About the role
The Chair of British Scouting Overseas’ (BSO) will provide inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees. The Chair will ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the BSO Lead Volunteer (and their team) to achieve agreed objectives and oversight. The chair will focus on BSO’s governance and regulatory compliance long-term sustainability, enabling young people to gain skills for life.
Main tasks
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the Board in setting strategic direction, monitoring performance and ensuring effective governance of BSO.
- Ensure that the Board upholds the organisation’s commitment to developing young people’s potential and creating inclusive opportunities for all.
- Provide strategic leadership through engagement with District Chairs, including chairing collective forums as required, typically 3–4 per year).
- Be willing to champion innovation and positive change.
- Exercise the right of attendance at District Trustee Board meetings as appropriate, with an expectation of engaging with each District at least once per year.
- Lead the Board in developing and monitoring long-term strategy, ensuring BSO continues to deliver impactful programmes for young people.
- Ensure effective identification and oversight of key risks, including safeguarding, and maintain robust assurance regarding the safety and welfare of young people participating in Scouting.
Board Management
- Work with the BSO Lead Volunteer and relevant officers to shape agendas, guide discussions and ensure decisions reflect BSO’s agreed strategic priorities.
- Oversee trustee recruitment, succession planning, induction, and ongoing development, fostering a culture of inclusivity, collective responsibility and continual improvement
- Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
- Play a leading role in appraising the performance of the individual Trustees and of the Board on an annual basis.
- Ensure agendas are focused on strategic matters and effective oversight.
- Chair and structure meetings to promote effective, balanced and well-informed discussion. Make sure the Trustee Board members have the information they need to make decisions – this means making sure there’s enough information and that people have it in time to use it.
- Make sure there’s enough time to discuss everything, when something is especially complex or there’s likely to be lots of different views about something, make sure extra time is planned in.
- Ensure that decisions are properly informed, clearly recorded and taken in the best interests of the charity.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including The Scouts (UK), Districts, local Scout Groups and volunteers across BSO.
- Foster partnerships that help BSO achieve its goals and increase opportunities for young people.
- Recognise and respond to the complexities of operating across multiple jurisdictions and cultures, ensuring consistent standards aligned with The Scouts.
Financial Oversight
- Ensure appropriate financial stewardship, including approval of budgets, scrutiny of financial performance and oversight of sustainable resource planning.
- Lead the Board’s scrutiny of financial plans and monitor performance against approved budgets and reserves policy.
- Oversee financial compliance, including the timely submission of accounts and regulatory returns to the Charity Commission and The Scouts (UK).
Governance
- Ensure that the Board and its committees discharge their duties in accordance with the constitution, bylaws, POR, charity law and other relevant legislation.
- Actively contribute skills, knowledge and experience to support collective Board responsibility and achievement of agreed goals.
- Where appropriate within delegated authority, take decisions between meetings in accordance with agreed governance arrangements.
You’ll also
- Hold or obtain membership of The Scout Association in accordance with appointment requirements.
- Complete The Scouts Joining Journey and membership declaration.
- Follow our code of conduct for members of the BSO Board.
- Communicate with purpose and efficiency.
- Always act with integrity and in the best interests of the charity.
- Champion our vision, mission and values.
- Accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Trustee and adhere to the ethical standards outlined in Nolan’s principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
- Take on training and development that will help you in your role.
Responsible to
- British Scouting Overseas Scout Council
Responsible for
- BSO Board of Trustees
Main Contacts
- BSO Lead Volunteer
- Trustees
- Chief Volunteer for International
- Chair of Scouts UK Trustees Board
- BSO Leadership Team
- District Trustee Board Chairs
- Scouts UK Staff and Volunteers
Appointment Requirements
- Complete the appointment process (including acceptable personal enquiries and acceptance of The Scout Association's policies), including a disclosure check.
- Completion of applicable learning modules
Time Commitment
- The estimated time commitment is up to 2 hours per week for scheduled meetings and tasks, with additional time required around Board meetings.
