by other members which resulted in the name change to make it clearer what the purpose of the section was. [14] Following the rebrand, Scout Active Support was promoted as a flexible way for people to volunteer with the Scouts without the full-time commitment needed to be a regular leader. [15] [6]

Organisation

Scout Active Support is open to all adults over 18 years of age, including leaders with other sections and members of the Scout Network, subject to satisfactory checks under the Scout Association Child Protection Policy. [16] Scout Active Support members can choose whether to become full or associate members of the Scout Association and wear Scout uniform that is identical to other adult members with the addition of an identifying badge. [17] [16] [18] There is no requirement that members have been involved in the movement before joining and in recent years Scout Active Support have been promoted as a flexible way in which to volunteer with the movement for those who are unable or unwilling to commit to more regular voluntary work. [17]

Scout Active Support Units can be run at a local level by Scout groups, districts and counties or equivalent with a Scout Active Support Manager in charge and an annually reviewed service agreement in place to specify the activities of the unit. [17] [16] [19] [20] The minimum standards of a unit is deliberately limited to having leadership in place and that the unit provides an active support service to Scouting in some fashion. [16] [19] [20] These local units are also overseen by the relevant local manager, such as Group Scout Leaders or Commissioners, and must support it to ensure it meets its objectives. [17] Some local units include the term 'Scout Active Support Unit' in their name while others call their unit by another name and only include their identification as a Scout Active Support Unit on letterheads or formal communications. [17]

A small number of units which operate nationally can apply to be a National Scout Active Support Unit which operates in the same way as a local unit with the Deputy UK Commissioner for Programme (Support) taking the place of the local manager, with the Assistant UK Commissioner for Programme (Scout Active Support) co-ordinating the registration of these groups with headquarters and agreeing the three-yearly service agreement. Aside from this, these units have a manager in similar fashion to local units. [21]

National Scout Active Support Units

National Scout Active Support Units are groups of volunteers who have formed an Active Support Unit registered directly with the Scout Association and include special interest, activity centre, faith-based and international organisations. [21]

Special Interest

The majority of groups are broad in membership and instead focuses on providing support for a particular activity or supporting large events. [22]

Adventure Centre

These units provide support to the national Scout Adventures centres. [22]

Faith

These organisations promote and support Scouting and Guiding within their faith. [22]

International

These organisations support members interested in Scouting around the world. Some are considered Special Interest Groups by the International Scout Support Unit. [22] [46]

See also

Related Research Articles

Scouting World-wide youth movement

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports. Another widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social standing in a country and making for equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or comparable head wear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as merit badges and other patches.

Gilwell Park UK camp site and activity centre for Scouting and Guiding groups and other youth organizations

Gilwell Park is a camp site and activity centre for Scouting and Guiding groups, and is the home of leadership training in the Scout movement. The site is also used by schools and other youth organisations and hosts social events such as weddings and birthday parties. The 44 hectare (109 acre) site is in Sewardstonebury, Epping Forest, close to Chingford, London.

The Scout Association Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom

The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was formed in 1910 and incorporated in 1912 by a royal charter under its previous name of The Boy Scouts Association.

Explorer Scouts (The Scout Association) section of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds

Explorer Scouts, frequently shortened to Explorers, is the fourth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds. The section was introduced in 2001 and formally launched in February 2002, alongside Scout Network, to replace the former Venture Scout section for fifteen-and-a-half to twenty-year-olds.

Girlguiding National guiding organisation of the United Kingdom

Girlguiding is the operating name of The Guide Association, previously named The Girl Guides Association and is the national guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest girl-only youth organisation. Girlguiding is a charitable organisation.

Scout Network

The Scout Network is the fifth and final youth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, catering for those aged between 18 and 25 years. The section was formally introduced in February 2002 alongside Explorer Scouts with both replacing the former Venture Scouts section for fifteen-and-a-half- to twenty-year-olds.

Student Scout and Guide Organisation

The Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO) exists to support Scouts, Guides, and people who have never been members of a Scout or Guide Association, who are students at Colleges and Universities in the United Kingdom and are interested in the aims, objectives, and methods of The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK. Many universities have a Scout and Guide Club affiliated to the University Student Union, although it is not necessary for a club to be union affiliated to be part of SSAGO. Where a University or College has no club, students can join SSAGO as Individual or "Indie" members.

Scouting started in Victoria as early as 1907 and local Boy Scout patrols and troops formed independently.

Scouts (The Scout Association)

Scouts, often referred to as the Scout section to differentiate itself from the wider movement and its parent organisation, is a section of Scouting run by The Scout Association for ten and a half to fourteen year old young people. The section follows on from Cub Scouts and precedes Explorer Scouts. Since 1991, the section has been coeducational and today the Scout section accepts young people from all backgrounds, faiths and genders.

Youlbury Scout Activity Centre

Youlbury Scout Activity Centre is one of a number of The Scout Association's National Scout Activity Centres in the United Kingdom and is the oldest permanent Scout campsite in the world.

21st World Scout Jamboree

The 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in July and August 2007, and formed a part of the Scouting 2007 Centenary celebrations of the world Scout Movement. The event was hosted by the United Kingdom, as 2007 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Scouting on Brownsea Island.

Scouting 2007 Centenary

The Scouting 2007 Centenary comprised celebrations around the world in which Scouts celebrated 100 years of the world Scout movement. The original celebrations were focused on the United Kingdom, such as the camp on Brownsea Island, the birthplace of Scouting, and the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, Essex.

