The Scout Association | |||
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Headquarters | Gilwell Park | ||
Location | Chingford | ||
Country | United Kingdom | ||
Founded |
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Founder | Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell | ||
Membership |
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Chief Scout | Bear Grylls | ||
Chief Executive | Matt Hyde | ||
President | Prince Edward, Duke of Kent | ||
Affiliation | World Organization of the Scout Movement | ||
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Website http://www.scouts.org.uk |
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The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom (UK). Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the Association was formed in 1910 and incorporated in 1912 by a Royal Charter under its previous name of The Boy Scouts Association.
The Association is the largest national Scout organisation in Europe, representing 35% of the membership of the European Scout Region.
The Association claims to provide activities to (an unaudited) 452,000 young people (aged 6–25) in the UK with over 122,000 adult volunteers which is more than one adult for each 4 young people. Its programmes include Beaver Scouts (aged 6–8), Cub Scouts (aged 8–10½), Scouts (aged 10½–14), Explorer Scouts (aged 14–18) up to adult Network members (aged 18–25).
The Association aims to provide "fun, adventure and skills for life and give young people the opportunity to enjoy new adventures, experience outdoors and take part in a range of creative, community and international activities, interact with others, make new friends, gain confidence and have the opportunity to reach their full potential."
The Association is led by its Chief Scout, currently the television presenter, adventurer and author Bear Grylls, alongside a UK Chief Commissioner, currently Tim Kidd and Chief Executive, currently Matt Hyde. The Association's president is The Duke of Kent and its Patron is Queen Elizabeth II.
The Association is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services.
From 1912 to 1967 the association's name was The Boy Scouts Association and until 1976 only boys were admitted to its programmes. In 1976, girls were allowed to join the Venture Scouts section for 16- to 20-year-olds. This expanded to all the Association's programme sections in 1991, although the admission of girls was optional and has only been compulsory since 2007. . Girls now make up 25% of participants with a total of 94,366 female participants aged between 6 and 25 and a further 50,600 women involved in volunteer roles (being more than 1 adult female for every 2 female young people).2014 Annual Report (Report). The Scout Association. 2014. The Scout Association's activities and adult leadership positions are open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-sexual and other (LGBT+) communities.