Board of Trustees | Tynemouth Scouts

The Tynemouth Scouts Board of Trustees shapes and approves our local strategy.

The District Executive Committee plays a vital role in the running of a Scout District. Executive Committees make decisions and carry out administrative tasks to ensure that the resources are available so that the best quality Scouting can be delivered in the District.

The Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment.

Members of the Executive Committee acts collectively as charity trustees of the Scout District, and in the best interests of its members.

Phil Rowell

Lead Volunteer

Phil was appointed as Tynemouth Scouts brand new lead Volunteer in October 2022. Phil’s role will be to manage and support Tynemouth Scouts to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the District develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association so that that the District provides good quality Scouting for young people and he proactively supports and manages adults within Tynemouth Scouts.

Phil Rowell

District Executive Committee

David Littlefield

Nominated Member

David was appointed as District Chairperson in September 2021.

Christina Ponting

Deputy Lead Volunteer

Christina was appointed as Deputy District Commissioner in June 2019. Christina’s District role focuses on the Adult journey and People. Christina joined Scouting as a Group Scout Leader at the 4th Tynemouth, Christina quickly took on other roles such as Assistant District Commissioner for Support. Christina is also on the District Appointments Committee and District Executive Committee. Christina’s role is to work in partnership with the District Commissioner with managing and supporting the Scout District to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the District develops in accordance with the rules and policies of the Scout Association so that the District provides good quality Scouting for young people and proactively supports and manages adults in the District.

Liz Hay

District Chairperson

Liz was appointed as Deputy District Chair and Appointments Committee Chair in October 2021. Liz has held roles across the District and various groups. Liz started her journey as an Assistant Cub Leader in 1989 for 9 years. She then held various roles with in Scout Fellowship and Scout Active Support Units. Liz became a member of the District Executive Committee where she still remains a nominated member. Liz has also been Joint District Scout Active Support manager and District Beaver Leader.

Norma Pigeon

District Treasurer

Norma is the Tynemouth District Treasurer and started the role in 2013. Norma began life in Tynemouth Scouts as a member of the Fellowship in 1976. Norma then became a member of the District Executive Committee in 2012 for a year before taking on the role as District Treasurer. The Treasurer will provide sound financial administration, support and information to the Executive Committee and District in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

Heather Henderson

District Secretary

Heather was appointed as District Secretary in February 2019. Heather has held many leadership and management roles in Tynemouth Scouts. Heather has been Group Scout Leader, County Training Advisor, District Executive Committee Member, District Scout Active Support Manager, Gang Show Treasurer along with many other roles. Heather now sees her role in Scouting as District Secretary.

David Baldwin

Nominated Member

David is currently in his third term as an nominated member of the District Executive Committee. The District Executive Committee plays a vital role in the running of a Scout District. Executive Committees make decisions and carry out administrative tasks to ensure that the best quality Scouting can be delivered to young people in the District. The Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment. Members of the Executive Committee must act collectively as charity trustees of the Scout District, and in the best interests of its members. As a nominated member Simon was nominated by the District Commissioner in partnership with the District Chair and approved at the Annual General Meeting.

Sarah Douglas

Nominated Member

Christina Ponting

Elected Member

Jason Vasey

Nominated Member

Jason is currently in his third term as an nominated member of the District Executive Committee. The District Executive Committee plays a vital role in the running of a Scout District. Executive Committees make decisions and carry out administrative tasks to ensure that the best quality Scouting can be delivered to young people in the District. The Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment. Members of the Executive Committee must act collectively as charity trustees of the Scout District, and in the best interests of its members. As a nominated member Jason was nominated by the District Commissioner in partnership with the District Chair and approved at the Annual General Meeting.

Liz Hay

Elected Member

Andrew Gray

Nominated Member

The District Executive Committee

The Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment. Members of the Executive Committee must act collectively as charity trustees of the Scout District, and in the best interests of its members to:

Comply with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
Protect and maintain any property and equipment owned by and/or used by the District.
Manage the District finances.
Provide insurance for people, property and equipment.
Provide sufficient resources for Scouting to operate. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult support, and fundraising activities.
Promote and support the development of Scouting in the local area.
Manage and implement the Safety Policy locally
Ensure that a positive image of Scouting exists in the local community.
Appoint and manage the operation of any subCommittees, including appointing Chair people to lead the sub-Committees
Ensure that Young People are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels within the District
The opening, closure and amalgamation of Groups, Explorer Scout Units, Scout Network and Scout Active Support Units in the District as necessary.
Appoint and manage the operation of an Appointments Advisory Committee, including appointing an Appointments Committee Chairman to lead it.
Supervising the administration of Groups, particularly in relation to finance and the trusteeship of property.

Members of the District Executive Committee

The District Executive is made up of four types of members:

Ex-officio members have a role on the Committee due to their role in Scouting. These include:

District Chairman;
District Commissioner;
District Secretary;
District Treasurer;
District Scout Network Commissioner;
District Explorer Scout Commissioner.

Elected members stand for election at the Annual General Meeting and are elected by the District Scout Council to take on the role; there
are usually four to six in number.

Nominated members are nominated by the District Commissioner in partnership with the District Chair and approved at the Annual General Meeting; there must be no more nominated members than elected members.

Co-opted members are chosen to take on a role by the District Executive Committee due to specific skills or knowledge useful to the committee; there must be no more co-opted members than elected members.

POR rule 4.25 covers the membership of the District Executive Committee in detail. The membership is set up this way to ensure that the interests of the District Council and the District Commissioner are represented, and balanced. It also serves to broaden the membership of the Executive – possibly to bring in people from other parts of the local community.

Charity Trustees
Scout Districts in England and Wales are considered charities by law, and some may be registered with the appropriate charity regulator.

All members of the District Executive Committee are charity trustees.

To comply with legislation, all charities must have a governing body, which in Scouting we call an Executive Committee. Members of the Executive
Committee must act collectively as Charity Trustees of the Scout District.

As charity trustees, Executive Committee members have a number of specific responsibilities that they must fulfil to ensure the effective running of the Scout District. It is vital that all members of the Executive Committee
understand their responsibilities as Charity Trustees.

Collectively and individually they must:

Use reasonable care and skill in their work as trustees.
Use their personal skills and experience in their work as trustees.
Obtain external professional, specialist advice when needed.
Act honestly and reasonably in the interests of the charity at all times.
Use charitable funds only in the furtherance of the charity’s objectives.
Safeguard the charity’s finances ensuring that the charity is and will remain solvent, and avoid undue risks.
Ensure that the charity complies with charity law and the requirements of the appropriate charity regulator.
Ensure that the charity follows the rules set out in its governing document (Policy, Organisation and Rules).
Act with integrity and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.