Scout Active Support

Last updated
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]
WikiProject Scouting fleur-de-lis dark.svg  Scouting portal

Scout Active Support was a section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom that provides support to delivering the youth programme of the Scouts. This support was carried out by Scout Active Support Units, which could 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] The section has since closed in 2024 following transformation of the Scouts' volunteer experience which brought a number of changes to organisational structure nationally. [4]

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 [5] 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. [6]

The support offered by Scout Active Support Units varied depending on their focus and specialism but generally focused 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. [7]

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. [5] 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. [5] The new B-P Guild of Old Scouts was launched in June 1948. [5] [8]

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. [5] As part of the split, £1,000 was gifted by the Boy Scouts to the new Guild which was repaid two years later. [5] 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. [5] 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. [5] 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. [5] [9]

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. [5] 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. [5] [10]

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. [11] This recommendation was approved in principle but would require further research. [12] The guild would re-join the newly renamed Scout Association in April 1971. [13]

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. [5] [14] 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. [5] [14] As Fellowship began to grow it brought in other elements of the movement such as the Deep Sea Scouts in April 1991. [5]

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. [5] 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. [5] It gained a new sectional logo along with the wider Scout rebranding of 2002. [5]

Scout Active Support: 2009–2024

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. [15] 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. [16] [7]

Following transformation: 2024-present

As of the Scout Association's transformation project, which introduced a number of changes to the volunteer experience, Scout Active Support Units will not continue in their current form. Instead, sub-teams will be used to organise volunteers under the new team structure. Those in, for example, a SASU specialising in hillwalking, could join a programme sub-team for hillwalking. New sub-teams could also be created to accommodate SASU volunteers. [4]

Organisation

Scout Active Support was 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. [17] Scout Active Support members could 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. [18] [17] [19] There was 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. [18]

Scout Active Support Units could 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. [18] [17] [20] [21] The minimum standards of a unit is deliberately limited to having leadership in place and that the unit provided an active support service to Scouting in some fashion. [17] [20] [21] These local units were also overseen by the relevant local manager, such as Group Scout Leaders or Commissioners, who supported it to ensure it met its objectives. [18] Some local units included 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. [18]

A small number of units which operate nationally can apply to be a National Scout Active Support Unit which operated 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 had a manager in similar fashion to local units. [22]

National Scout Active Support Units

National Scout Active Support Units were 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. [22]

Special Interest

The majority of groups were broad in membership and instead focused on providing support for a particular activity or supporting large events. [23]

Adventure Centre

These units provide support to the national Scout Adventures centres. [23]

Faith

These organisations promote and support Scouting and Guiding within their faith. [23]

International

These organisations support members interested in Scouting around the world. Some are considered Special Interest Groups by the International Scout Support Unit. [23] [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting</span> Worldwide youth movement

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth social movement employing the Scout method. It is 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 encouraging equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as merit badges and other patches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood Badge</span> Scouting award

The Wood Badge is an award for Scout leader training, first awarded by The Boy Scouts Association in the United Kingdom in 1919 and subsequently adopted, with variations, by some other Scout organizations. Wood Badge courses teach Scout leadership skills and instil an ideological bond and commitment to the organizations. Courses generally have theory and practical phases followed by a practice project. Scouters who complete the course are awarded a pair of wood beads on each end of a leather thong, from a necklace of beads Robert Baden-Powell claimed to have taken from the African chief Dinizulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilwell Park</span> The Scout Association camp site and activity centre

Gilwell Park is The Scout Association's principal camp site and activity centre in the United Kingdom. It is a 109-acre (44 ha) site, located in East London in the Sewardstonebury area of Waltham Abbey within Epping Forest near the border with Chingford. It is used by Scout and Guide groups. Adult Scout leader training undertaken at Gilwell Park since 1919 is known as Wood Badge training. Scout leaders from many countries have trained at Gilwell Park and Wood Badge training was followed by some other Scout organisations, and, therefore, Gilwell Park has taken on importance to other Scout organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Scout Association</span> Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom

The Scout Association is the largest Scout organisation in the United Kingdom. Following the rapid development of the Scout Movement from 1907, The Scout Association was formed in 1910 and incorporated in 1912 by a royal charter under its previous name of The Boy Scouts Association. It is a founding member organisation of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Explorer Scouts (The Scout Association)</span> Section of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds

Explorer Scouts, frequently shortened to Explorers, is the fifth 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlguiding</span> National guiding organisation of the United Kingdom

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scout Network</span>

The Scout Network is the sixth 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.

