The organisation's current aim is 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".

[19] On 4 January 1912, the organisation was incorporated throughout the British Empire by Royal charter for "the purpose of instructing boys of all classes in the principles of discipline loyalty and good citizenship".

[29] Scouts were prominent in their support of the 1948 Summer Olympics, playing leading roles in the open and closing ceremonies at Wembley Stadium and the sailing events at Torbay.

[36] This provided alternative proposals for the development of the organisation and asked for groups that wished to continue to follow Baden-Powell's original scheme to be permitted to do so.

A new programme was introduced, complete with a new range of badges and awards covering a wider variety of topics such as Public Relations and Information Technology, developing practical and employability skills.

[43][44] The new badges drew mixed reactions from several public figures, with some praising the organisation for "moving with the times" and others feeling the changes went "against the Scouting ethos of Baden-Powell".

In 2004 the organisation appointed television presenter Peter Duncan as its Chief Scout, who was succeeded by adventurer Bear Grylls in July 2009.

[citation needed] The organisation claims one of its biggest challenges is encouraging more adults to volunteer to reduce the number of young people on waiting lists (cited at around 40,000).

Counties and district units were encouraged to appoint their own youth commissioners for young people to have an opportunity to influence their activities.

Its aim is to build real and lasting relationships in communities that will enable young people to continue taking "social action" long into the future.

[65] The financial situation of the association declined during the pandemic and in the aftermath, necessitating the selling of an activity centre and hostel and 150 staff being made redundant.

[102] The number of Troops or Units that can be recognised in either scheme is strictly limited and recognition is only awarded to those which meet the requirements and pass an inspection by a service officer.

[106] The Sectional Assistant has to complete basic training consisting of the values of the organisation, safety and child protection only while an occasional helper is a non-uniformed role and requires only to have a criminal records check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

[107] Adults can also join Scout Active Support Units that provide a variety of services to the organisation at group, district, county/area or national level.

[110] For safety reasons the association has specifically ruled that certain activities are not permitted at any scouting event: banana boating, bungee jumping, hitch hiking, knife throwing, archery tag and trotti biking.

[112] In parallel with this scheme, Cubs and Scouts were able to earn Proficiency Badges for specific skills and hobbies, an idea that Baden-Powell probably copied from Ernest Thompson Seton.

[119] The Cornwell Scout Badge may be awarded to youths who display "pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage and endurance".

Muslims who have difficulty with the phrase "On my honour" because of the Islamic proscription of swearing oaths, are able to say "In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful..." instead if they prefer.

[125] In 2012 the organisation reviewed its fundamentals and launched a consultation to ask its participants whether an alternative version of the Scout Promise should be developed for atheists and those unable to make the existing commitment.

[129] This in turn, seems to have been derived from the dress adopted by Baden-Powell in the Second Matabele War of 1896, influenced by his friend and colleague, Frederick Russell Burnham.

[134] In 2001, following a consultation process within the organisation, a new range of uniforms designed by Meg Andrews was launched on Founder's Day, 22 February.

[42] Explorer Sea Scouts wear similar uniforms except that a light blue shirt or blouse, smart navy blue trousers and a round seamans cap with "Explorer Sea Scout" tallyband or a white-topped officer's peaked cap (depending on group).

The registration fee pays for participant insurance and for the services and leader support provided by their district, country (or equivalent) and headquarters.

[citation needed] To lessen the burden on participants, many Groups undertake local fundraising and utilise additional methods of funding, such as Gift Aid.

[142] In addition, the organisation owns 100% of the following subsidiary companies which provide trading income to the organisation: Former commercial ventures include the Scout Holiday Homes Trust which operated ten properties across the UK catering for those with low incomes or disabilities between 1969 and 2011 when the assets were transferred to the independent Holiday Homes Trust which maintains some links with the Scouts.

These are Gilwell Park on the London/Essex border, Buddens in Dorset, Crawfordsburn in County Down, Downe in Kent, Fordell Firs in Fife, Great Tower in the Lake District, Hawkhirst in Northumberland, Lochgoilhead on Loch Lomond, Meggernie in Perthshire, Woodhouse Park in Gloucestershire, Youlbury in Oxfordshire and Yr Hafod in Snowdonia.

[150] The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK are separate organisations but were both founded by Robert Baden-Powell and share similar aims and methods.

[151] 'Joint Groups' of Scout and Guide units meeting separately in the same headquarters and operating under the same support structure are recognized and encouraged by both organisations.

They meet together as a single unit, sharing leadership and facilities but individual participants wear the uniform and follow the training programme of the organisation that they belong to.

The two organisations have been increasingly working in partnership; they jointly run a project called "Scoutlink" which delivers citizenship and peace building programmes with a range of groups in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic.