The Scout Association

Analysis

The Scout Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, amateur sport and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Scout Association reported income of £46.9m and spending of £50.6m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £27.1m to £46.9m (+73%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 48%. Over the whole period it spent 105% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, The Scout Association sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include England and Wales Cricket Trust (£41.7m), Legacy Leisure Limited (£40.0m) and Forest School, London (£39.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 53%, trading 27%, charitable activities 13% and investments 4.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £643k. Charitable activities took 81% of spending and raising funds 18%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.5m. Reserves of £35.1m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 516 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.