Local support groups
Make the most of support available in your community
Work with local supporters to make guiding in your area even better.
Joint Supporters' Committees serving Girlguiding and Scouts
A Joint Supporters' Committee can be formed when a number of Girlguiding units and Scout Groups are attached to the same meeting place or sponsoring body. The approval of the District Commissioners for both Girlguiding and Scouts is required before the committee can be formed.
Members of a Joint Supporters' Committee do not wear guidewear unless they're undertaking a role in guiding that entitles them to do so. They may wear a Friend of Guiding badge but this does not confer membership of Girlguiding. All supporters are encouraged to be members of Girlguiding.
A constitution must be drawn up when a Joint Supporters' Committee is formed and agreed by the Guide and Scout County Commissioners. This should include details of how any money raised will be spent.
Finances for committees
All money raised or received by a Joint Supporters' Committee belong to the individual Girlguiding units and Scout Groups concerned. Before a major fundraising event, the Guide and Scout Commissioners concerned must agree how the proceeds will be distributed.
The funds must be paid into the building society or bank accounts of the unit(s) and Scout Group(s) as soon as possible, either:
- following the agreed distribution set down in the constitution, or
- as agreed in advance.
The Joint Supporters' Committee should only retain funds to cover its operating costs. This amount must be agreed with the units or areas it supports and should not exceed 10 per cent of the funds raised during the year.
Property
A Joint Supporters' Committee may not own property of any kind. If a joint headquarters exists it must be either:
- vested in either The Guide Association Trust Corporation or The Scout Association Trust Corporation, or
- held by local trustees, for the benefit of the Guide units and Scout Groups concerned.
The headquarters must be run by a joint management committee with representation from both Guide and Scout supporters. Income and expenditure should be shared on an agreed basis that is regularly reviewed by the Guide units and the Scout Groups.
