Services for Young People

Written Evidence Submitted by The Scout Association

The Committee asked for a written note on the following issues:

1. A comparison of the costs of the National Citizen Scheme with the costs of Scouting

2. The percentage of people who come back to Scouting as volunteers in later life

3. Examples of good and bad practice with regards to youth services in local authorities.

1 A comparison of the costs of the NCS with the costs of Scouting

The best estimate based on public figures for the cost of the proposed eight week National Citizen Service course is £1148 per individual.

The cost for a young person attending a Scout Group would on average total £350 per year to include:

· weekly meetings and ongoing leadership support

· two full weekend residentials

· a full week-long residential

· membership subscriptions to local Group,  and to County and national operations for access to all services

· insurance for personal accident and for public liability

Thus a young person could get three-and-a-quarter years of Scouting for the cost of eight weeks with the NCS.

2 The percentage of people who come back to volunteers in later life

The Scout Association has seen year on year increases to its membership in the last four years. From our membership data we know that 45% of our recruits are parents of existing members and another 45% are former members.

As part of our impact assessment we found that over 55% of our Explorer Scouts volunteer in an external capacity outside Scouting and 57% of our Network members. This compares favourably with the national youth average (Fiona Blacke quoted 27% in her evidence last week). Over 35% of members said that Scouting influenced their decision to volunteer elsewhere.

3 Examples of good and bad practice with regards to youth services in local authorities

Many Scout groups are suffering because of increases to the ground rents charged by local authorities. Similarly the removal of discretionary rate relief to Scout groups from some local authorities is causing financial uncertainty for many groups. We estimate that up to 30% of Scout groups are affected. Below is a selection of case studies which illustrate the type of rises groups are seeing.

Ground rent horror stories

1. Groups in the London Borough of Hounslow are likely to see ground rent increases from an average of £125 per annum to £4500. This has increased because the authority now says it has to increase ground rents to "market" rate. However, across the borough’s northern boundary , the London Borough of Ealing continues to offer Scout groups long term land leases at peppercorn rents proving that it can be done and creating a very immediate postcode lottery for charities in the area.

2. Banstead District Scout Group has received a request for an increase in ground rent from the current £135 per annum to £10,500 from Surrey County Council.

3. Leeds City Council has increased the fees for renting a building to the 12th Morley Scout Group and the group now needs to find an additional £6480 per year. They anticipate that this will cost each child an additional £108 per year. They anticipate that the group will fold by the end of the spring.

4. Barwick in Elmet Scout Group in Wetherby District have used the local school for Scouting purposes for free for over 25 years. The group expect that rate to rise to £100 per week in 2011, increasing their costs by £5000 per year.

5. The 141st Birmingham, 1st Yardley (Spitfire District) group are currently charged a ground rent of £2500 per annum by Birmingham City Council. However, until this year Birmingham City Council have always provided a grant to cover the full amount of the ground rent. The group are currently in discussion with the council as to whether the grant will continue but are expecting to have to find an additional £2500 per year from 2011.

Ground rent success stories

6. Chelmsford Borough Council continues to exempt local Scout groups from council tax and charge them £15.00 per year ground rent.

7. The 1st Moss Wrexham Scout group rent a community hall from Wrexham Borough Council. The rent has increased steadily over the years, more or less in line with RPI, and the group have use of a modern refurbished hall, toilets and a kitchen. The hall is well lit, heated and cleaned regularly. The normal rate to hire the room to the general public is £50 per night. This deal represents great value and annual increases in line with RPI allow groups to budget accordingly.

05/2011