Open Call: Could you be on of BSO's Trustees

Mar 24, 2024

British Scouting Overseas ( BSO) wants to appoint four new trustees, to serve for an initial term of three years, starting in September 2024. Our trustee board provides collective leadership and oversight of the charity, and supports our volunteers, who deliver our programme to young people around the world. At the same time, we shall be confirming the appointments of our Area Chair and Area Treasurer.


About BSO

BSO is a part of the UK Scout Association with headquarters in Gilwell Park, London. BSO members have access to the same resources, support and programme as UK based Scout groups. BSO exists to support British families living overseas in the provision of a UK Scouting programme to expatriate British children and to several British Overseas Territories.


We aim to ensure that all our members have the opportunity to feel and experience high quality UK Scouting whilst providing support and advice to adult members no matter where they are in the world. BSO undertakes Scouting activities in a safe and secure environment with flexibility to adapt to both local customs and guidelines set out within The Scout Association's policies and rules.


BSO operates 57 Scout Groups, 22 Explorer Units and 3 Scout Networks, with an impressive 2,811 young people supported by 972 adult volunteer leaders across 30 countries around the world.


Whilst most adult volunteer members are delivering programme activities with our young people, many volunteers are also based in the UK offering support, training, mentoring, governance and resources in a variety of different roles from trustee to marketing and event support to skills assessors.


BSO is fully inclusive and open to all who share our fundamental values. BSO exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

The BSO Trustee Board

The Trustee Board’s role is to support our volunteer line managers, through the Area Lead Volunteer and Area Chair, so that they can do their role of supporting leadership teams to provide a great programme for young people.

The Trustee Board  is responsible for supporting Scouting in BSO in the following areas:

• Following the rules of the organisation

• Insuring people, property and equipment

• Managing the money

• Fundraising, recruitment and any other support needed, so that Scouting can operate

• Providing Scouting safely

• Connecting Scouting with the local community and supporting it to grow

• Involving young people in decision making

• Meeting the requirements for the BSO Scout Council of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) 

• Making decisions about opening, closing and merging of sections and units at the BSO Scout Council level

• Appointment of new volunteers at the BSO Scout Council level

What experience do I need to be a BSO trustee?


You may be of any nationality and live in any part of the world – the only condition is that you are willing and able to carry out the duties of a trustee.


The main requirement is a commitment to Scout values and willingness to do the best you can to help the Board carry out their role. It’s a bonus if you can bring some personal skills or experience in a particular area, such as any of the following:


  • Administration and meeting management
  • Data protection - policy and practice
  • Development planning in a voluntary group
  • Finance and budgeting - oversight
  • Governance
  • Media and public affairs
  • Risk management - policy and practice
  • Safety - policy and practice


The role of trustee is a volunteer one, but reasonable authorised expenses may be claimed.

Trustees serve for three years terms, up to a maximum of nine years, after which they must stand down.

Trustees may only be appointed if they are not disqualified under UK law from being a trustee of a registered charity. Successful candidates will be required to sign a statement confirming that they are not disqualified. There is some mandatory online training for our trustees.

The Board meets four times a year, plus the annual genera

l meeting. There are additional ad hoc meetings from time to time. Meetings are held online via Microsoft Teams. 


Application Process



If you are interested in becoming a trustee, please send an email to the Area Chair, Jane Warne at jane.warne@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk, with confirmation of your wish to be a BSO trustee and more about what you feel you can bring to the Board to help them in their work. Please include your full name and feel free to provide any details you think will help the selection panel to consider your application.


Shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet the selection panel to discuss the work of the charity and their application. This will be on a date agreed with the candidate and will be conducted online on Microsoft Teams.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us at the email address given above.

We look forward to hearing from you! The closing date is 19 April 2024. 


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