Brownsea Island Scout camp Precursor to the Boy Scout organisation

The Brownsea Island Scout camp was the site of a boys' camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, southern England, organised by Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell to test his ideas for the book Scouting for Boys. Boys from different social backgrounds participated from 1 to 8 August 1907 in activities around camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism. The event is regarded as the origin of the worldwide Scout movement.

Scout Adventures (The Scout Association) Network of activity centres

Scout Adventures are a network of activity centres run by The Scout Association. They offer outdoor facilities, adventurous activities and experiences for members of the Scout Association, other youth organisations and school groups. The centres typically have capacity for hundreds of Scouts simultaneously, often including indoor accommodation in addition to camping. Staffed by qualified instructors, they offer adventurous activities and training for adult volunteers and young people following the badges of the Scout programme.

Cub Scouts (The Scout Association)

Cub Scouts, often shortened to Cubs, are a section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association with a core age of eight to ten and a half years of age. This section follows on from the Beaver Scouts and precedes the Scout section.

Sea Scouts (The Scout Association)

Sea Scouts are a branch of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom dedicated to boating and water-based activities such as sailing, canoeing, motorboating and water navigation. The branch were first formed in 1909 with specialist Sea Scout troops and have been a feature of the wider Scouting movement ever since. They are usually based by the side of water, either the sea, lake, river or canal.

Scouting and Guiding in the United Kingdom is served by several different organisations:

Scouting in Greater London

Scouting in the region of Greater London is largely represented by The Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.

Scouting in South West England

Scouting in South West England is about Scouting activities in the governmental region of South West England. The largest number of Scouts, volunteer leaders and groups are members of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom while there are some traditional Scouting groups such as the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. The Scout Association administers the region through 7 Scout Counties, overseen by a regional commissioner, which follow the boundaries of the ceremonial counties they exist within. There are six active student associations at various universities in the region, each of which is affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO).

B-Ps footprint

B-P's footprint is a casting, usually in bronze or brass, of the right foot of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout and Guide Movements, who is known as "B-P." The idea is that people may put their foot into this casting, so that they can say that they have "walked in the footsteps of B-P."

References

  1. ↑ "Annual report and financial statements 2018–19" (pdf). scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. p. 59. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "National Scout Active Support Units". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Annual report and financial statements 2019-20" (pdf). scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. p. 57. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "1.2 History of the Scout Fellowship" (PDF). ScoutBase UK. The Scout Association. December 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Old Scouts to Scout Active Support". Cambridge District Scout Archive. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. 1 2 "What is Scout Active Support?" (PDF). members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. October 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. ↑ An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 177. ISBN   9780600613985.
  8. ↑ "About ISGF". International Scout and Guide Fellowship. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Rogers, Peter (2006). Gilwell Park and the White House: A brief history and guided tours. Peter Rogers. p. 47.
  10. ↑ The Advance Party Report '66 (PDF). London: The Boy Scouts Association. 1966. p. 73. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. ↑ Design for Scouting (PDF). London: The Boy Scouts Association. 1966. pp. 12–15. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. ↑ An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 181. ISBN   9780600613985.
  13. 1 2 An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 182. ISBN   9780600613985.
  14. ↑ "A new way to volunteer for Scouting". scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. 5 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Introduction to Scout Active Support". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "The Group Scout Active Support Unit". Policy Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Walker, Glenn. "Supporting the Movement Together: Scout Active Support Essentials" (PDF). members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "The Scout Active Support Badge". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  19. 1 2 "The District Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  20. 1 2 "County Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  21. 1 2 "National Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "National Scout Active Support Units". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "Admiral Lord Nelson SASU". RN Sea Scouts. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Home". Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Trading Post. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Home". Bushscout.UK. Bushscout UK National Scout Active Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "History". Deep Sea Scouts. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "DofE Training Scout Active Support Unit". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Home". FLAGS Scout Active Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  29. ↑ "National Scout Fellowship Security Team" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  30. ↑ "Nationwide Scout Communications Team". Facebook. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  31. ↑ "Who are we?". QSWP. Queen's Scout Working Party. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  32. ↑ "Home". Scafell SASU. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  33. ↑ "Home". Scouts 4x4. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "Home". Scout And Guide Graduate Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "About". Scout Content. Scout Content National Scout Active Support Unit.
  36. ↑ "About". Scout Radio. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  37. ↑ "Scout Internet Support Website" . Retrieved 2016-05-06.
  38. ↑ "Home". ScoutLink. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  39. ↑ "ScoutMed" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  40. ↑ "Anglican Fellowship in Scouting and Guiding" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  41. ↑ "About Us". Muslim Scout Fellowship. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  42. ↑ Youth Citizenship and Religious Difference: Muslim Scouting in the United Kingdom, Sarah Mill, pds. 190-206, in Block, Nelson R.; Tammy M. Proctor (2009). Scouting Frontiers: Youth and the Scout Movement’s First Century. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN   1-4438-0450-9.
  43. ↑ "National Catholic Scout Fellowship" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  44. ↑ "Faith support - Scout Active Support faith units". Scout Association . Gilwell Park: Scout Association. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  45. ↑ "Home". United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Fellowship. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Special Interest Groups". International Scout Support Unit. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  47. ↑ "UK Arab Scout Fellowship" . Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  48. ↑ "Home". International Scout Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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