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
Share:
Gilwell Reunion 4th to 6th September 2026 This year will be the 100th Gilwell Reuion and BSO are looking for an individual or mall team to showcase our work and opportunities within the International Tent. If you can create a fun, engaging and interactive stand we would like to hear from you! You will need to be free to attend the event from 4th to 6th Sept 26 at Gilwell Park, London and we will ask others attending to help deliver the stand over the weekend so you get chance to see everything else on offer. For more information or to submit an outline proposal please email steven.hartley@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you!
We already know you love camping, supporting and developing young people, the chance to meet new people and visit other countries. If you would like a great opportunity to combine all of these, we want to hear from you. We would like to offer our young people more choice in summer camps. Groups of around 40 young people and 4 to 6 adults taking part in an international experience to build their confidence or gain top awards. This is what our young people have to say from previous events; I would recommend a BSO Jamboree because… “It’s AMAZING! It’s been the best experience I've had in my life, really well organised” - Morgan, Paris Explorers “I think it's an experience to meet people that you will remember for the rest of your life from other countries” – Fernanda, Madrid Scouts “It’s the BEST experience in my life” – Marcos, Madrid Explorers “It was a great way to meet new people and try new things and have freedom” – Elizabeth, Dubai Scouts “I loved it, I made so many new friends that I have kept in contact with after camp that I really enjoyed it. Also, I believe that it was a good experience to be away from parents for a long time” – Alex, Dubai Explorers “You’ll have fun, new experiences, meet new people & learn new sports like sailing” – Kumail, Dubai Explorers “It was a great experience and it was a pleasure to be able to meet with multiple internationally based scouts in one place while participating in fun activities” - Ethan, Doha Scouts “It’s really fun, a great experience in general, you meet people from everywhere which is something you get nowhere else” - Lieve, Paris Scouts These our the current opportunities, we are happy to hear from you if you have other ideas as well;
Find out what's happening across BSO with our latest Far & Wide Magazine, with information on events and important updates.
