Berkshire Scouts supports Scouting in more than one hundred communities across Berkshire providing fun, challenge and adventure for more than 10,000 young people aged 4 to 25.
Berkshire Scouts is one of 160 Scout Counties across the UK. Each Scout County, is divided into a number of Scout Districts. Within a Scout District there are a number of Scout Groups, Explorer Scout Units (14 to 18 years) and a Scout Network (18 to 25 years).
In Berkshire we have 11 Scout Districts:
- Kennet
- Loddon
- Maidenhead
- Pang Valley
- Reading Central
- South Berks
- South East Berks
- Slough
- Taceham Hundred
- Windsor & Eton
- Wokingham
Scout Groups are made up of our youngest age groups (we call them sections) – some Groups have the new section named Squirrels (4 to 5 years); most Groups have Beavers (6 to 8 years), Cubs (8 to 10 years) and Scouts (10 to 14 years). There are around 115 Groups in Berkshire, organised and supported by over 3,300 adult volunteers.
Our volunteer leaders are responsible for planning and delivering the programme to the young people in their Section. Squirrel, Beaver, Cub and Scout leaders are supported by a Group Scout Leader (GSL).
The Group Scout Leader is the lead volunteer in the Scout Group and is responsible for making sure the Group has a team of suitable adults who are well trained, supported and have the resources they need to run amazing programmes.
The District Commissioner (DC), is the lead volunteer in the Scout District and is responsible for the provision of Scouting in the area the Scout District covers. The DC supports the GSLs and also leads a District Team which is responsible for supporting the leaders in the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scout sections.
Please do ask your District for contact details of your Assistant District Commissioners for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and their meetings.
The County Commissioner (CC) and County Team provide support on adventurous activities, adult support and training, growth, volunteer recruitment, DofE Scheme, Youth Commissioners and You Shaped, Young Leaders, programme support to Districts and international activities,
The Executive Committee: each Group, District and County elects a body of trustees including a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and a number of Board Members. This group of volunteers is called the Executive Committee. They make decisions and carry out administrative tasks to ensure that the best quality Scouting can be delivered to young people.
The Group, District or County Executive Committee works with the relevant volunteer manager (GSL, DC or CC), to ensure that the Scout County, District or Group operates in accordance with the Policies, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and the rules of the UK Charity Commission.