- 4 Board meetings a year
- 1 AGM (In-Person)
- 1 National Conference (held every 3-4 years) In-Person
- 1 Meeting of Lead Volunteer, Chair, Treasurer, Secretary annually, In-Person
- 1-2 hours a week on video calls, internal communications
· Other commitments as required to fulfil the role.
Essential Skills
- A proven track record of leadership and chairing skills with experience of chairing well-managed and inclusive meetings, ensuring all members’ views are taken into account and that consensus and clarity of outcomes are achieved – an exemplar of good governance and the principles of trusteeship.
- Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board as a non-executive director or trustee, or the ability and desire to develop this experience swiftly.
- Experience operating in a regulated environment, or the ability and desire to develop this experience swiftly.
- A passion for supporting the personal development of young people and a commitment to the values of The Scouts.
- Financial management literacy and a broad understanding of charity finance issues.
- An understanding of the legal responsibilities of charity trustees.
- Good understanding of charity governance issues and complex, tiered charity structures.
- An ability to influence internally and externally.
- Experience of strategic planning and organisational oversight.
- Sound judgement and discretion in handling complex or sensitive matters.
- Prior experience in a youth or volunteer focussed organisation.
- Familiarity with British Scouting Overseas
- Familiarity with Scouting and its purpose.
- Experience of operating in international or cross-cultural environments.
- Experience within a federated or membership-based organisation.
Sound good?
Before making an application please ensure that you've carefully read our vacancy informtion.
Questions?
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail please get in touch.
Graham Eden, BSO Lead Volunteer
Email: graham.eden@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk
Next steps
Thank you for your interest in this role. You can apply using the application form below.
A search group will review all applications and nominations and issue invitations to the selection stage of this process (subject to internal checks).
Interview date: TBC
Closing Date: 10 April 2026
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British Scouting Overseas wants to appoint two trustees, to serve for an initial term of three years, starting in September 2026. Our trustee board provides collective leadership and oversight of the charity, in support of our volunteers who deliver our programme to young people around the world. Trustees 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 and to bring a constructive and independent-minded approach to the role. 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 We are also keen to include young adults (for example, under twenty fives). The role of trustee is a volunteer one, but reasonable authorised expenses may be claimed. Trustees serve for three year 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 learning for our trustees. The Board meets four times a year, plus the annual general meeting. There are additional ad hoc meetings from time to time. Meetings are usually held online via Microsoft Teams. Appointment requirements Hold or obtain membership of The Scout Association in accordance with appointment requirements Complete The Scouts Joining Journey and membership declaration. Follow our code of conduct for members of the BSO Board Communicate with purpose and efficiency Always act with integrity and in the best interests of the charity Champion our vision, mission and values Accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Trustee and adhere to the ethical standards outlined in the Nolan principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership Take on training and development that will help you in your role Responsible to Area Chair and British Scouting Overseas Scout Council Main tasks and responsibilities To be a full and active participant in Trustee Board meetings and activities To uphold the responsibilities of a Trustee Board as outlined in The Scout Association’s Policy Organisation and Rules Contribute to the strategic aims and future development of the Area An understanding of their own role, and the role of others on the Trustee Board A commitment to understanding and forming opinions on the key discussion points and responsibilities of the Trustee Board Willingness to complete various tasks which support the work of the Trustee Board and the aims of the Area Skills for a trustee Ability to work as part of a team Strong communication skills Able to think creatively and solve problems Able to handle and resolve conflict effectively Willing to speak one’s mind and listen to the views of others Able to maintain independent and objective judgement Willing to actively design and contribute to the strategic vision of the Area W illingness to take decisions which will further the work of the Area Willingness and eligibility to act as a charity trustee for the Area Time commitment The estimated time commitment is: 4 Board meetings a year 1 AGM Other commitments as required to fulfil the role Meetings are normally online using Microsoft Teams 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 60 Scout Groups, 25 Explorer Units and 3 Scout Networks, with an impressive 3,138 young people supported by 1473 adult volunteer leaders across 29 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.
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