Scouting started in Victoria, Australia, as early as 1907 and local Boy Scout patrols and troops formed independently. Several separate central organisations began operating including Boys' Brigade Scouts, Church Lads' Brigade Scouts, Chums Scouts, Imperial Boy Scouts, Girl Peace Scouts, Imperial Boy Scouts Victoria Section, Imperial Boy Scouts Victorian Section, Gippsland Boy Scouts Association, Australian Boy Scouts, Australian Imperial Boy Scouts, The Boy Scouts Association, Life-Saving Scouts of the Salvation Army and Methodist Boy Scouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouts (The Scout Association)</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youlbury Scout Activity Centre</span> Scout Camp in the United Kingdom

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st World Scout Jamboree</span> World Scout Jamboree in 2007

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting 2007 Centenary</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brownsea Island Scout camp</span> 1907 location of experimental scout camp

Brownsea Island Scout camp, is a historic Scout campsite on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in southern England, which was the site of Robert Baden-Powell's 1907 experimental camp for boys to test ideas for his book Scouting for Boys, which led to the rapid growth of the Scout movement. Boys from different social backgrounds participated from 1 to 8 August 1907 in activities around camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scout Adventures (The Scout Association)</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Scouts (The Scout Association)</span>

The Scout Association's Sea Scouts are a branch of the association dedicated to boating and water-based activities such as sailing, canoeing, motorboating and water navigation. The association approved a special uniform for Sea Scouts in 1910 and, in 1912, the association formally adopted use of the name "Sea Scouts". Specialist Sea Scout troops have existed 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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Leaders (The Scout Association)</span>

Young Leaders are Explorer Scouts who choose to provide leadership in Squirrel Scout Dreys, Beaver Scout Colonies, Cub Scout Packs or Scout Troops alongside adult volunteers as a part of the leadership team. Training of Young Leaders is achieved through eleven lettered modules covering the necessary skills to play an active part of the leadership team, with members challenged to apply what they have learned through four 'missions' in their sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting in Wales</span>

Scouting in Wales provides an overview of Scouting activities in Wales. Scout troops have existed in the country since 1908 with the largest number of Scouts and volunteer leaders today linked to the Scout Association of the United Kingdom. This is done through ScoutsCymru, the Welsh Scout Council who split the region further into four regions and a total of 12 Scout Areas. In addition to the Scout Association, there are also traditional Scouting groups belonging to the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association and a number of Scouting clubs within Universities which are affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting in South West England</span>

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B-P's footprint</span> Casting of the right foot of Lord Baden-Powell

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 "Scouts - Teams that won't continue". www.scouts.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  5. 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.
  6. ↑ "Old Scouts to Scout Active Support". Cambridge District Scout Archive. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. 1 2 "What is Scout Active Support?" (PDF). members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. October 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. ↑ An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 177. ISBN   9780600613985.
  9. ↑ "About ISGF". International Scout and Guide Fellowship. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Rogers, Peter (2006). Gilwell Park and the White House: A brief history and guided tours. Peter Rogers. p. 47.
  11. ↑ The Advance Party Report '66 (PDF). London: The Boy Scouts Association. 1966. p. 73. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Design for Scouting (PDF). London: The Boy Scouts Association. 1966. pp. 12–15. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  13. ↑ An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 181. ISBN   9780600613985.
  14. 1 2 An Official History of Scouting. London: Hamlyn. 2006. p. 182. ISBN   9780600613985.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "Introduction to Scout Active Support". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "The Group Scout Active Support Unit". Policy Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. ↑ "The Scout Active Support Badge". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  20. 1 2 "The District Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  21. 1 2 "County Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  22. 1 2 "National Scout Active Support Units". Policy, Organisation and Rules. The Scout Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  23. 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.
  24. ↑ "Admiral Lord Nelson SASU". RN Sea Scouts. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Home". Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Trading Post. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Home". Bushscout.UK. Bushscout UK National Scout Active Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "History". Deep Sea Scouts. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "DofE Training Scout Active Support Unit". members.scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  29. ↑ "Home". FLAGS Scout Active Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "National Scout Fellowship Security Team" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  31. ↑ "Nationwide Scout Communications Team". Facebook. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  32. ↑ "Who are we?". QSWP. Queen's Scout Working Party. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  33. ↑ "Home". Scafell SASU. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "Home". Scouts 4x4. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "Home". Scout And Guide Graduate Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  36. ↑ "About". Scout Content. Scout Content National Scout Active Support Unit.
  37. ↑ "About". Scout Radio. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  38. ↑ "Scout Internet Support Website" . Retrieved 2016-05-06.
  39. ↑ "Home". ScoutLink. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  40. ↑ "ScoutMed" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  41. ↑ "Anglican Fellowship in Scouting and Guiding" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  42. ↑ "About Us". Muslim Scout Fellowship. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  43. ↑ 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.
  44. ↑ "National Catholic Scout Fellowship" . Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  45. ↑ "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.
  46. ↑ "Home". United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Fellowship. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  47. 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.
  48. ↑ "UK Arab Scout Fellowship" . Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  49. ↑ "Home". International Scout Support Unit. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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